Excerpt: 'Gypsy Heat' by Jillian Neal

Jillian Neal joins us to share an excerpt from her new release, Gypsy Heat, the latest in her Gypsy Beach series.

About the book:

Nadya Montgomery was Gypsy Beach's own personal wild child. There was nothing she wouldn't do, especially when it came to Grady Havens. Until disaster struck and tore them apart. Desperate to protect Grady, she ran away from everything and everyone she'd ever known.

Fourteen years later, Nadya returns to the beach to try to rebuild some semblance of her life out of her ex-husband's shadow, but that means returning to her past and seeing Grady Havens again.

Now a charter boat Captain constantly trying to put his past behind him, Grady doesn't know what to make of Nadya's return. All he knows is she was always meant to be his, and he intends to make his claim. He wants her back in his life and most certainly back in his bed.

When his entire family is threatened, he's caught between rekindling his relationship with Nadya and protecting what belongs to him.

Together they try to rebuild what always should have been, but their pasts are determined to keep them ensnared. As passions ignite between them, they realize that even Grady may not be able to keep her safe this time.

Jillian sets the scene for us …

Jillian: Uncertain what to do, Nadya Montgomery left the tiny beach town that raised her, everything she knew, and everyone she loved, when she was only 16 years old. Fourteen years later, fleeing an abusive marriage, she returns to Gypsy Beach, but is nervous to revisit her past and all of the pain that it held. When she left Gypsy Beach, she ran away from the love of her life, Grady Havens. Now, she's a little nervous about possibly seeing him again. She doesn't quite know how he'll react. In this scene, we see Nadya bumping into Grady's little brother, Beau, at her uncle's coffee shop. From here, the love and lore that comes from Gypsy Beach sets to rectify Grady and Nadya's past, but that is no easy task.

EXCERPT

Nadya tried to blink back the tears that stung her eyes as Uncle Mac slowly traversed the road that ran behind Gypsy Beach. This wasn't at all how it was supposed to look. The fresh coats of paint, new roofs, and restored shop fronts weren't at all how she remembered them. Her eyes couldn't help but gaze at the new large boat bays and office area along the docks that was now Havens' Charter Company. Aunt Molly told her the town had flourished after the storm, that people had restored everything, but at that moment, she just needed it to be the town that had raised her. Mystic Mermaids, the souvenir shop where she always purchased toe rings and dirty Romance novels as a teen when she had a little money, was twice the size it had been when she'd run away. Even Pinky's tiny funnel cake shop had a new coat of paint and a new front porch. The Gypsy Wishing Well was now neon green, and the new wooden wish box took up half of the porch. It used to be a dilapidated, hinged, metal toolbox with a slit in the top.

What little remained of her battered heart sank to her feet. She grimaced as Uncle Mac pulled his truck into the parking lot of Montgomery's Surf, Turf, and Coffee Shop. Even it had been expanded and painted. Nothing looked the same. Why did everything have to change? Why had she ever left?

Nadya told herself that she did want to see her Aunt Molly. It was the rest of the town she had no desire to greet. Just go in, say hello, and get out. Her waist-length black hair whipped across her face when she stepped onto the sandy lot. The same wind that had carried her all the way home still seemed restless, as if it hadn't quite hit its intended mark but wasn't giving up. At least her hair covered the bruise momentarily.

With one last glance back towards the Inn on the North end of the beach, her feet propelled her forward, anxious to get this portion of her trip over with. She hated how weak the bruises made her feel. They were foreign to her. How could something exist on her body that hadn't come from her soul? Some kind of alien marking that refused to leave. Willing them to heal faster, she let Uncle Mac guide her through the doors.

Her breaths came easier when she scanned the patrons seated at the bar and the surrounding tables. She didn't recognize anyone. It was an odd juxtaposition. She didn't want the town to have changed, yet she didn't want to see anyone that knew her. Perhaps what she wanted was to live alone inside her memories. Tourists or newcomers to the beach would have no idea who she was. Strangers were far more comforting than anyone else, as long as they didn't get too close.

Mac and Molly had a quick, silent conversation with their eyes. Nadya pretended not to notice.

"Nady, baby girl, give me a hug." Molly guided Nadya into her arms. The hug was gentle. Unable to resist, she laid her head on her aunt's shoulder and allowed herself to really be loved. Her entire being drank in the tender care. "Sit down. I'll get you some coffee."

"Thanks, Aunt Molly." Nadya settled on one of the barstools and tried to relax. No one seemed to have paid too much attention to her, anyway. She sipped the outstanding coffee and felt her soul soothe yet again. This was precisely what she needed; a few weeks to bask in the beach that had raised her, to be cared for, and to locate herself again. After that, she'd be ready to move on. She giggled when she heard her Aunt begin muttering several terse words in Romani. Aunt Molly's curses were always very creative.

"Nadya? Is that you?"

Dammit! She fought not to whimper and forced herself to swivel on the barstool.

"Beau …?" Her mouth hung open. How had Grady's baby brother gone from a gangly pre-teen boy to a full grown man? She reminded herself that she hadn't seen him in fourteen years. Another fierce ache drowned her soul.

Uncle Mac stepped in, always trying to rescue her. "Beau, how are ya, son? Saw the Gemini head out this morning. They let you go with 'um this time? You bring anything back?"

Beau hadn't taken his eyes off of Nadya. He managed a half nod. "Yes, sir. I went. Grady took out a bunch of tourists. They got several drums and a few bass. Pulled in a shark, but the flounder aren't biting. Too hot. Grady got a mess of cobia, so that'll be good. He'd hardly had his line in the water when he caught 'um, but that's Grady."

Please stop saying his name. It hurts too badly. Nadya fought to keep the plea inside her head.

"Hey, uh … does Grady know you're back?"

Find out more about Jillian and her books at jillianneal.com.