SWEET ROMANTIC COMEDY

Specially priced at 99 cents
for digital versions through February 14!

EXCERPT

“I’m going to see if Horace’s gadgets work.” Ian hauled the mechanical dog out of the car. “This is supposed to track auto exhaust. Horace calibrated it for the fumes from Madelaine’s car.”

“So Horace did find a new use for my mechanical dog. Be interesting to see how it works.” Rissa stared at the retrofitted mechanical dog that started out as a toy when she was six years old. “While you do that, I’m going to see if anyone has seen my aunt lately.”

Ian gave a half-salute as the little machine hummed to life. However, it emitted no beeps and blips that might indicate Madelaine’s car had been nearby.

Ian patiently followed the mechanical dog as it walked stiff-legged around the perimeter of the building, ignoring the occasional raindrop that splattered against his face and the interested group that began to follow him. However, when the drops grew larger and fell faster, he remembered Horace’s caution that rain dissipated the particles of exhaust and rendered the machine useless.

Ian turned off the dog and looked around for Rissa. What he saw instead were the gazes of a half dozen men with scruffy beards and rumpled clothing. The smell of stale wine and old cigars surrounded him as the men moved closer.

“Nice night, isn’t it?” Ian played for time as he tried to determine if the intent of the group was threatening or merely curious.

“Whatcha doin’ here?” A snaggle-toothed man asked.

“Testing this mechanical dog. It tracks cars by their exhaust fumes.”

The group moved closer and someone snickered. “Think it could track people fumes too?”

“Hey, Gasser, leave us a trail around the building,” someone else stated.

The group laughed and knotted around Ian, and he realized the mellow approach wouldn’t work here. “Just back off and nobody will get hurt.”

The group only laughed louder, and someone lobbed a muddy missile that splatted against Ian’s chest. Anger spurted through him at his own carelessness. He was separated from Rissa by a group of clowns who thought they were funny. He figured using the little dog as a battering ram was his best bet of getting out of this situation and finding Rissa.

So he grabbed the tail to use as a handle, lowered his head and charged forward.

“Ian!”

He looked up at the sound of Rissa’s cry. The group of men parted–enough for Ian to realize he was going to plow right into her!

~~~~

To help celebrate The Romance Studio Valentine’s Day Party 2017, I am offering a $14 Amazon.com gift certificate. I’m looking forward to chatting with friends I’ve known for a while and meeting new ones!

You can find both the print and digital versions of Chasing Rainbows at Amazon.com.