Mari Carr's Blog, page 54

Quote of the Day

I’m pulling all of August’s quotes from one of my all-time favorite movies, The Princess Bride. Next month…Overboard!

“This is true love…you think this happens everyday?”

New book for Jambrea!

My friend, Jambrea Jo Jones, is part of a super cool m/m anthology over at Total E-bound. The book will be heavily promoted at this year’s GayRomLit conference in Atlanta Oct. 17-20. There are some big name m/m authors included in the book and I think it sounds fantastic!

‘Seeing Him’ by Carol Lynne

Physical and emotional scars drove Jonah to a life in the shadows, but Trevor is determined to draw him out of the dark and into his arms.

After spending months in a military rehabilitation hospital, Jonah returns from active duty only to find himself homeless. Jonah retreats to life in the shadows to hide his facial scars. He takes up residence in the parking garage of The Melia Hotel where he watches a striking black man come and go from his work inside the hotel. What Jonah doesn’t know is that General Manager Trevor Sharp is also watching him.

Trevor spends his days and most of his evenings at the Melia, working hard to prove he is the best man for the job. Unfortunately, between his hours and past heartbreaks, he doesn’t have much time for love. When a handsome man comes out of nowhere to save him from an abusive ex, Trevor makes it his mission to find out who the man is.

Trevor eventually builds a friendship with Jonah and works to draw him out of the shadows and into his arms, but will he stay there?

‘Blown Away’ by Amber Kell

Sometimes love finds you before you think you’re ready.

Chris Garland’s love for glasswork encompasses his life. Between school and working as a concierge at The Melia Hotel, he doesn’t have time for anything else. However, when he sees the handsome stranger sitting in the hotel lobby, he can’t resist introducing himself.

Leo Abbott lost the love of his life two years ago and has yet to recover. Flying to Atlanta for his cousin’s wedding, he couldn’t help but think of his dead lover. When the hotel’s concierge checks on him in the lobby and introduces himself, Leo feels the first stirrings of attraction. Passions he thought long buried flare back to life.

Will two men from separate walks of life be able to find a common ground where they can be together?

‘His Last Client’ by T.A. Chase

What happens when an occasional prostitute meets a client he can’t help but fall in love with?

Gib Schultz works as a bartender at The Melia Hotel in downtown Atlanta. When Gib needs some extra cash, he sells his body occasionally. It’s not the best job in the world, but it keeps a roof over his head. When one of his regular clients asks him for a favour, Gib isn’t sure about the guy he’s supposed to meet. Yet at double his normal price, he’s willing to risk it. Within minutes, he discovers he’s risking more than just his body, he’s risking his heart.

Edwin Masters is back in the States after spending several months reporting in war-torn countries around the world. He’s looking for a night or two of fun, and when he meets Gib, he’s sure it’ll be a great time. Then after spending time with Gib, he realises there’s more to the guy than he thought, and his heart tells him it might be time to take a risk on loving someone.

They’re both risking their hearts, and together, they have to decide if the reward is worth the risk.

‘Where Tomorrow Shines’ by Jambrea Jo Jones

Be All You Can Be?

Kasey Adams will show Quinn Nelson just what kind of man he is. After a couple of dates it’s been radio silence and Kasey wants to know why. He’s ready to settle down with just one guy and start his life.

Quinn is tired. He just wants to do his job and go home at the end of the day with an ice cold beer and something on the TV. He doesn’t have time for a happy shiny kid who wants to change the world.

Can Kasey convince Quinn they are meant to be?

‘Slippery When Wet’ by Stephani Hecht

When opposites attract, the passion ignites like nobody ever imagined.

Ever since Reno started working as the head coordinator for the kids’ centre at the hotel, he’d been harbouring a not-so-secret crush on a lifeguard named Bruce. When he finally has a chance to talk to Bruce and Bruce doesn’t even know Reno’s name, Reno is crushed.

Heartbroken, Reno is forced to admit that beauty is only skin deep and that Bruce is a jerk.

Bruce finds himself intrigued by the shy, yet cute Reno. He decides that he is going to pursue the man. But Bruce has the reputation as a man-eater. Will his reputation ruin any chance he has with Reno? Or will he be able to convince Reno that he really does care for him?

‘Out of Service’ by Devon Rhodes

Being the problem-solver of the hotel is Esteban’s role, but when he breaks his rules to help a guest, things get complicated. Especially for his heart…

Esteban Parks is used to being the go-to-guy at the Melia. As the front desk manager, he’s in a position to see everything that goes on—front and back of the house. Nothing fazes him, until he’s confronted with an appealing guest and instinctively goes into rescue mode.

Jayden Yates has travelled to Atlanta with one goal in mind—to be himself for just a little while. His family and community already make his life miserable and he hasn’t even come out yet. So he impulsively spends part of his savings to come to GayRomLit.

When he finds out that a simple mistake might derail his whole adventure before it even begins, he literally falls at the feet of the most handsome man he’s ever seen. Esteban offers him more than help—there’s an instant spark between them.

But can two men from such different backgrounds and stages of life find any common ground? Or will it be just a holiday romance for the memory books?

Meet the Heat – Lexxie Couper

Last week, I blogged about IntlHeat. Then a lovely friend on Facebook, Jenna, suggested that I do a spotlight on the authors. I thought it was a fabulous idea, so she helped me generate some questions and voila!  A 9 week spotlight on the ladies of IntlHeat was born. Thanks Jenna!

This week, I’m starting with the talented, hilarious Lexxie Couper!

What is your favorite book?
Toss up between Catch-22 and The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Yep, I’m all about the satire)


What is your favorite food?
Vegemite on freshly-buttered warm toast. Oh man, you can’t get anything better.


What is your favorite song, singer, and musical genre?
So hard to answer! Argh! I’m going to say Take Me Home by Phil Collins, singer: currently P!nk and type of music: always rock first. Always.


What are your goals for the future (writing or personal)?
To one day actually finish a book with a week’s grace on a deadline. Man, that would blow my mind if I actually achieved that *grin* (Oh and also to hit the New York Times Best-seller list *sigh* One day…one day…)


If you could co-write a book with any author, who would you choose and why?
Any author? Stephen King. Definitely Stephen King. Because I am in awe of his ability to tell a story and the scare my witless. Brilliance.


What was the hardest scene you’ve ever written?
The paranormal rape of my heroine in Endless Lust. The entire book was written in her point of view which gave me no escape from the mental and physical trauma I was putting her through. By the time I got to that scene, I was messed-up a little. Writing it was emotionally horrific (sorry about the bleak answer there.)


What’s your favorite book you’ve ever written?
This is so hard. Hmmm, honestly, it changes with my mood. At the moment, it’s Copping a Feel because it was my first foray into contemporary and my first attempt at comedy. And I still love that I managed to get a Colin Firth reference in there *grin*


If you could have any of your books made into a movie, which one would you choose and who would play the hero/heroine?
Oh oh oh, I would love to see Dark Destiny turned into a movie. Fred (aka the Grim Reaper/Death) would be played by Natalie Portman, Patrick (the Aussie lifeguard) would be played by Chris Hemsworth and his brother, Ven (the surfing vampire) would be played by Ryan Kwanten. Hee hee hee.


Boxers or briefs?
Boxer briefs


Contact Lexxie at lexxie@lexxiecouper.com or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Behind the Scenes!

 

Behind the Scenes is now free on Smashwords, Amazon and All Romance Ebooks. I’m still trying to make this happen at Barnes and Noble. It’s surprisingly difficult to make a book free! I’ll post something here when it switches at BN. Until then, I hope you’ll check out this series of short stories. Quick, sultry, sexy summer reads for less than $2 bucks.

Happy last day in July! Where is this summer going? Sigh…I’m going to back in school before I know it. Only three more weeks of freedom. Sob.

Three more weeks…

The Compass Countdown continues! This week I’m sharing a snippet from Southern Comfort. Seth Compton really stole my heart in this series! He’s a red-hot, sexy, alpha cowboy and if he ever gets bored with Jody, he can come on over and tie me to the bed anytime!

Caught between desire and a promise…

Compass Brothers, Book 2

Seth Compton knew from the first that his boss’s daughter was all wrong for him. She was too feisty, too damned independent and, at seven years his junior, too damned young. When she comes home with a college diploma and fiancé on her arm, though, he can’t quite remember all the reasons he held her at arm’s length.

It’s not just his jeans-tightening reaction to her all-grown-up curves. Something doesn’t feel right about her impending marriage, and he won’t rest until he’s stopped her from making the biggest mistake of her life.

The morning after her wild bachelorette party, Jody expected a hangover. The surprise? Waking up tied to a bed with sexy-as-sin Seth. He’s got some wild idea about proving they belong together, but she’s not buying it. Besides, she has a promise to keep that’s too close to her heart to risk, especially not with a man who, until now, made his disinterest plain.

No one ever said Seth backed down from a challenge. She’s going to make him work for it? No problem. Luckily for him, he has plenty of rope…

Product Warnings

This story contains a bondage lovin’ cowboy who kidnaps and hogties a cowgirl to his bed and does all sorts of naughty things to her. Fun, right?

Excerpt:

“Welcome home, Jody.” He stepped forward and bent down to give her a hug. Her shoulder-length chestnut-brown hair smelled like honeysuckle. He had to force himself to keep the embrace quick and brotherly. His cock stirred, and he closed his eyes briefly, trying to ignore the usual arousal that accompanied her arrival. She was the boss’s daughter and even at twenty-one, she was too damn young for him.

She’d been a tomboyish twelve-year-old when he first came to work on the ranch and the other hands had given him shit when it became obvious the young girl had a crush on him. Her infatuation hadn’t abated until last Christmas, when he’d foolishly kissed her under the mistletoe and then shoved her away.

Since then, the easy camaraderie and innocent flirting they’d engaged in since her graduation from high school had evaporated. She’d only been home once since Christmas, but he could see in her face she was still angry with him. He was determined now that she was back to stay, he’d make things right again. He’d been thinking about her return a lot lately. Things were about to change between him and the little wildcat. He grinned at the thought.

“Thanks, Seth. Good to be back.”

“Didn’t get the impression you were staying,” Thomas muttered.

“Daddy. Don’t you think you were kind of rude to Paul?”

“Paul?” Seth asked.

“I mean we only just got here and told you our good news.”

Thomas frowned. “Is that what we’re calling it?”

Jody’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, it is. Didn’t you tell me you wanted me to find a nice man and settle down?”

“What the—” Seth crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly worried about the direction of this conversation. “You were pissed as shit when Thomas gave you that advice. Said women these days didn’t need a man to be happy and you didn’t plan to ever get hitched.” The fight she and her father had had at the end of last summer was epic. Seth had tried to stay out of it, mind his own business, but when Jody and Thomas went toe to toe, it was hard not to hear. Neither of them understood the concept of inside voices.

Jody glanced at him and gave him a small smile that seemed too sad to be genuine. “Turns out I was wrong.”

Seth fought to restrain a growl from escaping his chest. She’d brought home a man? Paul? Seth’s fists clenched at the thought. “How so?”

Thomas shrugged, the helpless gesture at odds with his legendary ability to handle anything. Of course, now that Seth thought about it, Jody was the exception to her father’s confident approach to life. Her mother had died when she was five, and Thomas had struggled to understand and raise his daughter since then.

Jody lifted her left hand, flashing a diamond the size of Dallas in his face. “I’m engaged.”

“The hell you are.” The words left Seth’s mouth before he could catch them. While Thomas laughed at his reply, he could see he’d sent Jody’s temper into orbit.

She retracted her hand and studied the ring, sarcasm dripping from her tone. “Really? I’m not engaged? Because I think this ring and the fact Paul got down on one knee and said, ‘Will you marry me?’ sort of proves that I am.”

“Who the fuck is this Paul character?” Seth took two steps toward the main house, ready to confront the asshole who’d dared to propose without even bothering to meet her family first, but Jody stepped in front of him, stopping him.

“Back off, Seth. You know perfectly well who Paul is. He’s been my best friend since freshmen year of college.”

“That Paul? What the fuck? I thought he was gay. Hell, he spent his entire last visit here flirting with the ranch hands.”

Jody closed her eyes and took a deep breath. But long before a ten count, she replied, through gritted teeth, “Obviously, he’s not gay.”

“Since when?”

“Since he fucking proposed to me. Why am I even having this conversation? This is none of your damn business.”

He bent down until his face was mere inches from hers. “Is that right? Well, I beg to differ.”

She leaned closer, and he could detect the slight scent of chocolate on her breath. Jody clearly hadn’t lost her sweet tooth, though he was beginning to wonder where she’d misplaced her common sense. “You are not my boyfriend and you are not my brother. Hell, you’re not a part of this freaking family at all. You are my father’s foreman, which means my decision to get married is none of your damn business.”

He struggled to keep his hands on his hips, rather than reach over and prove to Miss Jody Kirkland how very wrong she was. His fingers were itching to take her over his knee and spank some sense into her.

She’d made herself his business the very first day he’d come to work here and she’d climbed atop Coy, her father’s newest addition to the stable. The far-from-tamed horse had taken exception to its rider and bolted across the yard, jumping a fence and sprinting across the lower pasture. Seth had chased her on Charlton for close to a mile before managing to catch up and pull the fool girl off the runaway roan.

He could still recall the way she’d trembled in his arms and looked at him like he’d hung the moon for rescuing her. By the time they’d returned to the stable, they were laughing like old friends and his position at the ranch had been solidified. As he looked into her blue eyes now, he missed the admiration and wished to hell he could get rid of the anger that had crept in instead.

“Jody,” Thomas broke in. “You know full well I consider Seth a part of this family. If he takes exception to your asinine engagement, then perhaps you should listen to why.”

Jody released a furious breath. “You can’t object to a man who’s been my friend for years.”

Seth leaned back a bit. “Don’t you think it’s a little strange that one minute the guy’s gay and the next he’s not?”

“He never said he was gay.”

“That’s not something we needed to be told. It was kind of obvious. Is he bi?” Seth could understand bisexuality. He’d seen glimpses of it in his older brother, Silas, when they were growing up and he suspected now that his brother was back home in Wyoming, Silas would be acting on some of the feelings he had for his best friend, Colby.

Jody sighed loudly. “No. He’s in love with me. Just me.”

Seth knocked his hat against his jeans in frustration. “Never heard you talk about him like he was your boyfriend. You were home for Easter, Jody, and you didn’t say one word about dating him. When did this so-called love affair start?”

“It turned into something more than friendship recently.”

He tried to beat down the twinge of jealousy that accompanied the thought of her beingmore than friends with any other man. She was right. He had no claim staked on her. But it sure as hell felt like he did. “So why the rush? If you’ve only started dating, I don’t see why—”

“Because I want to. I don’t need any more reason than that.”

“Just like that?” Seth tried to understand what the hell was going on inside her pretty head. The only thing missing from her haughty proclamation was for her to stamp her foot on the ground like a three-year-old. She wasn’t like this. She’d never been a spoiled girl, never been prone to temper tantrums or selfish demands. She’d been a fun-loving tomboy who’d grown into his laughing, easygoing friend. This angry woman was a stranger to him, and he missed the real Jody.

“That’s right. And we’re not waiting. We came home to have the ceremony performed here.”

“When exactly?”

Thomas cleared his throat. Bewilderment crossed his boss’s face. He was sure the same confusion resided on his. There would be no help from that camp. “They plan to bring the justice of the peace out to make it official here at the ranch in two weeks.”

Hell to the no! Seth would see her married to some stranger only over his dead body. He started to say exactly the same thing, but the argument that came out was much different than what he’d intended. “What about love, Jody? Do you love him?”

His softly spoken question seemed to jar her a bit and for just a second, he saw the trace of his old friend before she disappeared again behind the indifferent, cold woman who’d replaced her.

“What kind of question is that?”

Thomas leaned against the horse stall and crossed his arms over his chest. “A pretty valid one, if you ask me.”

Jody turned to look at her father and shook her head. “You two really are a matched set, you know that? Way to gang up on me.”

“Answer me, Jody,” Seth persisted. “Are you in love?”

She studied his face and a glimmer of pain shone in her eyes. Then she nodded, turned on her heel and walked out of the stable.

It wasn’t until she disappeared around the corner that it began to sink in. Seth had missed his chance with her. He’d pushed her away for too long.

“You realize you made a mistake there, right?” Thomas asked.

Seth nodded sadly. Mistake was putting it lightly. He’d fucked up. Big time. “Yeah. I guess I did.”

Thomas studied his face and then chuckled. “Think we’re talking about two different things. Of course, maybe not. She may be in love, son, but she didn’t say with who.”

Southern Comfort is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, and All Romance Ebooks.

Quote of the Day

“Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.” -Will Rogers

Saturday Snippet

Today’s snippet is author’s choice. I thought I’d share a racy bit from the final book in my red hot trilogy of Scoundrel’s Short Stories. If you’re looking for quick summer reads, these books are sure to increase the heat! Just 99 cents each!

Snippet:

“Open your legs, Becca.”

She jerked at his request, her gaze finding his. “What?”

He gave her a crooked grin. “I think it’s time we take the toys out.”

She closed her eyes, trying to find a way to batten down the hatches once more. She knew even as she did so, the action was pointless. She was a goner. Had been since the very first time Parker walked into Scoundrels looking for work as a waiter.

Parker ran his finger along her cheek, waiting until she looked at him again. “Do as I say.”

While he was an easy-going, fun-loving friend, it appeared those characteristics disappeared at the bedroom door.

“Fine.” She was secretly pleased at the strength of her voice. Inside, she was a quivering jar of goo. She twisted on the seat until she faced him completely as he tugged her thong off. She started to part her thighs, but Parker didn’t seem inclined to wait as he moved them apart with strong hands on her knees. He looked at her pussy like a ravenous wolf finding food for the first time after a long winter. It was then she remembered that while she’d had her orgasm onstage, her lover hadn’t.

Her gaze drifted to his pants, to the obvious erection still straining through the denim. “Looks painful,” she teased.

Parker chuckled. “You have no idea.”

The conversation ended there as Parker ran his fingers along her opening. “Still wet, Bec?”

She bit her lip. “You made a promise backstage before the show. I think it included your bedroom and an entire night of sex.”

Parker groaned. “I don’t think we’re going to make it to the bedroom right away.”

 

Want more snippets?

Lauren Dane

Shelli Stevens

Leah Braemel

Jody Wallace

Caris Roane

Eliza Gayle

Lissa Matthews

Mandy M. Roth

McKenna Jeffries

Shiloh Walker

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon

TJ Michaels

Felicity Heaton

IntlHeat

As you probably know, I participate in a group blog with some of my best friends in the writing world. Over the past few months, we’ve been making some big changes and I wanted to invite you to check them out. First of all, we’ve created a new website with a new URL. You can find us at intlheat.com. There is a list of the authors who participate in the blog, complete with links to their websites and some fun information about them. It’s a talented group of gals and I feel very blessed to be a part of this team.

In addition to the new site, we’re starting a quarterly IntlHeat newsletter. If you look at the right hand margin of the website, you’ll see a place to sign up for it. It will go out four times a year. We’ll be sharing new releases and coming soon news as well upcoming public appearances. And we’re featuring a contest in each issue! Please consider signing up to stay abreast of all the latest IntlHeat happenings.

Each Friday on the blog, we are featuring Friday Friends–fellow authors whose work we love! Tomorrow, Cari Quinn will be stopping by and then, in August, we have a killer line up of five Fridays featuring Sierra Dean, Lorelei James, Lexi Blake, RG Alexander and Silence O’Shea. I hope you’ll visit those days as they share details about their latest works!

Then…we have a very exciting project in the works as well! This fall, the IntlHeat authors will be releasing a box set of original sexy, short novellas in the Heat Collection. It’s your passport to red hot romance! Participating authors include Bianca D’Arc, Lexxie Couper, Jess Dee, Lila Dubois, Rhian Cahill, Sami Lee and me! Mine’s called French Quarter Fantasies and it takes place in a sex club in New Orleans. Ooh la la!

And finally, did you know that IntlHeat has a yahoo group where we all hang out called Heat Wave? It’s a lovely, friendly group of romance readers who talk about anything and everything! The IntlHeat authors share exclusive snippets of works in progress. Lexxie Couper is infamous for her hilarious Gif of the Day pics. Jambrea Jo Jones and Valerie Tibbs are our diet/weight loss/exercise cheerleaders. Rhian typically brags about her pizza oven and makes us all hungry, while Lila pops in occasionally with a zinger that has us all laughing for the rest of the day. It’s a great place for book lovers to hang out and I hope you’ll consider joining us.

 

It’s a Compass Countdown

The release of Hope Springs, the second book in the Compass Girls series, is only ONE month away. I thought it might be a hoot to start a Compass Countdown. For the next four weeks, I’ll be recapping all the Compass books that have come before, starting with the brothers and working my way up to the Girls! The fun starts today with Northern Exposure, the book that started it all!

All roads lead home when that’s where you’ve left your heart.

Compass Brothers, Book 1

Silas Compton always had his eye on Lucy, the veterinarian’s daughter. He was even content to wait for the girl of his dreams to grow up before getting anywhere near her with his family’s double-edged legacy.

Waiting around led to fooling around with his best friend—and an impulsive eruption of desire that Lucy’s innocent eyes weren’t meant to see. Figuring Compton Pass wasn’t big enough for either the three of them or the pain he’d caused, Silas let loose his tightly reined wanderlust and headed for Alaska.

Ten years later, when an oil rig accident sends him home, he braces himself for the reopening of old wounds. Instead he finds himself in the care—and welcoming arms—of Lucy and Colby, whose marriage has plenty of room for the man they both still love. And forgive with all their hearts.

As things start to unravel at Compass Ranch, Silas must dig deep for the strength to assume his rightful place in the Compton family…and lay the foundation for a future with his lovers. If he can forgive himself.

Product Warnings

This book is overflowing with sexy cowboys who like to saddle up and ride each other as well as the woman of their dreams. The likelihood of becoming addicted to their ranch family is high. With three more stories yet to come, beware. You won’t be able to read just one!

Prologue

Dry brush crackled under the hooves of Silas Compton’s roan gelding. It hadn’t rained in a while. He could tell it would be a long summer by the clouds of terra cotta dust rising in the wake of his brothers’ galloping horses as they raced across the mountain ridge.

Not that he’d know it where he was headed. Alaska would provide a total change of scenery. Exactly what he needed. Pain lanced his chest, causing him to tense in his heirloom saddle. Rainey’s ears flicked up. Silas patted the loyal animal’s neck, settling into the rhythm of their canter, and wondered how he would survive so far from the land that had been a part of him since he’d been born.

Somehow he would have to make it work.

He sure as hell couldn’t stay.

Like the three-legged dog they’d had as kids, he would learn to cope without an integral part of himself. If only he and his puppy had reined in their curiosity and avoided those damn traps…

But they hadn’t.

Lucy Silver, the veterinarian’s sweet daughter—who’d been dancing through his dirty dreams since he’d been old enough to have them—had spotted Silas making out with her boyfriend in the barn. It’d been like the day he’d watched his puppy scramble toward the razor-sharp jaws lying concealed under a pile of straw all over again.

Removing himself from the equation seemed like the only way he could halt imminent disaster and protect the two people he cared about most outside of his family. He’d already destroyed enough of Lucy’s innocence.

Christ, he couldn’t explain what had driven him to kiss Colby in the first place.

Impulsive. Rash. Reckless.

Qualities Silas didn’t value. The one time he gave in to the dark urges he wrestled, he paid a horrible price. But he’d caught Colby checking out his sweaty muscles as they’d worked together in the heat of the day. Desire had arced between them.

Irresistible. Delicious. Forbidden.

Until the agony on Lucy’s face had slammed him back to reality. Silas vowed to leave the couple to mend their fences and live in peace, without the threat of his interference ripping them apart. Lucy and Colby devoured each other with desperate gazes when they thought no one paid attention. It didn’t take a genius to figure out their love was the real deal.

He’d go, even if it meant giving up everything familiar and cherished, including his brothers and his two best friends. Because he sure as shit couldn’t stay and keep his hands to himself. Not with a double helping of temptation running wild.

Amber rays from the setting sun ignited the prairie below. The glowing grasslands seared into his memory. He’d never lose track of his roots. He’d never forget his heritage, Compass Ranch, even if he couldn’t accept his destiny as its head.

His brothers would pick up his slack.

Seth, a year younger than him, whooped then grinned over his shoulder as he spurred his mare faster. Wild as a mustang, he flew over the landscape to the spot they’d claimed as their own. The twins, Sam and Sawyer, followed suit.

They hadn’t discussed their plans for the evening. As soon as Silas had made his announcement to the family, the boys had glanced around the dining table—where all important family business was conducted—and nodded. They hadn’t objected to his desertion, but strain lined their faces, sorrow dimmed their eyes and the betrayal he feared flashed in the air a split second before they began planning how they’d support him.

Christ, their generosity had made him feel lower than the shit on the bottom of his muck boots because he hadn’t had the guts to admit why he really planned to leave. None of them would have been dumb enough to mess with something that wasn’t theirs. And if they had, they wouldn’t have lied about it on top. Such strong souls would thrive with or without him. But could he cut out something so essential to his being and live so wounded? So lost?

Cut adrift, he might not make it.

Silas gripped the reins too tight. He forced himself to relax his fingers.

One night. He’d give himself these final hours with his brothers to say goodbye to all he treasured. Tomorrow, he’d ride out. Forever.

The driving hoof beats slowed as they approached their destination. By the time they ducked beneath the shelter of the mountain cypresses, the rocky terrain forced them to walk their mounts. None of the teenagers would jeopardize the safety of their animals or their brothers.

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to contain the agony lassoing his heart as he realized he’d never be close to the men they’d grow into, their families or the children who’d take their places in the tight-knit community like so many generations before them.

The last damn thing he wanted was to bawl like a sissy.

If his family caught on to his pain, they might not let him go. Luckily, he’d learned from the toughest sons of bitches in the west how to be a real cowboy. If that was the only way he could honor his legacy, he’d man up and do it. Somehow.

They dismounted, reverting to familiar patterns. Seth and Sawyer tied the horses as Sam gathered kindling for their bonfire. Silas patched the pit left from prior visits then dug some supplies from his pack, including hot dogs despite the fact they’d eaten dinner before they left. These days, the four of them could shovel in enough to feed an army.

Or so their mom said.

“Si, you’re bleeding.” Count on Sawyer to notice.

“It’s nothing.” Silas faced the youngest, by twenty-two minutes, of his brothers. The kid’s twin had already picked up on the vibe. Damn their weird-ass mental connection.

“It’s something.” Sam sidled up behind him to take a peek. “It’s too uniform to be a cut.”

“Did you do it?” Damn if Seth didn’t tip his hat and glare from beneath his dark brows. When Silas didn’t answer, Seth stomped over. “Holy shit. You did. You got a freaking tattoo. Without me? Without us? You asshole!”

Silas dodged his brother’s half-hearted punch toward the sore spot between his shoulder blades. The disappointment radiating from the guy in waves did more damage than his fist would have. After Silas’s sudden declaration of independence, this looked bad, but he couldn’t come clean and admit the craving he’d had to brand himself with some symbol of home before he took off. Not if he had any hope of escaping.

“I had a hard enough time convincing Snake to ink me. If I’d brought you guys with me, he never would have caved. He only did it because I’m eighteen now.”

If Silas had told Seth, they wouldn’t have been able to stop Sam and Sawyer from tagging along too.

“Well, I suppose that’s true. Plus he’s probably afraid JD will kill him if he finds out.” Sawyer let Silas off easy, as usual.

“Yeah, that’s why I took the bandages off. Didn’t want him to notice.”

Pride for their badass father glowed from the kid. Silas agreed. As head of Compass Ranch—the center of Compton Pass, Wyoming—JD Compton wielded vast financial clout but his personality made him larger than life and, most important, earned him respect by the acre.

“But you gotta let us see it at least,” Sawyer insisted.

“Sure.” Silas dropped a wedge of firewood on the crackling flame Sam had started, and then stood. All three of his brothers lined up behind him—Seth in the middle, the twins on either side—when he tugged his gray T-shirt over his head, wincing a little at the sting of his sweat in the open wound. The three usually raucous kids didn’t make a single peep when he revealed the artwork. “It’s swollen and stuff—”

“Whoa.” Seth broke the silence.

“It’s awesome.” Sam laid his palm to the right of the emblem, careful not to touch the raw skin.

“Sweet,” Sawyer agreed then added his hand on the left side of Silas’s back.

“Does it hurt?” Seth completed their connection, touching the area below the design.

“So bad,” Silas gasped, struggling not to drop to his knees.

“I’m still doing it. Next year. The minute I turn eighteen,” Seth whispered into the gathering twilight. “Exactly like this.”

“Me too,” Sam chimed in. “The compass design is fucking great. And the ranch brand is perfect. It matches the one we use.”

“I didn’t know Snake had this kind of shit in him. The shading is so cool. It looks 3-D.” Sawyer’s hand shook on Silas’s back. “I want one now. Like yours. But without the fancy N.”

“You’re only fifteen,” Silas barked. “Wait a while and make sure it’s what you really want.”

“I know what I want.”

“Things don’t always happen like you expect, Sawyer.” Silas felt the pressure of his brothers’ hands bracing him as he heaved a giant sigh.

“Is that why you’re leaving?” The high pitch of Sam’s question reminded Silas that even though his youngest brothers had started fooling around with girls in their class, and he’d busted them splitting a six pack they’d swiped from the bunkhouse, they still had more boy than man in them.

“Yeah.” He couldn’t give them more of the truth than that. It embarrassed him. Angered him. And threatened to drown him in despair.

“Well, some people might flip flop around. Not me. Not going to change my mind.” Sawyer stuck to his guns. He’d always been the most determined to prove himself despite being the baby of the group. Maybe because of it. “I’m joining the Coast Guard. Gonna see the world.”

“What?” Silas pivoted to stare at the kid, severing the connection with his brothers. He regretted it instantly, but he had to search Sawyer’s eyes for the truth. “You’ve been watching too many freaking commercials. Your place is here, on the ranch.”

“No, it isn’t,” the teenager whispered.

When the other two nodded in agreement, Silas staggered backward.

“You’re not planning to stay?” His forehead crumpled as he tried to understand. “None of you?”

“Don’t look at us like that.” Seth waved his hands in front of his chest. “I figured you’d understand. I need to get the hell out of here. Find my own place. Same as you. Not Alaska though, I hate winter. You’re crazy to take on all that snow. Somewhere warm. Maybe I’ll head down south. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. A fancy S instead of an N on my compass, bro.”

“What? No!” Silas couldn’t explain. “It’s not like that. I mean—”

“We understand, Si.” Sam smiled then nodded. “I’d like to go to college. Earn a degree, find a real job. Something where I don’t have to dirty my hands to rake in cash. I’ll have fancy clothes, a slick apartment and a kickass car. I’ll party every night with the hottest girls in the city.”

The relief washing over his brothers filled Silas with anxiety and left him reeling. Who would help their father with the ranch? Who would continue their family traditions? Who if not him? Or Seth? Or Sam?

“Oh, no.” Sawyer shook his head as he kicked a rock. “Don’t give me that look. I told you, I’m not getting stuck here. Fuck that. You think someone should hang around, then stay put. It ain’t too late to cancel your plane ticket.”

“I-I can’t.”

“And neither can we.” Seth slugged his shoulder. “Come on, start the dogs. I’m starving. Jake slipped me a couple Playboys for doing his chores last weekend so he could bang Misty Trelane.”

“Nice! Me first.” Sam managed a head start for their brother’s backpack as Sawyer launched himself after his twin.

Silas watched them wrestle, laugh and call each other names as though his entire world hadn’t been ripped apart. Then he pivoted and stared out to the horizon as the sun set on his childhood.

Northern Exposure is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo and All Romance Ebooks.

Digital First Read-a-thon

I’m participating in the Digital First Read-a-thon hosted by Book Binge! Today, I’m hanging out over at Tracy’s Place. I hope you’ll stop by to visit and…while you’re there…enter the contest!

Book Binge and their friends over at Tracy’s Place, RR@H Novel Thoughts and The Book Reading Gals will be celebrating all things published digitally first.  They have so many great things lined up for the entire month of July.  Fantastic excerpts, giveaways and loads of reviews for the books they’re reading for the DIGITAL FIRST READ-A-THON.

In case you missed last year’s fun, the digital first read-a-thon is a month long reading adventure where you read as many books that were published in digital format-first as possible.  There are a lot of books that have been released in e-format before they were released in print and these are the books that we’re spotlighting.  If you read more traditionally published books then you’re missing out on a lot of fantastic stories.  You’ve missed out on some pretty amazing characters and they are spotlighting those books for the entire month.