Excerpt Blitz: In The Dog House by Traci Hall

In The Dog House

By Traci Hall

Release Date: February 11th, 2019

Entangled

Ten years ago, Jackson Hardy joined the Marines, leaving behind a woman he still

dreams about. When he's called home to care for his ten-year-old nephew, no one is

more shocked than he to run into Emma again. Or to still have those same

feelings. But Jackson isn't looking for love, and neither is Emma, especially not with

him. His precocious nephew, though, and a retriever named Bandit, are about to

change that.

So what if Emma Mercer is an overachiever? She has plans to get her doctorate in

psychology and create a no-kill shelter for the EST dogs she trains. Which leaves

absolutely no time for romance. She's fine with a furry family—dogs don't teach you

to love and then rip your heart to shreds. But young Matty's situation tugs at

her heartstrings and there's no way she can't help him…and Jackson. 

She may have hotter-than-ever chemistry with the soldier, but forgetting the past

isn't easy.

She’d said she was proud of him—did she mean it? Her forearm brushed his

leg, and her throat turned a deep shade of rose as she held his gaze. Sweet. She

wouldn’t say what she didn’t mean.

He tilted to the right, wanting to touch her mouth with his. Sample a quick

taste of Emma to add to his memories. Her lips slightly parted, the pulse at the

hollow of her throat sped, her eyes dilated. They were so close to a kiss that all he

had to do was move his head forward…

She stood abruptly, smoothing the yellow fabric down over her hip with an

eye toward Matty, racing around the fountain. “I’ll get dessert.”

Jackson snapped back. Was she inviting him inside?

“I’ll help.”

She held the door open for him, and he followed her. The instant they were

out of sight, she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him to hold him

tight—he couldn’t have broken free if he’d wanted to.

And he didn’t.

He buried his hands in her soft, soft hair and cupped her head so that he

could study Emma and memorize each new line and freckle. He gently brought the

pads of his thumbs to her smooth jaw and plump pink lower lip. Her eyes, swiped

with copper, glittered sensually as she absorbed his touch. Auburn lashes at half-

mast as she relaxed into him.

He dropped one arm to her hip to balance her, the other still cradling her

head as he lowered his mouth. She lifted to him, their lips whispering across each

other’s mouths before crashing together like surf against the sand.

She tasted different but the same. It was meeting his other half, something

he’d been missing and suddenly needed more than his next breath.

“Em.”

“Jackson.” Her words were hot against his lips and brought the embers of

desire flaming bright.

She entwined her fingers behind his neck and pressed into him.

He clasped her tight, feeling the warmth of her feminine curves, the

temptation she offered.

The smack of sneakers up the porch steps made them break away like guilty

teenagers.

Jackson’s chest heaved. They weren’t that anymore.

Em’s eyes flashed, the pulse at her neck fast as a hummingbird’s.

“Emma,” Matty asked, innocently entering the kitchen. “Can I have some

lemonade?”

“Sure, hon. I was just getting the cannoli out. Are you ready for dessert?”

Emma turned her back to him, and Jackson detected a tremor in her voice.

Jackson knew then that he’d never be over Emma Mercer, not if he lived to

be a thousand.

To find out more about Traci Hall and her books, click the link below