Kelli Maine's GIVEN & TAKE THIS MAN Blog Tour

I've got a HOT SPOT for Kelli Maine's Give & Take Series. Ms. Maine is bouncing around the web, giving us lots of of insights and excerpts to her releases, AND she's also giving me the chance to offer one of her releases to a reader!  WHOO-HOO!

Let's get started with some insight. In the final books of the Give & Take Series, GIVEN and TAKE THIS MAN, the characters Rachael and Merrick tie the knot! With a little help from Kelli's friends, they came up with 5 Wedding Must Haves! Here's her list:

• My own must have is assigned tables. Wandering around looking for somewhere to sit at the reception is awkward unless you have mutual friends or know family members of the couple. 
• Candlestick, rope, lead pipe, dagger, wrench - Selma Wolfe, author of Detect Me, Protect Me, Shield Me
• Open Bar - Erin Brambilla, Chicago-North RWA VP Programs, and Spring Fling Conference Coordinator
• Great music and big enough venue that everyone who wants to dance can! - Dana Alison Levy, author of The Family Furnival
• A cookie tower along with the cake! – Jill DeShon, Kelli’s biggest fan (and mom!)

(CLICK READ MORE)

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Now for the excerpt!  *wiggles brows*  

Although exhausted, I didn’t sleep. While Merrick napped, I got online and looked up as many apartments on Rue Lincoln that rented weekly as I could find. I called the phone numbers listed on the rentals, pretending to be Enzo’s daughter in-law, hoping to find Nadia, but wasn’t having any luck.

I was so focused on my search, I didn’t hear Merrick come up behind me. “You’ll never find them,” he whispered in my ear, making me jump and grasp the arms of the chair.

“God, you scared me.”

He swept my hair to the side and kissed my neck. “If Enzo doesn’t want to be found, he won’t be.”

I closed my laptop. “Then why are we here?”

He traced my earlobe with the tip of his nose. “Nadia will contact me. She’ll tell us where to find her.”

I wanted to believe that. I heard the desperation in his voice. He didn’t want to believe his daughter would betray him and be loyal to Enzo. I hoped for his sake—for all of their sakes—Nadia would get in touch.

Merrick took my hands and pulled me up out of my chair, wrapping his arms around me and holding me against him. “Let’s get out of here and go look around.”

He kissed me. I remembered our first kiss and how I’d been so hesitant, so nervous, but my raw lust for Merrick took over and I couldn’t hold myself back. Now my lust and desire pooled with comfort and love. His kisses made me feel cherished and treasured as well as physically wanted.

It was so clear to me, even though neither one of us had actually spoken the word marriage, that he was my husband. He would be—it was meant to be. I felt the white, hot truth of it in every cell of my body. We were one soul, torn in half and put on earth to find each other.

And there he was, right in front of me. He’d made it happen. He must’ve somehow known deep inside that I belonged with him.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” he asked, a cocky grin forming on his lips.

I rose up on my toes to kiss him again. “Like what?”

“Like you have some dangerous secret.” He pinned my hands behind my back and pressed me into the wall. “Are you keeping something from me, Ms. DeSalvo?”

“Nothing you don’t already know,” I said, smiling.

“And what’s that?” He nuzzled my neck. It tickled and I leaned my head against his, laughing.

“You’ll figure it out sooner or later,” I said, nipping his earlobe. “I’m just giving you time.”

Merrick chuckled and rested his forehead against mine. “Is that so? How much time do you think I need?”

I shrugged playfully, wondering if he knew what I was referring to.

“Maybe you’re the one who needs time.” He winked.

Caught off guard, my pulse quickened. Were we talking about the same thing? Marriage? Why was he giving me time? I was waiting on him. “Maybe I don’t.”

He stepped back and turned me toward the big suitcase, still packed and sitting beside the bed. “Maybe you should change out of that robe and get dressed so we can get out of here.” He smacked me on the bottom to get me moving.

Padding across the plush carpet, I felt my heart sink a little at his dismissal of the conversation we’d been circling so closely. His giving me time sounded like a poor excuse.

I knelt on the floor and began to dig through the clothes I’d brought.

I was so certain we were on the same page, just not verbalizing it yet. But… maybe we weren’t on the same page?

*Swoons*  I'm super excited to give you all a chance to win one of her books. All you gotta do is respond below with just ONE of your wedding must haves. Give it to us, go crazy, and make sure you leave your email address so I can let you know if you've won!

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