A Summer for Love Blog Hop #SummerForLove

The idea of a Summer for Love brings to mind many things. Foremost, it brings to mind a summer, almost 12 years ago that would forever change my life. You see, on June 15^th, twelve years ago, I took a huge step and married my husband. We had known each other a long time at this point. We'd actually met in college while each of us was already involved with other people. Having the same major and similar interests and many friends in common, he and I became great friends. Nothing ever came of any attraction that either of us may have felt towards the other. Now fast forward 6 years. We've both graduated and started our post-college lives and careers. Through mutual friends we reconnected and you know what? That spark was still there and burning just as bright as it had when we met 6 years before. It didn't take him long to ask me out this time. I guess it was finally our time. Both of us single, both already started in our careers, or at least headed in that direction. It took him 6 years to ask me out and only 6 months to realize that I'm the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and propose.

In hindsight maybe that is why enjoyed CM Doporto's Opposing Sides so much. After all, it's about a couple who met in college and regardless of their attraction for each other, circumstances being what they are, the timing is all wrong for them. I can't tell you how things fared for CM Doporto's Lexi and Raven, but I can tell you that 12 Years and 2 children later, my husband and I are still going strong with no signs of stopping.

Read an excerpt from CM Doporto's Opposing Sides see how Raven and Lexi first meet:

(Be Sure to check out the giveaways below)

I stepped out of the director’s office and entered the main area. Standing in all his six foot two glory was the star quarterback of our universities’ football team. I had never seen him in person, and I felt like a midget looking up at him. Even though I didn’t know him personally, I’d heard and read enough about him to know he was a womanizer and had a drug problem.

Another reason why I shouldn’t help him.

“Hi, I’m Lexi Thompson and I’ve been asked to consult with you.” I made it clear that it wasn’t my choice to help him.

“Lexi. Hmm, I like that name.”

Uh, no you don’t.

His full lips spread, revealing the most charming smile, coupled with a deep dimple on the right. Now I knew why every girl fell for him. But I was smarter than that. “I’m Raven.” He stalled for a moment, his eyes giving me a thorough exam to the point that I bet he knew what color my panties were. “Raven Davenport.” He ran a hand over his short buzz cut, and he looked like the perfect model for an Abercrombie and Fitch ad. Minus his T-shirt.

He was toxic and smelled of sex and drugs. Well, not that I knew what all that smelled like, but his aura beamed bright red warning me to be careful.

“Are you ready to get started? Because we only have an hour.” I held out my hand, motioning to a small table in the corner.

“That’s plenty of time.” He raised his brows.

I rolled my eyes and walked to the table. Taking a seat, I took out the agreement that Dr. Philips prepared. I signed my name, and moved the papers in front of him. “Please sign this.”

Raven leaned over the table. “I was thinking you might want to do this somewhere private.” A seductive grin spread across his lips as he pressed his weight against it, as if testing the durability of the wood.

My jaw dropped. Was he serious? My fiancé didn’t even tease me that way. Although that would’ve been nice. Then again, we hadn’t even made out on a bed much less on a table. I had to restrain myself from slapping him.

“Excuse me, Mr. Davenport?”

He pulled out a chair and sat down. “You can call me Raven.” I guess by the tone in my voice he knew I meant business.

“Please read the agreement, and let me know if you have any questions. I indicated we would meet twice a week for an hour and more if a mutual agreement can be established.”

“Okay. Sounds fair. Do you have a pen?” He held out his hand. His long fingers curled up in a perfect cup. A hand that was made for a football and caressing various female parts.

Whoa! Where did that come from?

Extending my hand, I gave him my pen. He eased it from my fingertips in a gentle motion. “Thank you, Lexi.”

He signed the paper and handed it back to me.

“Aren’t you going to read it?”

Shaking his head, he said, “No, I trust you.”

“But you don’t even know me.”

“Not yet.” His green eyes sparkled. “But my gut tells me we’re going to get to know each other real well.”

It was obvious why Lisa didn’t want to work with him. I made a mental note to call her the second he left. I sucked in a quick breath and let it out to clear my head. “Whatever.” With haste I removed my Hodge’s Harbrace Handbook and another pen from my backpack. I opened the folder Dr. Philips gave me and took out his papers.

“I reviewed your file and—”

“You and everybody else.” His head lowered and his shoulders sunk.

I continued, unsure of how to handle the comment. “I have an idea of where you need the most help with your writing.”

His head popped up and a layer of relief removed the downward slope of his lips. “You do?”

“Yes. I think we should start with some grammar basics.” I opened the book to the first chapter and moved it between us. I placed one of his papers below the book, prepared to show him examples so he could relate easily to the concepts. “I’ll give you a quick and dirty overview of the parts of speech to start off.”

He moved his chair closer to me, and a fresh sent of juniper and bergamot swept over me. The guy smelled like a cologne insert from one of my magazines, and I tried hard not to breathe it in. But the more I tried not to, the more I loved the smell.

Darn, I wish Collin smelled that good.

He flashed me a grin. “I like it quick and dirty.”

I wanted to slap myself. Could I have used a poorer word choice? “I’m sure you do Raven. I mean, you’re a guy and a football player.”

“True,” a half smile formed, “but not every guy likes to do things quickly or get messy doing them.” 

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