Nicole Edwards's Blog, page 3

Surprise Announcement!

Was it the “surprise” that got your attention?

I hope so because it’s real. This is a surprise announcement.

For those of you who check out

“What I’m working on”

… if you’re one of them, then you’ve probably noticed that I haven’t started writing Chain Reaction yet. Don’t worry. It’s still on schedule. I actually finished RULE a little earlier than planned, and I had a couple of extra weeks, so I thought I would write a short, naughty holiday story about fan favorites. 

I kinda did that.

Or at least that was my intention.

ONLY THIS HAPPENED

Short Full-length, naughty holiday story about fan favorites new characters.

AND THEN THIS HAPPENED

If you’ve read CURTIS, then the Jameson name is familiar. After all, Curtis married Lorrie Jameson, right? And Lorrie has many siblings. And those siblings have many children.

When reviewing the Walker family tree to figure out who I wanted to write about, I ventured to the Jameson family tree simply to reacquaint myself with it. That’s when I decided to write about Reilly Jameson, the youngest daughter of Owen, Lorrie’s youngest brother.

I was only one chapter in when I realized Reilly’s love interest was Brady McCord, a.k.a. her older brother’s best friend.

But that’s not all.

Did I mention Reilly has a best friend – Tate Riggs – and he happens to have a crush on Reilly’s oldest brother, Donovan? Well, he does.  

Make sense? 

Simply put, this story turned out to be about two separate couples.

That’s twice as much naughtiness and two separate HEAs. Not to mention the kickoff of a new series because I found myself so immersed in the Jameson family I’m not ready to let them go.

Now for the next surprise! 

If you preorder it, you’ll get it for $0.99!

PREORDER LINKS

I hope you’re as excited about this as I am! 

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Monday Ramblings

Happy Monday, y’all!

It’s one of those days. The kind where I can’t keep my focus. Every time I start something, I get sidetracked by … well, by pretty much everything. The candle sitting on my desk, the blinds not being open in my craft room, the laundry, the dogs, lunch, ordering a nail file because I’ve needed a new one for a long time.

Now do you see?

So, I thought perhaps I should sit down and type it all up. Get it out there.

This week I was hoping to get started on Chain Reaction, the next Brantley Walker: Off the Books book. But then I decided to check over the last couple of chapters for Rule. I did that, and I’m happy with it. Thrilled, in fact. And I was before I checked it. I love that book because I love Rule. Now it’s time for beta, edits, proofs, and all the fun things that come after the story is on paper.

I should be moving forward.

But I still haven’t started Chain Reaction.

Why? Well, because there are 999 other things that seem more important, although they probably aren’t. It’s just that I can’t calm the noise in my head.

When my thoughts turn chaotic, I’ve got a few ways of dealing with it. Most of them aren’t exactly healthy, I’m sure. It used to be that I would rearrange the furniture. I’d pick a room, mentally redesign it, and then get to work making it happen. My reasoning is that if I rearrange, it’ll feel new, and therefore, the chaos will go away. It took me a while (several years) to realize that wasn’t healthy. 

Doesn’t usually work. Not for long, anyway. Especially since the chaos will come back, and moving furniture isn’t exactly my favorite thing, so I’ve been doing my best not to resort to redesigning the house. When I get the urge, I tell myself I can do it, but not for two weeks. Not until I am absolutely sure I want it that way. I’ve gotten to the point when I have stopped obsessing for two weeks and then changing it. I’m breaking the habit and learning to live with the furniture as it is.

Of course, I replaced that compulsion with another.

In the last few months, I started cleaning the house when I couldn’t stay focused. It got me out of my chair and away from my desk, but then that became an obsession. To the point where even the slightest speck of dust (or, in our case, golden retriever glitter – a.k.a. dog hair) would have me doing the same chore I just did yesterday. Sure, my house is clean, but I’ve simply converted the chaos into something else. Obsession.

I thought I would give this a try. Rambling. At the very least, you get a glimpse into my chaotic mind. It doesn’t bother me that you know.

Hmm. I actually do feel a little better. Maybe it’s time to get back to doing something productive. Like writing.

Hope you have a great week!

Much love,

Nicole

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Rafe Release Day!

IT’S RELEASE DAY!!!

GET YOUR COPY

EXCERPT

Bailey woke up on Saturday morning with a smile on her face.

She wanted to attribute her newfound happiness to the new bed she was in or the apartment that belonged solely to her. She wasn’t so sure that was the only reason for the grin. She couldn’t stop thinking about Holt or the impromptu date they’d gone on last night. More specifically, she couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.

Never had she kissed a man who had the ability to obliterate her brain cells. With one sweep of his tongue against hers, Holt Callahan had turned her brain to mush and sent her hormones into chaos.

It had been glorious. So much so that she’d relived it in her dreams.

As some of the sleep fog faded, she recalled the dream more clearly. Her breath caught, and the smile faded.

“Oh, my God.” She stared up at the ceiling. “What is wrong with me?”

In her dream, Holt had certainly kissed her, but he hadn’t been the only one. Rafe had been there, too. All three of them had been at the park waiting for the concert. She’d been holding their hands, waiting for the music to start, when Holt slid his fingers down her cheek, urging her to look up at him. She had, and he had kissed her.

Bailey drew in a deep breath as she remembered what happened next.

Rafe had been standing behind her, pressing his big, hard body against her back while Holt was against her front. She’d been sandwiched between them with Holt’s mouth on hers and Rafe’s lips caressing her neck. She recalled worrying that people would see them, but Rafe assured her everything was fine. She was right where she belonged. Between them.

“Holy shit.” Now her body felt tight and achy—in the best possible way. But how could that be? How could she possibly have a dream about two men?

GET YOUR COPY

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Rafe Sneak Peek!

Enjoy a sneak peek of Rafe!!!

Rafe narrowed his gaze on Holt and waited to see if he would look his way. When he did, he saw the instant recognition on the man’s face. Along with that wicked smirk he was famous for.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Holt said in that rich bass of his. “I thought it’d be harder to track you down. After all, you won’t take my calls.”

“Because you didn’t call me,” Rafe countered before he could stop himself.

Holt’s response was a slight lift of his left eyebrow.

Forcing his gaze away, Rafe looked at Bailey, waiting until she acknowledged him. When her eyes met his, he tried to mask his emotions but wasn’t sure he did so in time. Instantly she glanced at the woman still clinging to Rafe’s arm before her lips pursed tightly, and she looked at him again. He noticed the way her chin tipped up just slightly, as though she was refusing to accept that it bothered her that he was with another woman.

Not that he was with another woman. It merely looked that way.

Of course, he couldn’t very well tell her that. Not without drawing attention to the fact that Rafe had feelings for Bailey. The last thing he wanted was for Ivy to get it in her little head that she should play matchmaker while she was hunting for her own love interest. He wouldn’t put it past her.

“You know each other?” Bailey asked, glancing up at Holt.

“Friends from way back,” Holt answered, then shifted his cup of colored ice to the other hand and thrust his right hand in Rafe’s direction. “Good to see you.”

Because it would’ve been rude to refuse, Rafe returned the handshake and steeled himself for Holt’s touch. As had been the case the last time he’d seen the man, heat blasted through him as soon as their palms touched. His brain flashed memories of a long, hot night by the beach. Based on the gleam in Holt’s blue eyes, he was reliving that very same night.

Rafe forgot all about Ivy standing at his side until she squeezed his arm and cleared her throat.

Right. Manners.

Pulling his hand from Holt’s clutches, Rafe nodded his chin toward the man. “Ivy, meet Holt Callahan. Holt, this is Ivy. She’s a waitress at Moonshiners.”

Holt shook her free hand, but Ivy refused to let go of Rafe’s arm.

“Your name’s familiar,” Ivy noted. “Have we met before?”

“Not that I know of,” he said easily, as though it wasn’t every day that women were trying to figure out how they knew him.

It was, Rafe knew. Men and women alike heard his name and realized they’d heard it before. And if they weren’t avid readers, addicted to Holt’s bestselling novels, they’d likely seen him doing interviews for the television series that spawned from those books. Over the past three years, life had been good to Holt Callahan.

Not that Rafe was tracking his career.

Definitely not.

“I’m from Dallas,” Ivy explained. “Maybe you and I crossed paths up there?”

As soon as she was distracted by Holt, Rafe attempted to pull away, but Ivy clung more tightly, a move that had Bailey frowning.

It’s not what it looks like.

When Bailey’s eyes met his, he saw the hurt in them even though she quickly hid it.

“So, what brings you kids out tonight?” Holt asked them.

Realizing Holt had steered the conversation back from himself, Rafe looked at his former friend.

Ivy answered for him. “Rafe was kind enough to show me around town. Not a bad venue for a first date, I must say.”

Not a date.

“I think the band’s settin’ up,” Bailey told Holt. “Maybe we could head that way?”

“What the lady wants, the lady gets.”

Bailey glanced Rafe’s way again. “It was good to see you. Have a good night.”

“You, too,” Ivy chimed, assuming Bailey was talking to her.

Holt put his arm around Bailey’s shoulders, and Rafe was tempted to punch him in the fucking face. In fact, it took every ounce of willpower he possessed to refrain.

“We’ll catch up later,” Holt said.

Not if Rafe could help it, they wouldn’t.

“Did you two have a thing?” Ivy asked when they were alone again.

Rafe’s head snapped around, his eyes slamming into her face. “What?”

“You and Bailey. Did you break her heart or something?”

His racing heart slowed when he realized what she meant. Or rather, that she hadn’t been referring to him and Holt. Because they didn’t. Have a thing. What they’d done that night … what Rafe had done … it wasn’t a thing. It was an experiment, that was all. Nothing more. And it would never, ever, ever happen again.

“We’re friends,” he said, hoping that would satisfy Ivy’s curiosity.

“I think she was hoping for more than that.”

“I don’t have more than that to give anyone.”

Ivy’s green eyes held a hint of skepticism as they moved over his face. A second later, a smile formed. “I’m making it my mission to change your mind.”

Oh, hell.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder, causing him to look back and see a kid pointing toward the shaved ice truck. Evidently, it was their turn. And not a moment too soon.

RAFE

Releases September 26, 2023

Have you preordered yet?

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Hot Sheet, Volume 11

July 10, 2023

Volume 11

Let's play catch-up, shall we?

Happy Monday! Or should I say Happy Birthday to my hubby? He’s 50 today. Shhh. Don’t tell him that I told you that. 

Either way, it’s still Monday, right? So I figured it was time to catch you up with what’s going on around here. In a word, it’s been chaos. Granted, I think it’s mostly in my head. For the most part, it’s been quiet around here. Now that the Primal Instincts volumes have released, I’ve slowed down. A little too much, in fact. At least as far as writing. I haven’t done much of it lately. Only a few words in June and a few more in July. No, I haven’t been on vacation. I’ve been working on the other little details that make up a small business. I am, however, happy to say that I’ve been working on a schedule so that I can get a better balance.

Now, here are the highlights of the past couple of months:

My husband got sick.I started releasing a whole bunch of books.I got sick.I stayed sick.It lasted for about 6 weeks. It got hot outside.

Yep, that about covers it. I was really sick for about a month and a half. I have no idea what it was, but I had a fever and body aches and a horrible, HORRIBLE cough. I kept telling myself, “If I’m not better in 2 more days, I’ll go to the doctor.” Two days later, I would feel a little better. Two days after that, worse. Endless, vicious cycle. 

The good news is, I’m fine now. 

In fact, I’m so fine, I have been mapping out an EPIC story. I can’t give you any details yet, but check out the “What I’m Writing” section below to get a hint.  

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Much Love!

Nicole

Epic Cuteness… a.k.a. my pups

Hennessy watching television. He was so engrossed, I had to get his attention. Let me check out this new food bowl for myself, Mom. Moscato catching a nap. Book News Days Hours Minutes Seconds

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As I mentioned above, I didn’t do much writing in June. I spent so much time with the Primal Instincts books that I needed to take a breath. Now that I have, I’ve come up with my next epic project. However, to get to that project, several more books have to come out first. It’s a timeline thing. And if all goes well, this will be the order of the next releases:

RAFE (The Walkers of Coyote Ridge)CHAIN REACTION (Brantley Walker: Off the Books)RULE (Standalone Novel)CONSEQUENCES (Brantley Walker: Off the Books)BEAUTIFULLY BRUTAL (Southern Boy Mafia)VOWS (Brantley Walker: Off the Books)UNTITLED (Sniper 1 Security)SECRET PROJECT

Believe it or not, there’s a tight timeline for this, so you won’t be waiting for years to get them. Only one year because my plan is to have them all released by July 2024.

And if you’re wondering what the SECRET PROJECT is, well … the only hint I’ll give is that it will crossover many of my series. And by that, I mean you’ll get some up-to-date scenes/POVs of your favorite couples/throuples. 

WIP: Rafe30.1%

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Hot Sheet, volume 10

April 10, 2023

Volume 10

Happy April, y'all

Happy Monday! 

It’s almost 10 a.m., and my day is halfway over. I went to the gym this morning. Yay! First time I’ve gone in years, and I am thrilled to be going back. That may not be the case in the morning when my muscles are sore, but for now, it’s a start.

It’s been a few weeks since I did the last Hot Sheet, and I decided I would make it a monthly occurrence. Truthfully, my life is just too boring for a weekly update. Writing and taking care of the dogs are my two main jobs, and while they’re absolutely rewarding, for you it might be a little like reading the instructions on plant fertilizer. But in any given month, I’m sure something exciting happens that I can tell you about. The real question is whether I can remember. My memory is spotty at best. I can walk two feet and forget what I intended to do. The other day, my husband took out the trash, and I walked over to get a trash bag so I could replace it, but I forgot what I was doing after a couple of steps. He finished taking out the trash and came back into the house before I remembered. That happens to me quite often. I’ll try to write the interesting stuff down.

I’m hoping for some sunshine this week. Last week was rainy and gloomy almost every day. It was also cold – something I’m not used to as a Texan. I mean, seriously, our neighborhood pool opened a week ago. It’s supposed to be warm by now. 

On a medical note, I went to the doctor last week. For about a month now, I’ve been experiencing vertigo when I tilt my head, but mostly when I go to bed. A little dizziness when I lay on my right side and the world’s most intense roller coaster when I lay on my left. The doctor said the vertigo isn’t terrible. His words. I trust him. So I left happy, with an antibiotic for a sinus infection and something for motion sickness. The dizziness comes and goes, so we’ll see what happens from here.

I also got to have lunch with the boy (for those who don’t know, that’s what we call our youngest son – he’s 19). The hubs and I took him to Olive Garden. It was nice. Since he started working at the same place my husband does, I get to have dinner with both of them on most weekdays. Since he’s the only kid left at home, and the only one I see regularly, I enjoy the chance to chat with him.

Last month was a busy month for releases. I had three Primal Instincts books release in one month. And for those keeping track, we are halfway through the release schedule for Primal Instincts. Volume 6 releases this Friday. There are 9 volumes in total, with the last one releasing on May 26. And the good news is, I’m halfway finished with Volume 9. Considering the length of these books and how much of their life you are reading about, I figured it was only fair to give a lengthy epilogue (or two). The future for these 5 is as interesting as how they came to be. 

Oh, and for those who are reading the Primal Instincts books, I figured I would mention that Journey’s parents do not have their own book. That is one of the questions I get most when people start the series. This is truly a standalone serial. Yes, one of the main characters is a Walker and he is from Coyote Ridge, but you don’t have to read anything else to jump into this one. Also, I figure it’s important to note that these volumes are in Kindle Unlimited, but only for 90 days each. Which means Volume 1 will no longer be in KU in early May, so if you plan to read it through your subscription, you should get it now. 

Well, I think that’s all I have for now. I’ll be working on some regular interval blog posts, but going forward, the Hot Sheet will be coming to you each month. Until then…

Much Love!

Nicole

Epic Cuteness… a.k.a. my pups

We weren't doin' nothin'. Promise. Whatcha got, Mom? This toy is cool and all, but Dad might have something better. Give me a sec... Moscato ... portrait worthy Okay, Mom. I'm ready to listen. Maybe. Unless something else happens first. Heineken hanging with his Peeps. Book News Days Hours Minutes Seconds

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As I mentioned above, I’m in the process of finishing up Volume 9, or rather, the story as a whole. I’ve got it mapped out already, including an extended Epilogue. There might be a trip to Coyote Ridge in there, too. Once this series is complete, I’m not sure what I’ll work on next.

I’ve got a few prospects:

a sexy, semi-dark M/F standalone (it’s a spin-off from the Primal Instincts books)Consequences, the next in the Brantley Walker: Off the Books series. There’s a lot more to come for the OTB team.a sexy standalone gay romance about an adrenaline junky who has worldwide recognition and a preference to keep his sexual orientation secret. I started writing this one a year or so ago, but it’s still in the potential pile.Beautifully Irresistible, a m/f mafia romance, which is the next in the Southern Boy Mafia/Sniper 1 Security series. Both series are being re-branded as one since, technically, they involve all the same people.

If you have a preference, comment below. I can’t make any promises, but I’d love to hear what you’d like to see next.

WIP: Primal Instincts97.4% What I'm reading...

I’m still on a dark romance kick and Aleatha Romig is a queen. I came across this one yesterday, so I grabbed it up. I’m not too far in yet, but I have a feeling I’ll be binge-reading more of her books after this.

Check it out on What I'm watching... Rizzoli & Isles

Detective Jane Rizzoli and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Maura Isles team up to solve crimes in Boston.

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I’ve watched this one before, but it’s just as good the second time around. I keep it running in the background when I’m not writing.

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Primal Instincts Volume 5 is Live!

New Release !! Looking for all available volumes? Get your copy now! Here's a peek at Volume 5!

HAWK

Spending an entire week with Garrison, especially on a business trip, usually resulted in a good time. Not only was he exceptional at fucking me, the guy was good company. I liked hanging out with the man. He was always the life of the party.

Except when he wasn’t.

This week, I’d been lucky if he would even crack a smile. He did once. Maybe. It was when I stepped out of the elevator at the hotel and tripped over a ripple in the carpet. Laughing at someone else’s expense qualified, didn’t it?

I was certain he had cracked a smile at that, but not since. And every time I attempted to get him to open up about what was wrong, he would insist it was nothing I needed to concern myself with. He had enforced his desire to avoid conversation by disappearing for lengthy periods. I suspected he had visited his family while we were in Central Texas. I’d met them a few times, so if he’d been so inclined, he could’ve asked me to tag along. I would’ve gone. But he didn’t, so I hadn’t tried to insert myself. Something was going on with Garrison, and I was astute enough to know when to back off.

Only problem was I couldn’t keep from being concerned, worrying about him. I still had no fucking clue what had changed between Garrison and me in recent weeks, but something had. Or I thought so until this trip. After that last encounter, we seemed to be making progress.

Granted, there was a good chance I was standoffish as well. After spending the night with Journey, I felt like a different man. As though the blinds had been lifted and the sun was allowed to shine on my priorities. Namely, her. Since we had all agreed we wouldn’t have sex with other people outside the four of us, I was attempting to abide by the rule. And yes, I understood this could be misconstrued to mean we could have sex with each other, and technically what Garrison and I were doing wasn’t exactly cheating. However, the fact that we were keeping it from Journey felt deceitful.

So there was a good chance Garrison thought I was blowing him off because I wasn’t openly pursuing him. That wasn’t the case. Not intentionally.

My phone buzzed at the same time Garrison’s did. I glanced at the group text message from Creed.

— Journey and her friends are going to Austere tonight. We should make a night of it.

Since Garrison didn’t bother looking at his phone, I read Creed’s text aloud. “You up for a night out?”

“Nah. You have fun.”

“Seriously, man. Journey’s going to be there. Plus, she’s bringing her friends.”

He didn’t respond. Didn’t even acknowledge me.

“Your loss,” I told him, peering out the window as he drove us from the airport to the house.

When he didn’t acknowledge I was attempting to discuss the issue, I tapped out a response to Creed.

— I’ll be there. Garrison’s sulking, so I think he’s going to pass.

— The fuck he is. Garrison, get over yourself. We’ve got shit to work out. All four of us.

I read it off for him and earned more silence. I had no idea what Creed’s intentions were, but I had a feeling tonight was going to end badly.

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Note: The Primal Instincts books are releasing in Kindle Unlimited and will be released on all e-book retailers in September 2023.

Primal Instincts Volume 4 is Live!

New Release!! Looking for all available volumes? Get your copy now Here's a peek at Volume 4!

JOURNEY

As soon as Duke returned to his desk after escorting Wayne into Creed’s office, I confronted him.

“Why is he here?” I demanded as though I had every right to do so.

Duke pulled out his chair and primly sat down, smoothing his shirt as he did. “He requested time on Mr. Granger’s calendar.”

I found it hard to believe anyone could be as unaffected as Duke, yet he showed no outward sign that he was plagued with silly emotions like the rest of us.

“To talk about what?”

“I’m not privy to that information.” There was no inflection in his tone. He was merely relaying facts while I was in the process of a nervous breakdown.

The door behind me opened, and I spun on my heel to see Garrison walking in. His gaze softened when he spotted me.

“What’s going on?” I asked before he could walk by without saying a word.

“I’ll let you know when I know.”

He dismissed me without so much as a smile, continuing down the hall to Creed’s office.

I huffed as I paced back and forth, my heart in my throat.

“Can I get you something to drink while you wait?” Duke offered.

I spun around, glaring at him. He was standing, and if I wasn’t seeing things, there could’ve been a glimmer of concern in his eyes. I couldn’t be sure, though, because a red haze clouded my vision.

I didn’t answer him, spinning around and pacing the small space. I considered strolling toward Creed’s office door, but I couldn’t be certain Duke wouldn’t tackle me if I tried to. Somehow I managed to harness a sliver of control. I spent the next ten minutes alternating between pacing the floor and sitting in one of the reception chairs. I was restless and anxious, and there was no outlet for any of it.

Finally, Creed’s office door opened. I shot to my feet in time to see Garrison slam the door behind him.

“What happened?” I asked, marching toward him, half expecting the little blond man in the expensive suit to jump on my back. He didn’t.

Garrison detoured into his office.

I was hot on his heels, pausing in the doorway when he began pacing the floor, his hands balled into fists. I silently stared, waiting for him to acknowledge me. When he did, he had his emotions under control once again.

“He’s using Creed to blackmail me, isn’t he? He wants that stupid project.”

Garrison didn’t respond. Not with words, anyway. He stopped directly in front of me, cupped my cheek, and leaned in. His lips pressed to mine, and for a few heartbeats, the chaos cleared, but it came crashing back all too quickly.

I pulled away, wanting answers.

“No,” Garrison said firmly, guiding me backward until I was pinned between his big body and the wall. “Let me kiss you.”

“But…” I needed to know what was going on in Creed’s office.

“Let me,” Garrison whispered, his lips hovering over mine. He wasn’t forcing me, but I couldn’t miss the aggressive encouragement as he pressed his weight against me.

I sighed. It was futile to argue when I was desperate for this man. Not only his dominating kiss but the distraction he provided.

He moaned softly when I went up on my toes to close the gap between our mouths. His tongue skated over my lips, and I opened, accepting his penetration. My body tingled, and a flurry of excitement kicked those butterflies into a rampage. Within seconds, my arms were around his neck, and I was trying to climb him like a tree.

I was aware of his hands on my hips, the way they pulled me toward him and pushed me away almost simultaneously. As though he wasn’t committing to what was happening. His indecision kept me from throwing caution to the wind.

I had no idea how long we remained like that, devouring one another, but someone clearing their throat in the hallway ended the make-out session abruptly.

Garrison turned away from me, walking toward his desk. I smoothed my hand over my hair and peered into the hall in time to see Nick going into Creed’s office.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?” I asked Garrison, feeling ultimately defeated.

“Creed’s takin’ care of it.”

I stepped toward Garrison’s desk, peering down at the framed photos sitting on top. “Then why were you pissed when you came out?”

“Because I want to strangle that little fucker.”

His words lacked some of the frustration I’d witnessed moments before.

“Are these your parents?”

Garrison glanced at the photo, his expression clearing. “Yeah. David and Elyza.” He gestured toward the other picture. “Those are my brothers. Michael, Leif, and Lance.”

I picked up the one of his brothers and scanned their features. I could see the resemblance. They had the same blue-gray eyes as Garrison, the same broad forehead, and chin. Even their smiles were similar.

I placed the frame back on the desk and took a seat. Neither of us spoke for the longest time. I wondered if Garrison had taken the mental trip to Creed’s office the way I had.

“I should be in there,” I finally said.

“Trust me; you don’t wanna be.”

“Why’s that?”

Before Garrison could answer, Creed’s office door opened. I shot to my feet and headed for the hallway. I stopped inside Garrison’s office when Wayne stormed past me. I was still staring after him when Duke appeared.

“Mr. Granger would like you to join him.”

I glanced back at Garrison to see he was watching me, but I couldn’t decipher his thoughts. When he didn’t make a move to join me, I headed toward Creed’s office on my own, wondering if this was what it felt like to line up before a firing squad.

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Hot Sheet, vol 9

March 6, 2023

Volume 9

A brand new month...

Happy Monday, y’all!

Another week behind us, many more to look forward to. So, I did not finish writing Volume 6 last week, but I’m close. Really close, so don’t fret. That’s for me, by the way. I tend to panic when I miss a deadline I’ve set for myself. It wasn’t a hard deadline. I’ve got time, but when it comes to this book, I want to be ahead of the game. These guys (and girl) are always on my mind. I enjoy writing their story. 

When I’m not writing this week, I’ve got a couple of appointments to take care of. Hennessy has his 8-week check-up, which I’m looking forward to because he is doing so well. I am excited for him to get back to his previous exercise routine, but not until the vet gives me the go-ahead. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Did you know there’s one less hour this week? At least for those of us who experience the thrill that is daylight saving time. To be honest, it’s ridiculous. It throws off my sleep patterns. I am very routine in that I go to bed early so I can get up early. For me, the earlier I can get up, the better because that is when I write best. Before the stresses of the day have time to interfere. The little blip of adding an hour or taking it away always throws me off for a few weeks.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now. 

Much Love!

Nicole

Epic Cuteness… a.k.a. my pups

This is Hennessy's daytime nap spot. Right outside my office, he can easily keep an eye on me when he needs to. Heineken posing with all his toys. FYI, from this spot, he can also see out the window by the front door. That's why he likes it so much. Where she landed after 3 minutes of trying to move the red pillow.

Photos from my week…

I had to take a pic. That's coffee, y'all. Showing off my Valentine's cards from the Nicole Nation Card Exchange. If you want to sign up, you can. The hubs saw this and thought of me (or rather, the Walkers)

A day in the life of the hubby…

I love when he sends me pics of himself during the day The hubs and his toys. In this case, his car. When the hubs finished washing his car, he raked leaves. The boy helped. Book News Days Hours Minutes Seconds

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March Roll Call Giveaway on March 7thMonthly Murder Mystery Giveaway on March 10th Visit Nicole Nation on Facebook What I'm writing...

I’m working on Primal Instincts Volume 6. Since there are 9 volumes, that means I’m past the midway point. There is a lot left to go, but now we’re heading toward the happily ever after. However, there are still quite a few obstacles they have to overcome.

WIP: Primal Instincts88% What I'm reading...

I have been binge-reading CD Reiss for quite a while now. At least two months. With each book I finish, I want more. I just started reading the Forbidden series. This one is definitely dark but so far so good.

Check it out on What I'm watching... The Mentalist

I’ve watched this entire series once before, but now I’m going for round 2 because … well, Simon Baker’s smile, of course. It wasn’t at all what I expected. The description makes it sound dark, but while it can be at times, there’s a lot of humor and a great cast of characters.

A famous "psychic" outs himself as a fake, and starts working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation so he can find "Red John", the madman who killed his wife and daughter.

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Journey Zeplyn

I wished I could explain why these men made me feel alive. It could be the attention, which was flattering, but it felt like more than that. The way they looked at me … there was a hunger in each of their eyes, and it spoke to me on different levels. I wasn’t sure it was appropriate to be attracted to each of them the way I was, but I couldn’t help it.

And while I was wholly captivated with Creed, this thing with him was new and exciting, which I think was why I’d been so focused on him, but being in the ring with Hawk … Yeah, I felt good about my decision to keep seeing him. If he’d have me, of course. I’d yet to have that conversation with him, so it might be moot.

As for Garrison, I was starting to wonder whether or not I’d dreamed our time together. As it was, I was beginning to get whiplash from his mood swings. One second he was joking; the next, he was looking at me with such intensity I could hardly breathe. I was upset that he’d ghosted me since the night he stayed, but I was also consumed by a sense of longing whenever I looked at him. Garrison was the one who made me feel safe, and the thought of never feeling that again confused me.

On a positive note, I was beginning to value my friendship with Nick. But if he expected me to be some wallflower who’d sit back while he flirted and teased, he had another thing coming. I’d never been that girl. Not when it came to friends or boys or school or anything else. I was the one wearing the T-shirt that said moving to the front, and I gave as good as I got. It was how I was raised, something my parents instilled in me from a very young age. I did what I wanted to do, not what was socially acceptable, and I tended not to make excuses for it.

It was another thing I had forgotten last week when I doubted myself because of Wayne. He had reminded me that there were others who thought I had a hidden agenda. I didn’t because I didn’t need one. If I wanted something, I went after it. There was no reason to be deceitful. Now I intended to prove I wasn’t that woman. I wouldn’t back down from a challenge, and I damn sure didn’t care what anyone else thought of me.

With Nick’s car key in my hand, his warm fingers curling mine around it, my heart fluttered a little. I think it was the trust I saw in his eyes. I held Nick’s stare, loving how his whiskey-colored eyes glittered with curiosity and challenge. The way he was looking at me was that of a man who seemed to be looking into my soul, searching for something. Loyalty? Honesty? It felt like he was assessing whether I was worthy of his friends. I respected his need to protect them, even if they didn’t need his protection. Not from me, anyway.

Because this was still new, and I was learning my way around their personalities, I assumed they were testing me somehow. Maybe to see how far I’d go? I decided to go with the safe option. Keeping it a group thing would be easier all around. That way, no one got their feelings hurt on the off-chance they weren’t simply playing with me, and two, I didn’t have to choose between them.

“How about we keep it simple? Lunch after,” I told them as I passed Nick’s key back to him with a wink. I appreciated him playing along, but I wouldn’t hold him to it. “The winner decides where, and the loser has to pay.”

“I’ll fight Hawk for that deal,” someone yelled from the crowd.

“Shut up, Tony,” Hawk hollered. “I’d wipe the mat with your face.”

A few people laughed, including Tony.

Creed approached, coming to stand directly in front of me. Nick was still at my side, and Garrison’s warm body was behind me. I was surrounded by these primal, alpha males.

“I’ll take that deal,” Creed said smoothly, tapping my chin with the pad of his boxing glove. “But you’ve got to kiss me for luck.”

That was a request I couldn’t deny him, so I went up on my toes as he leaned down. I pressed my lips to his, keeping the kiss chaste to avoid inciting any crude comments or catcalls from the crowd.

He was smiling when he pulled back. “I needed that.”

“Me, too.”

“Hey, what about me?” Hawk asked with a laugh. “Wait. I probably don’t need luck.”

I grinned up at him. “You sure about that?”

I meant it as a joke, but he shocked me when he slipped between the ropes, dropping to his feet directly in front of me with the agility and grace of a jungle cat. He muscled Nick out of the way, and the next thing I knew, he leaned in and his lips were on mine. It wasn’t rough or aggressive, and he didn’t force me in any way, but an unseen force seemed to pull me toward him, and I found myself leaning in. It wasn’t until someone cleared their throat that I realized Creed was staring, his jaw tense.

Wanting them both to know I wasn’t backing down from my decision, I grabbed each of their arms and squeezed gently. “Don’t kill each other, okay? I’m not done with either of you yet.”

I glanced over at Creed and smiled. His eyes, now pinned on my lips, had darkened, the quicksilver morphing into molten steel.

I couldn’t explain it, but I’d seen that look before—many, many times.

It was very much like the looks I’d seen on my dads’ faces when they looked at my mom.

Oh, boy.

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Note: The Primal Instincts books are releasing in Kindle Unlimited and will be released on all e-book retailers in September 2023.