Excerpt: 'Scarred' by Marie Long

Marie Long shares an excerpt from her new release, Scarred, book one in The Anderson Brothers Series.

First, here's the blurb about the book:

Sometimes, love comes with a price…

The past is always gonna try and bring you down, but you gotta fight. Fight hard for what you love. Fight to win is what twenty-two-year-old Dominick Anderson believes, but his life is a struggle. Growing up with an abusive father has made Dominick slow to love and trust, and he relies on his brother Kevin to keep him on a straight path.

Dominick fights his demons every day, every night. Now a sophomore at the University of Washington and working a steady job at a mechanic's shop, Dominick wants to create a better life and find the future his father never wanted him to have.

Dominick suppresses his identity and feelings until he meets Denise Ramsey. Smart, stunningly gorgeous, and sharing his love for motorcycles, Denise is everything Dominick longs for in a girl but knows he can never have. When a past love threatens her life and brings out Dominick's suppressed dark side, he must decide if she's worth the risk.

Marie sets the scene for us …

Marie: Dominick and Denise had recently met at a convenience store in Seattle. Denise was having car trouble, and Dominick offered to help her. After successfully fixing Denise's car, Dominick and Denise decide to go out on a dinner date the following night as "payment." Too excited of the opportunities, Dominick decides to pick Denise up on his motorcycle, not thinking that she might be wary of riding.

Having never ridden a motorcycle before, Denise is wary of the whole idea, and is having second thoughts about the date. Now Dominick has to convince Denise to trust him, and hopefully salvage what is left of what he thought would be the perfect date.

EXCERPT

"So, about that motorcycle … "

I sigh deeply. "I just thought that—"

"We were going to Jade Fusion. Does it look like I'm dressed to ride a damn motorcycle?"

I cringe. Not really, but you do look stunning. "Look, if you really don't wanna ride, we can take your car."

She looks thoughtful. "Were you really expecting me to get on that thing?"

The fact that she doesn't acknowledge my previous comment tells me that she might possibly be reconsidering. God, I sure hope so. "I didn't know what to expect, but I had hoped you might have been feeling a little adventurous tonight."

"It looks dangerous."

"Life is dangerous sometimes."

"What if I fall off?"

I chuckle to myself. Her fear and denial are more than obvious now. "I won't let you fall off. Trust me."

Her thin eyebrows rise. "I barely even know you."

"True, but how else will we get to know each other if we don't take chances?"

With pursed lips, she looks hesitantly at my parked bike. "I don't know. Maybe we should just take my car."

"Up to you," I say with a shrug. "But …" Slowly, I reach for her hand. I can't help it—her hand is so close to mine, I can feel her warmth. Gently, I glide my fingers over hers, and feel her soft, smooth skin. "I promise you everything will be okay." I look down at her hand and don't feel inclined to let go. Not yet. Not at all. I want to kiss her hand so badly, but she seems surprised enough by my actions.

Her eyes drift to mine, then down to our hands. Thankfully, she doesn't pull away. "Okay. Just this once. I'm holding you to your promise. I better not fall off." She smiles slightly. "Let me grab my purse."

I exhale. It's progress in a big way. She's trusting me. I let go of her hand and watch her disappear back inside the house. I hear voices rise from within, and then Denise comes back outside, looking slightly annoyed.

"All right, let's go," she says.

I keep my thoughts about their argument to myself and lead Denise down the walkway to my bike.

She runs her hand along the red tank and over the seat. There's hesitation in her eyes.

Smiling reassuringly, I unlock the extra helmet from the side of the bike and hand it to her. "Here. You need to wear this."

She gingerly takes the helmet and stares at it. It's a black-and-white full-face helmet with gold-colored abstract designs on it. There are signs of obvious wear on the helmet, but it's otherwise fully functional. She slips it on over her head—and over that fantastic hairdo that she'd probably just gotten done—and I help her. The helmet is a little big but seems to fit her well enough. After securing the strap under her chin, I look her over. "How's that?"

She pulls up the face shield and grumbles, "I can't believe I'm doing this. This is totally going to mess up my hair."

I laugh. "It'll be fine. Your hair is beautiful regardless."

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

I shrug out of my jacket and hand it to her. "Here. So you won't get too cold."

"Thanks," she says, taking it. "But what about you?"

"I'll be fine." I'm already hot just thinking about you sitting behind me.

She slings her small square purse across her body and puts on the jacket.

I slip on my helmet and mount my bike. "Come on." I motion to the raised back seat for passengers. "Sit in that spot behind me."

"How do I get on?"

I point to the foot pegs on either side of the lower frame, near the back tire. "Put one foot there, swing your other leg over, and sit."

"Geez, glad I wore pants," she mutters, and I chuckle.

She hesitates a moment before managing to heft herself up. That whiff of pears and cocoa plays with my senses again. "Am I sitting right?" she asks, her voice muffled from the helmet.

I look behind me and nod. "Good. Now, keep your feet there, wrap your arms around my waist and …" I fall silent as I feel her slender arms around me. Her hands squeeze my abs, and I feel the softness of the rest of her body pressing against my back. I swallow a lump in my throat.

"Am I holding too tight?" she asks.

I swallow again. "N…No, not at all. Hold as tight as you need to, and keep your arms around me."

"Don't worry, I don't intend to let go."

Find out more about Marie and her books at www.marielongauthor.com.