Are you a fan of men in (and out of) uniform?  Believe the night belongs to lovers?  If you answered yes to any of those questions, then Nicole Leiren’s debut series, “The Heroes of the Night” is for you!

The Few. The Strong. The Brave.

Melodie Alexander, a children’s librarian, prefers to live life
between the pages of a book. But when the death of her best friend
prompts her to step out of her comfort zone, she finds herself
directly in the path of self-proclaimed bad boy, Daniel Bresland.

Daniel knew how to be a solider. Life after war? Not as easy. He
served his country in Afghanistan, both in the military and as a
private contractor, but fighting the war came at high personal cost. Now he's
determined to keep his relationships "casual" in order to protect his
heart and prevent anyone from getting too close.

A chance encounter between Melodie and Daniel on a flight to Dallas
proves that opposites really do attract. But when scars from the past
threaten their new relationship almost before it starts, Daniel must
decide if he can risk opening his heart again to convince Melodie he
wants more than one night.

Chapter Excerpt:

She stumbled out of the bar toward her home away from home, grateful the location Daniel chose shared property with her hotel. This had all been a mistake, a big mistake. Hurried footsteps on the pavement behind her sent her pulse skyrocketing, the blood pounding in her ears until she could hear nothing else.

"Hey! Melodie! Stop! Please…"

The desperation in the "please" broke through the pounding, allowing guilt to weave itself inextricably into every nerve. Exhaling slowly, she turned to face him. "I'm sorry, truly. I'm just not…I can't…I…"

"Whoa, take it easy. Come here." He pulled her into his strong, comforting embrace.

Emotionally, she was in no position to fight him. Besides, she was tired of always being so damned independent, isolated, and introverted. Unwanted tears threatened, and she allowed Daniel's support. A part of her hated her weakness. Evelyn was always strong, and the goal she'd been given her entire life was to be more like Evelyn.

A few minutes later, her sense of calm found its way to the surface again. Pulling back from his embrace, she smiled. "Bet you've never had a date end like that before."

His hand cupped her cheek, robbing her of the ability to breathe. "I've never met a woman quite like you before."

She sniffled. "Is that a good or bad thing?"

Daniel shook his head and grinned. "Honestly? I'm not sure. Mostly good. Well, except when you ran out on me before that last dance. Was it something I said?"

The inability to speak followed her failure to breathe as his fingertips slipped through her hair, tucking errant strands behind her ear. He gently wiped away the remnants of the tears before the damp digits slipped across her lips.

She closed her eyes, searching for her voice. "It's complicated."

Soft lips on her forehead accelerated the rhythm of her heart, making its presence known. "I usually avoid complicated, but for you, I find myself willing to make an exception. How about you?"

"I usually do safe." Tom had been safe. Her books were safe. She preferred safe.

"And I don't feel safe to you?"

Melodie opened her eyes to take in the force of nature standing in front of her. His presence resembled a tornado, ripping into her life and uprooting all of her preconceived and decided-upon notions of what her life was to be—of the type of man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Just when the storm seemed out of control, she moved into the eye where an eerie calm and sense of peace prevailed—like now. "Not at all. But, I find myself willing to make an exception."

Her admission had apparently been enough for him. Adrenaline spiked from the strange mix of danger and excitement as his gorgeous face moved closer to hers. The storm infused her entire being as soft silk lips covered hers, endorphins releasing winds of pleasure. The tenderness brought peace and—need. She tried to deepen the kiss, but his hands on her cheeks held her motionless. With maddening slowness, he slid across her full lips to the corner. Phantom touches reached through the surface and delved deep into her wounded heart to deliver life-giving energy to the half-dead organ. Over and over, he kissed her without quite kissing her.

Finally, she could take no more. "Please, Daniel…" Her voice a soft whisper in the still night.

His hands slid down the column of her throat and over her arms, pulling her body flush with his as his tongue slid across her highly sensitized mouth. Parting her lips farther, their connection deepened.

She angled her head to participate in the kiss. Sweet Lord in heaven. I've been missing out. So good and oh so dangerous.

Endless swirls of desire licked at her arousal lifting her need to unbearable levels. Breathless, she broke the connection. "When will I see you again?"

Though still in a bit of a daze from the intensity of the kiss, she couldn't help but notice the strong features on his face turn conflicted for a few moments. Age-old uncertainty set in again. Had he not enjoyed the kiss as she had? The conflict disappeared, replaced by cockiness. She almost hated to hear what would come out of those sensuous lips next.

"Does that mean you aren't inviting me back to your room tonight?"

So one kiss and he expected her to spend the night with him? They barely knew each other! Aggravated, she pulled away from his grasp. "I guess your normal date would be grateful for the invitation, but I'm going to pass. Thanks for the evening, Daniel. It's been illuminating." She took a few steps and then turned for one final glance. "Have a great life. I hope you find what you're looking for and it lasts more than one night."

The centrifugal force of her emotions made it difficult to stay on course, but years of adamant independence and fighting with her mother paid off with staunch internal reserve. Tonight taught her a valuable lesson. A storm chaser she was not.

About the Author:

Nicole is a debut author with her contemporary romance series, Heroes of the Night. She has been an avid reader and lover of books from a very young age. Starting with Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and the V.I. Warshawski novels, her love of mysteries grew and expanded to include romance and suspense. A Midwest girl born and raised, her stories capture the love and laughter in her real world heroes and heroines.

Connect with Nicole:

Website:  www.nicoleleiren.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleLeirenAuthorPage

Twitter:  @NicoleLeiren

Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Leirens.Lovelies/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14080086.Nicole_Leiren

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Leiren/e/B011MKQRMQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1444057741&sr=8-1