When I grow up I want to be a…

Hang on…I’m thinking. That’s a really big decision.

I’m just kidding. Actually, I’ve reached that age now where I am things. Which is kind of a weird realization when it hits you. You’re in college with the world open to you one day and the next you wake up and you suddenly are things. Wife, mother, and writer are the top three answers I give when people ask me what I am. There are, however, a million subsets to those answers. As any wife, mother, writer will tell you. I’m a housekeeper, a cook, an accountant (not a great accountant but I did do our taxes last year so I’m taking it), a crisis manager (two young boys, one house!), everyone’s personal assistant, and the resident taskmaster. Yep, a whip is constantly on my Christmas wish list but Santa hasn’t delivered yet. This is the year, though. I can feel it. I’ve been a very good girl all year long. I promise.

Still, as much as I love my life, every once in a while I see a help wanted ad and think, I could do that. I’ll fantasize about the life change for a couple of days and then dive back into whatever work-in-progress I’ve got going on. Things I’ve daydreamed about doing? Being a birth doula—I had one with the birth of my first son and Oh.My.God was she phenomenal. Also working in PR. Mainly for politicians and police departments. This usually happens when I see a story on the news that’s handled so poorly I know I could do a better job spinning it. Tends to go something like this, “Who goes on the news and says there’s no way to stop the current alien invasion? Your job is to foster hope and keep the masses from rioting. You say, “We’re looking into all avenues of diplomatic resolution available to us.””

Yes, that was made up. There is no alien invasion. Though that would make an awesome story. File that little mental ramble under stories for another day. But it does kind of bring me to the point. One of the things I love so much about being a writer is with each new story I get to recreate myself. I’m never going to be a rancher on a settler planet. But when I was writing Ulterior Motives, I got to think like one. I got to visualize what her life would be like, what challenges she’d face, and what she’d be looking for in that perfect mate. It’s what I love the most about writing. I get to think like another person in another life. And then, when I reach happily-ever-after, I get to return to the life that’s perfect for me.

Which is all fine and good. But what about this rancher, you ask?

Universal Defiance, Book One

On a rural settler planet, Kat must resort to putting out an ad to find a husband. She doesn’t expect to find love—that’s a dream in these parts—just a partner to help work her ranch. Then the devastatingly handsome Jasper answers her ad and turns her on in ways she never dreamed possible. Too bad he’s not who he says he is.

Jasper doesn’t know what he’s getting into when he ventures undercover to investigate a legal claim against Kat’s ranch. But after a toe-curling night under her roof and in her bed, he’s willing to do anything to stay there. He can’t say no to the tough-as-nails businesswoman who makes his body come alive.

When people start getting hurt, though, both Kat and Jasper have to decide how valuable one piece of land is. And the ranch that brought them together might be the very thing standing between them.

A Romantica® sci fi erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Buy links:

Amazon | Ellora’s Cave | All Romance EBooks 

When he opened the door to the guestroom, though, the blaring of an alarm stopped him from going any farther. At first he thought he’d somehow triggered the noise but as soon as he smelled the first wisps of smoke, understanding filled him. Something was on fire. He wanted to rush out into the safety of the open grounds but he fought against the instinct. He had to make sure Kat got out as well.

He raced back to the bathroom to find her standing in the hallway, wrapped in nothing but a towel, with her dark hair flung over one shoulder in a curly mess. There were no tears or hysterical rants despite the fear clearly reflected in her expression.

His job required him to make quick assessments of situations and he excelled at it. But sometimes that left him blind to the more subtle aspects of life. He’d seen a competent businesswoman when he’d first laid eyes on Katarina Maxim. She’d been nothing but efficient and practical from the moment she held her hand out to him. But now, as she shivered in front of him with alarms going off in the background, he realized how much he’d missed in that original assessment. He’d seen her as a businesswoman but the person standing in front of him now possessed so much more.

The vulnerability of the moment and her calm resolve in meeting it added to her strength and touched him.

“I came to find you as soon as I heard the alarm.”

“Most men would’ve gone to battle the blaze first.”

His heart sank at her words. She saw him as a coward. Not that it mattered how she saw him. He wasn’t really trying out for the role of her husband. As soon as he finished his report, he’d be on his way back to his real life. But her words still stung. He’d like to be the hero at least once. To be the one who rushed in and saved the day.

“Don’t look at me like I just kicked your damn puppy. I meant that as a compliment. Most men stupidly let their hormones control them and they tend to get in the way,” she added as she walked past him. “I’ve never been impressed with the gender as a whole.”

He felt fairly certain they did not share the same understanding of the word “compliment” but didn’t dare ask for a clarification as she bustled down the hallway all businesslike.

Author Links:
Website: http://www.chandraryan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chandra.ryan
Twitter: @ChandraRyan

Bio:

Being from a rather nomadic family, Chandra Ryan loves to travel and meet people. But she’s found that sometimes, like when you’re stuck inside because of a good old-fashioned Southwestern heat wave, you have to make do. Fortunately for her and her loving family, who don’t like seeing her suffer from cabin fever, she’s found creating new people and places equally as fascinating. Also, you’re a lot less likely to spill your ice tea.