Falling for Her Fiance by Cindi Madsen Excerpt

I have Cindi Madsen on the blog today! Her latest release Falling for Her Fiance (Entangled Publishing/Bliss) is now available! I'll be reviewing this one soon, but in the meantime, check out this excerpt!

Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed. Adrenaline-junkie Wes can prove to both his ex and his family that he’s well and truly moved on, and serious-minded Dani can prove to her boss that she’s worthy of the promotion he seems to only want to give to a family-oriented employee.But amid the fake swoons, fake kisses, and forced proximity, neither expects the very real feelings that develop. There’s nothing more dangerous than falling for your best friend…but what if the landing is worth the fall?

Excerpt:

“So we’ll say we were a couple for two months and then we decided to get engaged,” Dani said. “Is that too fast?”

“In real life, maybe. I think it’ll be fine for our fake engagement.” He put his empty carton on the coffee table and sat back.

Dani caught a whiff of cologne, musky and woodsy, with a mixture of outdoors and even sweat. It shouldn’t have smelled good to her, but it made a flutter go through her chest. Her gaze traveled up his muscled arms, well-built pecs, and settled on his face. She found herself thinking about all of his good qualities. How she’d never find a guy as good as him to date. How stupid Sophie was for dumping him.

I guess I’m stupid for not dating him myself.

Then she remembered how their one attempt to move the slightest bit past friends had not only crashed and burned but also nearly ruined their friendship.

He really is the whole package, though.

Wes’s eyebrows drew together. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

She glanced away, heat rising in her cheeks. “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

She met his eyes, telling herself it didn’t mean anything that her stomach lurched. “Just about today. Being here with you. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

He put his hand on her bare leg and squeezed. “Right back at you. And I’m glad your knee surgery hasn’t slowed you down. When I first saw the cut, I thought you’d never be able to walk normally again, much less play ball.”

All her blood seemed to rush to where his hand was warming her skin and she suddenly had to work at getting words to come out of her mouth. “Well, if I hadn’t had you there to help me recover, I probably would’ve pushed myself too hard and never fully healed.”

Wes brushed his fingers across the scar on her knee, and her leg involuntarily twitched at his touch. She hoped he didn’t notice.

She wished she didn’t. But her heart was beating faster, and the way he was running his fingertips along her knee was sending little zips of heat across her skin.

Pull it together, Dani. He’s your best friend. Don’t screw it up now because you’ve gone without so much as a hug from a guy in months.

She swung her feet to the ground and stood so fast sparks of light danced across her vision. “I’m beat. I’m gonna go to bed.”

“Okay. I’ll be up for a little while, but I’ll turn down the music.”

“No worries. I sleep through anything, remember?” Most famously, she’d slept through a fire alarm. Luckily, Wes had been passed out on her couch and had to basically carry her out of her apartment.

She waved—cursing herself for the stupid, awkward gesture—and rushed back to the bedroom. Closing the door, she shook her head.

What the hell was that all about? Even though she knew she’d never be able to sleep, she crawled into bed. Wes’s bed.

Earlier today, she’d been right there with him when he’d said they were friends and would never be more. So why was she noticing the way he smelled, and why was her skin humming under his touch? Why was she suddenly so aware of the fact that Wes usually slept where she was now?

This sounds so sweet! I can't wait to dive in!

Author bio:

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

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