Love in Suspense: Exclusive excerpt from 'Hart Attack' by Cristin Harber

Coming Nov. 18 is the newest installment in the super sexy, romantic suspense Titan series from USA TODAY and New York Times bestselling author Cristin Harber. In Hart Attack, we experience Beth and Roman's story as the smoldering attraction between them roars to life. But can a real relationship thrive between them? Can they move beyond their past … their guilt … that has kept them apart?

I'm excited to share with you an exclusive excerpt from Hart Attack.

Here's the synopsis (courtesy of Mill Creek Press):

Outside of Titan Group, there are few people that Roman Hart would die for. He's a soldier, a protector, and he's haunted that one of the people he should've been able to protect didn't let him. That was years ago, and now a hardened heart and a cocky attitude are his impenetrable shields, until one woman—one challenge—drives him to distraction.

On the outside, Beth Tourne has it all. Luxury car, gorgeous condo, and a job partying with the rich and famous. It's a plush CIA cover, but she wants more. Anything for an adrenaline rush that can override her guilty numbness and let her forget the tragedy she never saw coming.

Their scars make them perfect operatives. Their mirrored pasts give them deep, wounded reasons to stay alone. But the more they ignore the tension, the more vulnerable they become. Survival means trust. In one another, behind closed doors, and on the job. The only way they're making it out alive is if they find peace while waging a war.

Here's the excerpt …

Beth leaned against the counter, staring at a wrinkle that might not be so imaginary, and cursed everything. What she wanted. What she missed. What she could never have again. Plus the job. That deserved a lot of cursing.

Then she closed her eyes and ordered herself to get over it.

This was the deal. The job. She'd committed herself to doing what it took for the sake of her country. Patriotic duty. If she could take a bullet for the country she loved, surely she could get close with a handsome guy.

Maybe… Her stomach turned. Maybe not. No. She could do this job. She could…

She put on her lip gloss, threw back her shoulders, and decided to ask Roman to drop her off at home. She'd make herself dinner, do a little Googling on Gregori Naydenov and the Sun Bowl, and she'd take on the job. Easy.

"You've got this," she said to herself, looking like an idiot. Talking to the mirror in the bathroom wasn't her smoothest move, but it was the needed pep talk. She pushed open the bathroom door, powered out, and slammed into a towering hulk of muscle.

"Party girl. You okay?"

Well, the bathroom pep talk had been a good one until she had run into Roman. His eyes held her, and the back hall seemed too narrow, like the ceiling was dropping and the walls were closing. Her cheeks and neck flushed. Thick anticipation hung over them. And screw it all, she couldn't take a deep breath. There was no hiding from him tonight. Maybe ever.

"Hey," she whispered before swallowing the remnants of her pity party. "What's up?"

"You wobbled away, thought I should check on you."

"I didn't wobble." She turned, but his hand caught her shoulder. The electric air around them stopped moving. Just him and her, and she couldn't break away. "It doesn't matter."

"Beth…"

She melted at her name on his tongue. He closed the space between them, and the warmth from his hard abs pressed against hers.

His thumb grazed her ear when he pushed back her hair. His lips tickled as he whispered, "Cash and Nic left."

She knew that would happen. Hoped it would, too, maybe. But that hope was pressed far back in her mind. Because she could never be with Roman…

He bent closer. His lips teased. Strong hands glanced off her shoulders, sliding down her arms. Everything about him was overwhelming. Broad. Rugged. Sexy. Just too much.

Shivers shot down her back because, except for the desperate need for self-preservation, she wanted Roman. Badly. And he knew it. Damn.

"You want to go?" he asked. His expressive eyes tested her boundaries. Their flirting in front of everyone was fine, almost expected. Last night had been different, but she'd shut that down. Now, alone again, they were still walking a fine line of why the hell not?

About the author …

Cristin Harber is a USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense and military romance author. Fans voted her onto Amazon's Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was a No. 1 romantic suspense, No. 1 military romance, and a USA TODAY Top 100 bestseller. She lives outside Washington, D.C., with her family and English Bulldog.

Find out more about Cristin and her books at cristinharber.com.

Vilma Gonzalez is a blogger, reader, marketer, wife and mom. She has an insatiable appetite for happily ever afters and a deep love of the written word. You can find more about her and read full book reviews at Vilma's Book Blog. Please e-mail Vilma at loveinsuspense@gmail.com about content related to this column. Due to the volume of mail, e-mails may not be answered personally, but all will be read.