Mari Carr's Blog, page 63

Mad about Meg

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m re-releasing a fun story called Mad about Meg. It’s a nice, inexpensive, little romantic read.

She’d never been lucky in love…until she met him.

If it weren’t for bad luck, Meg Williams wouldn’t have any luck at all. As if traveling to a tropical island on Valentine’s weekend in a nasty storm isn’t bad enough, she’s doing it alone after finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Enduring the trip from hell, she arrives on Eden Isle only to discover that her hotel reservation has been lost and there are no vacancies anywhere on the island. Disheartened, Meg heads for the hotel bar.

Rob Madison is used to being in the limelight due his wealth and power. Used to being pursued by women for his fortune. When he meets Meg and realizes she doesn’t know who he is, he decides to spend the evening as a regular guy. Discovering she doesn’t have a place to stay, he offers to share his penthouse with her.

As the night progresses and their mutual attraction becomes apparent, Meg wonders if her luck has turned, while Rob wonders if one weekend in each other’s arms will be enough…

This book was previously published and has been revised. Mad about Meg is connected to the Lowell High School series books available at Ellora’s Cave.

Excerpt:

“Excuse me.” He graced her with the most charming, least threatening smile he could muster. No doubt, he had some making up to do.

“Hello, again.” Her voice was soft, her tone distinctly friendlier than he expected.

“I was hoping I could join you for a few minutes.” He gestured to the two drinks in his hands.

Nodding, she pointed to the seat across from her. “Sure.”

“Peace offering.” He placed the red drink he’d bought in front of her, hoping his joke might work.

Moving her empty glass out of the way, she smiled. “That wasn’t necessary.”

“I’m afraid it was,” Rob answered. “My driver’s actions were reprehensible.”

“No, please, you don’t have to apologize. I’m terribly embarrassed by my behavior. I’m sure you won’t believe this, but I’m typically not such a hateful bitch.”

“I didn’t think you were anything of the sort.” Her apology surprised him. If anyone was in the wrong, it was clearly him, or at least George.

“Thank you for the drink.” She grinned before picking it up, silently toasting him and sipping it.

“Scarlett O’Hara?”

“It’s my favorite. Cranberry juice and Southern Comfort. I was planning on drinking only fruity, island concoctions, but after the day’s events, I needed a stiff drink.”

“Ah, I see,” Rob said. “If I’m not mistaken, do I detect a bit of a southern accent?”

“Just a bit. I’m from Northern Virginia. Most folks there can’t decide if they’re northerners or southerners. I like to refer to myself as a middler. How about you? Where do you hang up your hat?”

“Everywhere,” he answered honestly. “My work keeps me traveling pretty much non-stop.”

“And during your childhood?”

“Army brat.” It wasn’t difficult to acknowledge that he truly didn’t have roots anywhere in the world. He owned homes on both coasts as well as in three different countries, but he never spent more than a month at a time in any of them. Watching her try to hide her shivering, he stood and took off his suit jacket.

“Here.” He draped it around her shoulders. “You’re about to shake yourself off that chair.” She started to protest, but he cut her off. “I insist.”

“Thank you. So what’s this business of yours that doesn’t allow you to settle down?”

Rob was taken aback by the question. Surely she knew who he was. Looking closely at her, he determined she truly didn’t know him. Used to being recognized instantly, Rob silently savored this anonymity.

“Uh,” he stumbled, unwilling to give up this unique experience. “Just a businessman. Real estate and that kind of thing.” His answer was vague at best.

“You must do well, given your mode of transportation.”

“Company car.” He wasn’t so sure why he was intent on keeping up pretenses. For some strange reason, he liked the way this tired woman looked at him. She was talking to him as an equal, treating him as she would a new friend. Her eyes weren’t filled with dollar signs, trying to figure out how much he was really worth. Silently he laughed at himself. He had spent nearly a decade amassing more wealth than he could ever spend, earning and demanding the respect of his peers, yet here he was downplaying his successes so he could continue this simple, friendly conversation.

“How about you? What job keeps you tied to the middle of the country?”

She laughed. “Oh, I have a terribly exciting job. I’m a special education teacher.”

“It may not be what you consider exciting, but I can’t imagine anything more worthwhile.”

At his compliment, she gave him the most genuine smile he’d ever received. “I happen to agree with you. I love my kids and my job.”

“Are you with a private facility?”

“Oh, heck no,” she said with a grin. “Public education all the way. I teach at a high school.”

“I see now how you can afford such a fancy vacation,” he teased. “Making the big bucks as a public servant. Is Valentine’s Day considered a national holiday for the school system?”

She giggled before her smile turned to a grimace. “I saved up all my vacation days for this trip, and truth be told, I’ll be paying this ill-fated adventure off my credit card for many years to come.”

“Ill-fated?” He then recalled that, for all intents and purposes, she was homeless for the night.

“You wouldn’t believe my last twenty-four hours.”

“Try me,” he said.

“Where to begin? Due to mechanical problems, my first flight was re-routed to Houston and delayed long enough that I missed my original connecting flight in Florida. My scheduled seven hours of travel time turned into twenty-one.” She paused to take a sip of her drink.

“Ouch.”

“I broke my cell phone, my luggage is somewhere in Timbuktu, and the sporty little convertible I reserved weeks ago was downgraded to an ancient mini-van that your chauffeur left in a ditch a half a mile down the road. My sunny paradise has turned into hurricane hell and I have nowhere to stay tonight as this so-called luxury resort lost my reservation. Please bear in mind that’s just today’s run of bad luck and doesn’t include the fact that I’m alone in this damned lover’s paradise because I caught my fiancé cheating on me on Christmas Eve and my plane fare was nonrefundable.” She spoke with a lightheartedness he couldn’t understand given her horrible experiences.

“Wow.” He wasn’t sure how to respond and was shocked further when she simply laughed at his reply.

“My sentiments exactly.”

“So,” he looked at her calmly sitting in the hotel bar and wondered at her poise, “what’s your plan?”

“That’s actually what I was trying to work out when you came in. I thought I’d drink a little courage.” She lifted her drink to her lips again.

“Courage?”

“Well, I figure the liquor will serve two purposes. One, it will warm me up on the inside before I have to go back out into the freezing cold rain again. And two, hopefully it will get me drunk enough that it won’t bother me to sleep in my lousy rental car by the side of the road.”

“That’s your brilliant plan?”

“I don’t remember calling it brilliant. Simply a plan.” Her humor in the face of such a dreary and potentially dangerous night grated on his nerves. “I only have to make it through the next few hours and then I’ll call the car rental place about towing me out of the ditch and I’ll catch the next flight out of here. Guess that will teach me for trying to live like the rich and famous for a few days.”

Rob sat silently for several minutes brooding over the fact he was one of the rich and famous she was referring to and feeling incredibly guilty as he pictured the luxurious penthouse suite awaiting him. One of the perks of owning the hotel.

“You can’t sleep in your car.”

“I don’t think that guy out there,” she pointed toward Pierre at the front desk, “would like it if I sacked out on the couch in the foyer. This place doesn’t exactly strike me as the type that would cater to vagrancy.”

“You’ll stay with me.” The words came without thought, but Rob found himself immediately warming up to the idea of spending more time with this refreshingly pleasant woman.

“Oh, now hang on a minute.” She threw her hands up. “I appreciate the drink, but there’s no way—”

He didn’t let her finish her protests. “Hear me out,” he said quickly. “My company owns the penthouse of this hotel. It’s a two-bedroom suite. You can have the other room for tonight. It even has its own bathroom. You can lock the door and pretend like it’s your own hotel room. There is simply no way I’m going to let you sleep on the side of a busy road in the middle of a storm.”

“There isn’t much traffic out there now with all the rain.”

“I’m serious. You’ve had a hell of a day and an unbelievably long string of bad luck. Why not give yourself a break?”

She looked like she was seriously debating turning him down. He’d never had to beg a woman to share a room with him. Hell, most nights he was the one having hotel keys thrust at him. After all, he was Rob Madison, owner of this and a string of other luxury hotels all over the world. He had topped Fortune’s list of most eligible billionaires the last three years running.

He watched as she chewed on her lower lip, clearly nervous about his proposition. He supposed from her perspective he was a stranger and she would be consenting to share a hotel suite with him.

“The bedroom door locks?”

“It locks.”

Mad about Meg is available at Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Five for Friday

It’s time for a Power Play!

Chapter One

Reed Donovan stared at the flat-screen TV in the corner of the bar, and though his eyes were seeing the baseball game, his mind wasn’t processing a single aspect of it. He leaned back in his chair and tried to shake off the lingering traces of jetlag. Two days earlier, he’d flown back to the States after nine months in London. He only had tonight left to recover from the trip before he returned back to work bright and early the next morning.

He picked up the drink in front of him and took a long, deep swig. His throat was parched and his mouth dry. Clearly the stress of his day job was affecting his mind, messing with his head. He’d gone to London in the early fall to clean up the mess the former manager had left in his company’s branch office.

“Have to admit I didn’t think you had it in you to be quiet for so long.”

Reed looked up and found his cousin, the owner of the bar, looking down at him. He gestured to the chair across from him and watched Carter sit.

Reed lifted his glass. “Trying to drink away some of my damn tiredness. Not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow.”

“Nine months is a damn long time to uproot from your home, Reed. And I know you hate playing the admin role, know you’ve been gritting your teeth every minute of these last few months, wishing you were back doing what you love.”

“Uncle Brian needed my help getting the London branch back under control. The last manager only managed to run the damn thing into the ground. It was my job to clean house, to put the pieces back together.”

Carter leaned back in the chair, put his hands behind his head and studied his face. “So what’s stuck up your ass? You’re home now. Figured you’d be happy and celebrating that little fact.”

Reed rubbed his eyes wearily. His cousin was right, he should be doing fucking flips around the bar. Instead, he felt tired, irritable. “You want me to make a bulleted list for you?”

Carter grinned. “Is this gonna be a long presentation, Mr. Exec?”

Reed leaned forward, not bothering to acknowledge his cousin’s joke. “Number one, I’m pissed as shit about Brian sending me to London. I’ve worked my ass off for that man for years and I don’t appreciate being used as a lackey to do his goddamn dirty work. I’m going into his office tomorrow and letting him know it’s not something I ever intend to do again.”

Carter winced. “Fuck, man. That’s not gonna be a fun conversation.”

“You’re right. It’s not. Number two, while I was off wasting my MBA skills playing office manager, he let my marketing partner lose two prospective clients to The Wilkerson Team. I could have landed those accounts if Brian would have let me do my job.”

“Sounds like your partner sucks.”

“You’re missing the point, Carter. If I’d been there, those companies would be The Donovan Group’s clients.”

Carter waved a waitress over and ordered a whiskey, straight up, before gesturing for Reed to continue. “Anything else you need to get off your chest?”

Reed leaned back. “Frankie Carlyle.”

“Who’s that?”

“The bastard who stole my deals. Some hotshot upstart from The Wilkerson Team.”

“Ah, so you’ve finally got some competition, eh?”

Reed narrowed his eyes. “Hardly.”

“Damn, you’re a sore loser. Always have been.”

Reed wanted to argue, but figured it was pointless. Carter knew him too well. “Lucky for me, I never lose.”

Carter burst out with loud laughter.

Reed scowled. “I’m simply going to tell Brian I’m not cleaning up any more messes. I’m a marketing guy and if he’d let me do that job instead of shipping me off to goddamn London for nearly a year, Frankie Carlyle wouldn’t have two jobs that should have been mine.”

Carter sat up, leaning across the table to slap him on the shoulder in a supportive way. “You and I both know anger doesn’t win an argument with Brian. He had his reasons for sending you away. Whether or not he cares to enlighten you on the whys of it is another matter entirely.”

Reed nodded, but didn’t elaborate on his real concerns regarding Frankie Carlyle. He’d seen print copies of the presentations that landed the deals. They were good. Very good. And there was a small part of Reed that wondered if he could have landed the deals if he’d been around.

He attempted to stretch a tight kink out of his neck. He was stressed out and tired. There were three more big bids looming in The Donovan Group’s immediate future and Reed intended to land every single one of them. Carlyle was about to meet his match.

“Earth to Reed.”

He glanced across the table and realized his cousin had been speaking to him.

Carter gave him a shit-eating grin and shook his head. “Damn, man. Grab yourself a woman and fuck this aggression out of your system. You gotta blow off some steam before you talk to Uncle Brian or you’re bound to get your ass fired.”

Reed snorted and nodded. Carter was probably right. He scanned the bar for the first time since he’d walked in tonight. He hoped to spot Genevieve. Though he didn’t date—his job didn’t allow him much time for romance—he did enjoy the occasional hook up with Vivi. When he spotted her in the corner of the room, he smiled.

Carter caught the direction of his gaze and nodded his approval. “Good call. Vivi will cure what’s ailing you.”

“I think she just might.”

He grinned, about to stand, when a woman seated at the bar turned to retrieve something from her purse and caught his attention. She was clearly a businesswoman. Her expensively tailored suit, the briefcase at her feet, and the Droid she was typing into fast and furiously all proclaimed her role. He could only see her in profile, but he was taken aback by the delicate curve of her face, the single loose tendril of jet black hair that had escaped her stylishly pinned-up French twist. She appeared to be tall, with long legs that just wouldn’t quit. She was slim and, much to his chagrin, the size of her breasts was concealed by her suit jacket. He was a breast man through and through.

As he continued to watch her tap away at the tiny phone screen, he wondered for a moment what it was about her that was holding his attention. She was lovely, yes, but he’d seen more beautiful women. And while her body—what he could see of it—was hot, Vivi was just as shapely, just as sexy.

However, there was something about the way she held herself as she sat at the bar, quietly sipping from her glass of red wine. She simply exuded confidence and the image struck him as vaguely familiar, though he’d bet his entire lifesavings he’d never seen her before. He stared at her for several moments before he realized Carter had turned to see what he was looking at.

“Ah, the fair Francesca,” his cousin said.

“Francesca?”

Carter gestured toward the beautiful woman. “She’s a regular here. Comes in a couple times a week.

Sometimes alone, sometimes with friends or colleagues. Trust me when I say you should stick with Vivi.” “Why?” He wasn’t sure what prompted his question. Until Carter spoke, he’d had no intentions of approaching the woman. Now that his cousin had piqued his curiosity, he wasn’t so sure.

“Because she’s the female version of you, Reed. Powerful, successful, used to being in control. She wouldn’t go for that macho routine of yours. Women like her aren’t into men like us. When she settles down, it will be with a nice, biddable man who doesn’t mind a woman who wears the pants in the relationship. That’s sure as hell not you.”

Reed turned his attention away from the woman’s face and back to his cousin’s. “You seem to know quite a bit about her.”

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“We’ve talked, just about shit in general, nothing personal. She’s smart and she’s funny, but she’s also…” Carter paused, and Reed sensed his cousin was searching for a word he couldn’t find, “…dominant.”

“Dominant?”

Carter shrugged. “I don’t mean in a leather-wearing, whip-wielding way, but yeah, she’s, well, hell, she’s you, but with boobs and nothing dangling between her legs.”

Reed laughed. “So you’re warning me away?”

“Honestly? Yes. You’re feeling sort of down right now and you need a pick-me-up, not more complications. Vivi’s made to order, no muss, no fuss. You two can get together, wrinkle the sheets for a little while and come tomorrow morning, your perspective on life will be clearer.”

Reed glanced at Vivi and knew his cousin made a good point. Being with her was easy, relaxing, comfortable. They knew what the other liked in bed and neither of them expected a morning after courtesy call. Simple.

Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw Francesca move, turn her face toward the room. Her gaze met his and held. He leaned forward in his chair. It was the first time she’d acknowledged his presence. He narrowed his eyes, wondering what she was seeing. Was she feeling the same attraction? The same fascination? She studied him for only a fraction of a minute, mere seconds, but in that time, Reed felt as if he’d been shocked by the electrical current flowing between them.

“Should have saved my breath,” Carter said, rising.

“What?”

“I’ve never known you to take the easy way. Good luck, bud. You’re going to need it.” Carter turned and walked to his office, leaving Reed alone.

He looked at Vivi once more. She’d drop everything to spend the evening obeying his every command if he walked over and offered the invitation. He didn’t.

Instead, he stood and walked toward the bar, toward Francesca.

Claiming the empty seat next to her, he waved the bartender over. “Hi Joe. I’ll have a Guinness, and get another glass of red for Francesca here.”

She’d already been looking at him as he ordered, but when he mentioned her name he noticed the slightest narrowing of her eyes.

“Do I know you?”

He shook his head. “No. My cousin Carter owns this bar. He mentioned your name to me.”

She digested that information as he studied her face. She was gorgeous. Now that they were in closer proximity, he was able to spot the slightest amount of her generous cleavage through her blouse.

“Up here, babe,” she said pointing to her face, when his eyes lingered too far south for a second too long.

He grinned at her joke. Oh yeah. She was everything his cousin described. Trouble in a thirty-four D cup. Good stuff.

“So, your cousin suggested that you buy me a drink?”

“No.” Reed pointed to where Vivi still sat behind her. “He told me to buy her a drink.”

Francesca glanced over her shoulder. “Pretty girl. Did you miss your mark? Need me to draw you a map? Help you get over there?”

“My sense of direction is just fine.”

She rested her chin on her hand and, for the briefest moment, he wondered what the hell was going on in her mind. Then the bartender returned with their drinks and distracted her.

She sighed heavily as she looked at the full glass of wine. “I really shouldn’t drink this. I’ve had two glasses already. I have a big day at work tomorrow and attempting it hungover isn’t a good strategy.”

He grinned. She clearly wasn’t drunk. He wasn’t even sure he’d call her tipsy, but she was definitely enjoying the relaxing effects of the wine.

“You strike me as the type who can handle her alcohol. And anything else that might come her way.”

It was an obvious come on, but he didn’t care. There was something about her that screamed sex…and something else. Some elusive something he couldn’t put his finger on.

He took a sip of his Guinness. The alcohol was working on smoothing his rough edges too. His neck wasn’t stiff anymore and he was feeling looser, freer from the stress of work.

She leaned closer, her cheek still resting on her hand. “You know, I’ve always had this fantasy.”

He moved toward her. Her voice was low, husky, sexy as fuck. “Oh yeah?”

“Sex with a stranger.”

Her words hit him like a punch in the stomach and his cock filled the maximum weight recommended for his pants in three seconds flat. There was no way he could adjust them without drawing her attention to his dilemma. Then he grinned and made the adjustment anyway.

Her eyes followed the motion of his fingers.

“Up here, babe,” he teased, mimicking her words.

She laughed. “You’re really Carter’s cousin?”

“Yep, I’m Re—”

She cut him off quickly with a wave of her hand. “No. You tell me your name and we stop being strangers.”

She had a point. And a set of knockers that had him feeling lightheaded.

Taking a deep breath, he decided to go for broke. “Where do you wanna do this?” “Follow me.”

Power Play is available at Samhain, Amazon, Sony, Barnes and Noble, Fictionwise and ARe.

Quote of the Day

“There aren’t enough days in the weekend.” – Rod Schmidt

Five for Friday

Today’s Five for Friday is from Any Given Sunday. Anyone up for some red-hot menage action?

Prologue

“Where’s Chad?” Lauren asked breathlessly as they entered Sean’s apartment.

Sean rested his forehead against hers for an extra second or two before pulling away from the kiss they’d just shared. However, the distance was too much for him and the image of her in her mini-skirt and silky blouse proved to be his undoing. He pressed her against the door to steal another long, hot kiss. They’d gone out for a romantic dinner to celebrate the end of their first month as a couple.

“Chad’s out for the night,” he replied. He grasped her hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a kiss on her palm. “Thanks for making sure I made it to the door safely, Ms. Chase,” he teased. She’d followed him up to his apartment, jokingly claiming it was the gentlemanly thing to do after driving them home from the restaurant. “Do you need to leave right now or do you want to hang out for a while?” He was unwilling to say goodbye to her after such a great evening.

She smiled and ran her hand down his chest. “I’m not in any hurry.”

They’d been friends forever, so there was no awkwardness between them. Years as best friends had bred a comfortable familiarity. It had also built up some pretty deep-seated need in Sean. If he didn’t get her into his bed soon, he was likely to do himself an injury. Sporting a hard-on 24/7 couldn’t be good for anybody.

Sean stole another kiss and wondered if he’d ever experienced anything so amazing in his life. “Good. You wanna watch TV or make out?”

She laughed. “I wanna have sex.”

Her quick response took Sean off-guard for a second, but he was accustomed to her forthright, honest nature. It was refreshing and, in some ways, a relief. He was part of a large family that walked to the beat of a different drummer. Sometimes he worried their quirkiness was hard for outsiders to take. It was cool to just be himself—Collins warts and all—and not have to worry about scaring her away because of his unconventionality.

“Jesus,” he muttered and she gave him a husky laugh that was sexy as hell.

He studied her face and saw his own feelings reflected in her eyes—the look was hungry, almost feral. “I want you so much,” he confessed, running the back of his hand along her soft cheek. She was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen. “I’ve wanted you forever.”

She nodded. “The feeling’s mutual.”

She grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head before he could respond. He wasn’t surprised to discover this aggressive side. Lauren was a strong-willed, opinionated woman and it stood to reason she’d attempt to take the lead in the bedroom. Leaning forward, she planted several wet kisses on his chest before using her teeth to playfully bite his pec.

He pulled away, grasping her face between his hands, and spoke the words dying to escape. “I love you.”

Her breath caught at his admission and he heard her gasp. It was the first time either of them had used the words. Maybe it was too soon to speak them, but he didn’t care.

“I love you too.”

He smiled, the happiness in his soul too big for his body. Though they hadn’t revealed their transition from friends to couple yet, Sean was anxious to scream it to the world. He’d found the woman of his dreams. He turned around and bent down. “Climb on.”

“A piggyback ride?” she asked, laughing. He’d been giving her piggyback rides for years. It had started one day when she got a splinter in her foot at the pier by the lake where she’d been swimming with him and Chad. Since then, whenever the mood struck them, she’d climb on and he’d race around with her holding on for dear life. She made him laugh, made his life fun.

“Dear God, only you would whisk a woman off to the bedroom with a piggyback ride.”

“You prefer the fireman’s hold?” He started to turn around again but she stopped him.

“Nope. This works.”

Giggling, she climbed onto his back and he carried her to the bedroom. They’d been hesitant to spend too much time together in his apartment, usually holding their make-out sessions at her place. Sean wasn’t sure what was keeping Lauren from broadcasting the changed nature of their relationship to everyone. As for him, it was only his roommate, Chad, from whom he felt the need to hide the truth.

He felt guilty, though he couldn’t understand why. Lauren and Chad had never been more than friends, but sometimes when he looked at the two of them together, as they studied or simply watched television, Sean wondered if Chad would feel he had betrayed him somehow.

Sean backed up to his bed and dropped her onto the mattress. She laughed as she bounced, but the sound was short-lived when he turned around and crawled on top of her. They’d done some pretty heavy petting the past few weeks and covering her delicate frame never failed to provoke an intense response inside him. He was hornier than he’d ever been in his life. He kissed her hard.

“Hurry,” she whispered.

Sean felt the slight urge to call her to task for trying to guide this experience. He was used to calling the shots in bed, but Lauren would struggle with handing over so much control. It didn’t help that she knew him as affable and easygoing. An uncomfortable awareness crept in. There was very little he wouldn’t do for her—even hiding his more dominant nature in the bedroom.

He pulled away from her and they undressed with haste, kissing and touching each newly revealed body part, each naked bit of skin.

By the time they lay down once more, he felt as if he had a fever. His body was flushed, aching, his cock full to bursting.

“God, please,” she moaned when he put his mouth against her pussy. His tongue tormented her clit and he knew she needed to be filled.

“Sean,” she said, her fingers grasping his hair tightly, painfully, as she tried to direct him, to move him to where she needed him most. “Inside me.”

He looked up at her. Tried to convey with a look the words he couldn’t say. This moment was too perfect.

“Please,” she whispered, and he was surprised by the slight tremor in her voice.

Sean rose, coming over her body and kissing her gently. “I’ll never hurt you, Lauren.”

She returned his kiss. “I know.”

He quickly donned a condom and when he pushed inside her, for the first time in his life he felt true love.

He made sure each thrust was deep and easy as she grew accustomed to his girth. He ran his fingers through her soft red hair, kissing her as they moved together. Her hands touched him everywhere—his shoulders, his arms, his face. Her delicate fingers stroking his skin drove his arousal even higher and he fought not to come too soon. The moment was too perfect, too long overdue, and he wanted to make it last a lifetime or three.

When her first orgasm came quickly, it took them both by surprise.

He smiled and kissed her gently. “Looks like we’re compatible everywhere. Wanna go for a two-fer?”

“God,” she cried, when he continued to move in her body. “Yes.”

He reached down and touched her clit, applying pressure, relishing the feeling of her movements below him. She was out of control, writhing on the bed and lifting her hips to meet his thrusts. The strength of her desire was contagious and, for a moment, he felt lightheaded as even more blood rushed to his cock.

He brought her to climax once more, his movements growing less calculated, more frantic as he came closer to finding his own release. When she wrapped her legs around his waist and met him blow for blow, he knew he was a goner.

He came and the power behind his climax felt strong enough to derail a train.

She sighed contentedly when he pulled free, gathering her closer.

As they lay in each other’s arms, sleep coming to claim them, Sean turned to kiss her on the brow. “I want to tell people about us.”

She nodded once. “It’s time,” she agreed.

For a brief moment he considered making the confession that was on the tip of his tongue, but the words wouldn’t come. There was one secret he could never tell her. Never tell anyone. Silently, he prayed it wouldn’t come back to destroy the bond they’d just forged.

“Tomorrow.” He tightened his grip on her. “We’ll tell everyone tomorrow.”

Her breathing slowed, became softer when she drifted off to sleep.

A sound in the hallway distracted him from saying more. He listened to Chad’s footsteps walking away from the room. His heart stuttered slightly as Chad’s door closed with a soft click.

Sean’s mind whirled over the evening, considering how it was possible to experience utter happiness and absolute sadness at the exact same time.

Lauren loved him. Sex with her rocked his world. He’d promise her forever and mean it.

All those things were true. However, there was one other truth—a bigger truth—tarnishing this moment.

Chad was on the wrong side of the door.

Chapter One

Two years later…

“Okay, that box goes in the kitchen,” Lauren said, directing Killian and her Pfaltzgraff dishes to the last available bit of space on the island counter. She grinned. She’d always wanted a kitchen with an island.

“Thanks again for helping us move, K.” She smiled as Killian Collins gave her a wink.

“Beats the hell out of working. We’re at the roofing phase on our latest job site and believe me, it was no hardship to leave that task to someone else.”

“I really don’t think we could have done this without you and the other guys.”

“Hey, K. Where are you?” Killian’s twin brother, Tristan, called from the hallway.

“They found me.” Killian grimaced before yelling, “In the kitchen.”

“Come give me a hand with this box. Fucker is heavier than shit.”

Killian shrugged. “Duty calls.”

Male voices calling directions to each other sounded from all around the house. Lauren followed Killian out of the kitchen to check their progress. She and Sean had loaded the pickup trucks of every friend and relative they had and started the big move at the crack of dawn. Now it was just after noon. She was starving and exhausted.

She took a calming breath as she watched the Collins men lugging furniture and boxes into her new home. She and Sean were moving into a house in a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Baltimore with their best friend, Chad. She should be excited, happy. And for the most part she was, but there was also a niggling little feeling that kept nagging at the back of her mind, telling her something wasn’t quite right.

She’d dated Sean for two years. Moving in together was clearly the next step in their relationship. She’d been thrilled when he’d found this house and asked her to share it with him. Unfortunately, she couldn’t shake the odd feeling something wasn’t quite right. She wondered if she was rushing into this new stage before she was ready.

She grimaced as she looked around the new house filled boxes. Everything would be fine once they unpacked and got into a routine.

It’s just cold feet.

“Foosball table coming through,” Sean called out as he and Chad made their way down the hall.

Lauren blocked his path. “Where do you think you’re heading with that?”

“Dining room.”

She shook her head and pointed to the right, in the opposite direction of the dining room. “Office.”

He and Chad put the table down despite the groan of protest from Tristan, who’d been following them with two large lamps in his hands.

Any Given Sunday is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo and All Romance Ebooks.

February is for Lovers…

February is an exciting time around here as I kick off a month of romantic releases! Ready for love? Passion? Really hot sex? Then check these stories out!

Today marks the release of two books!

No Recourse 

I am re-releasing the June Girls series starting today. This is the very first book I ever wrote and it owns a very big piece of my heart. Captain Jack is one of my all-time favorite heroes.

June Girls, book one

Who says lightning doesn’t strike twice?

When Hayley Garland finds herself out in the English woods late one night, she’s nearly struck by lightning during a freak storm. But what she thought was a near miss is actually a direct hit.

Captain Jack Campbell is riding along the Dover shoreline, cursing his ill-timed trip in a torrential downpour. Before he can find shelter, he discovers something much more interesting: a beautiful redhead.

Sparks fly whenever Hayley and Jack are together—in and out of the bedroom. But between a wicked earl, a missing woman, Hayley’s penchant for finding trouble, and the inconvenience of an unexpected trip through time, they have to find a way to work out their differences before events from the past threaten to take away their future.

This book was previously published and has been revised from its original release.

No Recourse is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.

Western Ties – Now in print!

How strong are the ties that bind?

Sawyer Compton commands total control in his life, inside and outside the bedroom. When he spots Compton Pass girl Leah Hollister in a BDSM club in Los Angeles, he knows exactly how the night is going to end—with her as his submissive. He’s always wanted Leah, but didn’t think she could handle in his darker urges.

Leah travels to L.A. to confirm her suspicions about her sexual desires. She certainly couldn’t explore her desires for bondage and pain with someone from her small hometown. Her plans are shot to hell when Sawyer—her girlhood crush—claims her for the weekend. She didn’t expect to enjoy the comfort his familiarity brings, even as his touch takes her to heights of pleasure she’d only imagined.

When life kicks him the gut, Sawyer struggles with the unfamiliar feeling of helplessness. Luckily, Leah is more than prepared to offer him everything he needs to recover—her body, her friendship and her heart.

Question is…will Sawyer relinquish control and accept her love?

Warning: Invest in tissues. Lots and lots of tissues. Between spicy, set-the-sheets-on-fire bondage romps and the last Compass brother coming home–you’ll need them.

Western Ties is available at Samhain, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Then…on Valentine’s Day, I will be re-releasing Mad about Meg.

Mad about Meg – Feb. 14

She’d never been lucky in love…until she met him.

If it weren’t for bad luck, Meg Williams wouldn’t have any luck at all. As if traveling to a tropical island on Valentine’s weekend in a nasty storm isn’t bad enough, she’s doing it alone after finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Enduring the trip from hell, she arrives on Eden Isle only to discover that her hotel reservation has been lost and there are no vacancies anywhere on the island. Disheartened, Meg heads for the hotel bar.

Rob Madison is used to being in the limelight due his wealth and power. Used to being pursued by women for his fortune. When he meets Meg and realizes she doesn’t know who he is, he decides to spend the evening as a regular guy. Discovering she doesn’t have a place to stay, he offers to share his penthouse with her.

As the night progresses and their mutual attraction becomes apparent, Meg wonders if her luck has turned, while Rob wonders if one weekend in each other’s arms will be enough…

This book was previously published. It has been revised and is connected to the Lowell High School series available at Ellora’s Cave.

Mad about Meg will be available at Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

And FINALLY…I’m thrilled that the first book in the new Compass Girls series I am co-writing with Jayne Rylon, Winter’s Thaw, will hit the shelves! And believe me, after the snowy, cold winter I’ve been enduring, I’m ready for a little thawing.

Winter’s Thaw, book 1 of the Compass Girls – coming February 19

Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan. Sometimes it’s better.

Sienna Compton has it all figured out. Her life’s goals are set and it is all systems go. At least, it was. Until her long-time boyfriend Josh threw a ringer into the master plan, requesting a “break” from their relationship. Now she’s left alone during the long, cold Wyoming winter, questioning what her heart has always believed to be true love.

Daniel Lennon is facing an uncertain future. When a tragic accident leaves him unable to pursue his career as a professional bull rider, he finds himself at Compass Ranch, working to help Sienna’s father, Seth, build his horse breeding business. One look at Sienna has Daniel envisioning things he never imagined wanting—a permanent home, love, marriage—and he’s willing to use all the red hot tricks in his sexual arsenal to melt the ice surrounding Sienna’s broken heart.

When lust turns to genuine emotion, can Daniel convince Sienna to take a chance on something different and unexpected? Can he persuade her to consider a new path, one that will lead her directly to his arms…forever?

Warning: Roping and riding, past and future, cold winter and fiery desire, lust and love all come together in this new Compass series. Saddle up and hang on. The Comptons are back! 

Winter’s Thaw is available for preorder at Samhain, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Western Ties in Print!

Western Ties releases today in print! Buy it now at a big discount!

How strong are the ties that bind?

Compass Brothers, Book 4

Leah Hollister’s sex life needs a swift kick in the pants. Small-town Compton Pass, though, isn’t the place to explore her need for bondage. When she gets an invitation to a BDSM party out in LA, she wastes no time booking a flight.

Her plan to play anonymously is shot to hell when she runs into high-school crush Sawyer Compton—and he lays immediate claim to her.

Sawyer Compton commands total control, in and out of the bedroom. He never thought Leah could handle his darker urges, but one look at the white bracelet that marks her as a sub ripe for the picking, and he knows exactly how this night is going to end. With Leah in his bed.

Leah didn’t expect to enjoy the comfort Sawyer’s familiarity brings, even as his touch takes her to unimaginable heights of pleasure. When bad news from home sends him reeling, she’s more than prepared to offer him anything he needs: her body, her friendship. Even her heart—if Sawyer can loosen the reins over his own to accept her love.

Product Warnings

Invest in tissues. Lots and lots of tissues. Between spicy, set-the-sheets-on-fire bondage romps and the last Compass brother coming home, you’ll need them.

Excerpt:

“Leah?” a familiar male voice behind her said.

Leah closed her eyes and prayed she’d imagined it. There was no way. No possible way—

“Leah Hollister?”

She sighed. Fuck. What were the chances?

Turning, she realized her night wasn’t going to end as she’d planned. She should have saved her money. Should have stayed in Compton Pass. She was screwed.

“Sawyer.” She didn’t bother with the pretense of being happy to see him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Leah,” Stacey whispered, her voice full of warning.

Sawyer narrowed his eyes, refusing to answer. His gaze started at the top, taking in her dramatic makeup, before drifting lower to her breasts, accentuated by the tight corset Stacey had loaned her. She willed herself to remain still as he finished his visual tour with a long look at her short leather skirt and stocking-clad legs.

“Enjoying the view?” she taunted. “You still haven’t answered my question. Shouldn’t you be in San Francisco? What are you doing here?”

He scowled. “That’s my question for you. A BDSM party in L.A. is a long way from a kindergarten classroom in Compton Pass. Last time I saw you, you were leading a pack of five-year-olds around my family’s ranch.”

A couple of years earlier, Sawyer had helped her organize a field trip to Compass ranch. It had been one of the highlights of the year for her students—and for her. It was also the last time she’d seen Sawyer. Two years was a long time. She certainly hadn’t expected their reunion to take place in L.A.

She sucked in a deep breath and tried to hide her disappointment. He was right. She’d purposely put herself as far away from home as possible, so that she could indulge in these two nights. One weekend to confirm a few suspicions she’d always held in regard to her sexual preferences. Sawyer was going to put a wrench in the works.

She gestured at her outfit. “I would think my role here would be obvious.” For the first time, she allowed her gaze to travel over him as well. Her body heated with arousal as she noted how unbelievably sexy he was. He wore tight dark jeans and a black T-shirt that hugged his muscular chest to perfection. No one in the place would fail to read the dominance in his stance, the aura of power he projected.

On the surface, she was shocked to find her friend in a place like this, but there was another part—deep inside—that wasn’t a bit surprised. He belonged here.

“So you’re a Dom?” She fought the urge to laugh as she asked the absurd question. Of course he was.

His gaze drifted to her arm. He grasped her wrist, pulling it up and toying with the white wristband the host had given her upon arrival.

“You understand what this means, right?” he asked, gesturing to the bracelet.

Sawyer completely ignored her Dom question. It didn’t matter anyway. It had clearly been rhetorical. He was a Compton. Anybody and everybody from their neck of the woods knew that name was synonymous with alpha male.

She gave him an annoyed look. “Of course I do.”

It was evident from his tone he didn’t think she belonged here any more than Stacey. One of the reasons she’d planned this adventure far away from home, surrounded by strangers who didn’t know her, was because rumors spread like wildfire in their small hometown. She knew about Sawyer’s sexual proclivities, and she’d always wondered if she shared a few of them.

Besides, her sweet disposition didn’t inspire the more adventurous cowboys back home to ask her out, so her opportunities for exploration were seriously limited. Stacey was right. She was a goody-goody.

Sawyer didn’t appear to like her answer, so he restated the obvious. “It means you are an unattached submissive who’s looking for a Dom. This wristband has declared it open season on you.”

She shrugged, unconcerned. “Sorry to shatter the illusion, Sawyer, but I think I can handle whatever this party dishes out. It’s not like I’m a virgin.”

He frowned. “You lost your virginity in the backseat of a Pontiac to Les Prescott after Compton Pass won the district football championship our senior year. The guy was a shithead. You should’ve chosen better.”

Leah laughed, though a ripple of desire slammed into her. It was always this way with Sawyer. Though they were just friends, there’d never been a time when she hadn’t felt his gaze on her. He’d scared off more than a few would-be boyfriends in her lifetime claiming they were only after one thing. Les had fallen into that category, but Sawyer had been playing on that championship team and had been a bit distracted that night.

Sawyer had appointed himself her personal guardian in third grade when Jordan Haskiell had shoved her down on the playground after she’d beat him in a footrace. As a result, Sawyer had endured an afternoon in the principal’s office and God only knew what kind of punishment at home after issuing Jordan a very physical, very painful warning of what happened to guys who messed with Leah. While Sawyer hadn’t pursued her romantically, he’d certainly taken the bonds of friendship to a new extreme.

Despite the fact they’d existed in different cliques at school, Sawyer hadn’t let social status stop him from being one of her best friends. He’d run with the jocks and cheerleaders, while she’d been firmly encamped with the brainiacs, less affectionately referred to as nerds by their peers. “How could you have known about Les?”

“I told you. He was a prick. He was bragging about it at school the following Monday.”

She flushed. She’d never heard of Les spreading rumors about her. “I didn’t know—”

Sawyer grinned. “Luckily, he started his boasting with me. I took him out behind the school and gave him a reason to shut his fucking mouth.”

His admission held a hint of humor, but she could tell he was angry. She decided to test the waters to see how screwed she was.

“Well, it was great to see you again, but Stacey and I were going to pop over to the bar for a drink.”

“I’ll go with you.” He confirmed her fear.

She smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re scaring off all the other Doms.”

His wolfish grin let her know that was his intent.

Her temper sparked. “God dammit, Sawyer. Go away.”

Stacey lightly touched her arm, alerting Leah that she’d spoken too loudly. Several people glanced in her direction and frowned. She was never going to achieve her goal at this rate.

Sawyer was the only person in the room who didn’t take offense at her faux pas. “You realize this is a weekend party?”

She nodded. It was starting to look like it would be a long two days.

Sawyer reclaimed her hand, slipping off the white bracelet.

“What the hell are you doing?” She tried to pull her arm free, attempting to grab the wristband back.

Sawyer’s grip was implacable. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a green bracelet. Suddenly, she felt dizzy. There was no way he would—

Sawyer slipped it around her wrist.

“No,” she whispered when he lifted her hand.

Quote of the Day

“I am not a glutton–I am an explorer of food.” – Erma Bombeck

What she said! LOL

Rhian does it again!

Valentine’s Day sucks.

Seriously, it sucks. If you’re in a relationship, there’s pressure to do something, and if you’re not, there’s panic and anger about having to hide like a vampire on February 14th.

Valentine’s Day is especially irritating if you’re over dating…or if you’re name is Valentine.

She’s done with the dating scene. He wants a lifetime of Valentine’s Dates.

Brent had his chance to be Valentine’s date and he blew it. But loving his best friend’s little sister from afar isn’t working. When she calls him in tears Brent’s only choice is to come to her rescue. And now that he’s got her safe in his arms he’s going to make sure she stays there.

It doesn’t matter how much Vee tries to convince herself her feelings for Brent were destroyed years ago. He is still the first person she calls when she needs help. Breaking down in his arms wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was kissing him.

Forced to face their past, Brent and Vee must forgive each other – and themselves – if there’s any hope for the love still burning between them.

Saturday Snippet

Today’s theme is emotion. I LOVE emotional books. Stories that make me laugh or cry or scare me! Today I’m sharing a snippet from my latest release, Misplaced Lessons. I loved writing the heroine in this story because she was spunky and fun! When I was writing her, I thought “Wow, I’d love to have a friend like Amy.” Then I realized my best friend IS exactly like Amy. LOL

Misplaced Lessons snippet (be warned…it’s a dirty one!)

“When I give you an order, Amy, the proper response is ‘Yes Sir’.”

“Oh yeah. Right. Got it.” She pasted on a look of innocence, knowing her reply would annoy him.

“You don’t mess around, do you? Change of plans. Since you want to play the naughty girl, we’ll start with a punishment.”

As he spoke, he lifted her. She wasn’t exactly a small woman. She liked her vegemite on toast as much as the next girl. Withholding that treat or counting calories wasn’t something she was willing to do. Regardless of the extra pounds, her handsome Sir picked her up as if she were stuffed with feathers, putting her on her stomach with ease.

“Lift your ass.”

“Excuse me?” She twisted her head to look at him over her shoulder.

“Wrong answer. Again.” He gripped her hips none too gently, raising her. Then he forced her to bend her legs, resting her weight on her knees. The new position left her very exposed. And wet.

She didn’t have time to consider what that meant before his hand struck her arse. It took her off-guard and it fucking hurt.

She started to rise, but he placed a strong hand between her shoulder blades and pushed her face against the pillow.

“Don’t move.”

“I’ll bloody well do whatever I want,” she said as his hand landed against her sensitive flesh once more.

“No. You won’t,” he said as he struck her twice more. She continued to struggle, but the man was strong as a horse. Amy’s arse was sore from his spanking, however, she couldn’t help but notice the heat was morphing into something infinitely less painful. She stopped resisting the blows. Her sudden capitulation caused him to cease striking her for just a moment. Then he picked up his rhythm again—his hand landing in different places along her buttocks and upper thighs. No slap was the same.

Amy started squirming again, but this time, she wasn’t seeking escape. She was looking for relief.

He must have recognized her need. Gripping one knee, he pulled her legs apart then ran his fingers along her damp slit. She heard him release a long breath, a whispered “oh yeah” mingling with the air.

She gasped when he pressed two fingers inside her pussy. His actions were quick and forceful. After so many years with lovers who were too careful, too gentle, his rough claiming felt like a homecoming, only she was returning to a home she’d never seen.

“Harder,” she begged.

He took her at her word, adding another finger, increasing his pace. Amy’s fingers clenched the pillow beneath her head as she lifted her hips, shoving them against his delicious thrusts. He was fucking her into oblivion with no more than a spanking and his fingers. Bloody hell. Had she seriously considered refusing this gift?

Gray spots formed behind her closed eyelids. She was going to come. Her body stiffened in preparation, but he retreated seconds before she could close the deal.

“What the hell?” Impulse overrode common sense as Amy turned, ready to demand her due. “Don’t stop.”

His arms were folded. “Still trying to give the orders?”

“Fine,” she shrugged, wishing her voice didn’t sound so shaky. “I don’t need you to get what I want.”

After too many months of abstinence, she’d become an expert at finding her own pleasure. She reached for her pussy.

Strong hands grasped her wrists before she hit her target. “Wrong. You do.”

Amy tried to free herself from his grip, but he was relentless. Within seconds, she was on her back, bound in the restraints once more. Her handsome stranger, still fully dressed, straddled her legs, completing the effect.

Why does it feel so good being trapped beneath him?

Because you’re not exactly small and girly, but he makes you feel that way. That’s why.

“Had your fun?” he asked.

“Not yet.”

He grinned. “You’re a shitty submissive.”

“No, I’m not. You strike me as the type of man who works hard for what he wants. Where’s the challenge if I just lay down?”

He tilted his head. “Christ.” His brows creased. “You’re right.”

She lifted her eyebrows, surprised he’d admit such a thing. Marc and Keith told her she was too independent and outspoken for her own good. More than once, they’d referred to her as a pushy cow.

“I am?”

He nodded slowly. “Fight me all you want, Amy. Just be warned, I’ll still win.”

She yanked against his restraints, finding them too tight and definitely unbreakable. Yep. He was going to win.

But the best part? She was too.

He left the bed. Amy sucked in some much-needed air, curious as to what he would do next. He’d painted some naughty pictures in her mind with his talk of nipple clamps and vibrators.

She glanced around the room wondering where he’d hidden his bag of tricks. Had he stowed it in the house prior to her arrival or carried it in with him tonight? Given the fact the restraints had already been attached to the bedframe, she suspected he’d set the scene earlier.

Reaching for the buttons on his shirt, he slowly slipped each one from its hole. He knew she’d been on the verge of an orgasm. He obviously intended to punish her for her outspokenness by leaving her in need.

Arsehole.

God, he’s hot.

Misplaced Lessons is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Want more snippets?Lauren Dane

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Delilah Devlin

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Leah Braemel

McKenna Jeffries

Taige Crenshaw

Felicity Heaton

Eliza Gayle

Five for Friday

Misplaced Lessons released on Wednesday. I thought I’d try to entice you…in hopes that you’ll want to read more! Here are the first five pages of my latest release.

Chapter One

Amelia Wesson—Amy to her friends—wandered around Harper Shaw’s house in Chicago and resisted the urge to pinch herself…again. She was in America. She was really here.

For most of her life, she’d dreamed of traveling abroad, seeing foreign countries, experiencing different cultures.

Hazel Sullivan, the matriarch of Farpoint Creek Cattle Station in Australia, told Amy she had a case of wanderlust, and according to Hazel, she had it bad.

Her boss didn’t have to tell her that. Amy’s best friend, Josephine, had wallpapered every square inch of her room with pictures of Daniel Johns and Silverchair when they were growing up, but Amy had opted to display the photos of foreign places she’d torn out of old calendars. She’d spend hours looking at the pictures and imagining herself walking the city streets of New York or London, Rome or L.A.

And now she was here, in Chicago, in the United States of America. Yep. Definitely a pinch-worthy moment. Meeting Harper online had probably been the best stroke of luck Amy had ever had in a life full of nothing special.

Her mobile phone rang. Speak of the devil, she thought as she glanced at the screen.

“Hey. How you going?” Amy asked.

Harper chuckled. “You’re going to have to start working on your American lingo, Amy, if you want to fit in. I’m doing just fine. Sitting in Sydney Airport waiting for the connecting flight to Cobar. Your friends better be there to pick me up so I can take over your life. Figure I’ve only got two weeks to completely wreck the impressionable minds of your students. I’m anxious to start.”

Amy felt a twinge of homesickness as she thought about the life she’d so willingly traded away for this adventure. She was the teacher on Farpoint Creek Cattle Station, and her charges—children of the jackaroos and families who worked on the station—ranged from kindy to year six. Once her students entered their seventh year, they finished their education via School of the Air.

Thank God.

Amy’s mastery of Algebra and the upper maths courses was shaky at best. Two plus two—no problem. Add in a bunch of wonky symbols and things took a bad turn.

“I’ve seen your lesson plans, mate, and I know you’re a great teacher. I’m not worried about you messing up anything. Besides, the kids are so excited about meeting you and hearing all about their American pen pals firsthand, I don’t think you’ll have time to teach them much of anything. They have a list of questions as long as the Murray River.”

Amy had come up with the idea of starting an international pen pal program a year ago and had gone searching on several educational blogs for an American teacher willing to join forces. Through some long, meandering series of clicks—she could get lost on the internet for days—she’d come across Harper Shaw, a fourth grade teacher who was also hoping to find pen pals for her students. They’d begun emailing, making quick introductions and exploring their ideas for the letter-writing lesson. Then the emails turned to IMs, in which they shared work war stories and lesson plans. Finally, about nine months ago, they’d started Skyping, chatting for hours each weekend about anything and everything. Though they’d never met face-to-face, Amy considered Harper one of her best friends.

“So what do you think of the house? You’re there, right?” Harper asked.

“I got in about half an hour ago. It’s gorgeous. You made a mistake offering this life swap. I’m squatting here permanently.”

She heard a voice announce the departure of a flight to London through the phone. Amy could imagine exactly where Harper was sitting as she waited to begin the next leg of her journey. She’d be sitting in that same place in a couple weeks as she returned home.

Please don’t let the fortnight go by too fast.

Harper scoffed. “The way I remember it, it was you who came up with this Freaky Friday idea of switching lives.”

They’d been Skyping one Saturday morning in March—actually it had been a.m. in Oz, Friday night in Chicago—and Amy mentioned a movie she’d watched the night before. She couldn’t recall the name of the film, but in it, two women had decided to swap houses, one woman traveling to America as the other took off for England. Amy had remarked that it was a great idea and probably the only way she’d ever be able to afford a big trip to America.

“I merely mentioned the movie. You were the one who said we should try it.”

“I’m glad we did. Jesus. I can’t believe I’m sitting in an airport in Australia. I’m bone-tired from seven hundred years on that international flight, but so freaking excited I feel like pinching myself.”

She and Harper were destined to be friends for life. “I know the feeling, believe me. I’ve been so busy the past few days, getting everything settled at home, and then packing that I don’t think it had time to sink in. Now that I’m standing here, it’s just…bloody hell, it’s incredible.”

Amy had jumped at the chance to see Chicago, accepting Harper’s unexpected offer before her friend could change her mind. For days they’d tried to find a time that would work best for both of them. They’d settled on Harper’s spring break from work. Though the actual school holiday was only a week long, Harper had a week’s worth of vacation days she was willing to tack on as well. Rather than push the trip off until summer—neither of them had wanted to wait that long—they’d booked flights for April.

“I guess you managed to find the key?” Harper asked.

“Yep. Right where you said you’d leave it. Under the third flowerpot from the left on the front porch. The house is so beautiful. I’m afraid this trade isn’t exactly fair. I live in a tiny cottage twenty minutes from the station’s main homestead. Nothing fancy.”

Amy had rushed through every room of Harper’s home when she’d first arrived. Harper and her brother, Andrew, had inherited the large house from their father upon his death nearly a decade earlier. While Andrew still kept a room there, the house primarily belonged to Harper.

As she and Harper spoke, Amy wandered upstairs once more, thrilled to bits with the idea that this gorgeous place would be her home for two whole weeks.

She returned to Harper’s bedroom at the top of the stairs. The classic décor and understated elegance reflected Harper’s love of simple beauty. Her friend was lovely in an unassuming way. She didn’t need makeup to enhance her natural healthy good looks. The room, though humble, echoed its owner.

The walls were mint green and that color was pulled out in the leaves of the soft floral doona covering Harper’s queen-sized bed. There was a chaise lounge next to a bay window that looked out onto a well-kept garden bursting with flowers that screamed of spring. There was a dressing table with a chair and mirror—the sort of set Amy had always wanted when she was a young girl. The hardwood floor was covered with a soft off-white rug. Amy sucked in a deep breath and caught what she assumed was a whiff of Harper’s perfume. The fresh, clean scent matched the room and the person who lived here.

Amy sank down on the bed. “I love your bedroom. It’s so comfy and inviting.”

“It’s just a room. I cleaned the hell out of it right before I left. You’re seeing it on a good day. Usually it’s a disaster area.”

“I did the same thing to my house. Scrubbed it from top to bottom. Of course, Thomo and Blue helped, so it wasn’t too bad.”

“Thomo and Blue?”

“Those are Keith and Marc’s nicknames. You’ll probably hear them called by those more than their given names. Listen, if you need anything, just find one of them. They’ve promised me they’ll look after you. I reckon life on a cattle station is way different than what you experience in Chicago. Everyone at Farpoint is nice, but there are a couple blokes you want to look out for. Marc and Keith will make sure no one comes on too strong.”

Amy had grown up on Farpoint Creek, and while there were plenty of women on the station, her closest friends were Marc and Keith. She grinned when she recalled the bon voyage party they’d thrown for her three nights ago. Amy rubbed her temple. She could still feel a bit of the hangover.

Her two mates knew what this trip meant to her. They’d even given her a going-away present—one hundred American dollars to spend on whatever the hell she wanted. Well, with one caveat. Marc had pulled her aside later to beg her to buy him a souvenir. As if she wouldn’t. Her friendship with the two men was the only thing that made life on the cattle station bearable. Although she loved her home and her friends, she constantly longed to be somewhere—anywhere—else.

“I wish I could offer you the same protection, but I sort of purposely timed this vacation so that Andrew would be out of the country the whole time I’m away.”

Amy shook her head. “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell your brother about your trip. Given his line of work, I’m sure he would have told you to go and have fun.”

Andrew was host of a big cable show, Off the Beaten Path on the Travel Channel, and his job kept him constantly on the move. Amy continually pumped Harper for details about Andrew’s adventures. The man was living her dream, traveling all over the world, exploring different customs, religions, foods, and she couldn’t imagine a more spectacular life.

“You don’t know Andrew. What’s good for him is not good for his baby sister. He takes overprotectiveness to new extremes. If I’d told him what I was planning to do, he would have invited himself along to keep an eye on me. It’s kind of hard to do something impulsive and spontaneous with your overbearing, older brother hovering.”

“I’m sure he’s not that bad.”

Harper laughed. “Trust me, I’m painting him in the best possible light. He’s actually a lot worse than that. As far as Andrew knows, I’m spending my spring break at an educational conference and I’ll be too busy to call. Figure that’ll buy me at least one week of vacation free and clear before he starts his daily checking-in routine. It’s going to be tricky catching his calls the second week, what with the time change.”

“You know, I think it’s kind of sweet that he calls to talk to you every day.” Amy was one of three girls, but she and her sisters argued more than coddled. Harper had become the sister of her heart, the one she reached out to in times of need.

“Yeah. Truth is I love him more than the White Sox, despite his caveman tactics. But even so, I’m glad for the respite.”

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but you may have traded one bossy brother for two. Blue and Thomo can be just as domineering. They gave me an ear-bashing for days before I left about how I shouldn’t do this or to be careful of that. We may not share the same blood, but those buggers have appointed themselves the role of my keepers. I’m afraid you might be facing more of the same.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Crap, I took a Dramamine to keep from getting motion sickness on this next puddle jumper, but it’s starting to make me drowsy. I hate flying in shoeboxes. Hope I didn’t take it too early.”

Amy looked at her watch. She’d adjusted the time as soon as she landed at O’Hare Airport. Mentally, she did the maths. Australia was fifteen hours ahead of Chicago. “It won’t be long now. The connecting flight to Cobar is going to feel like an up and down one compared to the long-arse flight you just did. Keith and Marc will be there to get you. If I know Hazel, she probably pushed them out so bright and early it was still dark, just so they wouldn’t make you wait. She’s as excited to meet you as Thomo and Blue.”

“I hope she likes me. It was really cool of her to let a stranger come to teach. No way that would happen in the States.”

“Hazel will love you. Promise.”

The Sullivan family owned Farpoint Creek. It was Hazel Sullivan who’d convinced Amy to go to Chicago and agreed to Harper taking over her position as teacher for two weeks. Hazel said letting her take the extended holiday was the least she could do, since it was probably her sons’ fault that Amy was so unhappy on the station.

Dylan and Hunter had found American girlfriends in the past year. Actually, Dylan had married his artist, Monet, and was currently on his honeymoon. Monet and Hunter’s girlfriend, Annie, had taken up residence on Farpoint and Amy spent countless hours talking to them about their lives in New York, as well as their travels to other amazing places.

“I guess I should get off here. It looks like they’re about to start calling for passengers for this flight,” Harper said. “Then I’m off to see your cowboys.”

“They’re not cowboys, Harper. Marc’s a jackaroo, cause he’s only in his early twenties and Keith is a stockman cause he’s an old bastard of twenty-eight. You might want to brush up on your Aussie vocab too.”

“Jackaroo, stockman. Got it. Oh hey. Before I forget, there are some staples in the fridge to keep you going until you get to the store—milk, eggs, stuff like that. The fresh towels are in the closet at the top of the stairs and the keys to my car, if you’re brave enough to attempt driving in America, are on the hook by the foyer table. Just remember, we drive on the right side. You crazy fools drive on the wrong side.”

“Bloody hell. I’m fine taking taxis or the train. Dying to try those things anyway. There’s no way I’d risk my life trying to tackle your roads. I reckon I’d have a heart attack every time I had to make a right turn, fearing I’d smash into somebody. Those car keys will stay on the hook.”

“Chicken shit. Fine. I planned a big surprise for you too. It’s something you’ve always wanted.”

Amy perked up. She loved pressies. “What is it?”

“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.”

Misplaced Lessons is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.