Shannon here: Sherri Stewart shares a romantic excerpt from her latest Roantic Suspense, Secrets Dark and Deep. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a copy – digital for Canadian, print for US. Deadline: March 17, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Sherri:
The Least Likely Romance
Excerpt from Secrets Dark and Deep by Sherri Stewart:
The last thing on Maddie Caldecott’s mind was romance as she sat in Officer Messner’s office. Someone—a man, she assumed—had broken into her car in the museum parking lot and left a note on the passenger seat, along with a flower—lycoris radiata—her assistant producer had called the bouquet of the same type delivered earlier to her office. According to Paige, spider lilies were poisonous to the touch. Three notes were delivered in one day—the first to her office; the second on the windshield of her car; and the third inside her Audi. Breaking into one’s car was intrusive at best and felonious at its worst.
There was no way Maddie was going home. If the guy broke into her car, what would stop him from breaking into her house? So, instead of heading home after the museum event, she drove straight to the police department. Now she waited for Office Messner to finish entering her information into his computer, but how could anyone work in such disorder? Maddie always kept a tidy desk as well as a tidy home. In fact, she believed a tidy desk brought order to a world in chaos.
The smell of onions were making her eyes water. Mix that with the odor of stale coffee, and Maddie pressed her knuckle to her nose as she sat across from Officer Messner, who was busy tapping on his computer. If the smell wasn’t bad enough, the sight before her was worse. Every inch of Officer Messner’s desk was covered with piles of paper. A half-eaten hamburger sat on top of one of the piles, a bit of mustard eking onto the adjacent document.
When he finally turned to her and asked her to start at the beginning and tell him everything, her eyes landed on the mustard stain on his shirt. It was just too much to handle for a neatnik like herself.
“You know, a little bit of soda water will get rid of that stain.”
He looked down at his shirt and huffed. “Oh, not again. Sorry about that.” He moved his nametag to cover the stain, then peered up at her with amused eyes. “There, all fixed. Now, start at the beginning, and don’t leave anything out.” His chin lifted as if to challenge her.
She’d meet his challenge with one of her own. “Would it be okay if I tidied up a bit while I talk?” Maddie didn’t wait for a response as she opened her clutch purse and took out a pack of tissues and a small bottle of clove anti-bacterial hand gel. Grabbing two Styrofoam cups of cold coffee, she carried them to the trash can. She glanced over her shoulder. “May I?”
He backed up in his chair and rubbed his palm over the stubble on his cheek. “Have at it.”
As she made quick work of the hamburger and French-fry remnants and wrappers, she told him about the events of the day. He took notes as she talked, interrupting her to clarify or ask a question. Meanwhile, she made neat stacks of his files, then used her hand gel and tissues to clean the desk. When she glanced up at him, his arms were folded across his chest, and a smile spread across his face. “You are something else, Ms. Caldecott.”
She couldn’t help but grin. In spite of the rumpled shirt and scruffy face, when Officer Brody smiled, his whole face lit up. His sparkling eyes laughed at her, but they also laughed with her. She was used to the former reaction but rarely the latter. Finally, she finished her account of the day and took her seat.
He leaned forward. “Will your husband or significant other be at home when you get there?”
“No, I don’t have a husband. I live alone. That’s why I came here. I’m afraid to go home. What do you suggest I do?”
“Well, I could always lock you up.” That smile again.
She bolted to her feet. “What? Why would you do that? I’m the victim here.”
“The cells aren’t as clean as…my desk, but at least you’d be safe.” He motioned to her to sit again. “Just kidding. Do you have anywhere you could go? Could you stay with a friend or a relative.”
Maddie shrugged. “No, there’s no one. My closest friend lives in Vancouver, and my gran lives in Switzerland.” She didn’t trust easily and didn’t intend on widening her circle of those she did.
Officer Messner took out a business card and wrote something on the back. “I’ve added my cell-phone number. Call me, no matter what time, and I’ll be there.”
And he was.
Question for Readers: What is your favorite fast food meal?
About Sherri: Sherri Stewart is woman of faith who loves all things foreign—whether it’s food, culture, or language. A former French teacher, her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food, and visiting the sites. She savored boterkoeken in Amsterdam for A Song for Her Enemies, and crème brûlée in Paris for its sequel, What Hides beyond the Walls, and raclette in Zürich for Secrets Dark and Deep. A widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who always has to fix her computer. As an author, editor, blogger, speaker, and Bible teacher, she hopes her books will entertain and challenge readers to live large and connect with their Savior. Join, chat, and share with her on social media. Learn more & connect:
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About the book – Secrets Dark and Deep
TV anchor, Maddie Caldecott, has a secret so deeply buried within that she doesn’t remember it. But the man called Absalom knows her secret, and his threats to exact his revenge are becoming more and more intrusive. As an investigative reporter, Maddie can dig out the truth of any story, but she can’t unearth the secret she’s blocked until it’s too late.
Police Detective, Brody Messner, is at his wits end. How can he protect Maddie if she resists his every suggestion? His need to protect her has become personal. From Orlando to Zürich, he follows her, trying to stay one step ahead of her assailant—all of his notes to her, and the song.
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I would say hamburger and onion rings from Carl’s Jr.
I will have to try Carl’s, but I don’t think there are any near me.
Favorite would be a cheeseburger, fries and a malted shake from Culver’s.
I was there last night. My favorite drink there is only available in the summer. Sigh.
Hey Sherri, glad to have you. My favorite is Arby’s. I grew up on it. Then we moved and the closest one was thirty miles away. Just last year, we finally got one ten minutes away. Finally.
It’s always bad for the waistline when my favorite fast food restaurants are close by. Panera’s (their sugar cookies); BK for their original chicken sandwich.
In-n-Out cheeseburger with grilled onion 🙂
burger
My favorite fast food meal would be a grilled chicken sandwich plus fries.
I have a winner! Jan Hall won the drawing. I appreciate Sherri for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.