Cutting Loose

Cutting Loose By Lise Fuller

ISBN #1-4199-0441-8

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Once Burned…

Reserved zoologist Miranda Harper would do anything to avoid dating a jock, especially the self-absorbed athletes sent by her wilder young sister, Danielle. Yet when the zoo’s administrator threatens to sell her favorite chimp, Mira needs the clout only her sister’s ad agency can bring. Dani agrees — with a catch long enough to make a wide receiver proud. Mira must run wild with her for seven full days and lend her voice to a new commercial. Problem is, Mira has to work with Dani’s ex-pro football-playing boss, a man she’s determined to avoid yet who fires her libido like no other. When her sister entrusts the job of “going wild” to her hunky boss, heat broils between them, and Mira is forced to face her greatest torment — her latent sexuality.

Twice Shy…

Gary Staunton’s biggest deal to date depends on the Mira’s sexy voice. But his concentration with the job shatters around her and his desire for her lush body leads him astray. He’s damaged property. She deserves better. But when Mira switches the deal from platonic involvement to passionate encounter, Gary can’t resist temptation, risking the future of his firm — and his ego.

Excerpt

Her eyes hurt. She hadn’t even opened them and they hurt. She thought for sure a drum beat in her brain. The steady rhythm pounding behind her eyeballs clued her in.

“God, what did I do?” Her eyelids were swollen shut. She rubbed them and forced her lids open, blinking as they broke apart. Sitting up, she glanced around. Where was she?

The noise of clanging pans brought her back to reality. She’d been with Gary. Threw up on his clothes if she remembered right. Now she slept in his bed? She glanced briefly under the covers. Bare to the bone, except for her underwear. The shirt she had worn lay on the floor and the shorts were folded and stacked on the dresser. “Oh, God,” she moaned and plopped her head back on the pillows. What had she done?

The memory came back to her like a freight train. She’d come on to him. Didn’t he say no? She buried her face in the pillow. The fabric smelled like him. “Guess not.”

The door made a small squeak when it opened. “You okay?” Gary’s voice floated through.

She pulled the pillow over her head. “Probably not.”

His deep chuckle rumbled. “You’ll feel better after you eat, if you can.”

She couldn’t look at him. “You mind telling me what happened last night?” She changed her mind and peeked out. He’d dressed in boxers, just boxers, and almost every sculpted inch of him showed. Did she breathe?

His brawny arms crossed and he leaned against the doorjamb—smiling, of course.

“Oh, God. Never mind.” She released the edge of the pillow she held, causing everything to go dark. “I don’t want to know.”

“Why?” His voice sounded closer. The bed sunk under his weight.

She peeked out again. “Because I think I’ll hate myself.”

He lifted the pillow. “And here I thought you’d hate me.”

She swallowed and looked at him. “Why would I hate you? I’m the one who asked. You just accommodated.”

“Accommodated?”

He looked confused. She covered her eyes, embarrassed. “I hope we used a condom, assuming we got that far.” She looked at him again. “You are responsible in that department, aren’t you?”

His brows arched. “Very, look…”

“Just tell me one thing.” She pulled the sheet to her chin and propped herself on her elbow. “I wasn’t that bad, was I?”

He closed his eyes and touched his forehead as if he had a headache. Then he started to laugh. “You don’t remember anything?”

She shook her head. “Last thing I remember was laying on the couch.”

He brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Would you believe me if I told you nothing happened?”

She lifted the sheet and peered at her nude body again. “No.” She covered herself.
He looked at the floor then at her. “You had my shirt on when I put you to bed.”

“Yeah, I bet.” She clicked her tongue.

He laughed and studied his hands. His lip jutted out when he looked at her. “Did you have fun last night?”

“No.” She’d almost cut him off before he finished. “I mean…” She dropped back against the pillow. “I have no idea.”

The baby-you-love-me grin came on his face again. Her body flushed with embarrassment.
“My offer from last night is still open. How about I take you out tonight, and we talk about it?”

“Tonight?” She arched her brows. “You want to take me out?”

He nodded. “Believe it or not, Mira, I find you fascinating. And I need your help.”

“My help? But, I’m…supposed to be doing wild things with my sister.”

He leaned nearer and placed both his hands on either side of her, studying her. “What if I help out? We can do wild things together.”

Her libido went nuts. She coughed, trying to buy time. He came way too close. “Why would you want to?” She inched farther under the sheet, trying to regain control of her faithless body.

He inched closer. “Mira, we’re adults. What’s wrong with us getting to know each other?” He eyed her. “I promise we won’t do anything you don’t want.”

She licked her lips.

Longing came into his eyes again and he kissed her. Slow. The tip of his tongue painted her lips then delved briefly inside.

She let him. God, did she let him. In that second, she’d have let him do anything he wanted.
When he pulled away, she heard herself moan.

“Tonight, then?”

His baby blues pierced the shredded armor she’d welded around her sex drive. Blood rushed to her head and she couldn’t think.
“Mira?”

Instead of speaking, she nodded like a spring-loaded doll.

He grinned and kissed her neck. “I’ll pick you up at seven. Why don’t you get dressed? I have breakfast waiting for you.” He paused. “I’ll have an aspirin waiting for that headache, too.”

He left, closing the door on the way out. She inched herself up and looked at the oversized shirt on the floor.

Okay, so what did happen?

* * * * *

Nothing. Nothing happened.

Gary marched into the tall office building, which housed his office, almost running into a crowd coming out. He apologized and moved on, his thoughts jumbled. He wanted to tell Mira the truth, but something stopped him from an all out push to convince her. Maybe because he didn’t know how much of “nothing” was true. Something did happen—to him.

The thought pestered him after he’d dropped her off at her place. His jaw clenched. Yeah, he’d kissed her, even held her tight. And the view…

“Oh, Christ.” He took a breath to steady himself. He hadn’t touched her, not in the biblical sense anyway. But he wanted to. God, how he wanted to.

He ran a hand through his hair. He figured she’d gotten hot during the night and stripped. That had to be it because as much as he wanted to see what hid under that shirt, he sure as hell didn’t walk in his sleep and take it off. Fact was, he’d grown hot during the night, too, and he’d made certain to keep his clothes on. Once naked, the temptation to crawl in bed with the beauty would have killed him.

He exhaled and tried to relax. Much as he wanted to, tossing around in the sheets with Mira wouldn’t be a good business decision. A good businessman didn’t let anything jeopardize a major project. And he was a good businessman. This was the game for him, the Superbowl of advertising. He intended to win.

Copyright © LISE FULLER, 2006.

All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

Reviews

“Zoologist Miranda Harper usually spends more time with primates then men. When her boss tells her he intends to sell her favorite chimp, she’s forced to turn to her sister for help. Miranda’s sister Dani has an idea; Mira can be the voice for the new commercial that Dani and her boss, Gray Staunton, are working on.

Gary and Mira are attracted to each other, but both are unwilling to get involved. However, it doesn’t take long before they give into the passion between them. But, both Gary and Mira are haunted by events in their past. Can they overcome their fears and find happiness together?

Cutting Loose is the second book that I’ve read by Lise Fuller but it most certainly won’t be the last. I fell in love with Gary and Mira (and Sara the chimp). Sexy and funny, Cutting Loose is a book sure to please. And I was intrigued by the chance of a future story for Dani.

Readers who have never read Lise Fuller will want to pick up this book and her previous book, On Dangers Edge, one of my favorite electronic romantic suspense books. With talent like this, Lise Fuller is an author to watch. I will be anxiously awaiting her next offering!” – Melissa from Joyfully Reviewed

“Cutting Loose is a warmhearted romance that you will enjoy from beginning to end. Lise Fuller has drawn upon her main characters insecurities and disappointments in life to weave a tale that will touch your heart and make you laugh. Ms Fuller shows a rare talent for writing a story that readers will easily relate to. I could see this tale playing out in front of my eyes like a movie. As the tension built between Mira and Gary, my reading picked up pace and I devoured this book… I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romances with a dash of comedy thrown in. So, take a walk on the wild side and grab Cutting Loose.” – 4 Ribbons | Belle Rouge at Romance Junkies

“Cutting Loose is an uplifting, romantic tale that is rich in characters. Their personalities are wonderful, believable, and will make readers ache that two such caring people think they are unworthy of lasting love. The heat simmering between them in every scene is sensual and leads to wonderfully crafted love scenes. This romance will make you smile and warm your heart.” – 4 Angels | Amanda at Fallen Angels

“This was a fun story from beginning to end. You laugh, you cheer, and you feel the love in the air. The vines of this story wrap you up and keep you held tightly until the very end. I enjoyed it thoroughly.” - 4 Cups | Shannon Anicas, Coffee Time Romance
“A satisfyingly engaging read, grab your copy of Cutting Loose today.” – Kathy Samuels of Romance Reviews Today