I have a teasing extract from The Heart of Doctor Steele by Colette Dixon on my blog today ...... I hope you enjoy it!
THE HEART OF DOCTOR STEELE
BY
COLETTE DIXON
Are the rumors about him true? She intends to find out.
The mysterious Dr. Steele has taken up residence next door, and scandalous rumors about him are spreading through Margaret Landeau’s small Massachusetts town. Rumours of women he’s ill-used and exploited for his experimental surgeries. Never one to believe gossip, Margaret arms herself with a basket of baked goods and ventures to discover the truth from the man himself.
John Steele has lost everything. His parents, his aunt, too many women he intended to save, and his good name. All he has left is his aunt’s home in a far-flung village and a library he’s stocked with whiskey. He has nothing to offer anyone. Especially not the bold woman next door whose passion for healing reminds him of the man he once was.
But when a dangerously ill girl arrives on his doorstep, pleading for help, Margaret is thrust into his world. She will learn who the real Dr. John Steele truly is, and soon, not even his dark past can stop her from fighting for the brilliant doctor she now loves. But he must deny his crushing desire for her—loving a man like him can only cast a shadow over her own bright future.
EXTRACT
Margaret has just delivered a welcome basket to her intriguing new neighbour who she found to be extremely rude—she told him as much before he closed the door on her face.
He stood and moved to the curtain again, once he was sure she could no longer be on his property. After a visual confirmation of this, he opened the door and brought in her damned basket.
A righteous church do-gooder. That’s likely all she was. He’d been right to close the door on any entanglement with the neighbours. But he found he was curious what these goods were that she’d so proudly forged with her own hands.
On the dining room table, he placed the basket and his drink in close reach. She’d tied the twisted reed handle with a bow of lavender ribbon. He let the silky feel of the fabric smooth over his fingers as he toyed with untying the bow. Brought it to his nose, once freed, and inhaled.
A sharp scent of dye mingled with the softer scents of thread and a musky citrus—bergamot, he realized. The same familiar smell that had drifted toward him from her person when she’d stood at his threshold.
He twined the ribbon into a coil and placed it in his pocket. Beneath the hinged door of the basket lay a collection of goods. A jar of jam—strawberry. Little cakes studded with dried fruit wrapped in waxed paper.
He allowed himself a bite. The flavors of cardamom and apricot exploded on his tongue. He dropped into the chair and greedily finished off all four little cakes. Then he unscrewed the jar lid and dipped a finger into the fruit gelatin.
A sense of comfort bloomed beneath his ribs.
Quickly, he refitted the lid and reached for his drink. One abundant swallow of burning liquid chased away the soft yearning.
He must not succumb to the temptation of her.
He couldn’t want her. He was already beyond repair.
Purchase Link - www.books2read.com/heartofdrsteele
Meet the Author
Author Bio – Colette Dixon writes steamy stories with heart and humour about slightly tortured people who learn how love can heal. For more years than she cares to admit, she worked in a hospital while dreaming up love story plots. A farm girl who landed in Chicago, she loves to eat (food made by others), drink tea, and sun herself at every chance she can get to survive the Midwest winter.
Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/CDixonBooks
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