K.C. Kendricks's Blog, page 38
August 19, 2018
A fresh coat of paint
August 20, 2018Every summer I dip into my "home & garden" fund for a project. Big, small, or a little bit of both, it's good to keep up with things around the house. This summer a lot of projects got waylaid when the spousal unit had a health issue to work through. He was off his feet for about six weeks but he seems to be healed now.
Two weeks ago, his brother came up from Florida for a visit and RC put Brother Bob to work. Bob installed a new bathroom counter and faucet for us. He did a great job and I'm sorry it took me until this weekend to take advantage of his help. This weekend I gave the walls and ceiling a fresh coat of paint and installed the new backsplash. I even changed the light fixture with my own two little hands! (Too bad I didn't get better photos. I seem to have tilted my phone.)
Now the old vanity needs a fresh coat of paint and the trim mouldings are getting a new color. It may be another two weeks until I get a free day to do that, but it's fine. With age comes patience for some things. Wielding a paintbrush is one of them.
KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com
www.twitter.com/kckendricks
**Check out the newest release, Please Use the Door, on my website.**
August 15, 2018
New! Please Use the Door by KC Kendricks
August 15, 2018
Welcome to this week's MidWeek Tease! Today I'm happy to announce the release of Please Use the Door. It's loaded at the various vendors and should be available now or later today at iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Amazon. Check out my website for the links. I'll update there first. www.kckendricks.com. And be sure to check out all the MidWeek Tease participating blogs at http://midweektease.blogspot.com . Our host Angelica Dawson works hard to keep the bloghop going!
Now here's a tease from Please Use the Door (a ghostly romance). Enjoy!
_*_*_*_
Tanner shivered as cool air moved around him. What was going on? Could someone actually hide in his house? He corrected himself. Could this Bodhi really hide in his house?
He’d spoken to Bodhi. He had. It wasn’t part of the dream. It had happened before the dream. Man, he must have been out of his mind not to call the cops, but he’d checked the house and everything was locked from the inside.
Which meant Bodhi had a very secure place to hide and he had to discover the whereabouts of said hide. Was Bodhi the reason he’d gotten the house so cheap? Had he managed to scare off previous owners? If so, it ended here and now. It was time to get serious.
“Okay, Bodhi. Come out here and talk to me. We need to settle something.” Tanner spun around so fast he almost spilled his coffee as Bodhi spoke from behind him.
“Good morning, Tanner. What do you wish to discuss?”
He didn’t look threatening, but Tanner didn’t want to provoke him. And how…“How’d you get in here, anyway? You’re sneaking in and out somehow. This is my house. You need to show me your little hidey-hole, and I need to seal it up. You need to find another place to live.”
Bodhi shook his head. “That won’t be possible. This is my house.”
“Yeah, yeah. You built it eighteen-ninety whatever. You need a better lie, friend, because the tax records say it was nineteen-o-five. Now vacate the premises before I call the police.”
“It was Eighteen-ninety-nine and I should know. You don’t understand, Tanner. Not yet. But you will. Give me a chance to explain. You might find we get along tolerably well.” He cocked his head to the right. “You’re a very attractive man. We might get along more than simply ‘tolerably’.”
“I’m not about to give you squatter’s rights. I’m asking you…” Tanner stopped abruptly as in the corner of his vision the delivery truck pulled into the driveway. “Shit. Don’t you move.”
He hustled out the front door to direct the driver around to the back. The driver and his helper quickly unloaded, unpacked and placed Tanner’s new refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. He joked with them they’d be back in a few days with a washer and dryer. They laughed and told him they’d bring their laundry along so he could test out the equipment.
He took the good-natured humor for just that – verbal fun. His mind was already forming new arguments to move Bodhi out of the house. As soon as the delivery truck pulled out onto the street, he went back into the living room and stared at the empty space, his hands on his hips.
Now where the fuck had Bodhi gone?
_*_*_*_
ABOUT Please Use the Door:
Tanner Reddick learned the hard way a man needs his own place to call home – one that is legally his. The last guy set his belongings on the curb and Tanner vows it will never happen again. It’s time for him to be in charge. Embarking on the next phase of his life, Tanner buys a fixer-upper bungalow and gets to work. He’s looking forward to living on his own for a while. His interest in his boss, Alex Crewes, could change that.
It’s moving day and Tanner notices a few things about the house, things his friends disavow knowledge of. The porch is swept and the breakers on. Then Tanner smells a hint of Bay Rum cologne, which no one he knows uses. When unseen hands paint a few rooms in the house, he has to face the facts - he’s not really alone.
Bodhi introduces himself and welcomes the newest resident in the house he built a century ago. This one Bodhi likes, and he’s determined he and Tanner will coexist in harmony. Maybe they can even be friends. And if he’s lucky, maybe a little more – unless Tanner’s deepening relationship with Alex throws a wrench into his plans.
Please Use the Door by KC Kendricks
Available iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and KOBO
KC Kendricks www.kckendricks.com http://kckendricks.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/kckendricks www.facebook.com/kckendricks mailing list: groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Welcome to this week's MidWeek Tease! Today I'm happy to announce the release of Please Use the Door. It's loaded at the various vendors and should be available now or later today at iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Amazon. Check out my website for the links. I'll update there first. www.kckendricks.com. And be sure to check out all the MidWeek Tease participating blogs at http://midweektease.blogspot.com . Our host Angelica Dawson works hard to keep the bloghop going!
Now here's a tease from Please Use the Door (a ghostly romance). Enjoy!
_*_*_*_
Tanner shivered as cool air moved around him. What was going on? Could someone actually hide in his house? He corrected himself. Could this Bodhi really hide in his house?
He’d spoken to Bodhi. He had. It wasn’t part of the dream. It had happened before the dream. Man, he must have been out of his mind not to call the cops, but he’d checked the house and everything was locked from the inside.
Which meant Bodhi had a very secure place to hide and he had to discover the whereabouts of said hide. Was Bodhi the reason he’d gotten the house so cheap? Had he managed to scare off previous owners? If so, it ended here and now. It was time to get serious.
“Okay, Bodhi. Come out here and talk to me. We need to settle something.” Tanner spun around so fast he almost spilled his coffee as Bodhi spoke from behind him.
“Good morning, Tanner. What do you wish to discuss?”
He didn’t look threatening, but Tanner didn’t want to provoke him. And how…“How’d you get in here, anyway? You’re sneaking in and out somehow. This is my house. You need to show me your little hidey-hole, and I need to seal it up. You need to find another place to live.”
Bodhi shook his head. “That won’t be possible. This is my house.”
“Yeah, yeah. You built it eighteen-ninety whatever. You need a better lie, friend, because the tax records say it was nineteen-o-five. Now vacate the premises before I call the police.”
“It was Eighteen-ninety-nine and I should know. You don’t understand, Tanner. Not yet. But you will. Give me a chance to explain. You might find we get along tolerably well.” He cocked his head to the right. “You’re a very attractive man. We might get along more than simply ‘tolerably’.”
“I’m not about to give you squatter’s rights. I’m asking you…” Tanner stopped abruptly as in the corner of his vision the delivery truck pulled into the driveway. “Shit. Don’t you move.”
He hustled out the front door to direct the driver around to the back. The driver and his helper quickly unloaded, unpacked and placed Tanner’s new refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. He joked with them they’d be back in a few days with a washer and dryer. They laughed and told him they’d bring their laundry along so he could test out the equipment.
He took the good-natured humor for just that – verbal fun. His mind was already forming new arguments to move Bodhi out of the house. As soon as the delivery truck pulled out onto the street, he went back into the living room and stared at the empty space, his hands on his hips.
Now where the fuck had Bodhi gone?
_*_*_*_
ABOUT Please Use the Door:
Tanner Reddick learned the hard way a man needs his own place to call home – one that is legally his. The last guy set his belongings on the curb and Tanner vows it will never happen again. It’s time for him to be in charge. Embarking on the next phase of his life, Tanner buys a fixer-upper bungalow and gets to work. He’s looking forward to living on his own for a while. His interest in his boss, Alex Crewes, could change that.
It’s moving day and Tanner notices a few things about the house, things his friends disavow knowledge of. The porch is swept and the breakers on. Then Tanner smells a hint of Bay Rum cologne, which no one he knows uses. When unseen hands paint a few rooms in the house, he has to face the facts - he’s not really alone.
Bodhi introduces himself and welcomes the newest resident in the house he built a century ago. This one Bodhi likes, and he’s determined he and Tanner will coexist in harmony. Maybe they can even be friends. And if he’s lucky, maybe a little more – unless Tanner’s deepening relationship with Alex throws a wrench into his plans.
Please Use the Door by KC Kendricks
Available iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and KOBO
KC Kendricks www.kckendricks.com http://kckendricks.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/kckendricks www.facebook.com/kckendricks mailing list: groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
August 11, 2018
A log cabin she-shed sounds good
August 11, 2018
August marks the anniversary of my move "home" thirty-seven years ago. Back in the day, I'd married and moved several miles away. I found living in a town a miserable experience and was looking for a building lot in the country. My grandparents would have none of me spending thousands of dollars on a piece of property. They handed me the deed to three acres they owned behind their house and I gratefully came home. I've been here ever since.
I like my little house in the woods, but every so often I wish I'd done things differently all those years ago. My heart longs for a log cabin. It would have been perfect in my woods, surrounded by trees. I gravitate toward the dog trot style with its central breezeway.
Of course, being a bit older now, I wonder if having to go back and forth through the breezeway at night when it's snowing would be fun. I'd need some well-insulated sliding barn doors to be comfortable.
Maybe I'd be better off with a small log cabin She-Shed. If I had one of those to help ease me into the next phase of my life (retirement), it might alleviate some of the stress already happening between me and the spousal unit. He's not looking forward to losing his autonomy. I'm not looking forward to having him underfoot all day long. A nice little retreat with Internet out in the "west forty" may be just the thing to give us the space we need.
That's definitely food for thought.
KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com
August marks the anniversary of my move "home" thirty-seven years ago. Back in the day, I'd married and moved several miles away. I found living in a town a miserable experience and was looking for a building lot in the country. My grandparents would have none of me spending thousands of dollars on a piece of property. They handed me the deed to three acres they owned behind their house and I gratefully came home. I've been here ever since.
I like my little house in the woods, but every so often I wish I'd done things differently all those years ago. My heart longs for a log cabin. It would have been perfect in my woods, surrounded by trees. I gravitate toward the dog trot style with its central breezeway.
Of course, being a bit older now, I wonder if having to go back and forth through the breezeway at night when it's snowing would be fun. I'd need some well-insulated sliding barn doors to be comfortable.
Maybe I'd be better off with a small log cabin She-Shed. If I had one of those to help ease me into the next phase of my life (retirement), it might alleviate some of the stress already happening between me and the spousal unit. He's not looking forward to losing his autonomy. I'm not looking forward to having him underfoot all day long. A nice little retreat with Internet out in the "west forty" may be just the thing to give us the space we need.
That's definitely food for thought.
KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com
July 31, 2018
MidWeek Tease - Highway Nights by KC Kendricks
August 1, 2018
Welcome to my corner of the MidWeek Tease! This week I'm highlighting Highway Nights, a story best categorized as romantic suspense. Be sure to check out all of the participants this week by using the linky list at the end of this post.
Here is a snip from Highway Nights. Enjoy!
_*_*_*_*_*_
Oliver grinned and stopped in front of him.
“Happy to see me?”
Garrett glanced down. “As happy as you appear to be. Can a guy get a soda to go in this joint?”
Oliver shook his head. “I’ve better at the house. Let me tell Shirl and Billy not to call me unless it’s an emergency.” He disappeared into the kitchen and sauntered back out in less than thirty seconds. Oliver motioned at the front entrance. “Let’s go.”
Garrett turned and held the door open for Oliver. “What constitutes an emergency?”
“Someone is bleeding, choking, or keels over all the way to the floor.” He placed his hand on the small of Garrett’s back and guided him around the corner of the building.
Garrett leaned closer to the warmth of Oliver’s body. “Not fire?”
“That’s what the firemen are for. Call ‘em. Besides, I like firemen. Don’t you?”
“Sure. Big, burly men turn me on.” Garrett stroked Oliver’s well-formed bicep. Oliver laughed softly and backed Garrett against the rear wall of the diner, out of sight from the clientele and staff.
“To each, their own.”
Garrett grasped Oliver’s hips and yanked him against him. He held him there and soaked up the heat from Oliver’s body. The corner of his mouth quirked in a small smile.
“So, am I going to have to beg you to kiss me again?”
Oliver ran his thumb over Garrett’s lower lip. He swallowed, the muscles in his throat moving. “Garrett. Be sure you want this. Don’t lead me on then tell me to stop.”
“I came for this, Oliver.”
Something dark and unsettled sparked in Oliver’s eyes. “Don’t get too attached to me, either, boy.”
“I’m horny. I want to fuck you, not marry you.”
Oliver leaned in, his breath warm on Garrett’s moist lips. In the back of his mind, Garrett registered surprise at Oliver’s reticence but he’d ponder it later. He shifted forward and touched his lips to Oliver’s.
Need burst through him, a siren song in his blood that built as Oliver’s tongue licked his in a bold stroke. The larger man pressed his body to the sun-warmed bricks, pinning him, his pelvis grinding against Garrett’s in a mock taking. Garrett thrust his tongue into the heat of Oliver’s mouth. Back and forth they tested, well matched, as the world spun behind his closed eyes. Suddenly breathless, Garrett tore his lips from Oliver’s. Oliver rested his forehead to his, breathing hard.
“You should go home, Garrett.”
“I don’t think so. Why are you afraid of me?” He ran his fingers through Oliver’s short hair.
Oliver brushed a kiss to his lips. “I’m too old for someone in his twenties, Garrett.”
“I’m going to surprise you. I’m thirty-two.” He laughed as the man’s eyebrows shot up. “Told you I was older than I look.”
Oliver’s eyes darkened. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am, but I still feel like a dirty old pervert chasing chickens.” He levered off the wall, grabbed Garrett’s hand, and pulled him along the flagstone path to the bungalow-style house.
Garrett fell into step beside him and slipped their linked hands behind Oliver’s back. There was one sure way he knew to find out Oliver’s age—give him a little dig.
“You can’t be that old. What are you? Fifty?”
“Fifty! No, smart-ass, I’m forty-four. Happy to know that?” Oliver eased his hand free as they climbed the steps to the wide veranda. He pulled keys out of his pocket and unlocked the front door. “I should spank you for that.”
Garrett stepped into the foyer and patted his butt. “A spanking might be fun sometime...”_*_*_*_*_*_*_
ABOUT HIGHWAY NIGHTSContemporary gay romance/suspense
Garrett Webb has a five-point plan for starting his own business. To keep it on track, he takes a second job and settles into the evening delivery run between Owensville and Mt. Franklin. The solitude of being on the road clears his head and enables him to chart a better future for himself. When a foggy night sends him to the safety of The Downshift Diner and its owner, Oliver Sanderson, that future takes an unforeseen turn.
Oliver Sanderson enjoys a quiet life along the lonely stretch of highway that’s home to his diner. The road brings all manner of interesting souls to his door. When Garrett Webb steps out of the fog seeking shelter, his openness and honesty draws Oliver’s interest. He’s ready to take the next step but needs to be cautious. Trouble is coming to the diner, and Oliver wants Garrett clear of it.
Good intentions can’t hold out against their budding attraction. Garrett makes the diner a regular stop during his nightly run, and the men get better acquainted. But Garrett’s past isn’t done with him. In a single heart-stopping moment, Garrett is forced into a decision that risks Oliver’s life – one that could forever end their highway nights.
HIGHWAY NIGHTSAvailable at:
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Highway-Nights-KC-Kendricks-ebook/dp/B01F4F7GX4
iTunes/Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1107349490
Barnes and Noble/NOOK: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highway-nights-kc-kendricks/1109557517?ean=2940153170350
KOBO: www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highway-nights-1
4 Hearts from The Romance Studio: The sex scenes are good and steamy, these two really like each other. An unforeseen occurrence adds to the drama and kicks it up a notch. Highway Nights is a nicely paced story with a satisfying ending.
KC Kendricks www.kckendricks.com www.twitter.com/kckendricks Join my mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/between...Read my personal blog: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Welcome to my corner of the MidWeek Tease! This week I'm highlighting Highway Nights, a story best categorized as romantic suspense. Be sure to check out all of the participants this week by using the linky list at the end of this post.
Here is a snip from Highway Nights. Enjoy!
_*_*_*_*_*_
Oliver grinned and stopped in front of him.
“Happy to see me?”
Garrett glanced down. “As happy as you appear to be. Can a guy get a soda to go in this joint?”
Oliver shook his head. “I’ve better at the house. Let me tell Shirl and Billy not to call me unless it’s an emergency.” He disappeared into the kitchen and sauntered back out in less than thirty seconds. Oliver motioned at the front entrance. “Let’s go.”
Garrett turned and held the door open for Oliver. “What constitutes an emergency?”
“Someone is bleeding, choking, or keels over all the way to the floor.” He placed his hand on the small of Garrett’s back and guided him around the corner of the building.
Garrett leaned closer to the warmth of Oliver’s body. “Not fire?”
“That’s what the firemen are for. Call ‘em. Besides, I like firemen. Don’t you?”
“Sure. Big, burly men turn me on.” Garrett stroked Oliver’s well-formed bicep. Oliver laughed softly and backed Garrett against the rear wall of the diner, out of sight from the clientele and staff.
“To each, their own.”
Garrett grasped Oliver’s hips and yanked him against him. He held him there and soaked up the heat from Oliver’s body. The corner of his mouth quirked in a small smile.
“So, am I going to have to beg you to kiss me again?”
Oliver ran his thumb over Garrett’s lower lip. He swallowed, the muscles in his throat moving. “Garrett. Be sure you want this. Don’t lead me on then tell me to stop.”
“I came for this, Oliver.”
Something dark and unsettled sparked in Oliver’s eyes. “Don’t get too attached to me, either, boy.”
“I’m horny. I want to fuck you, not marry you.”
Oliver leaned in, his breath warm on Garrett’s moist lips. In the back of his mind, Garrett registered surprise at Oliver’s reticence but he’d ponder it later. He shifted forward and touched his lips to Oliver’s.
Need burst through him, a siren song in his blood that built as Oliver’s tongue licked his in a bold stroke. The larger man pressed his body to the sun-warmed bricks, pinning him, his pelvis grinding against Garrett’s in a mock taking. Garrett thrust his tongue into the heat of Oliver’s mouth. Back and forth they tested, well matched, as the world spun behind his closed eyes. Suddenly breathless, Garrett tore his lips from Oliver’s. Oliver rested his forehead to his, breathing hard.
“You should go home, Garrett.”
“I don’t think so. Why are you afraid of me?” He ran his fingers through Oliver’s short hair.
Oliver brushed a kiss to his lips. “I’m too old for someone in his twenties, Garrett.”
“I’m going to surprise you. I’m thirty-two.” He laughed as the man’s eyebrows shot up. “Told you I was older than I look.”
Oliver’s eyes darkened. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am, but I still feel like a dirty old pervert chasing chickens.” He levered off the wall, grabbed Garrett’s hand, and pulled him along the flagstone path to the bungalow-style house.
Garrett fell into step beside him and slipped their linked hands behind Oliver’s back. There was one sure way he knew to find out Oliver’s age—give him a little dig.
“You can’t be that old. What are you? Fifty?”
“Fifty! No, smart-ass, I’m forty-four. Happy to know that?” Oliver eased his hand free as they climbed the steps to the wide veranda. He pulled keys out of his pocket and unlocked the front door. “I should spank you for that.”
Garrett stepped into the foyer and patted his butt. “A spanking might be fun sometime...”_*_*_*_*_*_*_
ABOUT HIGHWAY NIGHTSContemporary gay romance/suspense
Garrett Webb has a five-point plan for starting his own business. To keep it on track, he takes a second job and settles into the evening delivery run between Owensville and Mt. Franklin. The solitude of being on the road clears his head and enables him to chart a better future for himself. When a foggy night sends him to the safety of The Downshift Diner and its owner, Oliver Sanderson, that future takes an unforeseen turn.
Oliver Sanderson enjoys a quiet life along the lonely stretch of highway that’s home to his diner. The road brings all manner of interesting souls to his door. When Garrett Webb steps out of the fog seeking shelter, his openness and honesty draws Oliver’s interest. He’s ready to take the next step but needs to be cautious. Trouble is coming to the diner, and Oliver wants Garrett clear of it.
Good intentions can’t hold out against their budding attraction. Garrett makes the diner a regular stop during his nightly run, and the men get better acquainted. But Garrett’s past isn’t done with him. In a single heart-stopping moment, Garrett is forced into a decision that risks Oliver’s life – one that could forever end their highway nights.
HIGHWAY NIGHTSAvailable at:
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Highway-Nights-KC-Kendricks-ebook/dp/B01F4F7GX4
iTunes/Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1107349490
Barnes and Noble/NOOK: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highway-nights-kc-kendricks/1109557517?ean=2940153170350
KOBO: www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highway-nights-1
4 Hearts from The Romance Studio: The sex scenes are good and steamy, these two really like each other. An unforeseen occurrence adds to the drama and kicks it up a notch. Highway Nights is a nicely paced story with a satisfying ending.
KC Kendricks www.kckendricks.com www.twitter.com/kckendricks Join my mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/between...Read my personal blog: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
July 26, 2018
Mercury in retrograde - the author is back at it
July 26, 2018
Did you know Mercury goes retrograde today until August 19? Hmmm. Several "dark" spots in my world have suddenly brightened or disappeared. Is there a connection? Not supposed to be. Mercury in retrograde is not good for a Gemini. Gemini rules communication and a retrograde brings miscommunication. But I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I'm going with the flow and the flow is good.
I'm grateful to be back to my private writing world regardless of what Mercury is doing to everyone else. Time away is sometimes necessary. You know the story. Spouse, family, job, blah, blah. It's a shared experience. As women, we can have it all just maybe not all at once. In my "all," the thing that gets dropped first is writing. Dropping people has too many consequences for them and in the long term for me.
Currently, I have three works-in-progress. First up will be Please Use the Door. It's a ghostly love story inspired by a television show I watched called Ghosts of Shepherdstown. I live about half an hour from Shepherdstown so yeah, I tuned in to see what was going on. I wondered if maybe I'd see something to make me say I'm never going there again but that didn't happen. What did happen was I was struck by a very important question: Why do ghosts in these shows always come through a door? I'd think a ghost could pop out of a wall. Hence the story title and the idea of our hero ordering the ghost to "please use the door!" As if a ghost would obey.
Steel Wheels is another Ian Coulter mystery/suspense. I love writing Ian, Rick, and their supporting cast. After that, I'm finally going back to Centerville to revisit Logan and Mick. I've had it in mind since I wrote Bored, Stroked and Blueprinted. It's not a sequel in the strict sense of the word, but Logan and Mick opening their home to a friend of Logan's will launch the story.
There are several covers to create on my To Do List as well. My friend and sometimes collaborator Christianne France has been most patient as I've dealt spouse, family, work. Maybe I should just start calling it SFW.
So it was a longer post than anticipated. Bottom line, it looks like I'm going to have a stretch where I can do some writing and a little TCB. I sure hope I didn't just jinx myself...
KC
www.kckendricks.com
twitter.com/kckendricks
facebook.com/kckendricks
Did you know Mercury goes retrograde today until August 19? Hmmm. Several "dark" spots in my world have suddenly brightened or disappeared. Is there a connection? Not supposed to be. Mercury in retrograde is not good for a Gemini. Gemini rules communication and a retrograde brings miscommunication. But I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I'm going with the flow and the flow is good.
I'm grateful to be back to my private writing world regardless of what Mercury is doing to everyone else. Time away is sometimes necessary. You know the story. Spouse, family, job, blah, blah. It's a shared experience. As women, we can have it all just maybe not all at once. In my "all," the thing that gets dropped first is writing. Dropping people has too many consequences for them and in the long term for me.Currently, I have three works-in-progress. First up will be Please Use the Door. It's a ghostly love story inspired by a television show I watched called Ghosts of Shepherdstown. I live about half an hour from Shepherdstown so yeah, I tuned in to see what was going on. I wondered if maybe I'd see something to make me say I'm never going there again but that didn't happen. What did happen was I was struck by a very important question: Why do ghosts in these shows always come through a door? I'd think a ghost could pop out of a wall. Hence the story title and the idea of our hero ordering the ghost to "please use the door!" As if a ghost would obey.
Steel Wheels is another Ian Coulter mystery/suspense. I love writing Ian, Rick, and their supporting cast. After that, I'm finally going back to Centerville to revisit Logan and Mick. I've had it in mind since I wrote Bored, Stroked and Blueprinted. It's not a sequel in the strict sense of the word, but Logan and Mick opening their home to a friend of Logan's will launch the story.
There are several covers to create on my To Do List as well. My friend and sometimes collaborator Christianne France has been most patient as I've dealt spouse, family, work. Maybe I should just start calling it SFW.
So it was a longer post than anticipated. Bottom line, it looks like I'm going to have a stretch where I can do some writing and a little TCB. I sure hope I didn't just jinx myself...
KC
www.kckendricks.com
twitter.com/kckendricks
facebook.com/kckendricks
July 10, 2018
Where There's Smoke - MidWeek Tease
July 11, 2018
Am I in the doghouse? Yes! My last
So welcome to the MidWeek Tease blog hop! I'm so glad you stopped by and I remind you to check out all the participant blogs by using the linky list at the end of this post. Enjoy!
_*_*_*_*_
“No. My dog attacked you, Leon. I wanted to do a good thing by giving him a home. Now I don’t know if I can keep him, even if they don’t put him down.”
I wished I could reassure him, but the dog’s future wasn’t totally in my hands.
The folks at urgent care were great. They cleaned the wound again and gave me a tetanus booster. When the intern said I needed stitches, I held my hand out to Jere. “Hold my hand. I hate needles.”
“So do I. How about I run for the hills?” He pressed his cold palm to mine. I wrapped my warmer fingers around his.
“This is when the questions come, you know.”
He looked stricken but didn’t say a word. There wasn’t time. A petite Asian woman carrying a tray entered the room and introduced herself as Dr. May. She examined my wound and then picked up a mother-fucking huge needle.
“Procaine,” she explained. She looked at our joined hands. “Are you guys a couple.”
“No.”
“Working on it.”
She grinned at me. “He says ‘no’ and you say ‘working on it’. Looks like you may be winning.”I clamped my jaw tight as the tip of the needle penetrated my skin. It burned for a second, then flushed hot, and finally cold and numb. “I’m a patient man.”
“That’s good because he’s cute.”
I glanced at Jere. He was blushing. I winked at the doctor. “I think so, too.”
She withdrew the needle and rubbed the spot. “Let’s talk while that works. Would you like to tell me what happened? Whose dog is it?”
I met her gaze. “He belongs to Jere. How well versed are you in same-sex relations?”
“Ah.” She looked at Jere. “So the dog didn’t understand what was going on between the two of you and went into protection mode?”
Jere gazed into his lap. “Yes, ma’am. That pretty much sums it up.” He looked at me, his gorgeous hazel eyes bright and full of an inner imp I hoped to meet again. “Leon gets loud if you know what I mean.”
Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks. The little shit had bested me at my own game.
Dr. May laughed as she picked up the first threaded needle. “Some folks do. Okay, if that’s your story, that’s what I’ll put in my report. It still has to go to animal control, though.”
I didn’t actually feel anything as she set the first stitch, but I still winced. I turned my head to look at Jere. “I can’t watch, but you can if you want.”
“No thanks.” He jumped and released my hand to pull his cell phone out of his pocket. “It’s Dr. Widmyer.” He answered, and the doctor and I listened as they finalized the arrangements for Gale to stop by his house and get Mo.
A few moments later, I had six neat stitches, a five-day zee-pack of an unpronounceable antibiotic, a bandage over the tetanus injection site, and a sheet of instructions I knew I’d not follow since I needed to get back to looking all macho in front of Jere.
I asked him to drive my vehicle back to his place. He agreed and when he came around to open the door for me, I backed him against the Blazer.
He licked his lips. “Please say this means you’re going to kiss me.”
“Why waste time talking?”
I touched my lips to his in the barest whisper of a kiss. He grasped my waist and pulled me closer. I kept the kiss brief, seeking to give him assurance I wasn’t angry with him or Mo, not arouse him, or myself. He rested his forehead on my shoulder.
“Oh, God, Leon. I was so stupid. A card game. A fucking card game and I used it as an excuse.”
I cradled the back of his head in my hand. “I know you’ve been hurt worse than I can begin to imagine, but I’m not that guy. I’m not any of those guys.”
He raised his head and looked at me, searching “What do you want with me?”
How did I answer that without sounding like an idiot? “At first I thought I’d try to be a friend. Then I wondered about more because I really like you. And then, well, you’re pretty hot, you know. You make me horny.”
“Oh, great. All you want is sex.”
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE
Leon McNamee successfully worked his life plan to a good job, his own home, and the one thing he always wanted as a boy - a dog. He hasn’t had much luck in the relationship department, but in Smoke, he has all the company he usually needs.
Jeremy Cooke’s new plan is to stay clear of entanglements and not get hurt again. He moves to Marionville to start over and decides to rescue a damaged dog. After all, he’s well acquainted with abuse.
Leon and Jere get acquainted over their shared love of dogs, but Jeremy holds close his secrets. When an argument escalates, disaster strikes. Leon has to fight to save Jere’s dog - and the man’s trust. At the end of the day, his best ally is a black Labrador Retriever named Smoke.
AVAILABLE NOW AT:
Amazonwww.amazon.com/Where-Theres-Smoke-Marionville-Book-ebook/dp/B01N7H231Z
iTunes/Apple itunes.apple.com/us/book/where-theres-smoke/id1168359746?mt=11
Barnes & Noble/NOOKwww.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-theres-smoke-kc-kendricks/1124986359?ean=2940153524337
Kobowww.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/where-there-s-smoke-49
KC Kendrickshttp://www.kckendricks.comhttp://kckendricks.blogspot.comhttp://www.twitter.com/kckendrickswww.pinterest.com/kckendrickswww.facebook.com/kckendricksmailing list: betweenthekeys-subscribe@yahoo.com
Am I in the doghouse? Yes! My last
So welcome to the MidWeek Tease blog hop! I'm so glad you stopped by and I remind you to check out all the participant blogs by using the linky list at the end of this post. Enjoy!
_*_*_*_*_
“No. My dog attacked you, Leon. I wanted to do a good thing by giving him a home. Now I don’t know if I can keep him, even if they don’t put him down.”I wished I could reassure him, but the dog’s future wasn’t totally in my hands.
The folks at urgent care were great. They cleaned the wound again and gave me a tetanus booster. When the intern said I needed stitches, I held my hand out to Jere. “Hold my hand. I hate needles.”
“So do I. How about I run for the hills?” He pressed his cold palm to mine. I wrapped my warmer fingers around his.
“This is when the questions come, you know.”
He looked stricken but didn’t say a word. There wasn’t time. A petite Asian woman carrying a tray entered the room and introduced herself as Dr. May. She examined my wound and then picked up a mother-fucking huge needle.
“Procaine,” she explained. She looked at our joined hands. “Are you guys a couple.”
“No.”
“Working on it.”
She grinned at me. “He says ‘no’ and you say ‘working on it’. Looks like you may be winning.”I clamped my jaw tight as the tip of the needle penetrated my skin. It burned for a second, then flushed hot, and finally cold and numb. “I’m a patient man.”
“That’s good because he’s cute.”
I glanced at Jere. He was blushing. I winked at the doctor. “I think so, too.”
She withdrew the needle and rubbed the spot. “Let’s talk while that works. Would you like to tell me what happened? Whose dog is it?”
I met her gaze. “He belongs to Jere. How well versed are you in same-sex relations?”
“Ah.” She looked at Jere. “So the dog didn’t understand what was going on between the two of you and went into protection mode?”
Jere gazed into his lap. “Yes, ma’am. That pretty much sums it up.” He looked at me, his gorgeous hazel eyes bright and full of an inner imp I hoped to meet again. “Leon gets loud if you know what I mean.”
Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks. The little shit had bested me at my own game.
Dr. May laughed as she picked up the first threaded needle. “Some folks do. Okay, if that’s your story, that’s what I’ll put in my report. It still has to go to animal control, though.”
I didn’t actually feel anything as she set the first stitch, but I still winced. I turned my head to look at Jere. “I can’t watch, but you can if you want.”
“No thanks.” He jumped and released my hand to pull his cell phone out of his pocket. “It’s Dr. Widmyer.” He answered, and the doctor and I listened as they finalized the arrangements for Gale to stop by his house and get Mo.
A few moments later, I had six neat stitches, a five-day zee-pack of an unpronounceable antibiotic, a bandage over the tetanus injection site, and a sheet of instructions I knew I’d not follow since I needed to get back to looking all macho in front of Jere.
I asked him to drive my vehicle back to his place. He agreed and when he came around to open the door for me, I backed him against the Blazer.
He licked his lips. “Please say this means you’re going to kiss me.”
“Why waste time talking?”
I touched my lips to his in the barest whisper of a kiss. He grasped my waist and pulled me closer. I kept the kiss brief, seeking to give him assurance I wasn’t angry with him or Mo, not arouse him, or myself. He rested his forehead on my shoulder.
“Oh, God, Leon. I was so stupid. A card game. A fucking card game and I used it as an excuse.”
I cradled the back of his head in my hand. “I know you’ve been hurt worse than I can begin to imagine, but I’m not that guy. I’m not any of those guys.”
He raised his head and looked at me, searching “What do you want with me?”
How did I answer that without sounding like an idiot? “At first I thought I’d try to be a friend. Then I wondered about more because I really like you. And then, well, you’re pretty hot, you know. You make me horny.”
“Oh, great. All you want is sex.”
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE
Leon McNamee successfully worked his life plan to a good job, his own home, and the one thing he always wanted as a boy - a dog. He hasn’t had much luck in the relationship department, but in Smoke, he has all the company he usually needs.
Jeremy Cooke’s new plan is to stay clear of entanglements and not get hurt again. He moves to Marionville to start over and decides to rescue a damaged dog. After all, he’s well acquainted with abuse.
Leon and Jere get acquainted over their shared love of dogs, but Jeremy holds close his secrets. When an argument escalates, disaster strikes. Leon has to fight to save Jere’s dog - and the man’s trust. At the end of the day, his best ally is a black Labrador Retriever named Smoke.
AVAILABLE NOW AT:
Amazonwww.amazon.com/Where-Theres-Smoke-Marionville-Book-ebook/dp/B01N7H231Z
iTunes/Apple itunes.apple.com/us/book/where-theres-smoke/id1168359746?mt=11
Barnes & Noble/NOOKwww.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-theres-smoke-kc-kendricks/1124986359?ean=2940153524337
Kobowww.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/where-there-s-smoke-49
KC Kendrickshttp://www.kckendricks.comhttp://kckendricks.blogspot.comhttp://www.twitter.com/kckendrickswww.pinterest.com/kckendrickswww.facebook.com/kckendricksmailing list: betweenthekeys-subscribe@yahoo.com
July 5, 2018
Another rainy holiday
July 5, 2018
Sometimes I think the gods of weather have too much fun at my expense. Yesterday was a holiday here in the United States - our Independence Day observance. I had such high hopes of a perfectly grilled center cut pork chop, a hope that quickly died when the dark clouds rolled in.
The day started with promise. I actually slept until almost seven a.m. That's quite a rarity for me. I'm usually up by six. Deuce was ready to go do all his outside activities, so I slipped into a t-shirt and went with him. Doggie-mommies need to monitor some of these things, you know.
While Deuce was busy sniffing the perimeter of his yard, I went into the shed and shot the last coat of gloss paint on the second platform rocker - mark one more item off my to-do list. The rocker was quickly followed by tidying my financial empire and cleaning Loki's litter box. The spousal unit was up by then and we decided to check out purchasing a new recliner for him.
We're now the proud owners of a power lift recliner. It's going to be a big help to him. Not only will it not move when he attempts to stand, it will lift and help him get his feet under him. With any luck, Bob's Discount Furniture will deliver it next Tuesday as promised. As we were leaving the store, the heavens opened. We managed to drive out from under the rain and beat it home. There was just enough time to let Deuce out for a quick pee-pee before the rain caught up to us. It rained for the remainder of the day and there went my grilled pork chop for dinner.
It must have put a damper on local firework celebrations, too. I didn't hear many "booms" echoing off the mountain after dark.
For some time now I've wanted to swap my dining room table with a smaller breakfast table I've used in my sewing room. I won't go into the particulars of it. Suffice it to say it was just a notion I had and today was the day I acted. I texted Cousin Dave to help me move the bigger table. As it turned out, he said his oldest daughter was looking for a larger table. He texted her and my problem of what to do with a formal dining room table with two leaves and four big chairs is solved. I'm delighted I can help her out and she didn't have to spend any more than what it will cost her to get a bottle of furniture polish and put a shine on the table and chairs.
And so goes another holiday. It wasn't the quiet day I'd planned. It was a lot better.
KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com
facebook.com/kckendricks
pinterest.com/kckendricks
twitter.com/kckendricks
Sometimes I think the gods of weather have too much fun at my expense. Yesterday was a holiday here in the United States - our Independence Day observance. I had such high hopes of a perfectly grilled center cut pork chop, a hope that quickly died when the dark clouds rolled in. The day started with promise. I actually slept until almost seven a.m. That's quite a rarity for me. I'm usually up by six. Deuce was ready to go do all his outside activities, so I slipped into a t-shirt and went with him. Doggie-mommies need to monitor some of these things, you know.
While Deuce was busy sniffing the perimeter of his yard, I went into the shed and shot the last coat of gloss paint on the second platform rocker - mark one more item off my to-do list. The rocker was quickly followed by tidying my financial empire and cleaning Loki's litter box. The spousal unit was up by then and we decided to check out purchasing a new recliner for him.
We're now the proud owners of a power lift recliner. It's going to be a big help to him. Not only will it not move when he attempts to stand, it will lift and help him get his feet under him. With any luck, Bob's Discount Furniture will deliver it next Tuesday as promised. As we were leaving the store, the heavens opened. We managed to drive out from under the rain and beat it home. There was just enough time to let Deuce out for a quick pee-pee before the rain caught up to us. It rained for the remainder of the day and there went my grilled pork chop for dinner.
It must have put a damper on local firework celebrations, too. I didn't hear many "booms" echoing off the mountain after dark.
For some time now I've wanted to swap my dining room table with a smaller breakfast table I've used in my sewing room. I won't go into the particulars of it. Suffice it to say it was just a notion I had and today was the day I acted. I texted Cousin Dave to help me move the bigger table. As it turned out, he said his oldest daughter was looking for a larger table. He texted her and my problem of what to do with a formal dining room table with two leaves and four big chairs is solved. I'm delighted I can help her out and she didn't have to spend any more than what it will cost her to get a bottle of furniture polish and put a shine on the table and chairs.
And so goes another holiday. It wasn't the quiet day I'd planned. It was a lot better.
KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com
facebook.com/kckendricks
pinterest.com/kckendricks
twitter.com/kckendricks
July 4, 2018
Independence is precious
July 4, 2018
I can't imagine living in a world without freedom. Nor can I imagine living in a place where there is no law and order. I feel blessed to live in the United States.
National pride is a polarizing issue these days. People say we're a democracy when in fact we are a constitutional republic. Our founding fathers created a remarkable document. If only I could write like that! If only I had the words to create something that would last hundreds of years! Our constitution is an impressive body of work.
Today is the day to take a look around and be intentionally grateful for the gift and blessing that is this thing called "freedom." Today is not the day to fight. In fact, let's all set aside our baser selves and stop fighting like rats in a bucket.
Instead, let us take stock of how far we've come from the early days of the republic. Let us look back with reflection, and introspection, and be intentionally aware of all the good things we are as a people. But then let us not rest on our laurels. There is work to do to keep us a proud nation - social, moral, and constitutional work. Let us do this work peacefully so that it may actually be accomplished. That is my hope for this Independence Day.
_*_*_
And because it IS a day to celebrate, and because I am a writer of romantic stories about men, I give you my favorite patriot.
Yes, let us be thankful for our freedom of expression on today of all days.
KC
www.kckendricks.com
twitter.com/kckendricks
facebook.com/kckendricks
pinterest.com/kckendricks
I can't imagine living in a world without freedom. Nor can I imagine living in a place where there is no law and order. I feel blessed to live in the United States.
National pride is a polarizing issue these days. People say we're a democracy when in fact we are a constitutional republic. Our founding fathers created a remarkable document. If only I could write like that! If only I had the words to create something that would last hundreds of years! Our constitution is an impressive body of work.
Today is the day to take a look around and be intentionally grateful for the gift and blessing that is this thing called "freedom." Today is not the day to fight. In fact, let's all set aside our baser selves and stop fighting like rats in a bucket.
Instead, let us take stock of how far we've come from the early days of the republic. Let us look back with reflection, and introspection, and be intentionally aware of all the good things we are as a people. But then let us not rest on our laurels. There is work to do to keep us a proud nation - social, moral, and constitutional work. Let us do this work peacefully so that it may actually be accomplished. That is my hope for this Independence Day.
_*_*_And because it IS a day to celebrate, and because I am a writer of romantic stories about men, I give you my favorite patriot.
Yes, let us be thankful for our freedom of expression on today of all days.
KC
www.kckendricks.com
twitter.com/kckendricks
facebook.com/kckendricks
pinterest.com/kckendricks
June 27, 2018
A Cat Named Hercules - The Midweek Tease #MidWeekTease
June 27, 2018
Welcome to this week's MidWeek Tease! To celebrate the newest member of my family, Loki, and to honor Shooter, the real Hercules of the story, I'm featuring an excerpt from A Cat Named Hercules.
Be sure to check out all of this week's blogs using the linky list below. Enjoy!
_*_*_*_
“I know I don’t want one. Galen Widmyer is a vet. I asked him to come take a look.” Cass motioned at an approaching figure. I forgot about the cat in favor of staring at the man coming my way.
He was five-eleven, or maybe even six feet tall, slender, with a mop of curly light brown hair. His long legs were encased in snug, faded denim that showcased lean thighs. The soft fabric clung to the outline of his penis, snaked down to the left. Sunglasses hid his eyes, but nothing could hide the lazy, fluid way his body moved. He could fuck me any time, any place, any way.
Cass introduced us. We nodded and murmured the proper words of greeting at each other. Damn, I wished I could see his eyes.
“Well, let’s see what you have here.” He accepted the kitten from me and the light brush of his fingertips to mine sent a powerful jolt of carnal speculation through me. Galen scratched under the kitten’s chin. “This one has great markings. All black with white whiskers, a white chest and belly, white toes, and a small white goatee.”
With practiced hands, he lifted the stubby black tail. “Congratulations. It’s a boy.”
I squinted. I didn’t see any evidence of the kitten being male—no balls. “How can you tell?”
He raised the tail again. His fingers were long and slender, much like the man, and I wondered if he played the piano. They were also grass-stained. I surmised he’d been on the weed-pulling brigade.
“See the two dots, Shiloh? Male. If we could see a dot with a dash below, it would be female.”
“Okay. I know nothing about cats so I guess that’s a good first lesson. But shouldn’t he have, you know, balls?”
Galen ruffled the kitten’s fur and rubbed his ears. “He’ll grow ’em in a few months. Are you going to keep him? If so, I have several more lessons for you, all unpleasant.”
Cass laughed. “Just look at him, Galen. He can barely stand it you’re holding his flea hotel. Yeah, he’s keeping the cat.”
I glared at my friend. “Don’t you have work to do?” I looked at Galen. “Do you think he’s just lost?”
Galen made a sweeping gesture with his arm. “Look around. No one lives here, and the closest house is half a mile away. This little guy didn’t wander here by himself. Someone tossed him out or his mother’s a feral cat and, given his situation, would be about to abandon him to ensure her own survival for her next litter. Either way, he needs a home.”
The abrupt weaning I understood, but the other? Who would do that to such a helpless creature? “Then I’m keeping him.”
“In that case, your kitten has fleas, ear mites, and a touch of conjunctivitis. He’s also undernourished and almost surely has worms.”
My heart pounded as I snatched the kitten from Galen’s hands and tucked him safely against my chest. “Is he going to die?”
Galen pushed his sunglasses up to rest on top of his head and grinned at me. I fell into his gorgeous hazel eyes as he stared into my sky blue orbs with open curiosity. Damn, the man had long eyelashes.
“He’ll be fine. Do you think we can finish our chores here this morning, or do we need to go straight to my clinic so I can treat him and fix you up with what you need?” He poked the kitten’s paw and those tiny, wicked claws popped out again. “You’re in for a real treat with this little guy.”
I’d go anywhere he asked me to go, but I didn’t want to appear too eager. “Oh? Why is that?”
“They call cats with these black and white markings a ‘tuxedo’ because, obviously, they look like they’re wearing one. This fellow has the added bonus of white ‘gloves.’ Tuxedos tend to have a lot of personality.” Galen squeezed my elbow. I thought his hand lingered a moment too long, but perhaps it was just wishful thinking.
“C’mon. I’ll tell the other work crew they’ll have to finish pulling up these bricks and we’ll go to the clinic.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you.”
I knew I was in two kinds of trouble when he nodded and grinned. “I’m afraid you will. This first checkup is going to be expensive.”
I didn’t give a damn how much it cost. I had a cat, and my cat’s sexy vet was welcome to anything he wanted to get him healthy.
A CAT NAMED HERCULES
Book V in the Men of Marionville series
New in town, Shiloh Rudy joins a group of civic-minded volunteers to better acquaint himself with his recently adopted community. It’s a good way to make friends, network, and help make a difference, not to mention perhaps meet someone interesting - in a romantic sort of way. The one thing Shiloh didn’t expect was a love to rival all others to come with four white paws.
Gale Widmyer is on his feet and moving forward after piecing his life back together following a series of wrong choices. In his darkest moments, the one bright spot in his existence was the fulfillment of his dream to become a veterinarian. Gale’s making good on a promise to himself when an abandoned kitten leads him to Shiloh Rudy and a chance at the happiness he never hoped to have.
Laying the cornerstone for a developing relationship comes easy for Shiloh and Gale. But the wounds of the past often remain unhealed at their deepest point. A few careless words erects a wall of silence between the two men, one Shiloh has to breach if he hopes to win Gale back. It will take more than apologies to win Gale’s forgiveness and put old fears to rest. It’ll take a cat named Hercules.
_*_*_
Available now at:
Amazon
iTunes/Apple
itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1103999657
Barnes & Noble/NOOK
Kobo
KC Kendricks
http://www.kckendricks.com
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
www.pinterest.com/kckendricks
www.facebook.com/kckendricks
mailing list: betweenthekeys-subscribe@yahoo.com
Welcome to this week's MidWeek Tease! To celebrate the newest member of my family, Loki, and to honor Shooter, the real Hercules of the story, I'm featuring an excerpt from A Cat Named Hercules.
Be sure to check out all of this week's blogs using the linky list below. Enjoy!
_*_*_*_
“I know I don’t want one. Galen Widmyer is a vet. I asked him to come take a look.” Cass motioned at an approaching figure. I forgot about the cat in favor of staring at the man coming my way.
He was five-eleven, or maybe even six feet tall, slender, with a mop of curly light brown hair. His long legs were encased in snug, faded denim that showcased lean thighs. The soft fabric clung to the outline of his penis, snaked down to the left. Sunglasses hid his eyes, but nothing could hide the lazy, fluid way his body moved. He could fuck me any time, any place, any way.
Cass introduced us. We nodded and murmured the proper words of greeting at each other. Damn, I wished I could see his eyes.
“Well, let’s see what you have here.” He accepted the kitten from me and the light brush of his fingertips to mine sent a powerful jolt of carnal speculation through me. Galen scratched under the kitten’s chin. “This one has great markings. All black with white whiskers, a white chest and belly, white toes, and a small white goatee.”
With practiced hands, he lifted the stubby black tail. “Congratulations. It’s a boy.”
I squinted. I didn’t see any evidence of the kitten being male—no balls. “How can you tell?”
He raised the tail again. His fingers were long and slender, much like the man, and I wondered if he played the piano. They were also grass-stained. I surmised he’d been on the weed-pulling brigade.
“See the two dots, Shiloh? Male. If we could see a dot with a dash below, it would be female.”
“Okay. I know nothing about cats so I guess that’s a good first lesson. But shouldn’t he have, you know, balls?”
Galen ruffled the kitten’s fur and rubbed his ears. “He’ll grow ’em in a few months. Are you going to keep him? If so, I have several more lessons for you, all unpleasant.”
Cass laughed. “Just look at him, Galen. He can barely stand it you’re holding his flea hotel. Yeah, he’s keeping the cat.”
I glared at my friend. “Don’t you have work to do?” I looked at Galen. “Do you think he’s just lost?”
Galen made a sweeping gesture with his arm. “Look around. No one lives here, and the closest house is half a mile away. This little guy didn’t wander here by himself. Someone tossed him out or his mother’s a feral cat and, given his situation, would be about to abandon him to ensure her own survival for her next litter. Either way, he needs a home.”
The abrupt weaning I understood, but the other? Who would do that to such a helpless creature? “Then I’m keeping him.”
“In that case, your kitten has fleas, ear mites, and a touch of conjunctivitis. He’s also undernourished and almost surely has worms.”
My heart pounded as I snatched the kitten from Galen’s hands and tucked him safely against my chest. “Is he going to die?”
Galen pushed his sunglasses up to rest on top of his head and grinned at me. I fell into his gorgeous hazel eyes as he stared into my sky blue orbs with open curiosity. Damn, the man had long eyelashes.
“He’ll be fine. Do you think we can finish our chores here this morning, or do we need to go straight to my clinic so I can treat him and fix you up with what you need?” He poked the kitten’s paw and those tiny, wicked claws popped out again. “You’re in for a real treat with this little guy.”
I’d go anywhere he asked me to go, but I didn’t want to appear too eager. “Oh? Why is that?”
“They call cats with these black and white markings a ‘tuxedo’ because, obviously, they look like they’re wearing one. This fellow has the added bonus of white ‘gloves.’ Tuxedos tend to have a lot of personality.” Galen squeezed my elbow. I thought his hand lingered a moment too long, but perhaps it was just wishful thinking.
“C’mon. I’ll tell the other work crew they’ll have to finish pulling up these bricks and we’ll go to the clinic.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you.”
I knew I was in two kinds of trouble when he nodded and grinned. “I’m afraid you will. This first checkup is going to be expensive.”
I didn’t give a damn how much it cost. I had a cat, and my cat’s sexy vet was welcome to anything he wanted to get him healthy.
A CAT NAMED HERCULES
Book V in the Men of Marionville series
New in town, Shiloh Rudy joins a group of civic-minded volunteers to better acquaint himself with his recently adopted community. It’s a good way to make friends, network, and help make a difference, not to mention perhaps meet someone interesting - in a romantic sort of way. The one thing Shiloh didn’t expect was a love to rival all others to come with four white paws.
Gale Widmyer is on his feet and moving forward after piecing his life back together following a series of wrong choices. In his darkest moments, the one bright spot in his existence was the fulfillment of his dream to become a veterinarian. Gale’s making good on a promise to himself when an abandoned kitten leads him to Shiloh Rudy and a chance at the happiness he never hoped to have.
Laying the cornerstone for a developing relationship comes easy for Shiloh and Gale. But the wounds of the past often remain unhealed at their deepest point. A few careless words erects a wall of silence between the two men, one Shiloh has to breach if he hopes to win Gale back. It will take more than apologies to win Gale’s forgiveness and put old fears to rest. It’ll take a cat named Hercules.
_*_*_
Available now at:
Amazon
iTunes/Apple
itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1103999657
Barnes & Noble/NOOK
Kobo
KC Kendricks
http://www.kckendricks.com
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
www.pinterest.com/kckendricks
www.facebook.com/kckendricks
mailing list: betweenthekeys-subscribe@yahoo.com
June 25, 2018
One memory restored; a project half completed
June 25, 2018A while back I finally came into possession of my late grandmother's Eastlake platform rockers. They're a part of my history and memories so I was delighted to get them even though they weren't in the best condition. They had a black lacquer finish and I've set out to repaint and restore them to their glossy best. I decided to work on the one in the worst condition first, Pop's chair, and it's finally finished and sitting in a place of honor in my sunroom office.
Not everything worked the way I'd planned. Getting the seat and back cushions made proved beyond my skillset. It didn't matter what I did, the end result was sloppy. I gave in and purchased matching seats and backs for both chairs. Red was my grandmother's favorite color so red was the only possible choice.
The chairs sat facing each other at the large windows in my grandmother's sunny kitchen. When they're both finished, they will sit facing each other in my sunroom.
Maybe the spirits of my grandparents will come and sit with me while I'm working. Or, more likely, I'll simply pretend they're here. They were married for sixty-six years. Pop outlived Mam by eight years but I like to think of them as always together. Whenever I stopped to see him, he always told me to sit "in Jean's chair."
And so I'll sit in Jean's chair again, very soon. That pleases me.
KC
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