Title: More Than Anything
Author: Natasha Anders
Release Date: June 11, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Tina Jenson belongs to the same social stratum as Harris Chapman, but he’s out of her league—at least that’s what she thinks before they jump in bed together. It’s the perfect night, but when she overhears crude, hurtful comments the next morning, she can’t get away fast enough.
Ten years later, Tina’s life is a mess. That night with Harris didn’t just hurt her feelings; it started a cascade of disappointment and heartbreak. Every time she bumps into Harris, her heart twists inside out. She still wants him, but she’s harboring a painful secret from their night together that she’s not ready to reveal.
Crossed signals, high-society whispers, and shame have kept Tina and Harris apart for years, but deep down, they’re hungry for each other and eager to write their own rules. Can they let go of the past and find their way back to each other, or are the barriers between them too high and too strong?
More Than Anything Excerpt
“How you’d like your steak cooked?” Harris asked.
“Medium
rare.” Tina retreated to one of the mismatched tall stools at the
breakfast bar and clambered up onto it. She watched him competently move
around the kitchen, cleaning and washing the spuds before readying them
to go into the oven. He hummed softly beneath his breath as he worked …
the tune was very familiar, but because his humming was so off-key, she
couldn’t quite place it. The title hovered on the edge of her brain.
“Ugh, what is the name of that song? It’s driving me crazy!”
He looked up, startled. “What song?”
“The one you’re humming.”
“I’m
not sure. Wait…” He hummed again and then breathed a few lyrics in a
falsetto voice that reduced Tina to stitches. He repeated the same two
words over and over again. And the words, combined with the seriously
off-key tune, were definitely familiar to her.
He
shook his head before saying, “I’m not sure what that song’s called …
hey, stop laughing. I know for a fact your singing voice isn’t much
better.” His offended observation just made her laugh harder. “Do you
know the song title?”
“It’s…”
She gasped for breath, then broke down into gales of laughter again
when she glanced up into his expectant face. She folded her arms on the
countertop and dropped her head for a moment as she tried to bring her
giggles under control. Once the laughter abated, she lifted her gaze to
his smiling eyes—he didn’t really look offended at all, just gently
amused. “I’m sorry. It’s not your singing … okay, it kind of is. But I
think I found it funnier that you were asking for the song’s title when
you k-kept…” She inhaled deeply when it felt like the laughter was
threatening again. “Kept singing it in that godawful voice.”
“What do you mean?”
“The song’s called ‘No One,’ Harris. By Alicia Keys.”
“Oh.”
He twisted his face into a sheepish grimace before chuckling, the sound
deep and masculine. “That makes sense. I like that song.”
She did too. In fact…
“We
danced to that song. On my twentieth birthday,” he said, his voice
quietly reminiscent. She nodded, surprised that he remembered the song,
considering the state he had been in that night.
“I
know.” Danced. And then kissed. Her very first kiss. The song had come
to mean so much more to her, but she determinedly tamped down those
particular memories.
Amusement
fled, and they exchanged an uncomfortable look before both averted
their eyes. Silence descended, their troubled history once again
asserting itself between them. Tina nervously drummed her fingers on the
Formica countertop.
“Tina.” His voice sounded anguished. “If I could do it all over again…”
She stopped tapping and lifted her hand to prevent him from saying anything further.
“Let’s not go
into this again, Harris.” She watched him screw his eyes shut as he
battled with what looked like some pretty powerful emotions.
“Damn.” The word was soft and fierce and sounded like a prayer.
“Why
don’t we…” She paused as she considered the words she was about to
utter. No matter which way she phrased them, they would seem like an
olive branch. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted to extend one yet. Or
ever. Still, she was in his—temporary—home, about to break bread with
him, so to speak, and maybe—for her emotional health—it would be best.
“Why don’t we set this aside? For today at least.”
She watched his throat move as he swallowed and then shifted her gaze to his navy-blue eyes, which were alight with gratitude.
“I’d like that,” he said gruffly, offering her the tiniest of smiles.
Tina heaved a relieved sigh, feeling lighter than she had in months. Possibly years.
“Good. Now, how about you get those steaks on? I’m starving.”
Author Biography
Natasha Anders was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She spent the last nine years working as an assistant English teacher in Niigata, Japan, where she became a legendary karaoke diva. Natasha is currently living in Cape Town with her temperamental and opinionated budgie, Sir Oliver Spencer, who has kindly deigned to share his apartment with her. Please feel free to contact her (or Oliver) on Twitter @satyne1.
Social Media Links
Website: https://natashaanders.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/satyne1
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