Last week, I shared about Logan, the hero from Sunrise Surf (releasing July 31). This week, I’m excited to introduce you to Doctor Laken Hayes.
In my mind, Laken had long dark hair, but that was about all I had for inspiration for her before I started the story.
Then I landed on a photo of model Carmen Santacruz.
She is so perfect for Laken.
Laken is strong and tough, but with a big, caring, tender heart. She spontaneously sings tunes from Broadway musicals, leaves silly notes around the house for her teenage nephew, Dellas, who lives with her, and avoids romance like it is a highly contagious disease.
Then Logan (in his undercover persona of a surfer named Bodhi) shows up in the emergency room, and Laken finds herself attracted to him despite knowing he’s all wrong for her.
Here is a little snippet from the story when Bodhi and Laken meet at the hospital:
After she finished with his head wound, she stood in front of Bodhi again. “You are not to touch those bandages for twenty-four hours. Stay out of the water. Once the bandages come off, keep salve on the stitches so they’ll heal.” She handed him a few packets of salve. “You’ll need to come back in ten days to get the stitches out.”
“I’ll do it myself,” Bodhi said, scooting forward on the table.
“No, you won’t. If you don’t promise to have a doctor remove them, you aren’t leaving here without your pretty silver bracelets.”
Bodhi’s left eyebrow, which had a scar running through it, hiked upward and disappeared behind his tousled curls.
Laken experienced the most unreasonable urge to reach out and smooth them away from his face. Maybe cup his jaw. Kiss his enticing, full lips.
“I’ll come back,” Bodhi said, then stood. Although Laken was tall, she had to look up at him.
When he winked at her, her fingers itched to slap his face for being so impudent.
~*~
Discover more inspiration for the book and Logan on my Pinterest Board.
