Where Did Summer Go?

I live in Texas, so it’s still 103 degrees here most days, so I find it absolutely lamentable that I have to ask, where did summer go? I swear, it was just yesterday that my oldest two sons ran into the house screaming excitedly about school being out. Just a few short weeks ago when I myself rejoiced that my classes were done and that I would not be teaching for three long months.
Now suddenly, all that’s changed and I’m not sure what happened. I remember June—filled with trips to the swimming pool, the guy, a few forays to the lake and park before temperatures went from blistering to hot.
I have a vague recollection of July—shopping for RWA, enjoying a visit from my mom, going to D.C. for RWA and then flying to Egypt for vacations.
August, however, does not exist. I don’t remember August 1st dawning and I barely remember it ending. Admittedly, I spent the first three weeks of the month in Egypt climbing pyramids and swimming in Cleopatra’s bath, so much of the month is a blur. And what I do remember involves playing catch up as I tried to ready the boys—and myself— for school in four days.
So now I’m teaching three college classes, getting up at 5 a.m. to make sure my 7th grader gets to football practice by 6, working until 2 a.m. on a book I have due in ten days and basically trying to juggle everything two parents do for three kids and a house by myself as my husband has been in New Jersey, L.A., Dallas, Paris and San Francisco since we got back from Egypt—basically every place but here.

So as I sit here, half asleep and desperately craving a cup of coffee, I have to ask once more: Where did summer go? Did your summer fly by, as mine did, or are you more than ready for fall? And please excuse the whining—like Genevieve, the main character of my new release, Tie Me Down, I’ve got the it’s-too-hot-to-not-be-summer blues!

Oh, and one more thing—I’ve included an excerpt of Tie Me Down here, as part of my Tie Me Down Contest Extravaganza. So head on over to my blog, http://www.tracywolff.blogspot.com to get the scoop on the contest. There are daily prizes and the Grand Prize (given away next Tuesday) is a $100 gift card to the winner’s choice of bookstore.


Excerpt #4: Please be aware this excerpt is meant for those over 18.

“You don’t want to screw with me on this, Genevieve. Why’d you sneak out like that, without even telling me where to find you?” Cole’s voice was lower now, more animal than human as he took advantage of her predicament, closing in until she was utterly surrounded. The wall at her back, his hard, unyielding body hovering only inches from her front. His powerful biceps caging her in from the sides.

His black-magic eyes demanding that she tell him what he wanted to know.
The wind picked up, made her shudder as it whipped around them, as wild and fierce as the attraction she couldn’t fight. It lashed the rain against her, against him, as it streamed down their bodies.

He pulled back, looked at her with wicked eyes that proclaimed just how much he wanted her—and just how far he would go to have her—and she became aware, for the first time, of how she must look to him. Her clothes were stuck to her and practically transparent, her nipples showing clearly through the thin lace of her bra, the even thinner cotton of her T-shirt.
Maybe she should have been frightened, with the storm raging around her and Cole burning beside her. But ten years on a male-dominated force had ensured she was not easily cowed.
Resolving to give as good as she got, Genevieve pressed her head back against the wall and glared at him with eyes she knew reflected her own fury, as the storm raged around them.

“Answer my question and I’ll answer yours.”
“Fuck that.” He grabbed her wrists with one hand, his long fingers spanning both with ease. Yanked her arms above her head. Moved the last few inches until his body was pressed against hers from chest to thigh.

His breath was coming in short, hot pants against her ear, his heart racing crazily against her breasts. And his erection, his infinitely arousing, unbelievably sexy erection, rested hot and heavy against her stomach. The rain made the barrier of their clothes nearly nonexistent, and she felt his heat against the very heart of her.

Shock raced through her as her brain demanded that she refuse to yield. But her body was firmly in control, the pleasure it took from Cole’s unprecedented dominance more than she could fight.

She loved every second of it. Loved the vulnerability of being spread for him. Loved the little frissons of fear working their way down her spine. Loved the idea of being helpless in the face of all this bristling male aggression.

She should have felt vulnerable, but she knew she was safe—she’d trained for years to handle herself against men twice her size. She should have felt uncomfortable, but everything about Cole felt right despite his obvious interest in her case. She should have felt anything—everything—but this overwhelming need to give him whatever he wanted to take. And to take even more for herself.

His grip was firm as he stretched her wrists higher, forcing her to arch her back to relieve the pressure. But as they skimmed down her throat his lips were more gentle than she would have dreamed possible.

“Tell me why,” he whispered, running his tongue over her collarbone.
“You already—” Her voice broke and she had to start again. “You already knew where to find me.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I found your file.” She pushed against him with all the strength she could muster, but he just snarled and pushed back.

“You should have stuck around—I would have explained everything. It would have saved me the trouble of hauling you back.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
His chuckle was low, wicked. “You don’t have a clue what I’ll dare.”