Because of Lucy - Extracts
(When Ness meets Evan)
I side step the
sink and turn. A guy leans against the doorframe, trying to appear nonchalant
but his slackened stance indicates he’s attempting to keep himself upright. His
brown hair is longer at the front and spills into his face, and unfocused brown
eyes appear to be looking in my direction. He’s one of the regulars. I don’t
pay a lot of attention, but he’s a good-looking guy and they never go
unnoticed.
“Yes?” I snap.
I’m so not in the mood.
His eyes sweep
my figure. Unbelievable...
I straighten my sleeves and look at him with an eyebrow raised.
“Are you Abby’s
housemate?”
“Who are you?”
“Evan.” He rubs
his nose. “You’re not a student?”
“Correct, I am
the one not lying in a drunken haze on the floor contemplating my navel.”
Evan takes a
step forward, steadying himself with one hand as my witty repartee sails over
his head. “Why?”
“Why am I not
on the floor pissed?”
“Why aren’t you
a student?”
“Because I work
instead.”
“Hmm.” He
pauses and grasps onto the sink, searching for a glass. I pass him the spare
one. “Did you fail?”
“Fail what?”
Evan fills the
glass. “Or are you just not smart enough for uni? What is it you do?” He gulps
the water in three mouthfuls then wipes his mouth with his hand.
Arrogant wanker.
“That’s right,
I’m not smart enough. I’m living with Abby until I can find a nice man to marry
then I can have 2.4 kids and a house in the suburbs. Because, as I’m not a
student, I have no future.”
Evan leans
against the sink. “Fair enough.”
Oh my god he
believes me. How pissed is he exactly? “So, you think anyone who doesn’t go to
university is inferior to you?” I demand.
I’ve seen her
friends looking down their noses at me. Inverted snobbery. On top of that, the
locals hate students and the students hate locals. I’m neither. I can’t win.
We’re close now
and he stinks of alcohol and pot, a faint hint of deodorant lingering on his
clothes. Evan’s T-shirt has come untucked and rides up as he leans against the
sink. He’s toned, evidently works out. I can’t help myself, I check him out.
Beneath his curls he has deep brown eyes. Incoherent eyes. I hate to admit, but
something about him is seriously sexy.
Even if he is a
dick.
“Well, if
you’ll excuse me,” I say.
He sniggers.
“What’s funny?”
“You sound like
the Queen.”
Not this again.
I get enough crap at work. I move from Cheltenham to Yorkshire and suddenly I’m
‘stuck up home counties girl’.
I don’t dignify
his comment with an answer and turn away from him, and walk out of the kitchen.
“Want me to get
the guy out of your bed?” he calls after me.
I stop and look
round. “You know him?”
“I could
replace him.”
My mouth drops
open at his arrogance. An attempt at a flirtatious smile plays around his lips
but the unfocused eyes kill the effect he’s trying to achieve. He’s serious. I
imagine he has a ready supply of eager girls. No surprise with a body and looks
like his, such a shame he needs a personality transplant.
I step towards
him. “Evan. I am not pissed. Nor are you getting into my bed. Good night.”
Feeling happy
with my retort, I saunter towards the stairs. Behind me, Evan impersonates my
sentence with an exaggerated posh accent.
It’s a good
thing that I’m sober otherwise I’d go back there and punch him.
(Alternative Extract from
later in the book)
Evan’s mouth
hovers close to mine, his warm breath on my skin. The effect on me is weird,
different to before, with other guys. Abby once told me she met this guy who
didn’t even need to touch her and she got aroused. At the time, I concluded
Abby was exaggerating. Now I think maybe there is something primal, where that
can happen between two people. Because the heat floods through my body towards
the surface, searing where his hand touches my face.
Evan’s eyes
focus on my mouth. “Sorry I left last time.”
“Who said I was
inviting you to stay last time?”
“Okay, sorry.
But I did kiss you goodbye.”
Is he teasing
me again? Because Evan’s mouth remains a tantalizing distance from mine, and
he’s not kissing me. I shift, trying to disguise my rapid breathing and realize
he’s waiting for me to make the move. Fine. I place my mouth on his, wriggling
into him. Evan winds his hand into my hair, and gently holds my head to his,
kissing me lightly, lips sparking power across my skin.
Our position on
the sofa allows me to lean against Evan, half on top of him and I push myself
into him, not taking my mouth from his. Evan’s arms wind around my waist and
pull me closer. Where I’m lying on him, I can feel his erection against my
thigh. Wow. I’ve hardly touched him - maybe I do the same to him? I pull my
head back and meet his eyes, the hungry look I expected is held in them.
“Are you
pinning me down so I can’t leave this time?” he asks.
I smile. “No.
You can go now.”
“I think I’ll
wait for Matt to wake up.”
With strong,
rough hands he holds my face again and his tongue darts into my mouth. He
tastes less of beer than last time. Our teeth collide and I move away from him,
holding my mouth. He watches as the dress rides up over my legs.
The short black
dress isn’t very decorous when it comes to lying on top of a man. But I’m not
behaving very decorously. Evan’s hand slides up my leg, stroking gently.
And I’ve
definitely had too much vodka but screw it. He’s here and he’s fucking hot and
it’s my choice. I’ll deal with the emotional fall out later. I don’t know if
it’s the alcohol, or the sexual confidence I’ve found from tonight - guys
watching me in the Union and Evan wanting me - but I make a snap decision.
“Do you want to
make it two?” I ask.
“Two?”
“Girls. You’ve
slept with in Leeds.”
I’ve seen the
look on Evan’s face before, the night in the pub when his mask slipped a few
seconds. He hesitates.
“Ness…”
“You’re saying
no?” I remove my hand from where I’m trailing fingers across his muscled
stomach.
“Honestly, I
don’t know what to say.”
I tug him
towards me by his shirt. I’m a bit drunk and a lot reckless but what the hell,
it’s about time I had some fun. “How about you hit me with some poetry, I hear
the girls really…”
“Ness. Shut
up.” He drags me onto him and crushes his mouth on mine, the breath sucked from
my lungs as the urgency of his kiss overwhelms me. The tiniest amount of
self-control I had just disappeared.
AUTHOR
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Where
did you grow up?
I
was born in the UK and I grew up in Europe, travelling around with my military
family. Most of the time I lived in the UK and Germany.
Where
do you live now?
Perth,
Western Australia.
If
you could live anywhere, where would you choose?
Perth!
How
long have you been writing?
Since
I was 8 years old when I had a poem published in the local newspaper. Last
year, I decided it was time I tried to find a publisher!
Where
did you get the inspiration for ‘Because of Lucy’?
I
love the new adult genre - being able to write about the time of self-discovery
that comes from moving away from family
influences and into adulthood. I wanted to show the struggle that people often
have at this age when trying to forge an identity outside of the one that they
may have unwillingly been molded into.
I
love hidden secrets in books, but only ones which keep the reader guessing.
When I was half way through the first draft, I tested the story on a friend. If
she’d guessed who Lucy was before she was revealed, I would have scrapped the
book!
Do you have any pets?
A Weimaraner named Tilly who is
not the brightest of dogs. She does a great impression of a Weeping Angel (geek
reference!). We also have a cat called Twinkle but, as all cat owners know,
we’re her pets.
Something about you not many
people know?
Until I moved to Australia, I had
never lived in one house longer than two years or one city longer than three.
Eight years later, I don’t want to move again!
Who
would you cast as actors if a movie was made of your book?
I
always find this question tricky because every reader has their own pictures in
their heads of who the characters look like. When I started writing Because
of Lucy I was watching Supernatural
a lot and Evan looked a little like a younger Jared Padalecki in my mind. But
not as tall! Ness is more difficult - maybe I don’t pay enough attention to
female actresses lol.
If
you were a cartoon character who would you be and why?
Lisa
Simpson. Because I was a little like her when I was younger (and we share a
first name and initials!)
Early bird or night owl?
Night owl.
What
is your next project?
I’m
currently finishing the third book in my paranormal romance series, Soul
Ties. I have also started writing a second
book featuring Ness and Evan. Because of Lucy
was going to be a standalone as it has no cliffhanger and a happy ending, but
readers have asked to follow more of Ness and Evan’s story. And I’m happy to do
that because...more time with Evan!
Samantha resides in Warwickshire, England with her twin girls and husband. She's a romance addict and has been devouring all kinds of romance for as long as she can remember.
Having studied archaeology, Samantha likes to blend her love of the past with her passion for romance to create thrilling and passionate tales set to medieval backdrops. She thinks there's nothing sexier than a rugged warrior and a feisty maiden falling head over heels for each other.
.JPG)
