One week later
Sabine closed her shop and walked upstairs to her apartment. She could hear soft music playing inside before she even opened the door, but nothing prepared her for the gorgeous man standing in her kitchen, chopping vegetables and wearing nothing but an apron and a smile.
“I’m making you my famous spaghetti,” he said.
She walked into the kitchen and pulled his apron to the side, laughing as he playfully slapped her hand away. “Tease,” she said. “So does your secret recipe call for cooking in the nude?”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “No. You call for me cooking in the nude. For some reason, when I’m around you I don’t feel like wearing clothes.” He eased back from her a bit and studied her face. “How are you feeling?”
Sabine smiled. “No side effects from the radiation at all. I think Maryse may be up for a Nobel Prize some day.”
“And did the doctor call with your test results?”
“Just before I closed up. He said I’m responding well to treatment and everything looks great.”
The relief on Beau’s face was apparent. “Then I have a surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“The kind that involves you leaving this state for the first time. And it has a beach, and a private hut, and a minister waiting for a phone call from me. That is, if you’re willing to marry a naked chef.”
“Well, I don’t know. You might want to put on clothes before we meet with the minister.”
“Is that a yes?”
She leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. “That’s a definitely.”
Acknowledgments
To my friend, Tracey Stanley, for being a constant reminder that there are truly good people in this world. To my fabulous critique partners and friends, Colleen Gleason, Cari Manderscheid, and Cindy Taylor for keeping me on task and propping me up with wine and homemade cookies. My parents Jimmie and Bobbie, brother Dwain, sis-in-law Donna, and incredible niece Katianne, for all your support. My mentor, Jane Graves, for all your support, whether it was a plot problem or career advice—I’m lucky to have you. To my agent, Kristin Nelson, for taking a chance on something different and always believing in my ability to write, even when I sometimes forget. And to my incredible editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, for your brilliant editorial comments that always take my story to another level. And a huge THANKS to the cover artists for the absolute best covers in publishing—I love the shoe!
Critics Are Charmed by Jana DeLeon!
TROUBLE IN MUDBUG
“DeLeon brings her spunky style to a novel that’s plenty of fun to read. The characters are easy to indentify with and demonstrate their multifaceted personalities in their actions and words. DeLeon is excellent at weaving comedy, suspense and spicy romance into one compelling story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Funny and exciting Deleon manages to keep you guessing and laughing from start to finish…I would recommend this to anyone.”
—Night Owl Romance Reviews
“A lighthearted romp…loaded with humor, intrigue and romance.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“Interesting characters and a fun and entertaining mystery make Trouble in Mudbug a novel I highly recommend.”
—Romance Reviews Today
UNLUCKY
“The quirky characters keep the action moving and I’m sure Mallory has been sitting next to me every time I go to the casino.”
—Barbara Vey, Publishers Weekly
Beyond Her Book Blog
“With original, smart and comedic writing, DeLeon delivers a three-dimensional hero and heroine, a community of offbeat secondary characters, a complex and intriguing plot with a hint of paranormal and a fascinating peek into the world of casino poker.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Ms. DeLeon has an excellent knack at weaving the total story together. She gives the right amount of mystery and suspense with plenty of romance and lots of laughter thrown in. I enjoyed every page and found it hard to put down. I think many people will be putting Unlucky on their keeper shelves.”
—Once Upon A Romance
“Ms. DeLeon provides a great plot and a lot of mystery. The heat that sizzles off of Mallory and Jake keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. And right when you think you have it all figured out, you realize you don’t. Things are never as they seem on the bayou!”
—The Romance Reader’s Connection
RUMBLE ON THE BAYOU
“Rumble on the Bayou is a wonderful, poignant and fun mystery…Filled with likable and interesting individuals, this first-rate debut novel is a truly fantastic read.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2stars;
Reviewers Choice Nominee
“Jana DeLeon’s debut had me chuckling from the opening pages, and I never stopped laughing. It’s a fresh, fast-paced, fabulously funny mystery where sexy blondes have brains, small towns swarm with crazy characters, and everyone’s afraid of the gators!”
—Diana Peterfreund, author of Secret Society Girl
“Racy, rambunctious, rollicking.”
—Carolyn Hart, author of Dead Days of Summer
“A very impressive debut novel. Rumble on the Bayou kept me enthralled from the first page to the last!”
—Fresh Fiction
“Debut author Jana DeLeon has created a whole passel of down-to-earth, wonderful characters, and a page-turning, interesting mystery. Rumble on the Bayou is a perfect blend of secrets, intrigue, romance and laughter.”
—Affaire de Coeur