Restless Heart

By Mary Hjerleid

Selena Crawford struggles to keep her Bed and Breakfast afloat while caring for her younger brother and sister since their parents were killed in a train crash. Her life is very full, but lonely.Derek Channing has always believed life was an adventure, but lately has been dissatisfied and looking for change. When his Corvette breaks down in Heritage, Colorado, he takes a room at Selena's B&B, and ends up finding the biggest adventure of his life.Here's a short excerpt:He wished he could see the house clearly, but the welcoming light from the porch and the storm kept it in the shadows. Snow that now felt like sleet blew into his nose causing it to burn while the wind stung his eyes, blinding him. The high wind had whipped the drifted snow into mini-fortresses, blocking his pathway. He spied a small open area and worked his way through it to the porch steps.To keep from falling, Derek started up the stairs, he skidded, lost his footing on the step and grabbed the railing. He stifled the curse that rose to his lips. Now if I can just get to the door. Carefully he inched his way to the porch, which protected the front door from the weather.The dim light coming from inside the house seemed like a beacon pointing to refuge and comfort. Derek removed his glove and knocked on the beveled glass door. He tried to remain calm, but it wasn't working. It had been a long time since he had been this frustrated.When no one answered his knock, he spied a doorbell and pressed it. He waited for what seemed like an eternity, shivering in his still-wet clothes. He needed to get inside and dry off. Maybe he should have changed clothes at George's garage, but he had been in a hurry to get to shelter, a warm bed, and some hot food. Finally, a shadowed figure approached. Slowly the front door opened, revealing a woman with long auburn hair spilling down her shoulders, her face pale in the soft light of a hurricane lamp. Because of George's age-he looked like he might be in his seventies-Derek had been expecting a short, gray-haired lady to come shuffling to the door. Boy was he wrong.Although her floor-length green robe hid her shape, she was tall, delicate, and stunning. Her friendly smile caused something inside him to tremble.A soft, husky voice spoke. "You must be Derek."Her eyes roved over his damp clothes and dress boots, useless in this storm."George Harmon called to say I'd be coming.""Yes, he did." She opened the door wider. "Please, come in. I'm Selena." She reached to shake his hand.Heat met with cold. The warmth of personal contact had his hand lingering a moment too long. Speechless, he let go as if a small current of electricity passed between them. Startled by reactions flashing through him, he carefully colored his voice. "Thanks for taking me in so late."In the hallway, the scent of flowers filled the air. Her eyes were green like a country meadow. His mouth dried."Come in by the fire." She walked across the living room, switching on additional lights."Let me leave my boots here." Derek reached down to pull off his boots with stiff fingers that would not cooperate. Finally, kicking his feet free, he dragged his shivering body over toward the flames. "Ahhh, heat," he moaned."Let me hang up your jacket."Selena tried to help him get his jacket off since his hands were so stiff. All he could hear was the rasp of his zipper unlocking, then came the pop of snaps being pulled apart. The noise suggested an intimacy it was far too soon to consider.........-------- Review"Mary Hjerleid's debut is a memorable combination of romance, mystery and fascinating details about firefighting."-Amanda Harte, Author of Hidden Falls series.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1470020971
• ISBN13: 9781470020972
• Release Date: February 2012
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"