The Impetus of a 1 Night Stand by Becca Dale

When Valerie and Kate asked me if I would be interested in writing a story for the 1NS series, I cringed a little bit. Why? Well, because honestly, casual sex is not my style. Then I started thinking about it and realized that there would be an element of freedom in turning things over to someone objective like Madame Evangeline. In addition, I started to wonder how I could work my own need for connection into a single night. The urgency of such a moment intrigued me, as well. What kind of pressure would my heroine have to be under in order to seek solace at the hands of a stranger? What kind of setting would enable a woman to leave her inhibitions behind and embrace such a scary situation? Once the idea had been planted in my head, it would not shut up. I had to find a way to explore a one-night stand.

My husband and I often travel out of the country with friends or to the motorcycle rally in Sturgis. Though the latter is in my home state, both environments are so foreign compared to my usual world that I find I am more carefree, less worried about who will see me dance on a table or sing karaoke—badly—if I indulge in a drink or two. I usually start a story with a hero, but this one demanded I begin with a setting that would allow the heroine to fly without a net. Jumping on the web, I search many beautiful places, but when a picture of Greece popped up, I knew everything. The hero, the reason behind Brenna’s need to flee, the ultimate outcome, all came clear in an instant. From there Erotic Healing burned through my keyboard. I cannot remember ever having written something so fast that I truly adore.

Despite the fact that Brenna is stunning and a bit spoiled, I had no trouble feeling for her. Her struggle broke my heart from the moment I understood it. Thus, the thought process behind her sweet hero. Kostas represents the only guy I have ever written who is not American through and through. He is not the rough and ready cowboy or the arrogant American businessman. He is a cocky shit, but his drive stems from his desire to be kind. His gentleness blew me out of the water. Though my heroes are usually overly protective of their women, they are, by nature, not always nice. Kostas offers a weird twist. He uses Brenna’s pain, even feeds it, in his effort to be considerate, and I found myself fascinated by him.

[GRIN] You may call off the men in white jackets. I have not lost my mind to the point that I am unaware Kostas sprang from my head, but anyone who has ever written anything will understand when I say that he is not my creation. I am merely the pathway through which he found life. The one constant I try to hold in my writing is the idea that a true hero is whatever the heroine needs. Kostas meets and exceeds that requirement, and though he is not anything like I expected him to be, Madame Evangeline guaranteed he would be exactly the type of man necessary to free Brenna for at least one night.