By Nicole North
First of all let me get this out of the way… I don’t like alpha males who are egotistical jerks, whether heroes in books or real life. But the rest, I definitely love. Who can resist a big strong man who is confident, decisive, brave, intelligent and sexy? A man who can get the job done. Perhaps he is too bossy at times, but he has good motivation for it. (At least, let’s hope he does.) He’s made a decision about what’s best to do and he’s confident he can carry it out.
Alpha males have many admirable qualities, but my favorite is protectiveness. This is one trait that shows he cares about those around him, and in a romance novel, shows that he cares about the heroine. He needs to keep her safe. He feels it’s his job and his responsibility to charge into danger, dodging bullets, to save a life. Even if he’s not a cop and has never been in the military, he still voluntarily takes on the responsibility to protect those he cares about.
In my latest release from Red Sage, Kilted Lover, the hero is Scott MacPherson. He’s tall, strong, confident and tosses cabers for fun while wearing a kilt. He’s a log home contractor by profession (not a cop or fireman used to rescuing people.) When he sees a woman he’s attracted to being harassed by thugs, he’s not going to stand by and watch it happen, even if he doesn’t know her name yet. First and foremost, he doesn’t want to see her hurt.
Unfortunately, the heroine (Les) isn’t used to heroic alpha males and their protectiveness quality. Nor has anyone tried to rob her before. It’s a confusing situation.
Excerpt from Kilted Lover
She wrenched herself away from him. “You.” Her gaze skittered down his body. The lower light of evening didn’t prevent him from seeing her blush.
He forced a smile. “Hello again, lass.”
“What do you want?” She wrapped her fingers around the amulet. “How did you know my name?”
“Your name is Lass?”
“Les—never mind. What do you want?”
Likely, her stalkers heard their every word. He didn’t want to face two armed men, nor did he want them swinging guns around in this crowd. He had to remove her from the danger and avoid a confrontation altogether. He inched closer to her and whispered, “Two men are following you.”
She took two steps back. “Excuse me?”
“Two men,” he murmured through clenched teeth. “The British man and his friend are following you. They want—”
She glanced around. “I don’t see anyone following me, except you.”
“Dammit, woman.” She was wasting time with this bickering.
The men, wearing blue and white masks with Celtic symbols, rushed forward. The short one brandished a pistol.
Scott charged the one with the weapon, shoved his arm up, and squeezed. He howled and dropped the pistol. Scott punched him, once in the stomach and once in the face, and sent him sprawling.
The woman screamed as she scuffled with the tall, skinny man. She dropped her purse and protected her amulet with both hands. The man snatched her purse from the ground and sprinted away.
“Bastard!”
She chased him and Scott joined her. The man climbed into a big black SUV and leaned over in the seat. He was probably going for a hidden pistol.
“Watch out.” Scott grabbed her arm and dragged her away.
“No! He has my purse!” She jerked free from his grasp.
Hearing footsteps behind them, Scott glanced back to see the man he’d knocked down rushing toward them, gun in hand.
“Hell!” Scott picked up the woman, threw her over his shoulder and ran.
First of all let me get this out of the way… I don’t like alpha males who are egotistical jerks, whether heroes in books or real life. But the rest, I definitely love. Who can resist a big strong man who is confident, decisive, brave, intelligent and sexy? A man who can get the job done. Perhaps he is too bossy at times, but he has good motivation for it. (At least, let’s hope he does.) He’s made a decision about what’s best to do and he’s confident he can carry it out.
Alpha males have many admirable qualities, but my favorite is protectiveness. This is one trait that shows he cares about those around him, and in a romance novel, shows that he cares about the heroine. He needs to keep her safe. He feels it’s his job and his responsibility to charge into danger, dodging bullets, to save a life. Even if he’s not a cop and has never been in the military, he still voluntarily takes on the responsibility to protect those he cares about.
In my latest release from Red Sage, Kilted Lover, the hero is Scott MacPherson. He’s tall, strong, confident and tosses cabers for fun while wearing a kilt. He’s a log home contractor by profession (not a cop or fireman used to rescuing people.) When he sees a woman he’s attracted to being harassed by thugs, he’s not going to stand by and watch it happen, even if he doesn’t know her name yet. First and foremost, he doesn’t want to see her hurt.
Unfortunately, the heroine (Les) isn’t used to heroic alpha males and their protectiveness quality. Nor has anyone tried to rob her before. It’s a confusing situation.
Excerpt from Kilted Lover
She wrenched herself away from him. “You.” Her gaze skittered down his body. The lower light of evening didn’t prevent him from seeing her blush.
He forced a smile. “Hello again, lass.”
“What do you want?” She wrapped her fingers around the amulet. “How did you know my name?”
“Your name is Lass?”
“Les—never mind. What do you want?”
Likely, her stalkers heard their every word. He didn’t want to face two armed men, nor did he want them swinging guns around in this crowd. He had to remove her from the danger and avoid a confrontation altogether. He inched closer to her and whispered, “Two men are following you.”
She took two steps back. “Excuse me?”
“Two men,” he murmured through clenched teeth. “The British man and his friend are following you. They want—”
She glanced around. “I don’t see anyone following me, except you.”
“Dammit, woman.” She was wasting time with this bickering.
The men, wearing blue and white masks with Celtic symbols, rushed forward. The short one brandished a pistol.
Scott charged the one with the weapon, shoved his arm up, and squeezed. He howled and dropped the pistol. Scott punched him, once in the stomach and once in the face, and sent him sprawling.
The woman screamed as she scuffled with the tall, skinny man. She dropped her purse and protected her amulet with both hands. The man snatched her purse from the ground and sprinted away.
“Bastard!”
She chased him and Scott joined her. The man climbed into a big black SUV and leaned over in the seat. He was probably going for a hidden pistol.
“Watch out.” Scott grabbed her arm and dragged her away.
“No! He has my purse!” She jerked free from his grasp.
Hearing footsteps behind them, Scott glanced back to see the man he’d knocked down rushing toward them, gun in hand.
“Hell!” Scott picked up the woman, threw her over his shoulder and ran.
Kilted Lover
Copyright © Nicole North, 2009
All Rights Reserved, RED SAGE PUBLISHING, INC.
As you might imagine, Les isn't too keen on being tossed over a guy's shoulder, mainly because she doesn't know him or understand why he's doing this.
What about you? Do you like alpha males and if so what is your favorite trait?
Copyright © Nicole North, 2009
All Rights Reserved, RED SAGE PUBLISHING, INC.
As you might imagine, Les isn't too keen on being tossed over a guy's shoulder, mainly because she doesn't know him or understand why he's doing this.
What about you? Do you like alpha males and if so what is your favorite trait?
Click here to read a chapter one excerpt, where Scott and Les first meet.
Thanks!
Nicole
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2 comments:
Love the excerpt. My favorite alpha male trait is the protectiveness. I guess I'm like my mom. When we were shopping,she was complaining about not getting equal pay at her job. She stopped to wait for a man to open the door for her. I told her she couldn't have it both ways. She said, "I don't see why not." So, I like a man who is respectful of women, and protective, but doesn't mind giving her opinion equal weight. Fortunately for me, I married that man! LOL
That made me smile! I want the same thing. I want equality, but sometimes I need a man to protect me... or fix things I break. :)
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