Harmony Evans - Stealing Kisses

Passion’s the greatest score of all…

Life coach Natalie Kenyon helps her famous clients achieve happiness and lasting intimacy in their personal lives. But pro-basketball all-star Derek Lansing isn’t so easy to pin down. His rags-to-riches story takes hold of Natalie’s heart and his first electric touch ignites an irresistible desire. It could be a lose–lose if she becomes the sexy player’s next conquest.

Derek is living every athlete’s dream, surrounded by adoring fans and available women. But he still feels alone. Beneath his freewheeling playboy facade is a man yearning for redemption. As he struggles to get a slam dunk with the stunning, strong-willed Natalie, who is determined to reunite him with his family, he’s forced to relinquish his guard and show her the real man behind the celebrity. As passion brings them closer together, Derek will do what it takes to score a win–win with the woman who’s run off with his most valuable possession—his heart.

She reached over and turned his face toward hers with her palm. His breath rushed out of him with surprise. Her movements were bold, yet her touch was soft and caring.

“Just say what’s in your heart,” she whispered.

When she released his face, his emotions were churning and he felt as if she’d opened his eyes to what had been there all along. He just couldn’t see it.

Without thinking, he cupped his hand around her neck and the world seemed to disappear as he closed his eyes and guided her lips to his. They tasted of ripe peaches, a sun-radiant burst of glorious wonder.

His movements were tentative at first. He wanted to focus on her, rather than on the intense need she drove within him.

The need to devour.

She leaned into him, kissing back unrestrained, and he wanted to shout with joy. The tip of his tongue dipped into her mouth and she groaned. Opened deeper. So he slid inside and discovered a velvety, warm place he wanted to explore forever.

Abruptly, he ended the kiss and leaned back in his seat.

“I just wanted to show you what was in my heart,” he said in a low voice.

HARMONY EVANS

loves writing sexy, emotional, contemporary love stories. Stealing Kisses is her second novel for Harlequin Kimani Romance.

Her debut novel, Lesson in Romance, received 4½ stars from RT Book Reviews. Harmony also earned two prestigious nominations in her first year of publication. She was a “Debut Author of the Year” finalist for the Romance Slam Jam 2013 Emma Awards. In addition, she was a 2012 RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards Double-Finalist (“First Series Romance” and “Kimani Romance”).

Harmony is currently busy penning more novels for Harlequin Kimani. Visit her at www.harmonyevans.com, on Facebook, or follow @harmonyannevansfor the latest news on upcoming releases.

Stealing Kisses

Harmony Evans

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

I’m fascinated by famous sports stars. Not so much what’s written about them in the headlines, but more by what’s left out.

Derek Lansing is living a dream life. But there’s a price to pay for his rise to fame in the sports world. He’s estranged from his dad and brother—the two people who supported him from the very beginning.

He wants to reunite with them, but pride prevents him from taking the first step. Can he let down his guard and allow life coach Natalie Kenyon help him right his past wrongs before it’s too late? Along the way, Derek and Natalie explore a passion that is powerful, rhythmic and unforgettable.

I hope you enjoy reading Stealing Kisses as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at harmonyevans@roadrunner.com.

Be blessed,

Harmony Evans

In loving memory of Carol Butler Jackson

(April 20, 1930–June 2, 2012)

I miss you, Mommy. You were always a star to me.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 1

For the first time in her life Natalie Kenyon wished she was late. The explosive echo of the basketball sounded like a dire warning as she stood inside the New York Skylarks practice court.

Whether it was doing her own taxes or carefully screening any man who wanted to date her, Natalie left nothing to chance, especially where her heart was concerned.

She was always on time and always in control.

The thump-thump of the basketball intensified, reminding Natalie that she was here for one reason: to change Derek Lansing’s life.

She was sure Derek would be like the rest of her clients: wildly successful, yet highly inefficient in their day-to-day lives. As a life coach she advised her A-list clientele on everything from time management and goal-setting to relationships and intimacy. She loved her job and she was good at it.

Then why was her stomach churning as it used to before a big competition? The former professional ice-skater chastised herself for being nervous.

“Ridiculous,” Natalie muttered. “He’s just another client.”

Peering around a row of seats, she caught a glimpse of the popular basketball star and clamped her hand over her mouth in shock.

Derek was shooting baskets with such ferocity it was as though his whole life depended on making every shot. The man was an island. His eyes were totally focused on the net, on the goal.

Yet her eyes were all over him.

He was tall, perhaps six feet six inches, and lean-muscled with rich dark brown skin that glistened with sweat. His shoulder-length jet-black dreadlocks swayed rhythmically with his every movement, teasing her imagination.

When he grabbed the last ball from the cart, he yelled something she couldn’t understand. His legs, powerfully built and tense with virile energy, sprung into the air, seeming to master space and time.

She held her breath, her eyes following the arc of the ball to its final destination. But at the last moment it missed the net, slammed the backboard and bounced to the floor, rolling in her direction.

Derek swung off the rim, landed on the floor, grabbed his knees and howled. The pain in that sound went straight to her heart. She recognized it.

It was the sound of desperation, of a soul cracked wide open and laid bare to an empty room that couldn’t judge, couldn’t laugh.

So this is Derek Lansing, Natalie thought. Number seventeen. Star forward for the New York Skylarks.

She adjusted her purse, checked her watch and smiled. She was right on schedule.

Time to turn his world upside down.

Natalie walked out onto the court and stopped the basketball with the heel of her black stiletto boot.

“Looking for this?” she asked, one hand on her hip to steady herself.

Derek uncurled his body, slow and easy, like a bear emerging from hibernation. He stood still, chest heaving, and her heart raced as his eyes slid down her legs and traveled back up her body.

Under the bright lights, her right eye twitched involuntarily and she realized with horror that he probably thought she was winking at him. She dropped the diva pose and almost lost her balance, but quickly regained it.