Excerpt: 'Stupid Boy' by Cindy Miles

Cindy Miles returns to share with us an excerpt from today's new release, Stupid Boy, book two in her Stupid in Love series.

Cindy: Valentine's Day might have passed by for the rest of the world, but in my house, every day is Valentine's Day. I write about love — falling into it, out of it, and back again — 24/7, 365 days a year. And, well, I love every minute of it. Last year I shared the exclusive reveal for the first book in my Stupid in Love series, Stupid Girl, right here on the Happy Ever After blog. And, that was the start of a whirlwind roller-coaster ride for this Georgia gal. Turns out, a whole lot of readers were just as charmed as I was by the story of small-town Texas girl Olivia falling hard for Brax Jenkins, a Boston bad boy with arresting ice-blue eyes.

Stupid Girl fans know that a virginity dare set off major drama for Brax and Olivia on the campus of Winston University. But, they survived and thrived. In Stupid Boy, it's time for a little payback for the heartache the Kappas created with their devious dare, and straight-laced sorority president Harper Belle is just the person to pull it off. What she doesn't count on is Brax's estranged foster brother, Kane McCarthy, showing up on campus. One look from Kane, and Harper almost forgets her plans to bring down the bad boys on campus. One kiss, and she almost forgets her own name.

EXCERPT

This scene from Stupid Boy shows how a girl could get swept away …

I stretched my legs at the Covington recreational park as I did nearly every morning of my life. This morning was cold; my breath floated out of my body in white puffs. I snugged the knit hat over my ears, did a few body twists. The air sank into the fibers of my fleece jacket and stung my skin. I shoved my hands deep into my pockets.

"You're not starting without me, are you?"

I jumped at Kane's voice, but it was quickly replaced by the slamming of my heart and sharp intake of my breath. He'd parked on the other side of the pond and had jogged to me. Right now, his steady gait carried his long legs and muscular frame directly to me, and he didn't stop until his hands had cupped my face on either side, and his mouth had found mine. I couldn't get used to his kissing; I wasn't getting enough. His hands moved from my face, to my waist, and as his lips warmed against mine, he pulled me closer. My arms had escaped my pockets and now encircled his neck.

Almost like I knew what I was doing.

I didn't.

He suckled my bottom lip, and the sensuality of it had adrenaline humming in my ears. When I looked up at him, into that flawless face and coffee eyes, my knees felt soft. I was glad he still had ahold of me.

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to go insane over the holidays. Are you sure you won't come home with us to Olivia's for Thanksgiving?" he asked. His dark brows, perfectly arched, peeped out just below the black beanie he'd pulled over his head. "You know your secrets are safe there." He wagged those dark brows. "Endless kissing."

A smile tugged at my mouth. "Tempting. But," I sighed, stared away from his wise eyes before he saw something else I didn't want him to. "I have to go home, Kane."

For the very first time since, well, as long as I could remember, I felt compelled not to go home. It was scary, admitting that I'd rather be with Kane. We hadn't known each other for long—we really didn't know each other at all. Yet I couldn't deny the attraction, the pull I felt toward him. Instinctive and raw, I felt it just as strongly as I felt my own heart beating.

Again, his temporary status, not to mention his sketchy occupation, dropped a dose of reality back in my lap. I couldn't not go home, though. I was expected. I had no choice in the matter, really.

His mouth swept mine once more, and I breathed him in. Piney soap and clean shampoo. He made me lose my train of thought.

"All right, well, can I call you?" he asked.

We began to lope, making our first lap around the pond. "I would like that."

"Can I see you before you go?" he asked.

I threw him a glance, and noticed we both puffed out white clouds of air as our warm breath mingled. "I'd like that even more."

We finished our run, and it was easy for me to imagine Kane McCarthy existed on a different plane than he really did. One where I didn't have to hide seeing him. One where he didn't have a shady occupation. And one where we spent the holidays together. It was a novel idea. Novel and very, very dangerous to engage in. He held my jaw with his hand, tilted my head, and claimed my lips with his. His mouth settled over mine, and its sensation was addictive; I wanted it all the time. Another danger, I thought.

"Not to scare you away or anything," he said, "but I'm going to really miss you, Harper Belle."

I felt the blush creep over my skin. "I'm going to miss you, too, Kane McCarthy."

And I wished like anything that I didn't have to leave.

Find out more about Cindy and her books at www.cindy-miles.com.