Here’s an excerpt from a romantic suspense novel edited by The Written Word, written
By Lucy Appadoo
Daniela opened the front door nervously to see a tall man with jet-black hair in a crew cut that brought out his dark, piercing brown eyes. His large hands held a manila folder, and the way his tight black jeans and white, fitted shirt pressed against his well-toned muscles made her stomach tingle. His awkward smile brought out the dimples in his cheeks.
What was she doing? This guy was the enemy, and she was checking him out like he was a piece of meat to be eaten.
Where was Blanca? She organised this meeting. Daniela needed support and refused to talk to this arrogant man on her own. Taking a deep breath, she was about to shut the door when Blanca came up from within the house, giving her a reassuring smile.
Blanca pushed forward and hugged the tall man. “Rafael. Good to see you. Come in.” She brought him to their sofa and sat beside him while Daniela sat on the armchair opposite. “This is my dear friend, Daniela.” She faced her colleague. “This is Rafael Martin.”
Rafael rose slightly and put out his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Daniela.” She turned away and ignored it. His eyes bore into her own.
“Just say your damn piece and then leave,” Daniela said.
Blanca cleared her throat. “Why don’t I make us a cup of coffee.” She went to the kitchen, leaving them alone.
Daniela’s body shook as if she were cold, but the air in the room was warm. “Kindly explain to me why you’d tarnish a dead man’s name when his family is grieving?”
Rafael pressed his hands into his jeans, glancing after Blanca as if she could rescue him. “I apologise, but I was just doing my job. It’s the name of the game, and I had facts to back it up. It was not a baseless article, but a factual one.” He shifted. “It’s my job and I do it well.” He played with the collar of his shirt and avoided her eyes.
Daniela couldn’t believe the arrogance that dripped from his body. He does it well? “You know, it could have waited until we’d processed the news. My father had his faults, but he was a good man. And I wonder if you do have your facts straight.”
He angled his head. “So good that he left his family. Interesting perspective.”
Daniela pushed down her rage, clenching her hands and gritting her teeth. She had to compose herself or she didn’t know what she’d say. What was taking Blanca so long? “You do not know anything about my father. Not a clue, Mr. Martin.”
He pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes. Rubbing the back of his neck, he fixed his eyes hard on Daniela. “I know how to do my job, Ms Lopez, and that is reporting the facts. I don’t need you telling me what I should and shouldn’t write.”
Shadows Of The Past
A stalker in Madrid exposes deep secrets and tears a family apart.
Daniela Lopez’s dance school business is just starting to find its feet when sensational newspaper reports about her father send clients running for the hills. Teetering on financial ruin, she finds that her only hope lies in Rafael Martin-the very journalist and love interest whose articles about her father drove away her students.
Searching for answers draws Daniela into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. She must solve clues cryptic enough for a crossword puzzle.
Together, Daniela and Rafael uncover a shocking secret in Spain’s ruggedly beautiful Basque Country. The question is: can they beat the stalker’s dead-line to save Daniela’s family?
If you like intense romance, rich characters, fast-paced action and suspense, you’ll love Lucy Appadoo’s second book, Shadows Of The Past in the Women Of Strength Series.
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