Take Me Out
by Dawn Robertson
Review by pearls
One of the sweetest romances I've read. Filled with lots of "ahhhhh!" moments. The perfect meeting in a natural realistic setting, yet something out of a normal fantasy. There are lots of twists and turns with their relationship, keeping you guessing to the end. And the ending will leave you singing "so sweet, so sweet!" This was a down to earth romance between two people learning their way in the world of adulthood and hoping to be loved for who they are while overcoming their past upbringings. It's easy to fall in love with Take Me Out.
Blurb Charlotte Windsor is a good girl, for the most part. Growing up with protective older brothers, the Boston Socialite has yet to spread her wings. When she meets tattooed bad boy, Bentley Young, she has no idea he is actually a reluctant real estate mogul. Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, Bentley has chosen to live a simple life - surrounded by as many beautiful women as possible. He has no intention of settling down. But one chance baseball game will change both of their lives forever. Charlotte and Bentley fall hard for one another and the sparks fly. But a storm is headed their way – ex-lovers, arson, and heartbreak.
The game of love is not always a sure thing, sometimes it goes into extra innings…
Excerpt
As the innings progressed and the Sox started raking in the runs, the crowd became livelier. Mr. Tattoo would turn around and flirt a little, making small talk. Sometimes he'd add his panty-wetting grin as an embellishment. He had no idea how effective it really was. I wanted him. By the time the seventh inning stretch came, to say we were drunk was an understatement. In keeping with Fenway tradition, the music started and we all chimed in on cue, "SWEEEEEEEEET CAROLINNNNNEEEEE BOM BOM BOM!”
At that moment, Bentley jumped over the seats, grabbed my hands and pulled me to dance. 'Can this really be happening?' I thought. While still managing to enjoy the music and dance like idiots, I noticed that each of my friends was looking on with a measure of concern. But this moment and inside the moment, Bentley and I were perfect together. “GOOD TIMES NEVER FELT SO GOOD! SOO GOOD! SOO GOOD! SOO GOOD!”
After the short-lived dance, the tough-looking, mysterious man dropped to his knee serenading me for all to see. Though my face lit up red out of embarrassment, I had never been serenaded before and enjoyed every minute of it. The ballpark photographers all clamored over to take a picture of the scene Bentley had created on the third baseline, clicking away in hopes of selling some souvenirs.
When the song ended, he took my hand and placed a small kiss on it, dropped it and headed towards the exit, as though he had planned his early musical exit all along. His touch completely clouded my senses. The rush he caused in me was strongly euphoric, to the extent of which I had never experienced in my entire life. I wanted to touch him back but I was too frozen in shock to go after him.
The onlookers which packed the rows around us had mixed responses to the display. Some stood with their mouths hanging open, while others whispered with their respective neighbors and some cracked jokes about my new boyfriend. The fact was they knew I never get serious about anyone. I had dated around through college, but had never taken a serious boyfriend. I wasn't planning on doing so until I was done with college in a year. I had too much riding on my last year of college, including a full-time, real world job.
I was never going to see him again and a flood of disappointment washed over me. But it didn't matter, he was gone. That realization flooded me with both disappointment and longing. This beautiful man, who had just sent such a raw desire through me, was gone. Even more than before, I felt I didn't just want his touch, but that I needed it. I was helpless against the power of my timidity and the strength of the rules which I'd given myself.
“I think I am going to head out for one last beer before the game ends.” I headed in the general direction of my new fetish. J
ake threw in his two cents. “Uh huh, like you need another beer. Good luck finding him. He’s long gone!”
I let out a laugh and hurried away. Making my way down the tunnel my head spun back and forth in search of Bentley. After a few minutes, I gave up. On the way back from my disappointing search, I stopped for a beer. As I reached the section entry, I heard a voice behind me, “You were just going to let me walk away like that?”
My heart soared. I turned around to find my new obsession standing so close to me that I could smell him. The mixture of cologne and beer was heavenly. He took me in his arms, right there in the tunnel for anyone to see, putting his arm around my waist tightly, the other on my face softly. As he brushed his knuckles down my cheek, he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. His lips were warm and inviting. He tasted delicious, of mint mixed with beer. I melted in his arms. The way he made me feel in that moment was so foreign. He might as well have stripped me naked and taken me against the wall with the sensations that were going through my body. The kiss was unlike anything I had felt before. After his romantic gesture he let me go and backed away repeating his question.
“Ugh... What the hell? I don't know where your mouth has been!” I stuttered out. I couldn't speak worth a shit. What the hell was wrong with me? His spell was potent, so much so that I couldn't speak. I stuttered out something incoherent. Even I have no idea what I said. He let out a little chuckle at my bitchy demeanor. I was just stuck and confused. Why in hell was I letting this guy touch me and kiss me? The only explanation was that I had officially lost my damn mind. I had tried for years to control my damn behavior and now I was ruining all my hard work by losing control in public?
"I'll take your response as a good thing," he said, grinning. As he walked away from me I was finally able to breathe again. When he put his arms around me, he'd made me feel naked. I watched him head for the entrance to our seating section, my clothing feeling suddenly constrictive.
“I don't need a guy in my life right now anyway!” I mumbled as I walked back to my seat. As I rounded the corner there was Shay and Jake chatting it up with Bentley. They’re conspiring with the enemy! When they noticed me they pretended like they weren't doing anything wrong. There was no way I was letting Shay get away with it.
As much as I didn't want to admit to myself that Bentley had made an impression on me, he was the only thing on my mind. The game ended and Shay and I stumbled back to our apartment only a couple of blocks away. When I hit my bed I knew I had overdone it with the alcohol for the night and I was out in seconds.
About the Author
Dawn Robertson is a twenty-something indie erotic romance, and mother. She lives in sunny senior citizen packed Florida, where she wrangles her kids, and Pitbull puppy.
Dawn can normally be found swearing like a sailor, making late night drive-thru appearances, arguing with her kids (or being run over by their power wheels), reading a steamy romance while hiding in her bathroom, writing her little heart out on her laptop (or dragging her Macbook to the Genius bar praying they can save her latest work in progress), or sipping on a smoothie. She loves to hear from her fans, readers, and authors alike. Feel free to drop her a message.
Dawn rarely takes life seriously, so be sure to expect heavy sarcasm from her. She is also the life of the party, so be sure to meet up with her at one of the many author events she will be attending in the next couple months. Buy her a shot of whiskey, and she will love you for life.
Find Dawn Robertson:
http://www.eroticadawn.com/https://twitter.com/eroticadawnhttps://www.facebook.com/AuthorDawnRobertson
Wealthy, attractive Lucas Reika treats life like a party, moving from bar to bar and man to man. Thumbing his nose at his restaurateur father's demand that he earn his keep, Lucas instead seduces a valued employee in the kitchen of their flagship restaurant, earning himself an ultimatum: lose access to his father's money or stay in the middle of nowhere with a man he has secretly lusted over from afar.
Quiet, hard-working Jared McFarland loves his farm on the outskirts of Hope, Arizona, but he aches to have someone to come home to at the end of the day. Jared agrees to take in his longtime crush as a favor. But when Lucas invades his heart in addition to his space, Jared has to decide how much of himself he's willing to risk and figure out if he can offer Lucas enough to keep him after his father's punishment is over.
Cardeno C. - CC to friends - is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.
Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."
