Welcome to “At First Sight Saturday.” Today’s guest is author, Beverley Bateman who gives us a ‘first sight’ scene from her book A Cruise to Remember and introduces us to hero, Eric Norby and heroine, Hallie Donald. Be sure to leave a comment to let Beverley know your thoughts about the scene.

Excerpt:  Eric turned his attention to the dock below where boarding had commenced. A staggered line of passengers shuffled toward the main gangway.

His gaze snapped back to two women who stopped briefly for the ship’s photographer. The older woman was well dressed in a white, semi-tailored skirt and a pinkish blouse. She wore her silver hair in an elegant bun at the base of her neck. The jewelry around her neck and her wrist sparkled as it caught the sun’s rays, magnifying the light, shooting it back toward the sky. He had no doubt they were diamonds, probably high quality. If she was trying to draw attention to herself, she was certainly going to accomplish it.

Jewels were one of his areas of expertise and the main reason he’d managed to pull this assignment. That, and the short time he’d spent as a medic in the army.

His eyes lingered on the younger woman. She shone like a jewel in her own right–white-blonde, shoulder-length hair, gleamed in the sunlight. Her green colored sundress fit her body, revealing the promise of well-rounded breasts and a tiny waistline.

A strong desire to meet this attractive young woman gripped him.

He’d never felt anything like this before. He gave himself a mental shake.

It’s probably the motion of the ship. Yeah, that, or I’m just plain horny. It’s been awhile since I scored.

Eric’s continued to observe her as she proceeded up the gangway. The sundress she wore was some kind of soft material that draped and clung to that perfectly proportioned figure. He wondered if the color of the dress matched her eyes.

She glanced upward, smiling. He felt she was smiling just for him. Eric smiled back, resisting an urge to wave.

*

A short time later Hallie and Lillian sat down gingerly on the uncomfortable chairs.

A few seconds later, the door reopened. A tall, blond male entered the room. He wore white pants and a shirt. His white epaulets sported a single gold bar. He glanced at Hallie.

She found herself locked into his riveting gaze. She tried to look away but couldn’t move. Her pulse revved up, like a well-tuned racecar. It continued to race as Hallie stared at the man and his incredible crystal blue eyes.

She realized she’d been holding her breath. Dizziness overcame her and the room started to spin.

It must be the cramped quarters, too many people; maybe I can’t stand small spaces.

The doctor broke the spell by turning away and extending his hand to Lillian.

“Dr. Peterson.”

“Lillian Abernathy. I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Dr. Peterson, Eric Peterson.” He pivoted back to Hallie and extended his hand.

The dizziness receded. Hallie kept her eyes focused down on the large square hand in front of her. The fingers were long with neatly clipped, clean nails. A fine layer of blond hairs covered the back of the hand.

Cautiously, she slid her hand forward. An electric current flashed, fusing their hands together.

She swallowed several times. Unable to resist any longer, she glanced up at him. Their eyes met and locked again. He held her in a visual grip she could not escape. She couldn’t pull her hand away, she couldn’t speak; all she could do was stare helplessly into those inviting, hypnotic, deep blue pools.

Hallie floundered desperately, wondering if this reaction was a result of her amnesia.

A smile played on the doctor’s thick sensuous lips. She was sure he was enjoying her obvious discomfort. He dropped his hand, breaking the connection.

Hallie jerked her hand back, hiding it behind her. She swallowed again, struggling to find her breath. She searched her memory for a name. Hallie, Hallie Devine. I’m traveling with Mrs. Abernathy.”

“Lillian, please. Mrs. Abernathy always sounds like my mother-in-law.”

“Lillian. What can I do for you today?” Dr. Peterson switched his attention back to Lillian and dropped into his chair.

Hallie plunked herself down, leaning back in the chair, her mouth still gaping. She snapped it shut and struggled to clear her mind. Heat crawled up her neck and spread onto her cheeks.

Oh no–I’m blushing. Please, Lord, let me die right now.

Hallie noticed his tanned muscular arms extending from the short sleeves of his uniform.

She didn’t hear a word he said to Lillian. Her attention focused on how his uniform shirt strained against his chest muscles. She was sure there wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body.

She felt hot, even with the air-conditioning blowing down on her. Her heart thundered in her ears. Hallie wanted to rip her clothes off, then his.

Blurb:  Amnesia, a cruise ship, a jewel theft ring and attempted murder combine to make it a cruise to remember. Hallie Donald has been in an accident and has amnesia. She’s traveling on the cruise as a companion. And someone is trying to kill her.

Interpol agent Eric Norby searches for jewel thieves on a Caribbean cruise, but his main suspect is the woman he loves. Can he catch the jewel thief and save the woman he loves?

Available Now!  Amazon   Nook   Kobo 

About Beverley Bateman:  Murder, mystery and romance fills award-winning, Canadian author, Beverley Bateman’s life. She loves to plot, kill and hopefully baffle the reader. Her nursing and public health nursing background helps with some details and administering a community care facility program had her investigating and directing investigations into irregularities and sometimes a death. She even has court experience.

She began writing in her preteens and loved to write locked room mysteries. Reading Nancy Drew helped her figure out plots. Facing breast cancer, she decided she needed to do what she’d always wanted and began to write. She completed her first romantic suspense novel and hasn’t stopped writing since. She recently moved and now lives among ranches and wheat fields in southern Alberta, with her husband and Poochon rescue dog.

Find Beverley at:   Website   Blog   Facebook   Amazon   Pinterest   Goodreads   Facebook Authorpage   Twitter @kelownawriter  Instagram Beverley.Bateman