I had gone to high school with Gabriel Gordon. Despite his heavenly name and matching beauty, Gabriel was anything but angelic. Rich, spoiled, and far too cynical for his age, he could easily charm the skirt off a prim beauty or a young teacher or two. Gabriel Gordon was mad, bad, and ...well, you probably know the rest.
The years hadn't changed him, despite taking over his father's company and expanding it into a multinational corporation. Unfortunately, it was just my luck that I found myself working in Gabriel's building. Although I had managed to avoid him for the better part of a month, a chance encounter in the elevator proved he was still an arrogant man who showed far too much interest in the shape of my mouth and nape of my neck.
From then on, Gabriel bedeviled me, teased me, and more often than not, made me want to throw things at his head. Still, just as in high school, I couldn't help but see the pain behind his lazy grin and the shadows in his crystalline gaze. When Gabriel confessed his love for me, I should have been the happiest woman in the world. Too bad I couldn't believe him...
Emma Adams had always considered herself level-headed, even-tempered, and most of all, sane. So how did she become someone who couldn't seem to push Gabriel Gordon away? No matter how sweet his words could be or how easily passion exploded between them, getting involved with the outrageously wealthy playboy had to be the height of insanity. Given their tumultuous natures and personal demons, there was only way a relationship between them could survive: in madness.
Excerpt:
Gabriel patted the space right next to him. “You’re very far, Emma. A
little too far. Why don’t you come this way a bit? The seat is much nicer
in this spot than the one you’re at now. That spot is lumpy you know.”
“Lumpy?”
“Yep. Terribly lumpy. It’s apt to bruise you. I’d hate to have that on my
conscience.”
“Right.” I slowly slid back towards him until we were almost thigh to
thigh. “You know I don’t remember you being like this.”
“While I remember you being exactly like this.”
I cocked my head, curious to hear what he thought of me. “Like how?”
Gabriel gestured with an elegant flick of his wrist. “You were like an
adorable bunny with very sharp teeth.”
“A bunny? You saw me as a bunny? Food of all predators. Wow.”
“But a bunny with very sharp teeth, Emma. Don’t forget about the teeth.”
He crossed his leg and stretched his arm along the top of the bench seat.
“So how do you see me now? Well, I hope.”
“Playful. Cheerful.”
“I was the same then too. Remember? I always teased you.”
“Yes, but this is different. Back then…” My voice trailed away. Gabriel
waited patiently for me to find my words. I thought to pick them carefully
but they came out blunted. “Back then there was always an undercurrent of
rage and sorrow with everything you did. You were a volcano ready to
explode.”
Gabriel didn’t deny it. “You always did see too much.” Before I had a
chance to reply, he reached for my hand. “And now?”
My heartbeat sped up. Feeling his palm against mine excited me. I
struggled to pretend that I wasn’t affected by his touch. “Now it seems
that you’re happier.”
“People change. Usually for the better.” Gabriel looked out the window,
seemingly watching the life happening outside the slow-moving limousine.
“Would you have been mine if I’d been more like this, Emma? Happy and
non-volcanic?”
*************
Gabriel patted the space right next to him. “You’re very far, Emma. A
little too far. Why don’t you come this way a bit? The seat is much nicer
in this spot than the one you’re at now. That spot is lumpy you know.”
“Lumpy?”
“Yep. Terribly lumpy. It’s apt to bruise you. I’d hate to have that on my
conscience.”
“Right.” I slowly slid back towards him until we were almost thigh to
thigh. “You know I don’t remember you being like this.”
“While I remember you being exactly like this.”
I cocked my head, curious to hear what he thought of me. “Like how?”
Gabriel gestured with an elegant flick of his wrist. “You were like an
adorable bunny with very sharp teeth.”
“A bunny? You saw me as a bunny? Food of all predators. Wow.”
“But a bunny with very sharp teeth, Emma. Don’t forget about the teeth.”
He crossed his leg and stretched his arm along the top of the bench seat.
“So how do you see me now? Well, I hope.”
“Playful. Cheerful.”
“I was the same then too. Remember? I always teased you.”
“Yes, but this is different. Back then…” My voice trailed away. Gabriel
waited patiently for me to find my words. I thought to pick them carefully
but they came out blunted. “Back then there was always an undercurrent of
rage and sorrow with everything you did. You were a volcano ready to
explode.”
Gabriel didn’t deny it. “You always did see too much.” Before I had a
chance to reply, he reached for my hand. “And now?”
My heartbeat sped up. Feeling his palm against mine excited me. I
struggled to pretend that I wasn’t affected by his touch. “Now it seems
that you’re happier.”
“People change. Usually for the better.” Gabriel looked out the window,
seemingly watching the life happening outside the slow-moving limousine.
“Would you have been mine if I’d been more like this, Emma? Happy and
non-volcanic?”
*************
About Anna
Anna is a lover of all things dark and passionate. Living in the Southeastern United States, she enjoys antiquing, DIY thrift store finds, sedate hiking along trails, and spending time with her family and menagerie of pets. Being the only girl in a household full of men makes it hard to always be a lady, but she gives it a good old college try.
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This was a hot read.
I really felt bad for Gabriel I thought Emma was to harsh on him in high school . I know it was for self preservation of her heart but it left them both broken. Fate sometimes a a beautiful thing but there are a lot of hurdles for Gabriel and Emma to jump. Some they may not be able to . One hot sexy scene. Fabulous ending. There's more to come with Gabriel & Emma in "Bad for You" fall 2013.
Quotes:
"You were like an adorable bunny with very sharp teeth."
"You smell so delicious. Like sunshine and Gabriel."
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mad-for-you-anna-antonia/1115814325?ean=2940016713182&itm=1&usri=2940016713182
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