In His Corner WORK OUT No sex for almost a year could kill a guy, but when you’re the boxer known as the Juggernaut, it’s the price you pay for turning pro. Tommy’s fully dedicated to his craft, until he meets the incredibly gorgeous Dr. Siena Carr. Now he’s looking forward to taking on this prim and proper lady in a wet and wild workout… KNOCK OUT Siena has seen many patients come through the ER, but none as sexy as Tommy Raines. With a nasty cut over his eye, she knows he needs stitches, but after he takes off his shirt, she needs some air. With rock-hard abs and taut biceps, it’s clear this man takes care of his body. And all Siena can think about is letting him take care of hers… |
Excerpt
Dr. Siena Carr dropped the clipboard on the counter and washed her hands. When she turned around, she gasped. “What are you doing?”
The Juggernaut was undressing. Before she could say another word, he was naked. A glorious sight that sent her heart racing and her face burning. Did he know that he looked like a sculpture by Michelangelo? Except for the tattoo on his right shoulder, this man was David incarnate.
She looked away abruptly, grabbing the clipboard. She didn’t even know his name! She looked at his paperwork. Tommy Raines. “Mr. Raines, please put on your clothes.”
She continued scanning his form. Occupation: boxer. Age: twenty-two. Weight: 160 pounds. Height: six feet. Blood type: O positive. No pre-existing health conditions. His temperature and blood pressure were normal. Reason for ER visit: a cut sustained from sparring.
She faced him. Thank God, he was clothed again.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “I thought you’re supposed to check me out.”
Did he just say check him out? “Mr. Raines, this is an ER, not a bar. I don’t check out patients. Do you mean to say check up?”
He smiled. “Yeah, check up.”
“I’m going to take care of your cut, but I’m not doing a checkup. If you need one, you should go to your primary care doctor.”
“I don’t like doctors. I avoid hospitals and clinics as much as possible, but my cut kept bleeding even after I showered. So here I am.”
The Juggernaut was undressing. Before she could say another word, he was naked. A glorious sight that sent her heart racing and her face burning. Did he know that he looked like a sculpture by Michelangelo? Except for the tattoo on his right shoulder, this man was David incarnate.
She looked away abruptly, grabbing the clipboard. She didn’t even know his name! She looked at his paperwork. Tommy Raines. “Mr. Raines, please put on your clothes.”
She continued scanning his form. Occupation: boxer. Age: twenty-two. Weight: 160 pounds. Height: six feet. Blood type: O positive. No pre-existing health conditions. His temperature and blood pressure were normal. Reason for ER visit: a cut sustained from sparring.
She faced him. Thank God, he was clothed again.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “I thought you’re supposed to check me out.”
Did he just say check him out? “Mr. Raines, this is an ER, not a bar. I don’t check out patients. Do you mean to say check up?”
He smiled. “Yeah, check up.”
“I’m going to take care of your cut, but I’m not doing a checkup. If you need one, you should go to your primary care doctor.”
“I don’t like doctors. I avoid hospitals and clinics as much as possible, but my cut kept bleeding even after I showered. So here I am.”
Interview with Vina Arno...
Q: Have you ever based your book or characters on actual events or people from your own life?
Vina Arno: Not for this book.
Q: When you write the beginning, do you know the end?
Vina Arno: With In His Corner, yes. But not with other manuscripts I’ve written.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Vina Arno: My inspiration came from the unlikely combination of Italy and Tom Hardy, the British actor. I love Hardy’s cage-fighter character in the movie “Warrior,” which gave me the idea for my romantic hero. But I prefer boxing to mixed martial arts and I wanted the prestige of the Olympics, so I made my hero an Olympic gold-medalist boxer. My heroine is named Siena because she was inspired by the Italian city of the same name, which I visited in 2013.
Q: Did you have to study boxing for “In His Corner” or is this sport close to your heart?
Vina Arno: I’m fascinated by boxing and boxers, but I don’t subscribe to Ring magazine or spend my weekends watching boxing on pay-per-view. Growing up in the Philippines, I was in awe of Muhammad Ali, who fought Joe Frazier in the famous match called “Thrilla in Manila.” It was a huge event held with great fanfare; it left a tremendous impression on me. Also, I’ve been following Manny Pacquiao’s career because he’s my compatriot and he’s one of the best fighters in the world today.
Q: Fly that geek flag high! What is it you're currently obsessing over in the book, tv show, or movie world?
Vina Arno: Believe it or not, I don’t watch TV except for news. I’m a Tom Hardy fan, so I’m looking forward to watching him re-invent the character of “Mad Max” in the reboot of the franchise.
Vina Arno: Not for this book.
Q: When you write the beginning, do you know the end?
Vina Arno: With In His Corner, yes. But not with other manuscripts I’ve written.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Vina Arno: My inspiration came from the unlikely combination of Italy and Tom Hardy, the British actor. I love Hardy’s cage-fighter character in the movie “Warrior,” which gave me the idea for my romantic hero. But I prefer boxing to mixed martial arts and I wanted the prestige of the Olympics, so I made my hero an Olympic gold-medalist boxer. My heroine is named Siena because she was inspired by the Italian city of the same name, which I visited in 2013.
Q: Did you have to study boxing for “In His Corner” or is this sport close to your heart?
Vina Arno: I’m fascinated by boxing and boxers, but I don’t subscribe to Ring magazine or spend my weekends watching boxing on pay-per-view. Growing up in the Philippines, I was in awe of Muhammad Ali, who fought Joe Frazier in the famous match called “Thrilla in Manila.” It was a huge event held with great fanfare; it left a tremendous impression on me. Also, I’ve been following Manny Pacquiao’s career because he’s my compatriot and he’s one of the best fighters in the world today.
Q: Fly that geek flag high! What is it you're currently obsessing over in the book, tv show, or movie world?
Vina Arno: Believe it or not, I don’t watch TV except for news. I’m a Tom Hardy fan, so I’m looking forward to watching him re-invent the character of “Mad Max” in the reboot of the franchise.
Meet the author... Vina Arno
Vina Arno is a pen name used by Cindy Fazzi, a Philippine-born American writer who has worked as a journalist in the Philippines, Taiwan, and the United States. Her short stories have been published in the Snake Nation Review, Copperfield Review, and SN Review.