Mari Carr's Blog, page 103

Spring into Savings – Waiting for Wednesday

Saturday Snippet

This week we're looking at past history. We all have it and it's something I think characters desperately need in order to show why they tick the way they do. I believe Jessie in Because of You had the most tragic history of all my Samhain characters, so I chose to share a snippet from the book with you.

Snippet:

"I have a feeling you're going to have quite a long wait until you can hit your bed. Wanna come in for a cup of coffee?" she offered, sorry to see her night with Caleb end so soon. He was an easy man to talk to.

"I'd love coffee," he said. "Now that I'm away from the madness, I'm not looking forward to plunging back into it right away."

Jessie grinned and led him through the small house.

"Todd and Stephen have done a hell of a lot of work on the ranch. It needed a major facelift and some big time renovations when they moved in. Looks great now," Caleb said. Stephen had inherited the ranch from his parents after their tragic deaths in a car accident two years earlier. Before that, he and Todd had resided in Denver and the two of them had been her constant companions along with Tommy since they'd all lived in the same apartment complex. She and Tommy had missed them when they moved away, but they'd understood their friends' desire to find an easier pace of life and their dream of setting up a bed and breakfast at the house. She knew Stephen, born and bred on this ranch, had never truly been happy with life in the big city and his high-stress job at an investment firm.

"Yeah, I came up with my husband right after they left Denver. I honestly can't believe all the improvements they've made. They'll be ready for business soon."

Jessie had been making the coffee as she spoke, but even with her back turned she sensed Caleb's sudden tension. She turned to see his eyebrows lowered, his face serious and upset.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, wondering what she could have said to have produced such a rapid change in his disposition.

"Husband?" he asked and she saw his eyes dart to her ring finger. She given up wearing her diamond engagement ring, but she couldn't seem to part from the actual white gold wedding band.

She sucked in a breath at his question. She'd carefully avoided talking about Tommy all night. She 'd wanted a night to forget, a night to pretend that her life was normal and happy and that she hadn't had her heart ripped out of her chest eight months earlier.

"I'm a widow," she said and the sound of that simple word released the flow of ice cold water throughout her body once again. For a few hours, she'd been warm. Hell, between Caleb and the alcohol, she spent more than a few moments on fire and it had felt so damn good.

"I'm sorry," he said, rising and crossing the room to take her icy hands in his. She didn't realize until his touch that she was shaking. In just one evening, he'd diminished the shadow of fear that constantly hovered over her. He'd rejuvenated her, made her feel alive.

She shook her head, desperately willing away the chill, the sadness. Dammit, she didn't want to be cold anymore. She was tired of being afraid. "It's been eight months and I'm afraid I sometimes tend to talk about Tommy in the present tense, like he's still here."

"Had he been ill?" he asked and she smiled sadly. He sounded very much like a doctor.

"Freak accident. He slipped on a patch of ice and hit his head on a car door. It was late and brutally cold and he was the last person leaving work that night. It was several hours before I found him and by then—"

"You found him?" he asked, pulling her gently to a chair in the kitchen. He pushed her down before sitting next to her. He never released his grip on her hands and she knew he felt the coldness in them as he began to rub them with his own as if to warm them.

"I was concerned when he didn't come home and didn't answer his cell. He was an accountant and it was audit season, so he worked late occasionally, but it wasn't like him not to call and check in. Finally, I worried myself into a frenzy and decided to drive by his office, fully prepared to give him holy hell for scaring me so."

He nodded. "I'm sorry it was you who found him."

She shrugged and closed her eyes. She was a master at controlling her tears, yet here with Caleb it seemed harder to do. She'd managed to push her pain deep inside her and she even found it easier of late to discuss Tommy's death. Tonight, whether it was the alcohol or her tiredness or Caleb's compassion, the emotions were threatening to bubble over and she refused to let that happen.

"Well, I suppose I managed to bring tonight's fun level down. That's me—the official ruination of all parties," she tried to joke. She pulled her hands out of his comforting grip and went back to the counter. "Do you like cream and sugar in your coffee?"

"No, I drink it black, and, Jessie, you didn't ruin anything. You're going through a damn hard time right now, dealing with something no one should ever have to deal with. Don't be so hard on yourself. I wish I could give you an easy fix, but I'm afraid nothing except time will cure this."

She grinned over her shoulder, determined to return to the easy banter they'd enjoyed all night. "That's quite a bedside manner you have, Dr. Caleb." The flirtatious line felt rusty and foreign as it fell from her lips, but Caleb didn't seem to notice.

He gave a short, brief laugh. "Oh yeah, I'm a master at bedside—" He paused mid-sentence and she was surprised when he walked over to her and placed his hands on her cheeks. "Christ, Jess. I want to kiss you so badly it hurts."

"So kiss me," she whispered, uncertain where the words had come from, his and hers. From the second he touched her face, she wanted him with a passion she'd thought long gone.

He leaned down and took her lips gently, sweetly, but she refused to be patronized, treated with kid gloves. She was a living, breathing woman and she wanted him. Wanted him beyond reason, beyond care.

Because of You is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, Fictionwise, and All Romance Ebooks.

Click below to check out more "past history" by these fantastic authors.

Emma Petersen

Leah Braemel 

McKenna Jeffries

Taige Crenshaw

Vivian Arend

Delilah Devlin

Eliza Gayle

Bondi Beach Boys

My critique partner and best pal, Rhian Cahill has a new release today with Etopia Press. It's called Bondi Beach Boys and it is RED, RED hot!

After weeks of lusting over a couple of hot surfers, Piper Doyle has the opportunity to turn fantasy into reality. There's just one problem. They're her new clients. When the men offer a no strings attached affair Piper has a decision to make, one her body made for her weeks ago. She isn't about to let this once in a lifetime chance to live out her wildest fantasies pass her by.

Samuel Bridges and Nathan Russo share everything. From their home to their business to the occasional woman and even themselves, but they've never shared what they feel for Piper before. What starts out as hot sex with a willing woman turns into something neither of them ever expected. It's hard to believe a woman could fit between them so seamlessly. It'll be even harder to keep her there.

When physical chemistry becomes emotional entanglement can three individuals untie the strings enough to walk off into the sunset together or will the ropes of society strangle what could be?

Excerpt

 
She turned and slammed straight into a wall of hard muscle. Air rushed from her lungs at the impact, warmth surrounded her, enclosed her in a fiery grip that sucked every last atom of oxygen from her body. Strong arms banded around her, and Piper went soft and melted like chocolate on a hot summer day. She leaned in, pressed her breasts against the solid chest, and moaned.

"Piper."

Her name, whispered against her ear, flowed over her. Like warm honey, it coated her skin and sent heat bursting through her veins, teasing every nerve ending. A shiver started in her curled toes and traveled up. Up, up, up, striking at sensitive places with a rush of arousal and need. Desire and want like none she'd known tore open the cage of restraint. She pressed closer, ran her hands over cloth-covered muscles that shuddered beneath her touch. An answering tremor vibrated down her spine.

Hands curled around her ribs, pushed between them, and cupped her breasts as delicious heat covered her back. Piper arched, thrusting her tender mounds and taut nipples into waiting fingers. Lips skimmed her jaw, teeth nipping at her skin. She moved her head to the side at the nudge of a nose and was treated to delicate licks and sucks along the column of her throat.

"So responsive."

"So sweet."

It took a moment for the twin comments murmured against her jaw and neck to register, but when they did, shock bloomed and panic erupted. Piper broke away, jumped from the embrace Nate and Sam held her in. Harsh breaths burned in her chest, scored at her throat, as she stared at the two men before her. How could she have allowed them to touch her like that? To stand between them as though it were the only place she should be?

"Oh God." Piper brought her hands up to cover her face. She had no excuse for what she'd done, no explanation. Heat seared her face as embarrassment at her behavior flooded her, doing its best to drown the arousal still swimming in her blood. But nothing short of a tidal wave could douse the flames blazing inside her core. Pip spun on her heel, ready to bolt for the door, but she hadn't taken two steps when she found herself once again caught between two hot male bodies.

Gasping and trembling, she buried her face against Nate's soft cotton shirt and prayed for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. Why was there never a good sinkhole when you needed one? And why think about stupid holes in the ground when she was trapped between two of the most gorgeous men she'd ever met? Had she gone mad?

Spring into Savings – Ruby Tuesday

Wild Irish, Book Two

Sky Mitchell is hiding out in Baltimore, seeking peace and solitude while he struggles with a career decision. Lead singer of popular rock group The Universe, he's thinking of going it alone. Wandering into an Irish pub, he's ecstatic to discover the breakout single for his solo album—but the songwriter doesn't want to sell. He challenges the woman to a contest. Not only does he win the song, but also a songwriting partner to complete the rest of the album.

Teagan Collins is sure of her talent but she's never aspired to fame and fortune. She's content singing folk tunes in her family's pub. Working on an album with Sky tests her patience…and her libido. The hot rocker plays her body like a fine instrument, their desire deepening with each song they write.

But someone doesn't want Sky to go solo, and will stop at nothing to sabotage the couple's efforts. Undaunted, Sky wants Teagan to join him onstage at his farewell concert to sing her original, "Maybe Tomorrow"…

If they make it through today.

Excerpt:

"I don't want you to leave."

He grinned. It was the easy-going, fun smile she'd come to adore in just the short time they'd known each other and her fears melted away in an instant.

He bent down and kissed her gently. "You're beautiful," he murmured and she smiled.

"And you're a player," she teased.

"A rock star," he added with a chuckle.

"So rock my world, rock star," she dared. His eyes darkened at her taunt, the look hot enough to singe her hair.

"I want to see you naked. Completely naked."

She sucked in a nervous breath. She'd certainly been seen in various states of undress with past boyfriends, but she'd never been totally nude in a well-lit room in front of a man. "You know," she said, "the freckles don't stop at my face."

"I noticed that last night. I think your freckles are hot. Now stop stalling."

She sat up in bed and pushed the covers off. She started with the part he'd already seen, shrugging her T-shirt over her head. He gripped her waist once she'd tossed the shirt aside and studied her so closely she felt the cursed blushing start.

"Your turn," she said, gesturing to his shirt. He pulled his shirt off without hesitation and she followed his lead, perusing him at her leisure. She'd seen him without his shirt on the first night they'd met. Unfortunately, she'd been too fixated on the absurdity of him flitting around in her skirt to fully appreciate the view. Now, she was seeing him as clear as day and the sight took her breath away. Smooth, tanned skin, chiseled-in-stone pecs and tight brown nipples she couldn't resist leaning forward to lick.

He groaned as her tongue teased the small disks, his hands engulfing her head, holding her in place. "Jesus, that feels good."

Over and over she kissed, nipped and licked the sensitive flesh until he pulled her head away, leaning over to capture her mouth in a hungry kiss. He pressed her backward onto the mattress and covered her once more. There was something very addictive to being sheltered beneath the strength of his hard body. She ran her hands over his chest, his arms, his back. She couldn't touch enough of him as the heat in the small room continued to rise. He pushed his covered cock into the vee of her thighs and she whimpered with relief at the glorious force.

She heard rather than saw him take off his belt, shocked when he engulfed her hands in his above her head. He laid the strip of leather beside her on the bed.

"I'm going to bind your hands."

His words were spoken simply, matter-of-factly, yet the impact hit her like the shot from a gun marking the beginning of a fifty-yard dash and her heart raced so fast she feared it would burst.

"Sky," she started.

"The promise still stands, Teagan. You say no and it all stops."

She nodded. She trusted him. "Okay."

"Here," he said, rising and pulling her up as well, "let's get these pants off."

Her hands stopped him when he reached for the waistband and he looked at her questioningly. "What is it?"

"The red hair is sort of like the freckles. Everywhere."

He laughed. "Another benefit to hooking up with a wild Irish gypsy." He lightly pushed her hands away, pulling her pants down until they hit her ankles. She kicked them off. "No panties?"

She crinkled her nose. "Can't stand sleeping in them."

"Me either," he said and she tried to imagine sleeping with Sky, both of them naked and wrapped in each other's arms. "Don't do that," he said.

"Do what?"

"Undress me with your eyes."

She laughed as he threw her words from their first conversation in the pub back at her. "Can I do it with my hands?"

Ruby Tuesday is also available at Ellora's Cave, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, and All Romance Ebooks.

Spring into Savings – Assume the Positions

 

Damn Cougar Challenge!

Rachel's thankful for the new friends she met while attending an erotica-book convention. They instantly connected and began sharing the relationship woes unique to older single women on their Tempt the Cougar blog. Then Monica issues that challenge… How is Rachel going to convince a younger man to have sex with her? Hell, even she doesn't want to look at herself naked. To control her growing angst, she makes a list of eligible men then… Nothing. It's been too long and her divorce was too painful. She'll never be able to do this.

Ethan, one of Rachel's physical therapy patients, is pissed when he learns of the challenge. Not because he finds it silly—because he's not on Rachel's list! So he does what any self-assured young stud would do. The luscious police officer gives her a copy of the Kama Sutra then asks her to make a new list.

And assume the positions…

Excerpt:

"Potential Younger Men for Cougar Challenge?"

Rachel prayed to God he didn't know what "cougar" meant. She'd only learned of the term while reading her erotic romance novels. She'd been shocked to discover how much the idea of an older woman hooking up with a younger man turned her on, pushed her hot buttons.

"It's just something silly…something stupid, really. Give me back my notebook and we'll get started on your exercises."

Ethan ignored her and she watched as he scanned the list of names. When he closed the book with a snap, she flinched at the unfamiliar look on his face. She'd never seen him look so serious or…angry. "What are you doing, Rachel? What the hell is this list about?"

She took a step back, confused by his reaction. Over the course of the past two months, she'd felt a friendship forming between her and the young cop. As a result, she now found her fears, her anxiety over the challenge falling from her lips uncontrolled.

Even though she was sure she was making a mistake, she told him everything—from meeting her friends at the conference to the blog to the dare to sleep with a younger man. She didn't leave out a single detail and throughout her entire confession, Ethan was quiet. In the end, it was his silence that unnerved her more than his initial anger.

"So there," she said at last. "That should keep you busy in the teasing department for months. I'm an insane, horny-as-hell woman who's actually contemplating throwing herself at a younger man on a dare. And before you say anything, yes, I know…I'm old enough to know better." She walked away from him as she said the last, too embarrassed to face him.

She'd only made it two steps when he reached out and gripped her forearm, turning her back around. "Old enough to know better?" he asked. "You think you couldn't land a younger guy?"

"Maybe I could," she said, surprised to find him taking this conversation so seriously. "I mean, I don't think I'm unattractive, just sort of out of practice with the whole dating scene."

Ethan grinned and she spied the usual mischievous sparkle in his gaze that she'd grown accustomed to over the past few weeks. "Wish you'd mentioned this horny problem of yours earlier, Rach."

"It's not something a polite woman advertises," she said.

He continued pulling her toward him until they stood face-to-face, close enough that she could smell his skin, a pleasant combination of fresh shower, soap and—yummy—man. Rather than look up, she stared straight ahead, placing her line of vision at the top of his chest. There was no way she could look at his handsome face and not spend the rest of their session imagining him naked. He wore a tight T-shirt and she could just imagine what his bare pecs would look like. She swallowed heavily, her mouth watering at the thought.

"Isn't that a shame," Ethan added. "Advertisements like that sure would take a lot of the guess work out of dating."

"I haven't been doing a lot of dating since my divorce from Voldemort."

"Mm hmm." She felt certain if she hadn't been standing so closely, she wouldn't have heard the small, guttural sound—a growl?—that emanated from him. Did it make him angry to hear her mention her ex? "Look at me, Rachel," he said as she felt his gaze bore through the top of her head.

"I am," she said, her eyes remaining locked in place, several inches below his chin.

He reached down and gently forced her head back with firm fingers at her jaw. She took a deep breath and faced him. His head was cocked to the side, his lips painfully close to hers. An impractical woman would lean forward and initiate a kiss. A woman without any common sense would rise up on her tiptoes, close the gap separating them and take a nice, long taste of him. An adventurous woman—

Her mouth stroked his briefly and her mind struggled to understand how she'd gotten close enough for that touch. Had she moved?

Her lips brushed his again, but rather than move away, she continued to push closer.

Oh shit.

She was kissing Ethan. Her brain kicked into high gear.

Red alert! Abort! Abort!

Her practical side was practically screaming for her body to step away from the hot man. But apparently her body had its own agenda.

His fingers moved from her chin and along her cheek, taking up residence in her hair. His hand pulled her closer and he deepened the kiss, forcing her lips open with his, exploring her mouth with his tongue.

Holy crap. He was kissing her back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and struggled not to moan when his other hand traveled up and down her back, rubbing delicious patterns through her shirt that made her want to purr like a kitten.

They continued to kiss, but Rachel's racing mind kept fighting for the control her body had seized.

This is wrong. He's so far out of your league I'm not sure you can consider yourselves inhabitants of the same planet. He's a patient.

The last thought jarred her enough that she pushed away abruptly.

"Shit," Ethan muttered when she struggled out of his embrace. "I was wondering when that head of yours was going to get in the way."

"What?" she asked.

"You think too much," he replied.

"That's not true. I just don't think it's professional for me to be kissing you in the clinic."

He grinned. "But it would be okay if you kissed me outside? The door's right there. Let's go."

"It's not professional, period. I shouldn't have— It was wrong of me to—"

"Kiss me?" he supplied, and she could see he was enjoying her predicament far too much.

"Yes," she hissed.

"Did that overactive brain of yours happen to notice that I was kissing you back?"

Oh, her brain noticed—it just didn't want her to be happy. Meanwhile, every other major organ and nerve in her body was singing—big time. Her nipples were cutting through the satin material of her bra, her stomach was still doing happy flip-flops and she was noticing regions south of her waist reappearing after deserting her years ago.

She shrugged. Seemed like the easiest thing to do.

"Why wasn't my name on your list?" he asked.

She burst into laughter.

"I'm serious," he persisted when she continued to chuckle.

"You sound as if you're hurt by the omission," she said. "Is this some male ego switch I've triggered? I would think you'd be relieved. You don't have to worry about some sex-starved divorcee setting her sights on you. Trying to lure you into her lair." She raised her hands in a claw-like fashion and made a scary face.

He didn't smile at her joke, so she lowered her hands and shook her head. "I like you, Ethan. You've become a good friend these past couple of months and I wouldn't dream of annoying you like that."

"Annoying me? You think I'm not attracted to you? Sexually?" he asked, setting off her laughter again.

"Oh damn, now that is funny," she said between giggles. "Well, I guess I'll just have to say it. You're hot, Ethan. Super hot. And about a decade younger than me."

"I thought that was the point of this challenge of yours," he argued.

"Well, let's just say there're younger men and then there're younger men. In the world of women like me, you fall into the untouchable category."

He nodded, but she could see he didn't like her answer. "I didn't see that 'untouchable' thing holding you back a few minutes ago."

She sobered up at his scowling face. "As I said, I shouldn't have done that."

He was silent for several uncomfortable moments and she wished she could read his mind. "I've screwed up everything tonight, Ethan," she added, desperate to fill the void. "Can we just start this whole PT session over? I'll even let you sneak in and scare me again."

His face cleared suddenly and his cocky grin returned. She took a deep breath of relief—until his next words knocked it out of her again.

"Put my name on your list," he demanded. "The top of your list. And then mark out every name under it. You're going to follow through on that dare…with me."

Assume the Positions is also available at Ellora's Cave, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, and All Romance Ebooks.

Tell Me Now

My writing buddy, Jambrea Jo Jones has a new release at Total Ebound today and I thought I'd share the deets with you here!

Tell Me Now

Can a shattered Marine find home in the past?

Abe Grissom is tired of being alone and not knowing what to do with his life. No longer in the military he heads for home in hope of some answers.

With a little push from his mom he runs into Cameron Norwood. And Cameron has grown into a man worth drooling over. Should he stay or should he go? His future might be decided by looking to the past.

Is he Marine enough for the challenge?

Quote of the Day

"I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me."  – from Harry Potter,  JK Rowling

Spring into Savings – Come Monday

 

Spring into savings with the very first book in the Wild Irish series, Come Monday. If you're one of those people who enjoys a series, but hates waiting for the next book to release–fear not! This seven book series is complete, so why don't you dive on in?

Wild Irish, Book One

Monday's child is fair of face…

After the death of her mother years prior, Keira Collins became a surrogate parent to her six younger brothers and sisters, her own dreams put on hold. At twenty-seven, she's finally pursuing a college degree. Between classes, working at the family pub and still tending to siblings, she's no time for romance. So why is she spending all her rare free time fantasizing about hot Professor Wallace bending her over his desk?

Will Wallace recognizes Keira's unfulfilled desires, her habit of hiding her beauty, her obsessive need to command every aspect of her life. But Will has needs of his own—and they run far darker than Keira's. As he initiates her into his lifestyle, offering sweet punishments and sweeter rewards, Will's sexual authority slowly strips away some of her precious control. The one thing Keira's not ready to relinquish…

Excerpt:

"One of the reasons why I dropped by tonight was to check out this special place of yours. Pat's Irish Pub seems like the perfect place to write. Named for your father?"

She nodded. "Yes. Originally, way before I was born, my father only owned this half of the building and the place was just a bar. Then the restaurant next door went out of business and Pop decided to expand."

"I'm assuming the restaurant is through those doors?" he asked, pointing to the left.

"Yes. First thing Pop did when he took over the entire building was cut that opening in the wall," she said. "It's actually a rather large building. This half of the bottom floor is the pub side. People can come in here to have a drink while they wait for their table or just to hang out and watch the game on TV. The restaurant is technically called Pat's Irish Restaurant, but my mom was the original cook and the locals started calling this Pat's Pub and the restaurant Sunday's Side."

"Sunday?" he asked.

"My mom's name."

"I like that."

"She used to complain about it, but I think deep down, she liked it too. Anyway, the name Sunday's Side stuck. It's not on the sign, but that's what everyone around here calls it."

"And your family lives…?"

"Upstairs."

"I have to admit I'm impressed by the size of the place. I didn't picture such a grandiose old building. I imagine the location doesn't hurt you either."

"Not at all. We have lots of regulars, but we aren't so far off the waterfront that we don't pull in a decent crowd of tourists as well."

He leaned back and placed his arm along the back of the booth behind her. "Your brother is very protective of you."

She glanced toward the bar and watched Tristan glower at her. She laughed lightly as she turned to face Will. "Yes, he is. Actually, all of my brothers are."

"Ah yes, as I recall, you have several."

"Four, to be exact."

Will nodded. "I wonder how your four brothers would react if I leaned over and kissed you right now."

Keira literally felt her heart skip a beat at his comment. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, a tiny part of her daring him. "Perhaps you should be more worried about my reaction to a kiss."

Where had that flirty comment come from?

He smiled and leaned closer. "I know how you'll react."

She mimicked his movement, inching toward him until she could feel the breath that accompanied his words. He was going to kiss her. Holy crap, he was going to kiss her. "You do?"

"Mmm-hmm. You're going to go off like a firecracker on the Fourth of July." His lips were so close she could've sworn she felt them brush against hers as he spoke.

"Has anyone ever told you you're arrogant?" she asked.

"Has anyone ever told you you're beautiful?"

Come Monday is also available at Ellora's Cave, Barnes and Noble, Sony, and All Romance Ebooks.

Saturday Snippet

Today's theme is talk me down and when I considered the idea behind that phrase, I was reminded of the way my best friend and I talk to each other. There's just something about having a heart to heart with your girlfriends that can open up new perspectives or instill a sense of adventure/bravery. Cheryl and Grace in Happy Hour were patterned after me and my best friend and I thought I'd share one of their "talk me down" conversations. However, in this case, I think it's safe to say it's a "talk me into it" chat!

Excerpt:

"So I totally think you should try to hook up with Jamie."

At Cheryl's unexpected comment, Grace choked on the sip of beer she'd just taken. "W-what?" she asked.

Cheryl gave her a wicked grin. "Thought that would get your attention. I've been watching you two lately and I think he's got the hots for you."

"Yeah, right. And the Pope is Jewish." Grace spoke the words lightly, trying to hide how much she wanted Cheryl's observation to be true.

"I'm being serious."

"He's young, handsome and definitely not looking for an older widow with a teenage daughter. I'm toting too much baggage. Trust me."

Cheryl shook her head. "I don't think that's true. I swear sometimes it's like he seeks you out. There could be twenty teachers standing around in the cafeteria and he'll make a beeline for you."

"We're friends. We have the same twisted sense of humor. Plus, have you ever considered the idea that I'm not a threat to him? You've seen how the new female teachers flitter around him like a swarm of flies around a sugar cube, hoping to get his attention. He's probably just using me as a buffer to keep them away."

"How many single guys do you know who try to keep hot young women away from them?" Cheryl scoffed. "He doesn't want them because he wants you. You two are perfect for each other. Mark my words."

"Well, I hope you're wrong because I'm not interested."

Cheryl burst into a fit of loud laughter. "Jesus. Sell that shit to someone who doesn't know you, sweet pea. I've seen you flirting tonight. You're as hot to get in his pants as he is to get into yours."

Grace narrowed her eyes. "Why am I friends with you again?"

"Because you don't want to grow up any more than I do, Peter Pan. Neither one of us is going down without a fight."

Grace had to agree with Cheryl's assessment. The older she got, the younger she felt. She wondered lately if there was something wrong with her. Wondered if by being widowed so young, something inside her had been broken and it stopped her from maturing the way she should. Of course, Cheryl was definitely going through the same phase, which proved that assumption false as her friend was happily married. If anything, Cheryl had it worse than her. At forty-five with two kids in college, it seemed sometimes as if Cheryl was reliving her youth all over again, attending rock concerts and even getting a tattoo.

Grace sighed. "Unfortunately I think the cruelty of nature is going to win this battle. I've got crow's feet around my eyes and my breasts are definitely succumbing to gravity."

"You're gorgeous, Gracie. I've known you for nearly fifteen years and it's safe to say you've never looked better. After Drew's death, you made it pretty clear to everyone that raising Maddie was your number one goal. You made that girl the center of your universe because she needed you and you needed her. But she's going to go away to college in a few months and that's going to leave you on your own for the first time in your life. It's time to open yourself up to some new experiences."

"Cheryl—" Grace interjected, but her friend waved her off.

"Hear me out. All I'm asking you to do is consider what I'm saying. You're a beautiful woman with a lot to offer any man lucky enough to snatch you up. You're smart, funny and sexy. Hell, if I wasn't happily married and getting sex three times a week from Jeff, I'd do you."

Grace laughed.

"Forty is the new thirty," Cheryl continued, "so stop hiding behind that number and get out there again. Besides, you weren't made to live alone. All that nurturing and loving shit would come bursting out at the seams if you didn't have someone to smother with it."

Grace considered her friend's words and knew they were the truth. She'd never lived alone, leaving her parent's home for a college apartment with roommates. She'd married Drew shortly after graduating from the university and since his death, she'd had Maddie to come home to. Cheryl's words struck a chord as she realized some of her sadness over Maddie's leaving was the idea that she would be alone and she dreaded it.

"Okay. You've made your point and it's a good one. I'll think about what you've said."

Cheryl shook her head and placed a friendly hand on hers, gripping it tightly for just a second. "I wasn't telling you to think about it, Grace. I was telling you to do something about it. Those are two different things."

The guys returned to the table, ending their conversation, and Grace considered her friend's words.

Do something.

Cheryl was right. Since Drew's death, she'd lived her life for her daughter. Tonight she was going to start living for herself again. She only hoped she could remember how.

Happy Hour is available at Samhain, Amazon, Fictionwise, Barnes and Noble, Sony and All Romance Ebooks.

Why not hear what these authors have to "talk" about too?

Emma Petersen

Lissa Matthews 

McKenna Jeffries

HelenKay Dimon

Taige Crenshaw

Lauren Dane

T.J. Michaels

Spring into Savings – Spitfire

 

Spring into Savings with Spitfire–a cowboy quickie with an alpha male and a spitfire. Who'll tame who? All the red hot sex you can handle for $2.50. It's a bargain!

Rem Bradley has loved Liv Carter for far too long. After his father's sudden death, Rem comes home for good—ready to reclaim his family's ranch and his woman. Problem is, the spitfire he finds brawling in the roughest bar in town is not the girl he left behind.

Liv recognizes trouble when she sees it, but she'd be a fool to resist Rem's seductive demands. Starting in the barn where they'd left off years ago, they use every available body part, plus a toy or two, to bring each other maximum pleasure. To make up for past mistakes, however, Rem is going to have to do a hell of a lot more than just satisfy her body—but that's a damn good start.

Excerpt:

"Let's go," he murmured in her ear, backing them both away from the pool table and forcing his way through the crowd gathering.

"No," she said, attempting to break his iron-tight grip on her. "He owes me money."

"I'll give you the goddamn fifty dollars," Rem growled. "Now move!"

Angry words began flying across the table and Rem wasn't sure who threw the beer bottle but within seconds, every man in the room jumped and he was reminded of a pack of wild dogs he'd once seen attack an unprotected calf. Chaos ensued.

He was shoved roughly from behind, losing his grip on Liv, who'd been waiting for a chance at freedom. She made her way over to Butch, grabbing the man and punching his jaw with the force of a trained boxer. Rem tried not to be impressed, but she was fierce and powerful and by God, she was going to be his. He couldn't wait to release that fiery spirit in the bedroom.

Rem knocked over three men, punching two others as he attempted to retrieve Liv before Butch could retaliate. His blood turned cold as he watched Butch reach down, grab a pool cue and swing it at Liv. She ducked the blow at the last minute, slamming forward into the man's gut with her head. Butch fell backward, crashing into a table before hitting the floor.

"You fucking bitch," he screamed as he attempted to get to his feet, slipping on spilled beer.

The hustlers made their way over to Liv, ready to attack, and Rem blocked a punch from one man while delivering a roundhouse kick to Slick, who'd attempted to sneak up behind him. He watched Liv dispatch the third man by smashing a beer bottle over his head. Rem moved forward, shoving Liv toward the back door as sirens broke through the air. The rioting mass of men scattered like ants at the sound of the police approaching. He managed to get Liv out of the building and around to his truck in time to watch four police cars pull into the parking lot.

She started to walk toward her own vehicle as Rem dug his keys out of his pocket.

"Not so fast, spitfire," he said, intercepting her and lifting her up with a strong arm around her waist. "You're riding home with me."

"My truck's right there," she said.

"You've been drinking. I can smell it on your breath."

"I had one beer," she said. She kicked up a fuss but Rem was in no mood.

He pulled the passenger door open and placed her none too gently in the seat. "Goddammit, Olivia. Sit still!" His words were harsh, loud, and she stopped fighting him as he hooked her seat belt.

"You are seriously pissing me off, Rem Bradley," she seethed.

He chuckled mirthlessly. "Oh darlin', you can't compete with me on pissed off right now."

He slammed her door shut and crossed to the driver's side. As he started the truck and pulled onto the road, he forced himself to calm down, forced himself to take several deep breaths.

"I hope to God you don't think you can start ordering me around now that you're home," she said.

Rem's vision went red with fury and he pulled the truck off the road, squealing the tires as he hit the brakes.

"Jesus Christ!" she yelled, bracing herself with both hands on the dashboard. "What are trying to do? Kill us?"

The memory of her initiating the massive fight at Stan's drifted through his mind and his temper snapped. She'd done nothing but test his patience since she'd turned seventeen. He'd shied away from staking his claim out of respect for his father and her youth, but that time had passed. Liv Carter had just spent her last night as a free woman.

Unhooking her seat belt, he grabbed her and pulled her across the seat. He didn't give her a chance to respond as he took her lips in a kiss that showed her exactly what she was about to become.

His woman.

He forced her lips apart, moving into her mouth with his tongue, tasting and touching every part of her he could reach. Dragging his hands along her neck, he dug his fingers into her thick, silky mass of light brown hair, using his grip to hold her head in place while he feasted on her plump lips.

He wasn't surprised by her initial astonishment. She remained motionless for several seconds before he felt her small hands pushing against his chest in a halfhearted attempt to fight him. He deepened the kiss and she responded for several glorious moments before he practically heard the wheels begin to spin in her lovely brain.

He pulled his face away from hers when she increased the pressure on his chest, trying to shove him away.

"Don't fight me, Liv."

"Don't kiss me," she whispered, her gaze averted.

He grinned, forcing her to look at him with a slight tug on her hair. "I'm gonna do a hell of lot more than just kiss you," he warned. "You might want to go ahead and accept that fact."

Spitfire is also available at Ellora's Cave, Barnes and Noble, Sony and All Romance Ebooks.