Caipirinha
(Sean O’Leary’s drink of choice)
I was out to dinner a few weeks before I started working on
The Ex File, really, before it was even an idea in my head, much less a mumbled
recording on my phone’s voice recorder. I went to this lovely Brazilian
steakhouse in Downtown Indy called Fogo de Chao. I’d never been before, and as
I normally do, I try a new cocktail while I’m out if I know I won’t be driving.
The national drink of Brazil is the caipirinha, according to
their menu, and it sounded like a lovely drink for a summer afternoon’s retreat
into evening. Light, somewhat fizzy, with lime and the unmistakable kick of a
decently strong liquor, I fell in love at first swig. I loved it so much, I had
two that night. There may have been some dancing involved upon my return home,
but we shouldn’t speak of it.
Needless to say when I started writing the story to fill out
the sleepy skeleton I’d recorded in the wee hours of the morning, it was the
first thing that came to my mind when depicting something stronger than beer
but not along the same emotionally dour lines of scotch or straight whiskey. It
plays a role in the reunion of Sean and Ellie, and I love how that turned out.
So, without further ado, The Caipirinha:
½ lime, quartered
1 teaspoon white sugar
2 ½ fluid ounces of cachaça
1 cup of ice cubes
In a large rocks glass, squeeze and drop in 2/8 of the lime.
Add the sugar, crush the lime and mix with a spoon. Pour in the cachaça and
plenty of ice. Stir well.
*As an aside, I totally add some tonic water to cut the
liquor a bit, if for no other reason than me singing in public is only
acceptable at the karaoke bar and the grocery store produce section (don’t
ask).
Give it a try, and you won’t be sorry.
The Ex File
Behind the Blue Line Series
Book 1
Alexis D Craig
Genre: Erotic Suspense, Police Procedural, Hot Romance
Publisher: Hot Ink Press
Date of Publication: 2/7/2015
ISBN:
ASIN:
Number of pages: 148
Word Count: 59,931
Cover Artist: Laura Hidalgo of BookFabulous Designs
Book Description:
Second Chances Can Be Lethal
Narcotics Officer, Sean O’Leary is bitter after a messy divorce that has reinforced his solitary nature, leaving him only with his dog and a sword collection. He could never imagine that his former best friend may be the only woman to bring happiness into his lonely life.
Ellie Gardner knows loss; especially after she was banished from her best friend/crush's life by his jealous wife. Although the regret of walking away from the love of her life still stung, a chance encounter with Sean may change everything.
When Ellie and Sean reconnect, they could never expect it'd be in such an explosive way, leaving them both to gain the fulfillment of their 'what if's.
Finding love is hard enough without the past breathing down their necks, especially when said past has no intention of letting go. When Sean's ex, Pia Mastriani returns, Ellie must face her nemesis' relentless tactics to get Sean back, including eliminating Ellie if necessary.
Sean and Ellie’s relationship is put to the test but will they fare well while they go rummaging through The Ex File?
Excerpt 2:
Tempting fate,
he cupped her cheek, heartened when she didn’t turn away from him. “I may be a
lot of things,” he started, “but I’m not that kind of bastard. That much I can
promise.”
“But you didn’t
call.” Her voice was small, full of confusion and accusation even as she hooked
her fingers through his belt loops.
Sean rested his
forehead against hers, feeling the heat of her whiskey breath against his lips.
“You said you were going to call me right before you ran out the door the other
morning.” He hoped that by showing the parity of their situations, it would
make her feel better.
“I didn’t run.”
Ellie tilted her head back to look him in the eye, “I walked, with dignity and
great haste.” She held a straight face for only a moment before breaking into a
quiet chuckle.
He could feel
himself grinning like an idiot. He nuzzled his nose against hers. “Fine, you
left with great haste.”
She turned her
face away and mumbled something that sounded like, “I didn’t know what else to
do.”
“Eleanor,” he
purred as he placed a finger under chin and turned her face to his. She looked…
scared? Ashamed? It was several shades of emotion at once, and he wanted
nothing more than to hug her as tight as he could to make them go away. “El.
You know what I did last week?” She shook her head. He licked his lips and
laughed slightly. “I arrested a couple hookers, did some buys. Hung out with
Guinness. Went a little nuts on eBay for a couple antique swords. It’s an
exciting life I lead, huh?”
Ellie’s eyes
fell from his to his lips, finally landing on his chest. “I’m sorry for
doubting you.”
Sean threaded
his fingers through her hair as he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “No,
don’t apologize. We’re both kinda new at this.” When she looked back up at him,
she looked like she was about to cry. That wouldn’t do at all. He brushed his
lips across hers, pleased to see the surprise in her eyes. “We’ll work it out.”
She reached up
and tucked his bangs behind his ear, her fingertips igniting little sparks
against his skin as she trailed them down his neck to his shoulder. “I’m sure
we will.” When she arched up into him as she kissed him, he knew the heaven
he’d experienced the other night hadn’t been imagined. Her fingers wound in his
hair, the way her breath caught when he bit her neck, her leg hooked around
his, damn, he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed this.
The knock at the
door broke them apart for only a second. She looked at the door, and the clock
on the stove, before pulling him tight against her again. “Wrong house. They’ll
figure it out.”
That was all the
permission to continue he needed, grabbing her by the waist and lifting her
onto the counter. Stepping between her legs, he dropped his hand to her knee,
moving it slowly up her thigh and dragged her dress with it. Ellie tugged at
the collar and sleeves of his button down shirt, until he stopped only long
enough to toss it into the living room over the half-wall.
He framed her
face in his hands and peppered her lips with tiny kisses and nibbles as she
wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed herself as close to him as she
could be while still dressed.
The banging on
the front door recommenced, this time with the familiar timber of a cop on a
mission. “Eleanor Gardner. Open the door now or I’m coming in there.”
About the Author:
Alexis is a writer with a couple of day jobs. Working for two different police agencies, it's a juggling act to find time to write.
She is also an aunt, godmother, avid cyclist, serial hobbyist, ghost hunter, and collector of stray animals. Her husband is a loving, patient man.
The author of Imminent Danger, Undercover Seduction, and Give Me Shelter with Lachesis Press, and she has three more novels coming out in 2015, The Ex File on February 7th, Dead and Disorderly on May 23rd, and Bulletproof Princess on August 8th from Hot Ink Press.
@Dispatchvampire
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1 comment:
nice excerpt
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