Derailed (Terminal Book 2) (14 page)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Wow... This time last year I was coming close to writing “THE END” on my very first novel, and here I am publishing my third. WOW!

I want to thank my husband for staying married to me during this adventure. I sit here on our anniversary looking at sexy pictures and copying smutty lines from Derailed for teasers, and you are still here. Thank you. I love you.

Dirty Girls! Mary, Kellie, Keri, Caitlin, Erin, Stephanie, April, Brooke, Amy, Jill, Zee, Amanda, Maryann, Shelley, Tawna, Patty, Shaz, Cassandra, Amanda, Jenna, Stacy, Tiffany, Jessica, Jennifer, Kelly, Tristina, Danielle, Donna, Nicole, Beth Ann, Terrill, Christina, Lisa, Penny, Amy, Lela, Carrie, Kat and Kevin. You are all amazing. THANK YOU for your support in my journey.

Team Entertwine. Xavier... marketing QUEEN. Nina...swagamasta. Angie...Bosslady. Kathy Krick... Thank you for making me sound smart! Kim...thank you for making sure I do what Kathy tells me to do. Krystin and Leambra...Pimps extraordinairre! I love you all! Thank you... Again....for tolerating me :)

Phnie. You were my biggest cheerleader this time around. You helped me find Des, you loved and loathed him along with me. Love you sista.

Johnny, thank you so much for the valuable info. You helped me get into Des' head.

Love this book, Try Say Something by Salice Rodgers

Excerpt

Chapter One

He walks in with an air of authority. His head held high and his hands on his hips looking around the room. My whole body goes stiff every time I see him and my breath catches in my throat. He has been coming into the restaurant for the last week and every time he does he sits in the same spot and orders the same thing. Nothing special, just whatever our special is for the night. He's gorgeous with brown hair and tattoos that cover most of his arms. His eyes draw me in as soon as I look at him.

“Welcome back to Frank's. What can I get you to drink?”

He looks up from the table and says nothing for so long I start to ask my question again. I know he will order the same thing he always does but Frank would shit if I didn't ask.

“What's your name?”

“Uh.” 

I look to my uniform shirt and realize I don't have my name tag on today. Maybe that's why Frank looked like he wanted to chew me out this morning. He sits and waits looking amused.

“Well?”

“Jos... Joslynn.”

“It's nice to meet you, Jos... Joslynn, my name is Marshall.”

His voice is like pure sex. I can see small freckles scattered all over his face, and his eyes are a deep green. His voice feels so familiar, like I have heard it before, like I should know who he is. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

“Nice to meet you too, Marshall.”

I'm shocked I can even say a full sentence.

“I'll have whatever the special is for the day.”

“And your drink?”

“Tea.”

I jot down his order with shaky hands and go to make his drink. I don't know why he makes me so nervous. It's not like I don't see gorgeous men all the time, and I have no problem taking their order. But their voice alone doesn’t make me need new panties. No one has affected me like he does. I get his drink and take it to the table setting it down in front of him. He's on his cell so my presence isn't noticed.

Whoever he's talking to must be in big trouble.

“I don't care how you get it done just get it done... No…”

I carry on with my orders feeling bad about listening to any of his conversation. I blame it on his sexy, gruff voice. I could sit and listen to him talk for hours and never be sick of hearing him talk.

“Order up, Jos,” Tank yells from the back.

Tank is our cook and the nickname suits him well. He is every bit of seven feet tall and all muscle. His hair is blond, and his eyes tell stories of a lot of sorrow. Frank said he hired Tank one night after seeing him ask for money at the gas station. He didn't know if he could cook or not, but he said he couldn't walk away knowing there was some way he could help.

Walking back to Marshall's table, I see that he is off the phone and the same look of authority he had before is back on his face now as he looks around yet again. I set his food down, and he jumps.

“Sorry just your food,” I say and smile.

Big mistake! His smile just makes his eyes glow more and my body soon forgets that I have other food to give out. He sits there watching me, never saying a word until I shake my head and go about my job. This man coming in every day is going to make things hard for me. I seem to forget how to breathe or walk when he’s here.