Reunions by Tawny Weber

Are you a fan of reunion books? I am – which shows in my latest release, COMING ON STRONG. This is a ‘she left him at the altar’ story that I call my runaway bride with a reunion twist. When I was coming up with it, I asked myself why a woman would leave a man at the altar – keeping in mind that the man was the hero of the book so he had to be, you know, heroic.

The answer? An oldy but a goody – no sex without marriage. But... again, with a twist. She wanted sex, he was holding out for a ring on her finger. The result? A really fun book to write.

I really enjoy reading reunion stories myself. I think it adds a whole ‘nother layer of depth to the characters. Why didn’t they work the first time? What made them come together then, versus now? How do they feel about their history and how does it factor into their reaction to each other?

Here’s how my hero, Mitch, reacted to seeing Belle again:

One more step into his office and Mitch felt like he’d been hit in the face. Maybe it was sex on the brain, but even the air shifted, turning sultry and suggestive. He breathed in, his lungs filling with a musky floral scent.

Instant turn on.

Seated as she was in the high-backed leather chair facing the window, all Mitch could see were long, sexy legs ending in strappy black ‘do me’ heels. He tried to swallow, but his mouth had gone dirt dry. Those were wrap around the shoulders and ride-‘em-wild legs.

Damn. Talk about distraction.

Mitch flipped his phone closed, not sure if he’d said goodbye or even if his foreman was still talking. He stepped further into the office, deliberately closing the door behind him. Two steps into the room, and he could see around the high back leather of the chair.

Gorgeous. The impact was like getting kicked in the gut by a black belt on steroids. Swift, intense and indefensible. The first time he’d seen Belle, she’d been twenty-one. He’d thought then she couldn’t possibly be more confident in her own sexual power. He’d obviously been wrong, since she was now a master of it. Or was that mistress? And why did that make him crave studded black leather shorts?

Six years had added layers of polish, maturity and assurance to her already powerful sexual charisma. Mitch’s gaze reluctantly left those delicious legs to travel upward. He noted the flirty green skirt, the same shade as her eyes, ending a few inches above her knees. A wide leather belt accented her waist and emphasized her lush breasts in the gossamer soft white blouse. Mitch let his eyes rest there for just a second, millions of regrets pounding in his head. He’d wished like hell that once, just once, he’d tasted their bounty.

He was sure if he had, he’d have easily kept her out of his mind. The only reason he’d never finding another woman to replace her was that he’d blown the fantasy of sex between them all out of proportion.

He felt her amusement before he even looked at her face. Belle was used to being ogled, so he didn’t waste time on embarrassment. He wondered briefly at giving her that much power this early in the game, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. That there was a game afoot was implicit. The question wasn’t who would win, either. It was how much it would cost him to play.

She arched one platinum brow, amused challenge clear in her eyes and the dimple that played at the corner of her full lips. Her hair was shorter now, angled to emphasize her rounded cheekbones and the sharp line of her jaw.

“Well, well,” Mitch drawled, moving around to lean on his desk while he faced the biggest mistake of his life. “If it isn’t my long lost bride.”

How about you? Are reunions a theme you enjoy, or one you shy away from? What reunion stories have you read – do you have a favorite?

Tawny will give away one copy of any of her backlist books to one lucky commenter.