Monday, February 6, 2012

14 Days of Love - Day 6 - Helen Hardt on Love Notes

Today, Helen Hardt discusses her first love note.  The first one in our youth is a shot of adrenaline to the system, but no matter how old we are, it’s always wonderful to receive a note from that special someone declaring their feelings for you.  Even if you’ve been married to the sender for what seems like (at times) forever! 

So enjoy Helen’s story and leave yours to enter in the drawing for a copy of her latest book, an anthology with stories of love to celebrate Valentine’s Day!  


The Magic of a Love Note

Ah, love notes – the thumping heart as you open it, the nervous smile as you read it, the thrill of happiness that drifts over you as you close your eyes and clasp it to your heart…  Is there anything better?  Okay, maybe there is, but love notes have a magic and beauty all their own. 

I received my first ever love note when I was fifteen.  The sender, Scott, was my first real kiss (meaning tongue, I had experienced lips before.)  He wasn’t the brightest bulb (his note said I was “preshes” to him) but oh, was he gorgeous!  This future professional writer and editor let the misspelling go. After all, to a fifteen year old girl, having a gorgeous boyfriend who is an amazing kisser is way more important than his command of language arts.  We had a blissful month together during which I wore his class ring, until he dropped out of school and joined the Army. 

My broken heart mended when I met my next boyfriend, of course.  When we’re young, hearts tend to bounce back when someone new comes along.  Still, I’ll never forget my first real kiss (I judged all kissers by his standard after that) and my first love note.  

When my editor at Musa Publishing asked me to participate in the Love Notes Anthology for Valentine’s Day, I jumped at the opportunity.   Scott and I were never meant to be, but I asked myself, what if we had been?  What if we’d had a little more in common, but yet were still radically different in high school?  What if we’d gone our separate ways only to meet again later in life?  Enter Kathryn and Brett, the hero and heroine of Reunited, my story in Love Notes. 

Leave a comment and tell me about your first love note.  You’ll be entered in a drawing for an e-copy of Love Notes from Musa.  Here’s a short excerpt from Reunited: 

He gripped her neck, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his mouth to hers. 

His lips — so firm, yet so soft at the same time — glided over hers provocatively, grazing at first, barely touching. His tongue traced first her upper, then her lower lip. Kathryn squirmed. Oh, to be kissed like this again. By Brett Falcone.The one true love of her life. Could it actually be happening? 

She would awaken any minute. Slide from the passion of this nocturnal fantasy… 

He pressed a sweet kiss to the corner of her mouth and chuckled huskily.“You do remember how to kiss, don’t you Kath?” 

She couldn’t help but smile, remembering their first kiss. Her first kiss ever, where he taught her what to do, how to respond. 

She’d done a lot of kissing since then, but never with anyone who mattered quite as much as the man in her arms now. 

“Kiss me, Kath,” he whispered. “Kiss me like you mean it.” 

Oh, she meant it. Meant it with all her heart. She parted her lips and met his tongue with gentle, silky strokes. 

He tasted of peppermint, of maleness, of memory. Suddenly she couldn’t hold him close enough, couldn’t kiss him hard enough. As their tongues intertwined, raw guttural moans escaped her throat. She trailed her fingers over his broad, beefy shoulders, his hard chest, plucked open the buttons of his shirt and entwined her fingers in the dark curls covering his pecs. She found a flat nipple, tugged at it, loved how it hardened beneath her fingertips. 

And still they kissed, as though they’d never kissed anyone before. He ate at her lips, nibbled, licked, sucked. She returned his passion with equal fervor, drawing his tongue into her mouth and sucking on it. Heat flared between her legs. 

God, she was so turned on. More turned on than she’d ever been. 

Well, not ever. But not for a very long time. 

Suddenly she wanted him. Wanted him inside her. Wanted to make love with Brett Falcone more than she wanted to breathe. 

He broke the kiss and inhaled sharply. “God, Kath.” His lips rained kisses on her cheeks, her nose, the sensitive flesh of her neck. She shuddered, her pussy pulsed. She was wet, so wet. So aroused from just a kiss. 

But it wasn’t just a kiss. 

It was a kiss from Brett Falcone. The only man she had ever truly loved.

Helen Hardt is an attorney and stay-at-home mom turned award-winning romance author and freelance fiction editor. She met her real-life hero in law school, and they live in Colorado with their two teenage sons. Helen writes contemporary, historical, paranormal, and erotic romance for several publishers. Her non-writing interests include Harley rides with her husband, attending her sons’ sports and music performances, traveling, and Taekwondo (she’s a blackbelt.) Visit Helen at:

www.romanceeditor.blogspot.com

7 comments:

Ann Montclair said...

The excerpt is quite tantalizing. Sounds like a great read.

Helen Hardt said...

Thanks for stopping by, Ann, and thanks for having me, Lizzie!

Shonna said...

I was in the second grade and so very shy. He tried to pass me a note. I had never even said a word to him. The teacher saw and intervened. She stood in front of the class, told everyone, and then proceeded to read what was on the paper. “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” Underneath there was a “YES” on the left and a “NO” on the right ready for me to circle my answer. Hearts were drawn several places over the sheet of paper to add appeal to the question. At that moment,... I just wanted to die. I still remember how terrible I felt and wanted to be swallowed up by the dark and never heard from again. The kids laughed and taunted as I hung my head. But I didn’t cry. Why? Because even though it was one of the worst days of my life, it was also one of the best. The knowledge that he picked me over all the other girls in the class made me feel special, and that was a feeling that warmed my heart.
Funny how some things you never forget :)
fshasm@cableone.net

Helen Hardt said...

Shonna, what a great story -- thanks for sharing!

Leigh Daley/Arley Cole/me said...

Great story and excerpt!! I bet you are still preshes!

Helen Hardt said...

Lol -- thanks, Arley!

Rhea Rhodan said...

I love the idea for the story. Makes me wish I had enough patience for short stories. I'm sure it's a great collection.