title: A Special Kind of Love
author: Hoffa, Tamara
description: A SPECIAL KIND OF LOVE Through Fights and Fire, Prejudice and Passion, Burns A Special Kind of Love A divorced school teacher, estranged from her family, wants to start over. Sharon Daily moves to Gaines, Wyoming with her ten year old autistic son, Aaron. She hoped to find kindness and acceptance in this small town. She wasn’t looking for love… Tanner West, the Fire Chief of Gaines, seems to have it all. Great job, loving family, and any woman he wants to warm his bed at night. But, Tanner has suffered too. A Native American in a white world, he longs to find love and acceptance. He is ready for more than someone to share his bed. He wants someone to share his life. And Sharon really lights his fire. Making a life with Sharon will require A Special Kind of Love. Excerpt One: Sharon looked up into the most gorgeous face she had ever seen. Eyes like dark chocolate, deep and warm, stared out at her from a face that looked like it could have been chiseled in stone. Skin the color of burnished copper, high cheekbones, a sharp nose, full lips, and a cleft chin. How the hell had she failed to notice him before? Her heart skipped a beat and she ran her gaze down the rest of his body. He was tall, well over six feet, she would guess, with broad shoulders that tapered into a trim waist. His thighs, encased in worn denim, fit like a second skin against legs the size of tree trunks, and oh my, what lay between those thighs… Her attention snapped back to his face and she could feel the heat of a blush suffuse her skin. Tanner cleared his throat, his dark chocolate eyes flashing with amusement and a little heat. He extended his hand. His large calloused hand engulfed her small one. A shock of sensation shot up her arm and down her body to some places she had begun to think had stopped working long ago. “Ma’am,” he said. What the hell was with everyone calling her ma’am here? She was beginning to feel like an old lady. “Call me Sharon, please. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. West.” “Well now, if I’m gonna call you Sharon, then you’re gonna have to call me Tanner.” Their gazes locked and everything around her faded away. Feelings she had thought were lost with the defection of her ex-husband surged to the forefront. Attraction, lust, a deep loneliness, and desire to be held in those strong arms. Aaron interrupted her reverie and snapped her back to the present in a heartbeat. “I want to see the horses, now!” he demanded. Excerpt Two: “Hello?” “Hi, beautiful.” The deep baritone of his voice rolled over her skin like a caress. She felt hot and cold at the same time and goose bumps crawled down her spine. She was in such big trouble. “I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon,” she cooed. “I don’t want to scare you off, but I really had a great time today. I want to get to know you better. I thought Aaron would be asleep by now and we could talk.” “He is…asleep I mean. What do you want to talk about?” “Where are you?” “Um, I’m in bed.” “Oh, man, now I have that visual in my head. I’ve been dreaming about you in bed. In my bed.” Dang this man was coming on strong. But I kind of like it. “Really? You are a naughty boy.” “You have no idea. What are you wearing?” Sharon laughed. “Sorry to ruin your fantasies, big boy, but I’m wearing flannel pajama pants and a T-shirt. I’m sure that’s not what you pictured.” “I was picturing nothing…” Sharon barked a laugh “That’s not what I meant! I mean I didn’t have anything specific in mind.” The poor guy was stammering. She loved being able to fluster him. “What are you wearing, Mr. West?” Silence met her question. “Tanner?” “I’m not sure I should answer that question.” “Fair is fair, I answered your question. Now answer mine.” “Boxer shorts,” he mumbled. She closed her eyes and pictured him in her mind. She knew he was muscular, she could just imagine his chest, smooth and tan. Would he have a hairy chest or smooth? Smooth she bet, considering his Native American ancestry.