Cover Reveal: Maya and The Tough Guy by Carter Ashby

Book Title: Maya and the Tough Guy Author: Carter Ashby Genre: New Adult Romance Release Date: January 20, 2015 Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions Follow events: Get The Book Enthusiast App

Maya Bradley is on her own now. With the help of her dear friends, Zoey and Addy, she’s determined to give her children the lives they deserve, away from their abusive father. But the journey is destined to be difficult, and she meets her first roadblock when she asks sexy, tattooed bar owner, Jayce Gilmore, for a job serving drinks. Jayce has two reasons for not wanting to hire Maya. One: she deserves a more respectable job. And two: he’s been madly in love with her since he was a young boy. But when he finally realizes how desperate she is for work, he has no choice but to bring her on. With Maya struggling to earn a living, get an education, and raise two children, Jayce finally finds himself in a position to help her. And though she isn’t interested in a relationship, Maya is showing definite signs of physical attraction. Jayce is sure he can keep his love hidden and fulfill her every fantasy. Unfortunately, he has severely underestimated the needs of his heart. As the moment of truth fast approaches, Maya must decide whether to break a tough guy's heart, or open her fragile soul to the risks that come with loving again.

Jayce reached across the table. Maya immediately flinched back. His hand paused, inches from her face before he withdrew it. “Maybe sex is more of a long term goal for you,” he said.

She bit down on her bottom lip, all amusement fading away. “It’s not that I’m not interested.”

“I had my hand down your panties last night, Maya,” Jayce said. “I know you’re interested.”

Her face went red-hot.

Jayce actually grinned. “I’m sorry,” he said, looking anything but sorry. “That was rude of me.”

She shook her head, but nothing came out of her mouth.

Jayce reached across the table and turned his hand, palm-up, in invitation. Maya hesitated only a second before slipping her hand into his. “This,” he said, moving his thumb gently over the soft skin between her thumb and forefinger, “is an important step you shouldn’t skip over. Just learning to touch and be touched. Wanna practice on me, Maya?”

She gulped. This was a new kind of fear. This wasn’t fear at all. It was adrenaline and lust coursing through her body, making her feel more alive and vital than she had in years. When she inhaled, her breath came in hitches. His thumb, that gentle motion, was driving her wild. She slowly withdrew her hand and folded it with the other in her lap. “What exactly are you offering me?”

Carter Ashby is a hardworking housewife and homeschool mother by day, and a romance reader and writer by night. She lives in rural Missouri with her husband, three children, and two dogs.