Shannon here: Sally Jo Pitts shares her inspiration for her Romantic Suspense, Sweet Double-Cross. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: July 26th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Sally Jo:
The romance angle in Sweet Double-Cross, book #2 in the Sweet County Secrets romantic suspense series, is based on a real-life romance.
My main characters, Kirt and Trudy, are imaginary but the spark for their love-at-first sight meeting comes from my friend in a Bible study group. Her husband of fifty-five years proposed the night they met on a blind date!
When I heard their story, I was hooked. I wanted to use a blind date proposal in the romantic suspense I was brainstorming at the time. To find out why he proposed, I went to the source and interviewed my friend’s husband and he shared what he was thinking. From there came the challenge of creating a believable scene for the marriage proposal on the night my characters first meet in the story.
Romantic Excerpt from Sweet Double-Cross by Sally Jo Pitts:
A song from the town square drifted on the night air, nudging him to never let her go. If he said goodnight, it could be the end of a relationship that he never gave a chance to start. He couldn’t let that happen.
Everyone he’d dated in the past had left him with a shallow feeling. Kirt normally maintained strict control over his tongue and chose carefully what he shared and with whom. But with Trudy, in a matter of hours, all that had changed.
A breeze wove through the landscaping grasses, rolling a sweep of emotion over him. He grasped Trudy’s hand. The moonlight glinted against her cheeks and lips.
“I have something I need to ask you.”
“Go ahead,” she said, with a hint of intrigue.
“Bennett, who arrived this evening. Is he your boyfriend?”
“Kind of. We’ve been dating for a while.”
“But no commitment? You’re not engaged?”
“Well … no. Why?”
“Because I want you to marry me.”
Her breath caught. She coughed and patted her chest. “A little sudden, isn’t it?”
“Not really. I’ve been searching for you for a long time.”
“You … you shouldn’t kid about something as serious as marriage. You are kidding … right?”
“No, I’m not. I prayed the Lord would lead me to the perfect girl for me. You have to be the one because of how I felt the first moment I saw you.”
She sent him an incredulous stare. “How did you feel?”
“Like a two-thousand-pound Texas longhorn dropped on my chest.”
…
Trudy leveled her gaze at him. “Back to your question. I was always under the impression there’s a lead up to something as monumental as a marriage proposal. Like dating, meeting family, talks about falling in love …”
“I fell the moment you pointed at me and asked if my name started with a K.”
She pressed her fingers to her cheeks. “Weird. You know, I think you’re serious.”
“I am. Trudy, you have an amazing ability to dive deep and scrutinize things beyond the surface. Consider my proposal, will you?”
She narrowed her eyes and studied him. Then a thoughtful look crossed her face. She tapped one index finger to her lips. “A thorough scientist always tests certain variables. Kiss me.”
“May I?”
“Sheesh. You asked me to marry you. Good science requires assessment of controls and eliminating outliers. I think you should.”
Heat swirled through him as his gaze moved from her emerald eyes to her lips. Reaching out, he drew her closer, gently weaving his fingers through her soft, fragrant hair. He touched her chin, lifting it slightly, and when their lips met, all trepidation, all the craziness of what he was doing disappeared. She was the one.
Question for Readers: How long did your romance last before marriage? If single, did any of your friends or family have a whirlwind romance?
About Sally Jo: Sally Jo Pitts is a former private investigator, licensed lie detection examiner, and retired high school guidance counselor with over twenty years teaching experience in the field of family and consumer sciences. She combines her education and detective know-how to bring inspirational fiction to the page. Married to her late law enforcement husband for 48 years, she resides in the Panhandle of Florida. Learn more & connect:
Sally’s Website Sally Jo’s Facebook Sally Jo’s Bookbub
About the book – Sweet Double-Cross
A scientific mission turns into a harrowing day of death and destruction.
Dedicated biologist Trudy Fields is passionate about her invasive plant species research in northwest Florida. When real estate developer Kirt Mayfair arrives in Sweet County to learn how to eradicate a kudzu infestation on property he plans to purchase, Trudy is assigned to assist him. Their instant connection surprises them both—especially when Kirt impulsively proposes marriage.
But research and romantic interest takes a deadly turn when a colleague of Trudy’s is shot and killed on the way to the isolated kudzu experimental island. On the run from a ruthless killer with precision sniper training, Trudy and Kirt must navigate treacherous terrain, dangerous wildlife, and a shocking conspiracy.
As bullets fly and bodies pile up, Trudy discovers Kirt is hiding his own secret. Amidst unexpected attraction and lethal betrayal, can the two survive this double-cross?
Sweet Double-Cross, is book #2 in the Sweet County Secrets series but can be read as a standalone.)
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Sweet Double-Cross Sally Jo’s Books
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My parents only knew each other 4 months before they got married and was married for 56 1/2 years before my mom passed away and dad followed 8 months later!
You know our story. We’d known one another for a week when we became engaged. We’ll celebrate 52 years in August!! Love at first sight is a real thing!!
I love your story. One week is mighty quick.
5+
5 + years of knowing each other before marriage?
Interesting to hear the differences in matters of the heart.
We dated for five month before he proposed and got married three months later. Celebrated 22 years in February 🙂
Love the story and the photo!
From the day we met, till the day we married was exactly 30 days. We were both active duty Navy. He had orders for Italy, I was staying in California where we were both currently in school. We call the detailer on Tuesday, she said call back after we got married, so we married that Friday in our uniforms.
This year we’re celebrating our 30 year wedding anniversary with a Vow Renewal ceremony! God has been abundantly gracious and faithful!
Cindy,
30 days and now 30 years. What a story! Thanks for sharing.
I have a winner! Cindy Nipper won the drawing. I appreciate Sally Jo for being my guest and everyone else for for stopping by.