Mystery Date Monday: Warren Ross

Photo courtesy "Surely" from Stock Xchg
Every Monday I'll treat you to a Mystery Date with a character from one of my romantic or erotic fiction novels!

This Week's Mystery Date:

Who: Homicide Detective Warren Ross

What Book He's In: A GRAND SEDUCTION, a tale of contemporary intrigue and mystery

Where He Lives: New York

Why He's So Fascinating: Warren Ross' investigation into the motel room shooting of a wealthy businessman while in flagrante delicto takes him to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he encounters a sexy brunette whose girl-next-door charms turn his head after hours. Just one problem: his new squeeze is far closer to the investigation than he suspects.

A Memorable Moment with Warren Ross:

“Man, haven’t I been there before.”

She glanced sideways, just enough to fix him with a get lost stare. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to distract you from your troubles,” the man said. “I just recognize that look intimately. Weight of the world.”

Her intent to shoot a stream of acid his way evaporated at his blue-eyed gaze, which pierced the shield around her resolve to sit alone and brood. Square shoulders spanned beneath an equally square chin nicked in the center; close-cropped hair was peppered with shades of silty brown and rust, as if it couldn’t quite decide which to be. Still, it was the smile in the midst of this handsome melee that undid her—smoky, knowing, and sincere rolled into one skirt-lifting package.

Despite herself, her mood lifted into a half smile and shrug. “Just call me Atlas.”

He held a hand out to her for a firm, yet supple shake. “Pleased to meet you, Atlas. I’m Warren. Warren Ross.”

“Ridelle ‘Atlas’ Walters.”

The sizzling touch of his hand partnered with that smile to instantly unlatch her virtual chastity belt. Or would have, had she’d still possessed one.

Shifting sideways on his stool, he rested one elbow on the bar and the other on his chair back, hands folding in front of his torso. “Live here in Quakertown?”

“Yep. Not a native though; transplanted from the Poconos. You?”

A quick shake of his head tousled the sheen of reddish-brown. “New York, as I’m sure my dashing lilt gives away. I’m here on business.”

“What kind of business?”

Brows went north. “The stressful kind.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to pry.”

“You aren’t. I just don’t find shop talk very useful when trying to dazzle a beautiful woman.”

The word beautiful danced through her midsection.“Is that what you’re doing?"

“That depends. Is it working?”

Ridelle gazed in front of her, twirling the stem of her empty glass between her fingers. “It’s definitely not failing.”

“That settles it. You’re obviously a skilled diplomat. White House publicity rep?”

A grin twisted one corner of her mouth. “Hardly.”

“Professional schmoozer, certainly.”

Well, there is that...

She laughed, offering a small shrug. He sat as she twirled, obviously waiting for an answer she couldn’t give. Honestly, anyway. There was the truth, and then the stylized version she told her family. But hell, this was just a stranger in a bar. She didn’t owe him truth or anything else. Besides, hadn’t he just cleverly dodged the same question? Well, she could be mysterious, too.

Abandoning her thoughts and the glass, she turned back to him. “So, Warren...do you dance?”

His smile lit all the stars in her heaven. “Willing to find out?”

--from A GRAND SEDUCTION
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When Warren is Available: A GRAND SEDUCTION is available now.

How You Can Get His Story: Get it in print from Amazon, or eco-friendly eBook from Fictionwise