R.L. Griffin's Blog: The Blog I must have, I'm told, page 3
December 20, 2013
Bundle UP!
The Bundle ebook for all of BaT, plus the free Bonus Mending is live and only costs $7.99 for three novels and a short. Get it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Thread-Combo-R-...
All of the By a Thread series in a single volume. It has been said that this series “is a roller coaster ride, there are ups and downs, twists and turns, you are going to be scared witless and then relieved, you will be crushed and you will be slowly pieced back together again, it truly is one heck of a journey.” Others are calling it “suspenseful, funny, sexy and at many times an ‘edge of your seat’ thriller.”
This box set includes the following novels:
By a Thread: Stella Murphy moves with her fiancé to Washington, DC where her perfectly planned future ends just as it was beginning. With no ties to family or friends, Stella finds herself alone in a new city, spiraling out of control. Luckily, her new roommate, essentially a stranger, is dead set on getting Stella past her grief and back to functioning within society. Even with all her progress, Stella walks through life unfeeling, numb. Defiant, she sends out warning signals for the world to keep away. But, is that what she really wants? Just as she starts to take her life back, everything she thought she knew is turned upside, again.
Tension: The Stella who emerges from the chaos at the end of By a Thread is a woman full of conflict. After waking in the hospital as a celebrity, complete with a new moniker, she's bitter and distrustful, questioning everything in her life. Her recovery is hastened by her determination to find the man who turned her into a walking scar. She's going to kill him; she needs to kill him. Stella isn't alone. She has her close friends and her dog, Cooper. Will their support be enough to help Stella accomplish her plan, or will this endeavor be her undoing?
Seamless: Time after time, Stella chooses to fight even though she's consistently poised to break. It's that fight to get her life back, to make things right, to survive that defines who she is. She's been loved, left, lost, blown up, shot, and exploited. In Seamless, Stella has no choice but to step into the ring with someone who she once loved. It's a dirty fight that will take all she has. Will she do what it takes to win? Will she make it out alive?
Also included in this box set is the following bonus, free short:
Mending : A short story that covers what happens from the jaw dropping ending of Seamless to the Epilogue.
These books are intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.
http://www.amazon.com/Thread-Combo-R-...
All of the By a Thread series in a single volume. It has been said that this series “is a roller coaster ride, there are ups and downs, twists and turns, you are going to be scared witless and then relieved, you will be crushed and you will be slowly pieced back together again, it truly is one heck of a journey.” Others are calling it “suspenseful, funny, sexy and at many times an ‘edge of your seat’ thriller.”
This box set includes the following novels:
By a Thread: Stella Murphy moves with her fiancé to Washington, DC where her perfectly planned future ends just as it was beginning. With no ties to family or friends, Stella finds herself alone in a new city, spiraling out of control. Luckily, her new roommate, essentially a stranger, is dead set on getting Stella past her grief and back to functioning within society. Even with all her progress, Stella walks through life unfeeling, numb. Defiant, she sends out warning signals for the world to keep away. But, is that what she really wants? Just as she starts to take her life back, everything she thought she knew is turned upside, again.
Tension: The Stella who emerges from the chaos at the end of By a Thread is a woman full of conflict. After waking in the hospital as a celebrity, complete with a new moniker, she's bitter and distrustful, questioning everything in her life. Her recovery is hastened by her determination to find the man who turned her into a walking scar. She's going to kill him; she needs to kill him. Stella isn't alone. She has her close friends and her dog, Cooper. Will their support be enough to help Stella accomplish her plan, or will this endeavor be her undoing?
Seamless: Time after time, Stella chooses to fight even though she's consistently poised to break. It's that fight to get her life back, to make things right, to survive that defines who she is. She's been loved, left, lost, blown up, shot, and exploited. In Seamless, Stella has no choice but to step into the ring with someone who she once loved. It's a dirty fight that will take all she has. Will she do what it takes to win? Will she make it out alive?
Also included in this box set is the following bonus, free short:
Mending : A short story that covers what happens from the jaw dropping ending of Seamless to the Epilogue.
These books are intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.
December 12, 2013
Mending the Free Short is on the WAY!!
I've been blown away by the response to Seamless so far. I'm so excited. I wanted to let everyone know that as soon as Tension and Seamless get 100 reviews on Amazon I'll release a free short called Mending, that goes from the end of Seamless to the Epilogue. It's full of fluffy fun stuff. Thanks you guys!
November 20, 2013
By A Thread- Jamie's POV in Montana
Jamie had turned his phone on when the plane landed and saw several texts from the brothers. He made a beeline to his car. Making sure no one was following him, he tore out of the parking lot. He pulled over and waiting for Stella to pass in her rental car. She looked the same as she did in his dreams, except in his dreams she smiled when she saw him. Her face was harder now, but other than that it could’ve been the last night together. Rage that he’d tamped down over the years threatened to come up, but he swallowed it.
She passed him in a big SUV. He pulled out and followed her to the Best Western on the lake. He watched her check in and walk passed the front desk into the hotel. Pulling down his hoodie he entered the hotel and went up the clerk.
“Hey, my wife just checked in.” He smiled.
The clerk looked at him with question.
“Stella Murphy? She was here like 5 minutes ago. My phone died and I don’t know our room number.” He showed the clerk his phone he’d turned off.
“Of course.” The clerk looked down and told him her room number. He made his way to her room. He stood outside for at least ten minutes trying to figure out what he would say to her. What words could be used to repair the damage that he’d done? He took a deep breath and knocked.
After a minute the door opened with the latch on it. Her green eye speared him. “No,” was all she said.
“Stella, wait.” I’m sorry. I love you. He couldn’t get the words out. She shut the door on him. “I need to talk to you,” his voice broke with an emotion he hadn’t felt in four fucking years.
The door opened again. “I don’t give a fuck what you need,” she said, the rage evident in her voice and the door slammed in his face again. I’m sorry.
He took a different exit so he wouldn’t have to go back by the front desk again. He got in his car and drove south on 93. He pulled into a gas station 100 miles south of his apartment. He went into the store and bought snacks, a six-pack and asked for a bag. Once back in his car he opened a beer and called Phil. He threw the bag with the name of the gas station on the floor of his car.
“What’s up?” Jamie asked into the phone.
“Where you at?” Phil was the oldest brother that ran the operation he’d been investigating for the last four years.
“Um, about 100 miles south, I had to get gas.”
“We need you here now. There’s some shit going down.”
♥
When he got to Phil’s barn, where some of the drugs and guns were kept. Monte, one of the bigger guys, grabbed him and forced him to sit down. His wrists were tied and he was tied to the fucking chair. He knew this was a possibility when he went to DC. Now he’d just have to deal with it. Death would be welcome at this point, he didn’t even know who he was anymore. Just then Phil entered the barn. “Jack, you have a good time in Alabama?”
“No. My sister was in the hospital. Nothing fun about it.” He lied easily.
“So there is an FBI office that just popped up in your absence.” Phil pulled a knife out of the back of his pants.
Fear exploded out of every pour of his body. “Why?” He asked.
“I was wondering if you could tell me?” Phil walked over to a table across the barn.
Jamie shook his head. “No.” They stared at each other for what seemed like an hour.
“Phil!” Craig, the number two in command, came walking into the barn. “Seems like Jack has been driving back from Alabama today.” He held up the bag from the gas station for Phil to see.
Phil’s mouth turned into a grin. “Fuck. That’s good I didn’t want to have to kill you Jack.”
“What the fuck is going on?” Jamie asked.
“FBI is looking into our little operation, we were hoping you weren’t why.”
“Why would you think I was the reason?”
“Well, you conveniently disappeared when all this was going down and someone said they thought they saw your car at the Best Western, which would be where the agents are staying.” Phil slowly put his knife in his pants.
Sweat puddled at Jamie’s lower back. Everyone starting talking at the same time and Jamie had to remind himself to be Jack.
“Can someone fucking untie me?” Jamie said defiantly. “And tell me about this fucking FBI shit.”
Monte lumbered over and untied him. They came up with a plan to be at the FBI office early Monday and do a little snooping, then bomb the entire office Tuesday morning. Jamie listened with detached interest. He couldn’t be concerned about this, this is what he was warning them about, but they didn’t listen to him. All he could do is try to control what he could, from the inside. Then maybe he’d steal the fifty grand that was hidden beneath pallets in the back of the barn and get the fuck out.
She passed him in a big SUV. He pulled out and followed her to the Best Western on the lake. He watched her check in and walk passed the front desk into the hotel. Pulling down his hoodie he entered the hotel and went up the clerk.
“Hey, my wife just checked in.” He smiled.
The clerk looked at him with question.
“Stella Murphy? She was here like 5 minutes ago. My phone died and I don’t know our room number.” He showed the clerk his phone he’d turned off.
“Of course.” The clerk looked down and told him her room number. He made his way to her room. He stood outside for at least ten minutes trying to figure out what he would say to her. What words could be used to repair the damage that he’d done? He took a deep breath and knocked.
After a minute the door opened with the latch on it. Her green eye speared him. “No,” was all she said.
“Stella, wait.” I’m sorry. I love you. He couldn’t get the words out. She shut the door on him. “I need to talk to you,” his voice broke with an emotion he hadn’t felt in four fucking years.
The door opened again. “I don’t give a fuck what you need,” she said, the rage evident in her voice and the door slammed in his face again. I’m sorry.
He took a different exit so he wouldn’t have to go back by the front desk again. He got in his car and drove south on 93. He pulled into a gas station 100 miles south of his apartment. He went into the store and bought snacks, a six-pack and asked for a bag. Once back in his car he opened a beer and called Phil. He threw the bag with the name of the gas station on the floor of his car.
“What’s up?” Jamie asked into the phone.
“Where you at?” Phil was the oldest brother that ran the operation he’d been investigating for the last four years.
“Um, about 100 miles south, I had to get gas.”
“We need you here now. There’s some shit going down.”
♥
When he got to Phil’s barn, where some of the drugs and guns were kept. Monte, one of the bigger guys, grabbed him and forced him to sit down. His wrists were tied and he was tied to the fucking chair. He knew this was a possibility when he went to DC. Now he’d just have to deal with it. Death would be welcome at this point, he didn’t even know who he was anymore. Just then Phil entered the barn. “Jack, you have a good time in Alabama?”
“No. My sister was in the hospital. Nothing fun about it.” He lied easily.
“So there is an FBI office that just popped up in your absence.” Phil pulled a knife out of the back of his pants.
Fear exploded out of every pour of his body. “Why?” He asked.
“I was wondering if you could tell me?” Phil walked over to a table across the barn.
Jamie shook his head. “No.” They stared at each other for what seemed like an hour.
“Phil!” Craig, the number two in command, came walking into the barn. “Seems like Jack has been driving back from Alabama today.” He held up the bag from the gas station for Phil to see.
Phil’s mouth turned into a grin. “Fuck. That’s good I didn’t want to have to kill you Jack.”
“What the fuck is going on?” Jamie asked.
“FBI is looking into our little operation, we were hoping you weren’t why.”
“Why would you think I was the reason?”
“Well, you conveniently disappeared when all this was going down and someone said they thought they saw your car at the Best Western, which would be where the agents are staying.” Phil slowly put his knife in his pants.
Sweat puddled at Jamie’s lower back. Everyone starting talking at the same time and Jamie had to remind himself to be Jack.
“Can someone fucking untie me?” Jamie said defiantly. “And tell me about this fucking FBI shit.”
Monte lumbered over and untied him. They came up with a plan to be at the FBI office early Monday and do a little snooping, then bomb the entire office Tuesday morning. Jamie listened with detached interest. He couldn’t be concerned about this, this is what he was warning them about, but they didn’t listen to him. All he could do is try to control what he could, from the inside. Then maybe he’d steal the fifty grand that was hidden beneath pallets in the back of the barn and get the fuck out.
By A Thread - Millie's POV skinny dipping
Millie pulled her sweater away from her body, they were sitting at the bar at Finnegan’s like every other Saturday night and it was hot. Stella, Patrick and Billy were talking about a drinking contest and she wasn’t paying attention until she heard Stella.
“Millie’s out. She’s a ‘normal’ girl, she can’t hang.”
“Excuse me, I can drink with the best of ’ em.” Millie pouted, offended that Stella didn’t think she could hold her liquor. Millie had been drinking with these guys for awhile, she could definitely drink more that most girls.
“Mill, this isn’t about you being able to drink or hold your liquor. This is about being able to drink as much as me and hold your liquor.” Stella said with an amused expression on her face.
Wincing, Millie shook her head. She’d seen Stella drink several bottles of wine by herself in one night without even getting a hangover the next day. “Okay, I’m out.”
“Good,” Patrick said. “I’m in, and I’ll win.” Millie smiled at Patrick, he really only became fun when he drank. The rest of the time he was all business, even with Stella. It’s like he directed her through her life. She still hadn’t figured them out yet.
Millie waved the George over and leaned over the bar. “This is going to be ugly.”
George looked at Stella. Millie sat back in bar stool noticing George’s look. Then she looked at Stella who was joking with Billy, oblivious to George’s gaze. “What’s going on? George asked.
“Drinking game.” Millie answered.
“That’s easy. I bet on El.”
“I’m sure you do,” she murmured. “I need another vodka.”
“Another round all around,” Stella yelled at George and burst out laughing.
“Oh yeah, this is going to be hideous,” George agreed with Millie.
The drunker Patrick got, the funnier he got. They were the last few groups left in the bar when Stella decided she wanted to go for a swim.
Patrick leaned toward Millie, his lips grazing her ear inadvertently. “You taking your clothes off?” He asked his words slurred. Millie nodded, a light buzzing filling her entire body. She didn’t know if it was how much she’d had to drink or Patrick’s lips on her ear. She followed Stella into the bathroom giggling like a school girl.
“I’m so drunk,” Millie commented. She examined herself in the mirror. She knew she was pretty, everyone always told her she was pretty. She hated that word pretty. “I still look okay though?” She asked Stella.
Stella stumbled out of the stall. “I hope you groomed yourself today. We are going skinny dipping.” Millie sighed, Stella wasn’t pretty she this hot, confident, don’t give a fuck vibe to her.
A squeal escaped her lips. “I’ve never been skinny dipping. Where is there a pool?”
“There’s a hotel with an indoor pool a couple of blocks from here,” Stella opened the door. “We’ll have to sneak in,” she said in a faux whisper.
They walked to the bar, “George, we need our tab. We’re going swimming,” Millie said looking around cautiously. “Naked.”
George’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “That should be fun, Millie.”
“I’ve never been before… shhh, don’t tell anyone.”
“Mill, just act like you’ve done it before. Haven’t you learned anything in law school? Perception is 95 percent of the game.” Stella was standing right behind Millie and had her chin of Millie’s shoulder. She made the loudest hiccup sound Millie had ever heard, Millie burst out laughing. Stella put her debit card on the receipt and winked at George, ignoring the hiccup. “Right, George?”
“Something like that,” he replied and moved toward the end of the bar.
Millie waved goodbye to George as they grabbed Billy and Patrick on their way to the door. “It’s this way,” Stella said, gesturing for the group to follow. Millie giggled when Stella stumbled a little leading them down the block
Stella put her arm through the gap between Billy’s arm and his body, linking their arms together to steady herself.
“We Are Going Skinny Dipping,” Stella said smiling. She hiccupped again and started laughing. Millie started laughing at Stella’s hiccups, she couldn’t help herself. It was a compulsion when anyone hiccups Millie couldn’t contain her laughter.
“We are?” Patrick asked with a giggle. Everyone stopped walking and turned to look at him.
“Did you just giggle?” Millie asked, shock on her face. Patrick didn’t giggle. He had a big, sarcastic barking laugh, if he laughed at all.
“You may be the one to puke tonight…” Stella winked at Billy as they laughed at their usually stoic roommate.
“No puking, just naked swimming with beautiful people,” Patrick said with a wide grin.
“Thanks, Patrick,” Billy said laughing.
They walked into the hotel and Stella handled getting them in, Millie didn’t pay attention she was too busy trying to remember if she’d shaved her bikini area. It was winter.
Once Stella had gotten then past the clerk, the four of them walked down the hall and
pointed at the sign showing the way to the indoor pool. Stella attempted to get into the pool area, but was too drunk. Patrick pulled the key away from Stella and got them in. As soon as the Stella walked through the door, Stella had her clothes off and jumped into the pool.
Millie started with her shoes, she didn’t know how these sorts of things work. “Hey,” wined Billy, “I didn’t even get to see anything.” He and Patrick both turned to Millie, she was demurely taking her jeans off and folding them on a pool lounger.
“What?” She blushed, “I’ll make you both turn around if you don’t stop staring.” She stood nervous in her sweater and thong. Patrick took another long look at Millie, but then busied himself with his clothes. Millie admired his tight ass as he walked toward the pool, as he turned to look back at Millie and fell into the pool. Her mouth practically fell to the floor. Holy shit, he has his own flashing sign to his penis. Patrick’s abs and torso was so chiseled he could’ve been made of marble, she thought. Oh, I have to touch that.
She was so distracted by Patrick’s arrow she quickly pulled off her sweater, bra and thong and trotted to jump into the pool. Millie’s foot got caught of something as she yelled,
“CANNONBALL.” She tripped and fell on the concrete pool deck before reaching the pool. Everyone erupted in laughter. Millie was mortified as she lay there naked on the floor, but then began laughing at the absurdity of it all. Tears began rolling down her face and she got up on her hands and knees and crawled to the edge of the pool. She lowered herself on her side and rolled into the pool. Mortified.
“Millie’s out. She’s a ‘normal’ girl, she can’t hang.”
“Excuse me, I can drink with the best of ’ em.” Millie pouted, offended that Stella didn’t think she could hold her liquor. Millie had been drinking with these guys for awhile, she could definitely drink more that most girls.
“Mill, this isn’t about you being able to drink or hold your liquor. This is about being able to drink as much as me and hold your liquor.” Stella said with an amused expression on her face.
Wincing, Millie shook her head. She’d seen Stella drink several bottles of wine by herself in one night without even getting a hangover the next day. “Okay, I’m out.”
“Good,” Patrick said. “I’m in, and I’ll win.” Millie smiled at Patrick, he really only became fun when he drank. The rest of the time he was all business, even with Stella. It’s like he directed her through her life. She still hadn’t figured them out yet.
Millie waved the George over and leaned over the bar. “This is going to be ugly.”
George looked at Stella. Millie sat back in bar stool noticing George’s look. Then she looked at Stella who was joking with Billy, oblivious to George’s gaze. “What’s going on? George asked.
“Drinking game.” Millie answered.
“That’s easy. I bet on El.”
“I’m sure you do,” she murmured. “I need another vodka.”
“Another round all around,” Stella yelled at George and burst out laughing.
“Oh yeah, this is going to be hideous,” George agreed with Millie.
The drunker Patrick got, the funnier he got. They were the last few groups left in the bar when Stella decided she wanted to go for a swim.
Patrick leaned toward Millie, his lips grazing her ear inadvertently. “You taking your clothes off?” He asked his words slurred. Millie nodded, a light buzzing filling her entire body. She didn’t know if it was how much she’d had to drink or Patrick’s lips on her ear. She followed Stella into the bathroom giggling like a school girl.
“I’m so drunk,” Millie commented. She examined herself in the mirror. She knew she was pretty, everyone always told her she was pretty. She hated that word pretty. “I still look okay though?” She asked Stella.
Stella stumbled out of the stall. “I hope you groomed yourself today. We are going skinny dipping.” Millie sighed, Stella wasn’t pretty she this hot, confident, don’t give a fuck vibe to her.
A squeal escaped her lips. “I’ve never been skinny dipping. Where is there a pool?”
“There’s a hotel with an indoor pool a couple of blocks from here,” Stella opened the door. “We’ll have to sneak in,” she said in a faux whisper.
They walked to the bar, “George, we need our tab. We’re going swimming,” Millie said looking around cautiously. “Naked.”
George’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “That should be fun, Millie.”
“I’ve never been before… shhh, don’t tell anyone.”
“Mill, just act like you’ve done it before. Haven’t you learned anything in law school? Perception is 95 percent of the game.” Stella was standing right behind Millie and had her chin of Millie’s shoulder. She made the loudest hiccup sound Millie had ever heard, Millie burst out laughing. Stella put her debit card on the receipt and winked at George, ignoring the hiccup. “Right, George?”
“Something like that,” he replied and moved toward the end of the bar.
Millie waved goodbye to George as they grabbed Billy and Patrick on their way to the door. “It’s this way,” Stella said, gesturing for the group to follow. Millie giggled when Stella stumbled a little leading them down the block
Stella put her arm through the gap between Billy’s arm and his body, linking their arms together to steady herself.
“We Are Going Skinny Dipping,” Stella said smiling. She hiccupped again and started laughing. Millie started laughing at Stella’s hiccups, she couldn’t help herself. It was a compulsion when anyone hiccups Millie couldn’t contain her laughter.
“We are?” Patrick asked with a giggle. Everyone stopped walking and turned to look at him.
“Did you just giggle?” Millie asked, shock on her face. Patrick didn’t giggle. He had a big, sarcastic barking laugh, if he laughed at all.
“You may be the one to puke tonight…” Stella winked at Billy as they laughed at their usually stoic roommate.
“No puking, just naked swimming with beautiful people,” Patrick said with a wide grin.
“Thanks, Patrick,” Billy said laughing.
They walked into the hotel and Stella handled getting them in, Millie didn’t pay attention she was too busy trying to remember if she’d shaved her bikini area. It was winter.
Once Stella had gotten then past the clerk, the four of them walked down the hall and
pointed at the sign showing the way to the indoor pool. Stella attempted to get into the pool area, but was too drunk. Patrick pulled the key away from Stella and got them in. As soon as the Stella walked through the door, Stella had her clothes off and jumped into the pool.
Millie started with her shoes, she didn’t know how these sorts of things work. “Hey,” wined Billy, “I didn’t even get to see anything.” He and Patrick both turned to Millie, she was demurely taking her jeans off and folding them on a pool lounger.
“What?” She blushed, “I’ll make you both turn around if you don’t stop staring.” She stood nervous in her sweater and thong. Patrick took another long look at Millie, but then busied himself with his clothes. Millie admired his tight ass as he walked toward the pool, as he turned to look back at Millie and fell into the pool. Her mouth practically fell to the floor. Holy shit, he has his own flashing sign to his penis. Patrick’s abs and torso was so chiseled he could’ve been made of marble, she thought. Oh, I have to touch that.
She was so distracted by Patrick’s arrow she quickly pulled off her sweater, bra and thong and trotted to jump into the pool. Millie’s foot got caught of something as she yelled,
“CANNONBALL.” She tripped and fell on the concrete pool deck before reaching the pool. Everyone erupted in laughter. Millie was mortified as she lay there naked on the floor, but then began laughing at the absurdity of it all. Tears began rolling down her face and she got up on her hands and knees and crawled to the edge of the pool. She lowered herself on her side and rolled into the pool. Mortified.
By A Thread- George's POV Stella and Sam's date
George poured another cup of coffee into his Keep Calm Drink More Beer mug that his sister Kara gave him for Christmas. His family had been bugging him to hire a manager for the bar since Christmas, but he really didn’t see the need. He wasn’t sleeping any, so he might as well hang out and help out at the bar. He’d stopped taking any days off, he didn’t have any where he needed to be instead of Finnegan’s.
He’d just poured a black and tan for a regular when Sam walked in with his hand on Stella’s back. His hand is on her BACK! Fury sparked and raced through his body, like a match dropping in a pile of dry leaves. Stella refused to even look over at the bar and Sam guided her back to a table in the back where George couldn’t see them from the bar.
“Cover the bar for me,” Hazel said as she brushed past George and made her way to the restroom.
George’s vision was clouded with anger, he was mad. He poured a Bass and slammed it on the bar. “Hey, Jake you got this?”
The new bartender nodded at George while setting down two drinks for two flirty women down at the end of the bar. He recognized one of the women from a fling a few years ago. “Sure Will,” Jake answered. The woman eyed him suspiciously. She only knew him as George, like all the women who came into the bar and were worthy of a fling. Most of them didn’t show up at the bar again. George couldn’t quite remember her name, it might be Heather.
He shook his head and stalked back toward his office to scope out Sam and Stella. When he turned the corner, Sam was sitting by himself. When Sam saw George, Sam smiled and rose from his chair and the two shook hands.
“You on a date?” George asked Sam.
“Oh yeah, this chick is damaged. You know Stella right, she’s here all the time.”
“Yes, I know Stella. Sam...” George was interrupted by the bathroom door slamming. He excused himself immediately and cursed himself. He didn’t try to glance back to see if Stella was looking at him. Hoping she was looking at him was stupid. He gave her fucking diamond earrings and she refused to even have a rational conversation with him. Mother fucker. Now she was on a date at Finnegan’s.
Walking back to the bar he attempted to calm his emotions. They weren’t dating, he really shouldn’t be mad, but he was livid. George thought about going over to that table and throwing her over his shoulder and taking her home. Fuming, he looked up to the end of the bar where his former fling sat. She could make him feel better, she’d done it before. George smiled at her and winked. Former fling giggled and ran her hand through her hair. Then George saw over her shoulder Patrick and Billy. His smile turned into a full on grin when he saw the look on Patrick’s face. Out of the corner of his eye, which was still trained on fling girl, he saw Stella cross the room and follow Patrick and Billy out of Finnegan’s. He burst out laughing when he took in Patrick’s stink eye. George shook his head.
Sam sat at the bar and yelled. “Will, I need another drink. I just got blown off.”
“What El picked her roommates over you? Don’t take it personally Sam. It happens to the best of us.”
Sam choked his beer down. “That was El?”
“Yep. Can’t believe you went on a date with my girl, man.” George shook his head, only having a sense of humor now that Stella had ditched Sam. “You better not have touched her.”
“Holy shit, Will. I had no idea. You always called her El and I didn’t…” Sam sat back. “Damn dude, sorry.”
“Just as long as that’s it Sam.” George turned around and examined the liquor bottles trying to determine what will get him the drunkest the fastest. He picked up the Johnnie Walker Blue bottle and poured himself a large shot. He took two quick shots and then a third before he thought about how stupid he was about to be.
“Will, I swear nothing happened. We had dinner and then came here. I thought it was weird she still thought your name was George though.”
Fuck, he thought. She knows that he used a different name. “My name is George, Sam. It’s my middle name.” He said justifying his behavior. George threw back two more shots and then moved toward the end of the bar with his former fling.
He’d just poured a black and tan for a regular when Sam walked in with his hand on Stella’s back. His hand is on her BACK! Fury sparked and raced through his body, like a match dropping in a pile of dry leaves. Stella refused to even look over at the bar and Sam guided her back to a table in the back where George couldn’t see them from the bar.
“Cover the bar for me,” Hazel said as she brushed past George and made her way to the restroom.
George’s vision was clouded with anger, he was mad. He poured a Bass and slammed it on the bar. “Hey, Jake you got this?”
The new bartender nodded at George while setting down two drinks for two flirty women down at the end of the bar. He recognized one of the women from a fling a few years ago. “Sure Will,” Jake answered. The woman eyed him suspiciously. She only knew him as George, like all the women who came into the bar and were worthy of a fling. Most of them didn’t show up at the bar again. George couldn’t quite remember her name, it might be Heather.
He shook his head and stalked back toward his office to scope out Sam and Stella. When he turned the corner, Sam was sitting by himself. When Sam saw George, Sam smiled and rose from his chair and the two shook hands.
“You on a date?” George asked Sam.
“Oh yeah, this chick is damaged. You know Stella right, she’s here all the time.”
“Yes, I know Stella. Sam...” George was interrupted by the bathroom door slamming. He excused himself immediately and cursed himself. He didn’t try to glance back to see if Stella was looking at him. Hoping she was looking at him was stupid. He gave her fucking diamond earrings and she refused to even have a rational conversation with him. Mother fucker. Now she was on a date at Finnegan’s.
Walking back to the bar he attempted to calm his emotions. They weren’t dating, he really shouldn’t be mad, but he was livid. George thought about going over to that table and throwing her over his shoulder and taking her home. Fuming, he looked up to the end of the bar where his former fling sat. She could make him feel better, she’d done it before. George smiled at her and winked. Former fling giggled and ran her hand through her hair. Then George saw over her shoulder Patrick and Billy. His smile turned into a full on grin when he saw the look on Patrick’s face. Out of the corner of his eye, which was still trained on fling girl, he saw Stella cross the room and follow Patrick and Billy out of Finnegan’s. He burst out laughing when he took in Patrick’s stink eye. George shook his head.
Sam sat at the bar and yelled. “Will, I need another drink. I just got blown off.”
“What El picked her roommates over you? Don’t take it personally Sam. It happens to the best of us.”
Sam choked his beer down. “That was El?”
“Yep. Can’t believe you went on a date with my girl, man.” George shook his head, only having a sense of humor now that Stella had ditched Sam. “You better not have touched her.”
“Holy shit, Will. I had no idea. You always called her El and I didn’t…” Sam sat back. “Damn dude, sorry.”
“Just as long as that’s it Sam.” George turned around and examined the liquor bottles trying to determine what will get him the drunkest the fastest. He picked up the Johnnie Walker Blue bottle and poured himself a large shot. He took two quick shots and then a third before he thought about how stupid he was about to be.
“Will, I swear nothing happened. We had dinner and then came here. I thought it was weird she still thought your name was George though.”
Fuck, he thought. She knows that he used a different name. “My name is George, Sam. It’s my middle name.” He said justifying his behavior. George threw back two more shots and then moved toward the end of the bar with his former fling.
December Kiss-By A Thread, George's POV
George was brewing coffee at Finnegan’s. It was early, but he didn’t know how early. He hadn’t gone home, but slept a little on his desk. Payroll was due and he hadn’t done any of the work prior to last night and he had to stay up all night so that all his employees would be paid on time. George was staring out of the window while he waited for the coffee to brew on the bar. Sleep had been elusive for the past several weeks. He’d fucked up with Stella, he knew it immediately.
When she jogged past the bar, he’d thought she was a mirage. He pulled on his pea coat and wool cap and walked to the end of the block on King Street and looked toward the Potomac. It was her. He paced while he waited for her to turn around. His brain was working overtime for a plan. He didn’t come up with anything in the ten minutes it took her to run down to the end of King Street and back. A brief flutter of butterflies went off in his stomach as he took her in. She was in her cold workout garb, tight to her body. Her black spandex molded to her legs and she was panting from excursion.
He smiled. “Why are you running this early?” He asked. That was real smooth, he thought. George reached out as soon as she stopped in front of him. “El...” George’s cold hand brushed her cheek.
“George?” Doubt filled her eyes.
He couldn’t stop himself; it was like his body needed to touch her. He George rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip and leaned into kiss her, she jumped back from his touch.
“George, what’re you doing?” Her ear buds falling out of her ears.
“I miss you...” George smiled and put his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been texting you and you won’t respond.” He took another step toward her.
“What are you doing here... now?” She asked.
“Oh, I had some stuff to do at the bar.” George turned back at the bar and shrugged. “I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Me either.” Hope spiked through George.
“You want to come in for a minute or two, I could make us coffee and we could talk.” He held his breath.
“About what? About you and your new girlfriend?” Stella shook her head, “No thanks.”
“You’re jealous?” He saw it in her eyes. She is jealous, I have a chance.
“Fuck you, George.”
“We could do that too, El. Whatever you want.” A smile broke out and he wanted to pull her into his arms and then into his office.
“I want to stop thinking of you,” she said quietly.
“What?” He didn’t hear her and leaned down into her body, his arm brushed her chest.
“New perfume for your new girl?” Stella asked, her words dripping with sarcasm.
“You like it?”
“Not really,” Stella started to put her ear buds back in and he grabbed her hands.
“Come talk to me.” He nodded toward the bar again.
“You haven’t really given me a good reason to.” Stella started to move away from him, his body responded to the loss. “I have a final. I don’t have time to do this.”
“Do what? Have coffee with a friend?” He tried a different tact.
“We’re not friends, George?”
“Why?” His heart cracked. “We used to be.” He didn’t even rate as friends to her. His gage on their relationship was totally different than hers.
“Well, we’re not anymore.” Stella began fiddling with her hat.
“What can I do to change your mind, El?” He tried to keep any desperation he may feel out of his voice.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I really don’t understand why...”
“Why what? Why I want to be friends? Why I can’t let you go?” He exploded.
“Oh, George... you did let me go.” Stella looked down at her shoes. Cooper was sitting in between them wagging his tail, looking back and forth.
She was right, he had told her his was seeing someone else. He didn’t know how to fix that. “I want you back, I didn’t mean to let you go. I didn’t know you would want me like I needed you to,” George stammered.
“Well, you should’ve asked.” Stella said, her face not giving away anything.
“I did ask, Stella.” He said, resigned.
“Not that day, you didn’t.” Stella pulled off her cap off again. “George, I know it was my fault. I know, okay. I couldn’t help it. I can’t help what happened between us. What I can help is how I feel now, which is horrible by the way. I don’t blame you for leaving me. I don’t blame you ... I just can’t let you in again. I can’t...”
“Don’t be this way El, I’m sorry,” George began, pulling her hand, he put it on his face. Stella put her other hand on his other cheek, he felt a glimmer of hope again. She surprised him by raising to her tiptoes and kissing him. What started out as a gentle goodbye kiss turned into a heated open mouth, leave-you-panting kiss that he didn’t want to end. Suddenly, she pushed George back by his chest. Her eyes were hungry for him, he could see it.
“I just want you to be happy.”
What the fuck just happened, he thought. A grin spread of his face as he watched her ass the entire way up the road until he couldn’t see her anymore, she wanted him too.
When she jogged past the bar, he’d thought she was a mirage. He pulled on his pea coat and wool cap and walked to the end of the block on King Street and looked toward the Potomac. It was her. He paced while he waited for her to turn around. His brain was working overtime for a plan. He didn’t come up with anything in the ten minutes it took her to run down to the end of King Street and back. A brief flutter of butterflies went off in his stomach as he took her in. She was in her cold workout garb, tight to her body. Her black spandex molded to her legs and she was panting from excursion.
He smiled. “Why are you running this early?” He asked. That was real smooth, he thought. George reached out as soon as she stopped in front of him. “El...” George’s cold hand brushed her cheek.
“George?” Doubt filled her eyes.
He couldn’t stop himself; it was like his body needed to touch her. He George rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip and leaned into kiss her, she jumped back from his touch.
“George, what’re you doing?” Her ear buds falling out of her ears.
“I miss you...” George smiled and put his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been texting you and you won’t respond.” He took another step toward her.
“What are you doing here... now?” She asked.
“Oh, I had some stuff to do at the bar.” George turned back at the bar and shrugged. “I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Me either.” Hope spiked through George.
“You want to come in for a minute or two, I could make us coffee and we could talk.” He held his breath.
“About what? About you and your new girlfriend?” Stella shook her head, “No thanks.”
“You’re jealous?” He saw it in her eyes. She is jealous, I have a chance.
“Fuck you, George.”
“We could do that too, El. Whatever you want.” A smile broke out and he wanted to pull her into his arms and then into his office.
“I want to stop thinking of you,” she said quietly.
“What?” He didn’t hear her and leaned down into her body, his arm brushed her chest.
“New perfume for your new girl?” Stella asked, her words dripping with sarcasm.
“You like it?”
“Not really,” Stella started to put her ear buds back in and he grabbed her hands.
“Come talk to me.” He nodded toward the bar again.
“You haven’t really given me a good reason to.” Stella started to move away from him, his body responded to the loss. “I have a final. I don’t have time to do this.”
“Do what? Have coffee with a friend?” He tried a different tact.
“We’re not friends, George?”
“Why?” His heart cracked. “We used to be.” He didn’t even rate as friends to her. His gage on their relationship was totally different than hers.
“Well, we’re not anymore.” Stella began fiddling with her hat.
“What can I do to change your mind, El?” He tried to keep any desperation he may feel out of his voice.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I really don’t understand why...”
“Why what? Why I want to be friends? Why I can’t let you go?” He exploded.
“Oh, George... you did let me go.” Stella looked down at her shoes. Cooper was sitting in between them wagging his tail, looking back and forth.
She was right, he had told her his was seeing someone else. He didn’t know how to fix that. “I want you back, I didn’t mean to let you go. I didn’t know you would want me like I needed you to,” George stammered.
“Well, you should’ve asked.” Stella said, her face not giving away anything.
“I did ask, Stella.” He said, resigned.
“Not that day, you didn’t.” Stella pulled off her cap off again. “George, I know it was my fault. I know, okay. I couldn’t help it. I can’t help what happened between us. What I can help is how I feel now, which is horrible by the way. I don’t blame you for leaving me. I don’t blame you ... I just can’t let you in again. I can’t...”
“Don’t be this way El, I’m sorry,” George began, pulling her hand, he put it on his face. Stella put her other hand on his other cheek, he felt a glimmer of hope again. She surprised him by raising to her tiptoes and kissing him. What started out as a gentle goodbye kiss turned into a heated open mouth, leave-you-panting kiss that he didn’t want to end. Suddenly, she pushed George back by his chest. Her eyes were hungry for him, he could see it.
“I just want you to be happy.”
What the fuck just happened, he thought. A grin spread of his face as he watched her ass the entire way up the road until he couldn’t see her anymore, she wanted him too.
Jamie's POV
I released this on one of my favorite blogs a few months ago, but people keep asking for it. Here is Jamie's POV from the conference room when he see's stella for the first time.
Jamie paced back and forth in the office of the small conference room in the General Counsel’s office of the FBI. He shared the room with a female attorney from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. She was an attractive enough woman, deep black skin and short black hair. He’d traveled to DC because he wasn’t sure what else to do. He was in deep with his undercover assignment and it’d recently gone south, like cover your ass any way you can south. His mind had settled a bit once he got here and Patricia Fields met with him. She’d immediately gotten him to see the right people and the Director of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms told them go straight to the FBI and get them on board.
“Jack, you need to calm down.” Patricia fields had been an attorney with ATF for over 20 years and she’d never seen such a fuck up. She was just hoping to go into this meeting contrite and beg for assistance.
“Calm down?” Jamie questioned. Jack was his new name, his undercover name. “I could be killed for coming here. They could be planning my torture right now and you want me to calm down? I think I’m pretty fucking calm for a dead guy.”
The door opened and a grey-haired man in a cheap-looking brown suit marched in. “They’re ready for us.”
Jamie looked to Patricia. “Jack, this is Larry. He’s another attorney for the ATF and he’ll be going with us to the meeting with the FBI attorneys.”
Great, the more the more fucking likely I am to get killed.
He followed Patricia and Larry into the conference room, tucking his long hair behind his ears. That was another part of his undercover identity, long hair and a full beard. He stared at his feet until he got behind the table and looked up to see an older man and… He shook his head in disbelief. He blinked rapidly, knowing he was imaging things. When he looked again, there she was. It was Stella, the love of his life. She was gorgeous, just how he’d remembered. The person he dreamed about every night, the only person on this earth that he’d almost broke his cover to see was sitting across the table from him. He’d given up ever seeing her again. That he’d ever love anyone again.
His heart seized in joy and then he saw her expression. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers, her face turned white, then green and she bolted out of the room. NO! Don’t go.
The one person he’d wanted to see for four fucking years was right here a now she was gone. Gone.
Jamie paced back and forth in the office of the small conference room in the General Counsel’s office of the FBI. He shared the room with a female attorney from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. She was an attractive enough woman, deep black skin and short black hair. He’d traveled to DC because he wasn’t sure what else to do. He was in deep with his undercover assignment and it’d recently gone south, like cover your ass any way you can south. His mind had settled a bit once he got here and Patricia Fields met with him. She’d immediately gotten him to see the right people and the Director of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms told them go straight to the FBI and get them on board.
“Jack, you need to calm down.” Patricia fields had been an attorney with ATF for over 20 years and she’d never seen such a fuck up. She was just hoping to go into this meeting contrite and beg for assistance.
“Calm down?” Jamie questioned. Jack was his new name, his undercover name. “I could be killed for coming here. They could be planning my torture right now and you want me to calm down? I think I’m pretty fucking calm for a dead guy.”
The door opened and a grey-haired man in a cheap-looking brown suit marched in. “They’re ready for us.”
Jamie looked to Patricia. “Jack, this is Larry. He’s another attorney for the ATF and he’ll be going with us to the meeting with the FBI attorneys.”
Great, the more the more fucking likely I am to get killed.
He followed Patricia and Larry into the conference room, tucking his long hair behind his ears. That was another part of his undercover identity, long hair and a full beard. He stared at his feet until he got behind the table and looked up to see an older man and… He shook his head in disbelief. He blinked rapidly, knowing he was imaging things. When he looked again, there she was. It was Stella, the love of his life. She was gorgeous, just how he’d remembered. The person he dreamed about every night, the only person on this earth that he’d almost broke his cover to see was sitting across the table from him. He’d given up ever seeing her again. That he’d ever love anyone again.
His heart seized in joy and then he saw her expression. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers, her face turned white, then green and she bolted out of the room. NO! Don’t go.
The one person he’d wanted to see for four fucking years was right here a now she was gone. Gone.
October 24, 2013
Planning, I just can't stop this insane brain
So, Seamless is set to be released December 10. I'll start teasers on November 1 and plan on giving a number of ebooks away prior to its release on www.facebook.com/rlgriffinbyathread so keep an eye out.
Also, I just wanted to let you know with the conclusion of Stella's story the next book set to be released will be Patrick's story, Heart in Wire. It's not a continuation, but his story. I'll put the blurb up after Seamless is released. Heart in Wire will be released in May of 2014.
I'm also planning a release of a stand alone book at the end of the year next year. There are no rainbows or unicorns in this one. Just wanted to let people know I've got two books in the works for next year.
Also, I just wanted to let you know with the conclusion of Stella's story the next book set to be released will be Patrick's story, Heart in Wire. It's not a continuation, but his story. I'll put the blurb up after Seamless is released. Heart in Wire will be released in May of 2014.
I'm also planning a release of a stand alone book at the end of the year next year. There are no rainbows or unicorns in this one. Just wanted to let people know I've got two books in the works for next year.
October 8, 2013
SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to Dublin for the July 9, 2014 author signing with some fucking fabulous authors. I'm so excited I don't even know what to do with myself. Seamless is pretty much done, just polishing it at this point and after that I'm just going to relax and write Heart In Wire at a leisurely pace and enjoy the fact that I'm going to be able to meet a ton of readers next year. I'm thinking May for HIW. Then there is another book that is already invading my brain. It's a stand alone and dark as shit. I'm scared to have to live there while writing.
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 13, 2013
Seamless News!
Seamless, the conclusion of Stella's story, got a new release date of December 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be releasing the cover on October 4.
The Blog I must have, I'm told
Hopefully this blog will give people a chance to get to know me, get updates on the status of my books or just bitch about the characters in my books.
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