Cover reveal + excerpt: Edge of Regret - Vilma Iris | Lifestyle Blogger

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Cover reveal + excerpt: Edge of Regret

When it comes to adventure romance, there is no hotter author out there right now! I love Molly E. Lee’s novels and I’m so excited to share with you the gorgeous, very sexy cover of her next one—Edge of Regret! It’s coming June 20th, but I’ve got a sneak peek at what you can expect with the entire first chapter! Read below and please share using the social media icons at the end of this post for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Pre-order now for 99¢ ✦

Synopsis

Leading man on the new E.D.G.E. series reality show? Check.

Stunt-double for the star in the latest, multi-million-dollar funded military movie? Check.

Work with a sexy female military expert? Holy hell, check.

When I signed on to do stunts for Hollywood’s eagerly awaited war-thriller, I thought it would be like every other gig—go in, try not to get killed, and leave with a fat check and an adrenaline rush. This time? Not so much.

Mackenzie Patterson is the on-set expert. She knows topographical layouts, government lingo, speaks four languages, and is one of the best explosive disposal leaders the Air Force has ever seen, so she’s more than qualified.

She’s also the woman who turned my teenage heart to ash.

I can’t ignore the darkness that has appeared in her eyes, or the urge I have to take it away.

Quitting isn’t an option, but the more I see her, the more I want to make her mine. And that can never happen because our past is twisted with heartbreak, hate, and regret.

Every second I spend with her is a battle between holding on to the anger in my heart—and giving in to the love that never left.

Chapter One

Wade

“You sure the suit shouldn’t go tandem?” Kent, the only pilot I trusted more than myself, asked over his shoulder.

The roar of the Beech 90 series plane engine damn near drowned out his voice. If it were a softer hum, I’m sure I would’ve been able to hear the frantic beat of Casey William’s heart. I clapped Casey on the back, trying like hell to shock the panicked daze off his face. The blue of his eyes that I’d personally seen work their magic on more women than he knew what to do with were dilated to where there was almost no color left.

“You good?” I asked, my voice lowered so there was no chance Kent could hear.

Casey blinked a couple times and nodded. “Hell yeah,” he said. “I’m totally comfortable with jumping out of a moving plane at twelve thousand feet. Do it all the time.”

I chuckled, spinning him around to check his chute for the fourth time. We’d done a few small practice runs at an indoor skydive park I knew in L.A., but today was the big show. I would’ve been more comfortable taking him tandem, like Kent had just suggested, but then it wouldn’t be a fair initiation.

The plane’s interior was so small we both had to hunch slightly so our heads didn’t knock the ceiling. We were almost level in build and height, though he had the money look while I simply looked like trouble. We’d met a few months ago after filming the E.D.G.E. special in the Amazon with Easton, Rain, Dash, and Connell. When our studio backing fell through, Casey had come to the rescue—right along with his seemingly never-ending cash flow—to save our new spin on a reality show. High stakes, dangerous settings, and four “wicked hot” guys—Blake Lexington’s words, not mine. How could he not sign on to fund our projects? He was an excellent businessman and knew potential when he saw it, and after the test run of the special, he’d hit a goldmine in us, or a City rather—pun absolutely fucking intended. Ratings were off the charts, and though every major network had begged us to bring it over to them, we were content to stay with the much smaller studio Casey had bought for the sole purpose of airing our shows. We weren’t due to record another one for at least six months, so I had picked up a new gig back home.

“Hey,” I said, spinning him to face me again. “You’re lucky you drew my name out of the hat.” I tugged on the shoulder straps of his chute, doing one final check.

“Remind me why again?” he asked, eyeing the white puffs of clouds that surrounded the plane as we neared our jump height.

“Well, let’s review the facts.” I held up my fingers to tick off the reasons. “If you’d drawn Connell’s name, you’d be two hundred feet under a constantly moving ocean likely exploring a sunken ship that could collapse on you at any second.” His eyes widened and a shudder visibly shook him. “If you’d drawn Easton,” I continued, holding up another finger, “you’d be two hundred feet deep in the earth, in some god-forsaken cave in search of a mythical treasure that no doubt has some legendary sect protecting the shit out of it.” He pressed his lips together, nodding. “And, fuck, if you’d drawn Dash?” I shook my head, holding up the next finger. “You’d literally be running for your life from a damned tornado.”

“You have a point,” he said, punching my shoulder. “Guess none of those things are something tourists pay to do, like this.”

I grinned, dropping all my fingers except for the middle one. “Exactly. Safe as kittens.”

Kent gave me the nod, and I took two steps toward the opened door. The sky was a crystal clear blue, the clouds white and so close it felt like you could reach out and touch them. I hung on to the edge of the doorway, gazing down. Everything looked better from this height. There was something calming about being twelve thousand feet above the world. Somewhere no one could touch you, not even your own thoughts.

“See?” I glanced back at Casey, who peered just past my shoulder before clenching his eyes shut. His nostrils flared a few times, but when he opened them again he was solid.

Good man.

I would’ve hated to have to give him shit if he punked out, him technically being our boss and all.

No, you wouldn’t have.

True. I loved dishing shit. Especially at my newfound family. Like Connell. Fuck, if he were here he’d be puking in the corner and I’d be holding his hair back asking if he needed some Pepto. I missed that asshole. Hadn’t seen him in a few months, but I’d text him every now and then just to rile him. Dude was totally against technology.

“Windspeed is perfect for the set landing.” Kent raised his voice so we could both hear him. “Starting now you’ve got a ninety-second jump window.”

“I can’t believe the director is letting you skydive on set.” Casey clenched and unclenched his fingers.

“I’m the talent. How is that hard to believe?”

A laugh ripped from his lips. The first one since we’d boarded.

Finally. That shit doesn’t normally take so long.

“Right,” he said. “But you’re the man behind the talent.”

I wagged a finger at him. “Watch it, suit. There wouldn’t be a movie without my body to take the beatings.”

He rubbed at the scruff of stubble on his chin, glancing down. “I’m wearing shorts!” he shook his head. “How is it I was dubbed the suit before I was even initiated?”

Today he was dressed much more casually in the shorts and T combo I suggested for the jump, but normally? It was like the dude didn’t own anything other than five-thousand-dollar suits. To each his own, but that shit would tire me out.

That’s probably why he’s a billionaire and you’re not.

Dick.

“Those shorts probably cost more than my bike,” I joked. “Be happy we didn’t decide to call you Money.

“Damn,” he hissed. “Was that in the pool?”

I nodded, reaching for his forearm and tugging him toward the opened plane door. “Oh yeah,” I said, eyeing Kent over his shoulder. “Along with Captain America and Billionaire Boss.”

“Fucking hell, man.” He shrugged. “I’m no different than any of you in the E.D.G.E.

“Your wallet begs to differ.” I chided but only because he was humble as shit. If it weren’t for the clothes or the intel that went with googling his name, no one would know he had billions. The fact that he was a decent rich guy only made me—and everyone else in the E.D.G.E. crew—like him even more. But we had to give shit where shit was due. It was in our edgy handbook.

Yes, I wrote it.

“Ready?” I asked.

He sucked in a breath so large his chest puffed out, and he nodded.

“Good,” I said. “You’ll do fine. Just remember to pull the chute when we talked about. And aim for the landing site marked on set.”

“Got it,” he said.

I moved but thought better of it and looked back at him. “You named me as predecessor of your franchise in case of your death, right?”

He glared at me. “Yeah, I signed it with the stipulation that instead of continuing on with the E.D.G.E crew, you host your own talk show where people come on to chat about their feelings.”

“Bleh,” I said, shaking out the horrible vision. “Keep your money.”

He chuckled. “Thought so.” He stepped up to the edge, glancing down at the clouds beneath us. “Besides,” he said, looking up at me. “If I’d give anyone the money it’d be Connell.” A smirk and one step later, and he jumped.

“Judas,” I hissed, spun around with my back toward the opened door, threw Kent a thumbs-up, and let go.

Chance, brother. Good to see you.

The image of my brother’s face, laughing and at peace, flashed behind my closed lids as gravity pulled me through the air. Every time I jumped from a plane it was the same, like Chance could find me here and nowhere else…unless I was about to die. It’s like he knew he could corner me here, remind me how much I missed him, how much I regretted the last words we spoke before he’d been blown to bits.

Fuck. I snapped my eyes open, closing my arms across my chest to spin and propel me downward, needing a faster freefall, a more intense rush. The prick of ice in my chest deepened, the one that had Chance’s name tattooed over it. I’d known this would happen, but there wasn’t shit I could do to escape the guilt up here. In reality I used my job as a stuntman to dull the thoughts, or the quick company of a different woman every other night to distract me from everything I couldn’t ever seem to address about my past. Up here? No such luck. I was exposed in a way I never was on solid ground, and I both lived for these moments and dreaded them.

I miss you.

I miss you both.

Mackenzie’s blue-gray eyes took over Chance’s face, as they always did. There was no memory with Chance for me that didn’t attach to Mackenzie—the love of my life. The one who crushed me. The one who I never got over. The one I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about. She was always there, a prickle of heat in my heart, but after my near-death experience in the fucking Amazon rainforest with the E.D.G.E. brotherhood, it had gotten so much worse.

I’d called her mother, looking for her most up-to-date number, but had hung up as she searched her cell for it. She’d texted it to me—God love that woman, she’d always had a soft spot for me—but I’d deleted it and drank half a bottle of whiskey instead. I had no business calling Mackenzie, thinking of her. That was a lifetime ago.

I reached up and pulled my chute, the wind yanking me back with enough force to push the air out of my lungs. After a few seconds, I leveled out. Casey whooped and hollered next to me, typical first-timer reaction. I smiled over at him, jealous of his ability to give over to the experience completely while I was robbed of the levity. Moments like these directly tied with thoughts of the past I couldn’t escape.

“This is amazing!” Casey called from his position just behind me.

“Remember to run with the landing if you can,” I said, spotting the area marked off with neon tape. It was a massive field only ten miles from the studio lot of the picture I was shooting this month. Some of the major scenes would take place on man-made sets, or we’d have to drive to a new location, but today’s was a simple marker rehearsal in the field Casey and I rapidly approached.

I had been lax to sign on for a military film—my ex-parents and dead brother had put me off the military a long fucking time ago—but it was slated to be the biggest and most authentic military blockbuster since The Hurt Locker. It was impossible to say no when I was offered to double for the movie’s lead actor.

The field had a few pieces set up so the director could get an idea of markers—beige tents, camo bags, wooden tables lined with up-to-date weapons. I could only hope Casey would remember the control of the chute I’d taught him and avoid smashing into that shit on our way in. Director would kill me if he did, but then again, Casey could easily afford to break everything on the lot if he wanted to.

“Brace for impact,” I called over my shoulder as the earth came up to meet my feet. I ran with the hit, my quads and calves taking most of the pain as I tucked and rolled from the speed in which I’d come in at.

Casey hit the mark only a few feet away from me, but the dude didn’t run. He straight up smacked into it with a thud so loud I winced. Unhooking from my chute, I ran over to him.

“You good, bro?”

Casey rolled over on his back, laughing. “We have to do that again.”

I smirked, smacking his chest before helping him to his feet. “Nice. You do have a hangar full of planes at our disposal.”

The laugh melted off his face. “Disposal?”

I shrugged, walking to where Dennis the Director shuffled over to me.

“Wade,” he said, giving me a good-ole-boy, one-two punch in the gut. “Smooth landing. Think I’ll have to shoot a jump sequence now that I know how well you can handle it.”

“And how good I make it look,” I said, unstrapping the rest of my gear.

“True,” Dennis said.

The absence of the weight was a relief on my adrenaline-pumped muscles, the high upped my heart rate so much I was ready to tackle a few miles at the gym. A few miles on my motorcycle sounded like a much better alternative. Maybe Casey would want to hit up the bars again. The dude was a brilliant wingman, but he never cleaned up like I did. Not for lack of ladies vying for the position, though. There was a story there, I just hadn’t gotten close enough to him to ask, yet. Plus, if I asked him then he’d bug me about my one-and-done method, and no one needed to hear the sob story of my past. The one where the girl stole my heart, set it on fire, and took its ashes with her when she enlisted.

Just the thought made me ache in places I didn’t want to, and I spun on my heels to practically beg Casey to go out tonight. Shit, I could do it on my own, but drinking was so much more acceptable when you had a buddy system.

“Suit,” I said just as he’d shucked the rest of his gear. “You. Me. The city?”

He smirked, shaking his head. “Do you ever actually work?”

I held my arms out to indicate the set we’d landed on. “I’m working right now.”

He rolled his eyes, swiping the screen of his cell.

“Do you ever not work?” I asked, eyeing the phone.

“No.” He pocketed it. “But I don’t have anything on the books tonight. Where we hitting?”

I clapped my hands together, placing the pressed points over my lips. “Depends. You buying?”

He flipped me off.

My mouth dropped. “What? We can talk shop. You can write it off as a business meeting.”

Casey pursed his lips. “Maybe you wouldn’t be such a poor choice as a predecessor.”

“Right?” I nodded. “Better than Connell. He’d blow your billions on boats and oxygen. Tanks of air. What kind of scam is that?”

Casey chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. “Deplorable.”

“I know, and don’t get me started on Dash and his rain gauges. Glorified water collectors.” I rolled my eyes, fully immersing myself in the joy I received from poking fun at my new brothers.

“Wade!” Dennis shouted at my back, and I damn near stomped my foot.

“Fuck,” I hissed. “I was just about to go on a tear over Easton’s hat. Remind me.” I pointed at Casey who no longer paid me any sort of attention. His eyes were glued behind me, an eyebrow cocked in a position I invented—the holy hell who do I have to kill to fuck you position.

I whirled around, fully expecting to find the starlet of the movie the object of Casey’s near-drooling affection.

“Want you to meet our on-site expert for the film,” Dennis spoke, and somewhere inside my brain the words registered.

My heart? It had turned to stone. Froze over right along with the hell that was now my reality.

“Mackenzie?” Her name released on a breath I’d held ten God damned years.

She tucked a strand of chin-length blonde hair behind her ear, her eyes wide, shock written all over her face. A sleek white top made her golden skin glisten under the bright sun, and the legs that once wrapped around my hips perfectly as I sank into her over and over again were exposed under black silk shorts.

Fucking hell, her style hasn’t changed. The center of my being shifted, altered to everything that was her. It begged me to reach out and grab her, encase her in my arms and never let her go.

“Wade?” She said my name like a question of whether or not I was real.

I was still checking because the sight of her made me lose my fucking mind.

“You two know each other?” Dennis asked, pointing between us.

“We’re old friends,” she said, her voice softer than I remembered it. Her shoulders bunched around her slim neck, and there was something about the way her eyes moved, almost like they bounced over everything in her immediate surroundings, that set my nerves on edge.

What happened to you?

“You missed your mark by a foot,” she said, pointing behind me toward the landing site. I smirked, but her playful attempt at conversation didn’t roll easy off her tongue.

Casey jabbed me in the side with his elbow, successfully stopping an advance I hadn’t realized I was making. I stopped my forward steps in their tracks, backhanding his stomach. “This is Casey.”

“Okay.” Dennis eyed me before shaking his head. “Anyway,” he said. “Glad to hear you already know each other. Mackenzie will be here to help Anthony maintain accuracy in every possible way. Won’t hurt for you to work with her, too. I’ll be damned if any of the fanboys blast me on their blogs about military authenticity. Her commander has assured me there is no one better.”

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, and my tongue reminded me of every way I could get it into my mouth. The way she fidgeted with her nails twisted my gut.

“There isn’t anyone better” I said, and she released a nervous chuckle, nothing like the booming laugh I used to kill myself trying to provoke.

Dennis shifted, checking his buzzing cell. “Excuse me,” he said before rushing to the other side of the set.

Casey reached out, offering Mackenzie his hand, his bulging forearm flexing just a bit more than normal. “Casey Williams,” he said as she took his hand. “What branch?”

“Nice to meet you.” She withdrew her hand quickly. I didn’t miss that she flinched when he’d said branch. “Air Force.”

“Nice,” he said. “How long have you been in?”

A crease formed between her brows as she clenched her eyes shut. Like she’d forgotten how many years she’d been enlisted.

“Ten,” I answered for her.

Her eyes snapped to mine, and it was only an instant, but I felt her. The warmth of her skin, the way her body fit perfectly against mine, and something new. Harsher. Broken.

Get a grip, man.

“You planning on retiring?” Casey asked.

“Doing a background check, suit?” The question came out sharper than I’d intended.

Casey eyed me but chuckled. “Sorry,” he said and glanced at his cell. “I actually have to go. Text me the place?”

I nodded at him and watched his fast exit. I knew damn well he didn’t have anywhere to be, and I silently thanked him. Then again, he’d left me alone with the one person in the world who had the power to crush my soul, so maybe he was an asshole.

“You look good,” she said, looking up at me. I was so much taller than her she had to arch her neck to meet my eyes. I stepped closer, unable to stop myself.

“I feel good, too,” I teased her like no time had passed between us.

A smile lit up her eyes, and it finally connected. God, she was more beautiful than I’d ever remembered.

“You want to grab dinner with me later tonight?” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could catch them.

“Yeah?” she asked, like maybe I’d been joking. Fuck, maybe I’d sounded like it.

“Patterson?” Dennis called her last name across the field where he stood at Anthony’s side. He waved her over, and she nodded at him.

“Tonight?” She tilted her head at me.

I cleared my throat. “Sure.” I handed her my cell, our fingers brushing as she took it, and damn it, an electrical current surged through my blood and woke the fuck up.

She entered her number into my contacts before returning my phone. Her lips parted to say more, but instead she turned her back on me and hurried over to Dennis.

I watched every single step she took away from me.

The already cracked open center of my chest wept, twisted, and burned. I’d watched her walk away once, and it nearly killed me. No amount of time had been enough to soothe that ache, and now, she was here. And she’d stay here, on set, every day until we wrapped. My living, breathing, beautiful reminder of all the ways in which I could hurt.

You shouldn’t have asked her to dinner.

Have a meal with the girl who broke you.

Just for funsies.

God, I was such an asshole sometimes.

More books in the series
Each can be read as a standalone

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63 Comments:


  1. Kumiko Shin said:

    Wow. Great cover! Looks very interesting, too!

    Reply

  2. Azalea said:

    I love this cover! And I’m so excited to read this book!

    Reply

  3. Azalea said:

    Also shared this post on facebook

    Reply

  4. Ann said:

    This sounds so good!

    Reply

  5. Shannon said:

    Wow this sounds amazing can’t wait

    Reply

  6. Jolanda L said:

    Looks and sounds great!
    Shared on twitter and facebook.
    Thank you for the opportunity.

    Reply

  7. Jessica Shaw said:

    Shared on Twitter! @maddymason22 …this looks amazing!

    Reply

  8. Mary Y. said:

    Love this series!

    Reply

  9. Marisela Zuniga said:

    Great cover!! Love it

    Reply

  10. Michelle Abascal Monroy said:

    I LOVEE this series so much!! Shared on Fb, Twitter and G+!

    Reply

  11. Amanda jandik said:

    Great cover ! Can’t wait to read ❤️

    Reply

  12. Carol powasnick said:

    Sounds soo good definitely reading this awesome cover btw ?

    Reply

  13. Shelly said:

    Shared on Facebook

    Reply

  14. Sarah Wathen said:

    Looks amazing!

    Reply

  15. Irene said:

    Thanks for the chance to win this giveaway

    Reply

  16. Donna Reynolds said:

    Great cover! Can’t wait to read!

    Reply

  17. Melissa said:

    Shared on Facebook. Read the rest of the series and loved them. Can’t wait to read the wise a$$ Wade

    Reply

  18. Samantha said:

    wade!!!! <#

    Reply

  19. Ashley Kitchens said:

    Awesome! Love it

    Reply

  20. Jody Richey said:

    Looks good. Hot guy!

    Reply

  21. Zulma said:

    Loving this cover!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  22. hdeeswan said:

    LOVE it! Shared on FB, Twitter, Pinterest and Google +! Thanks!

    Reply

  23. Veronica Ines Garcia said:

    Love it! Shared everywhere! Thank you!

    Reply

  24. Grace Hart said:

    Shared this on FB

    Reply

  25. Treen Goodwin said:

    Sounds like a great read , liked and shared on Facebook thanks for the chance <3

    Reply

  26. Cyan said:

    Wow, awesome! Love it!

    Reply

  27. Sarah Cook said:

    Shared on my Facebook!!! Looks amazing Molly! ?

    Reply

  28. Elizabeth Stacy said:

    Absolutely love ❤️ the cover page
    Thank you for the opportunity.

    Reply

  29. Sarah walsh said:

    Looks and sounds great ?

    Reply

  30. Michelle said:

    Love it! Shared on Twitter

    Reply

  31. Liz Booker said:

    Shared on Facebook!

    Reply

  32. Julie Foster said:

    I cant WAIT!!! This cover is absolutely perfect! #WadeIsMine

    Reply

  33. Monica NightReads said:

    ????

    Reply

  34. Denise Nichole said:

    Sounds amazing I have to read the rest!!!

    Reply

  35. Teresa said:

    can’t wait!!

    Reply

  36. Heather Howard said:

    Shared on Twitter via @chaosnsilence on pinterest via ChaosAndSilence and attempted to share on Facebook via Heather Howard

    Sounds like a great read! I want to know the whole story of what happened previously!

    Reply

  37. LaTonya said:

    Love the cover can not wait to get his story!!!!

    Reply

  38. Elli Gonzalez said:

    Shared on FB and Twitter!!! ??

    Reply

  39. Heather Merriman said:

    Shared on twitter @featherlight97.
    Thanks for the chance ❤️

    Reply

  40. Sarah DeLong said:

    Love the cover! Sharing on my Facebook page.

    Reply

  41. Nora Houston said:

    Love the cover, excited to read the book! Posted on IG, tweeted, and pinned!

    Reply

  42. Karla (@ksceviour) said:

    ohh,looks and sounds awesome!! Shared on facebook as well (Karla Sceviour) Thanks!

    Reply

  43. Ana said:

    Thank you ! Shared on FB, twitter , Pinterest , G+ !

    Reply

  44. Sammi Dotti said:

    Thanks for tnis opportunity! Shared on FB as Sammi Dotti 🙂

    Reply

  45. Sonia halbrook said:

    Loving the Cover!!

    Reply

  46. Louanne Baelde said:

    I love the cover and am so looking forward to reading this book!

    Reply

  47. crobich said:

    Love the cover. Sounds like a great read, cannot wait to get it.

    Reply

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