Title: Becoming His
Author: Mariah Dietz
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Day: December 1, 2014
Sometimes life’s unforeseen paths lead us to discovering sides of ourselves we never knew existed.
Ace Bosse has always found solace at home, but when she returns for the summer from college she builds an unexpected relationship with the reckless Max Miller.
Three years ago, Max left for Alaska to find what he thought he’d lost, but now he realizes just how much he left behind.
Max teaches Ace that sometimes a little crazy is exactly what life needs while learning that some chances are worth taking, regardless of the risks.
But how do you know when you’ve met the right person? And will they be prepared to experience one of life’s biggest obstacles?
Falling in love isn’t easy, but holding on to it is where the real challenge lies.
Excerpt:
Max laughs at appropriate times and doesn’t talk when you need to be paying attention—two important show watching etiquettes so many people fail miserably at.
“So you enjoy partying, vegging out, and I keep seeing these books in your suitcase of a purse,” he says as the first episode concludes. “So I’m guessing you like to read.”
A quiet laugh escapes my lips, and I watch his eyes focus on my mouth.
“What else does Ace Bosse like to do?” His eyes travel back to mine.
“That’s pretty much me in a nutshell,” I say with a dismissive shrug.
“I have a feeling there’s a lot more to you than partying, watching TV, and reading.”
“You forgot pie.” I stab the tines of my fork into the slice of chocolate pie beside me. Max smiles a huge, white-toothed grin that makes my heart briefly stutter.
“What about you, Max Miller? What do you like to do?” I ask before he can continue on his familiar quest of questions.
“Be awesome.”
I roll my eyes and reach for a handful of cold popcorn sitting between us and throw it at the cocky grin covering his face. I watch as the kernels dance down to his chest as his eyebrows rise in surprise, his smile turning more genuine.
“Did you seriously just throw food at me?”
I raise my eyebrows and do it again without hesitation.
Max maintains his grin as his look becomes calculating, and I look straight into eyes that quickly become alight with devious intentions.
“Where’s your phone?”
My eyebrows lower over my eyes and my head tilts to understand his intentions. “My phone?” Max nods as he stands. “Probably in the kitchen. Why?”
Max reaches into his pockets and tosses his cell phone and keys onto the couch beside me. My mind barrels down what I know is the wrong path, but it’s difficult to keep it from going there as he strips off his T-shirt, revealing his bare chest.
Max reaches forward and grabs my waist, hoisting me over his shoulder before I can voice my objection.
“It was only popcorn!” I squeal as he opens the door with one hand, still griping my thighs tightly with the other.
“Don’t you dare!” I warn as he nears the pool. “Max, no! Put me down!”
He doesn’t respond. We continue getting closer to the bright blue water aglow with lights. So I do what any logical person in my position would do: I wrap my arms around his waist in a death grip.
“If I’m going in, so are you,” I warn.
“That’s what I figured.” He effortlessly pulls me upright. I’m still trying to ascertain if I conceded, or if I simply never stood a chance against him when his arms tighten on my legs and shoulders.
My thoughts sink to the bottom as we slice through the water.
“Vindictive are we?” I ask, climbing out of the pool. I shiver in my sodden clothes and head toward the house, leaving a trail of water in my wake.
“You’re already done swimming?” Max teases.
“To think I was letting you eat my pie!” I cry, shaking my head as I step inside and shut off the patio lights.
I know he’ll have to return for his phone and keys, so I quickly dart upstairs to put on some dry clothes, aiming for something more attractive than my last outfit without appearing that I’m trying too hard.
I sit beside Zeus, rubbing his large boxed head. Max still hasn’t returned, and the pool was empty when I came down, but his things still sit on the couch, assuring me he’ll be back. Zeus releases a sigh and closes his eyes as he leans against me.
A few minutes later Max reappears wearing a dry pair of black sweatpants and plain white T-shirt that fits as snug as his black one still strewn across the couch.
“Feeling less ornery?”
“How’d you get changed without your keys?”
“A window in the sunroom has a broken latch,” He answers, tilting his head towards his backyard.
“You just declared war.” I stand to join him on the couch.
Max grabs some popcorn, and keeping his eyes on me, he slowly starts eating it with a salacious grin.
“War, huh? This could get exciting.”
I frown, my chin dropping while my eyebrows rise, before throwing a nearby pillow at his chest and starting another episode.
About the author:
Mariah Dietz lives in Eastern Washington with her husband and two sons that are the axis of her crazy and wonderful world.
Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent the majority of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.
She has a love for all things that include her sons, good coffee, books, travel, and dark chocolate. She also has a deep passion for the stories she writes, and hopes readers enjoy the journeys she takes them on, as much as she loves creating them.
No I haven’t. Thanks for the chance.
Craziest thing was meeting him on the internet. This was fifteen year ago, the time of dial-up, Meg Ryan, & Tom Hanks ‘You’ve Got Mail’. We lived over five hours away from each other. The first meeting, I stood him up because I was scared.
Thank you for the giveaway.
Nope, I haven’t.
NO. THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!