Hooray! My newest Time-Travel Regency, A DELICATE CONDITION,
is now available.
SIGNATURE OF A QUEEN
Author: Susanne
Marie Knight
Genre: Romantic
Suspense
Available electronically at Amazon.com
Price: $3.99
Soon to be available in print at Amazon.com
Buy link:
Blurb:
After
a fall down a flight of stairs, Ali struggles to remember who she is and why
someone wants her dead.
SHE
DOESN’T REMEMBER
Ali
wakes up with a raging case of amnesia. Her New Hampshire hospital records
state she’s Alabaster Kinedulay, age twenty-four, married to a professor who has
a son the same age as Ali. She remembers none of that. The only thing she knows
for certain is that she’s in danger. Her intuition tells her to run away. And
so she does, ending up on the Pacific side of the country. Everyone she meets
seems very helpful, but are they really? When she learns she’s a mega rich
Regale heiress, more attempts are made on her life. Her heart is in danger,
too, from hunky psychiatrist Mack McClanahan. But is he telling the truth? Who
can she trust?
HE
CAN’T FORGET HER
Security
specialist Mack McClanahan is hired to protect a wealthy client, Alabaster
Regale Kinedulay--without her knowledge. Trouble is, she has amnesia and
doesn’t remember who she is, that she’s rich, or why she has no recollection of
her past. Pretending to be a psychiatrist, he tries to help her while also
insuring her safety. It’s a tough job, with a gaggle of suspicious characters
hanging around--the inattentive husband, the devious relation and his henchman,
the same-age stepson, even the patronizing attorney who hired Mack in the first
place. Or is the perpetrator someone else? As he struggles to protect Ali, he
breaks the number one rule in his job: never fall in love with the client.
Scene Set-Up:
Suffering from
amnesia and distrust of strangers, Ali, goes to pick up her new friend, Matilda
Winthrop, at the psychiatrist’s office.
Excerpt:
Ringing the doorbell, Ali lifted her face to soak up the warm California
sun. She was a million miles away when the door opened.
“Good morning. You must be Ali, Mrs. Winthrop’s new friend.”
Blinded by the sun, Ali blinked her attention to the man with the sexy
voice. No prim and proper psychiatrist stood over the threshold, but a tall,
well put-together specimen of the male persuasion.
She gulped down surprise. He was dreamy in a Hollywood actor kind of
way. Mid-thirties, black-framed eyeglasses, dark brown hair brushed back with a
heavy lock falling down on his forehead.
He smiled and extended his large hand.
Surprisingly, the thought of shaking his hand was intimidating. Instead,
she gave him the plate of muffins. “Um, yes. That’s me. And these huckleberry
muffins are for you, Doctor Daw--”
“Thank you. They smell delicious. Actually, I’m Mack, Mack McClanahan.”
“Oh, I thought--”
“Family emergency,” he said quickly. “I’m subbing for Doctor Dawson.” He
gestured for her to come inside. “Mrs. Winthrop’s freshening up.”
Once Ali stepped into the foyer, he raised his voice to carry down the
open area to the left. “Mrs. Winthrop, we’ll be out on the terrace.”
A mumbled “okay” came from one of the closed doors down the lobby.
Ali walked with him through the Great Room. From what she could see, the
setup of the doctor’s villa was the same as Matilda’s except for the lobby area
off the foyer. That must’ve been his office space. He had the same fireplace,
compact kitchen, and roomy terrace. Beyond the kitchen was the bedroom or
bedrooms. She couldn’t tell how many. Matilda had two.
Now outside, she took in the unobstructed view of the ocean. Wow.
“This is fantastic! So serene.” The sound of waves crashing against the
shore seemed to relax every muscle in her body. “No wonder you, I mean Doctor
Dawson, works out of his home.”
“It is nice, isn’t it?” He set the plate of muffins on the round table,
and then pulled out a cushioned chair. “Please, have a seat. How about
something to drink? A brew--” He glanced at his wristwatch. “Er, brewed coffee?
Iced tea?”
She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. She’d stake money
he’d been about to suggest a beer. “No thanks, I’m fine.”
“Yes.” He sat across from her. His dark grey eyes almost glowed as he
looked at her and his lips curved up slightly as if in appreciation. “Yes, you
are.”
Hmmn. Ali sat up straighter. His practiced gallantry was off. Alarm bells
rang. She felt like a lamb in the presence of a wolf. Incredibly exposed.
Matilda, hurry up!
He leaned in closer to her. She could smell his earthy masculine
fragrance. “Mrs. Winthrop tells me you’re from the East Coast. From New
Hampshire, isn’t it? Are you just visiting or are you planning to move to
California?” He glanced at her left hand. “Single?”
She gulped down distress. Sudden perspiration popped up on her forehead.
All her senses seemed heightened around him. She had to be on her guard.
Thrusting her hands under the table, she inhaled a ragged breath.
“Goodness, so many questions. I do hope you’re not drumming up business,
intending to send me a bill for psychoanalysis. I’m on vacation, Doctor
McClanahan. Nothing more than that. And as for my marital status, well, it’s none
of your business.” There. Fingers crossed that would deflect his interest.
His chuckle was deep and genuine. Appealing dimples showed briefly on
his clean-shaven cheeks. “Touché, Ms...?”
She flared her nostrils. “Ali.”
“Ali, then.” His dimples flashed again. “I promise there will be no bill
waiting for you after our talk. And please, call me Mack.”
As she had no intention of ever using his first name, she just shrugged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Reading!
Susanne Marie Knight
Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!
