💙 Are you ready for Wraith?
Hey Lovelies,
The Grief We Hold is out next month, and I can't wait for you all to meet Wraith. So, I thought I'd ease the wait by introducing him to you and sharing an excerpt where Wraith is simply being who he is, which is:
Grumpy: Man, does this hero get grumpy about the tiniest things, like how Raven is self-sufficient and doesn't need him...even though he doesn't want her to need him at all.
Widowed: Urgh, the heartbreak he feels over the loss that happened two years ago. I may have cried while writing.
Loyal: This man is so loyal to his club and former family, that he barely has room in his heart for the new single mom and her son who drift into town.
Sergeant at arms: Vengeance gets in the way of doing his job properly...and it takes an Outlaw from another chapter to set him straight! (Any guesses who that might be? WINK!)
Afraid to commit: Oh, boy, does he fight his fall into love!
Dirty talker: I can't even with this one. But the combination of his mouth and a fondness for hot wax, you'll melt with this one.
Now read on for that unedited excerpt, and please consider pre-ordering!
Pre-order - https://books2read.com/thegriefwehold
S 💙
UNEDITED AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE!
“Okay. Let’s make this a game,” I say to Fen. “See the bakery down the street there?”
His little nose screws up as he looks ahead for a second. “I see it.”
“If you can help me get this dresser there without complaining, I’ll buy you a dessert for after dinner tonight.”
Fen claps his hands. “Can I get a doughnut?”
“If they have doughnuts, yes. If they don’t, you could maybe get a cookie or something.”
He puts his little shoulder against the free dresser we just found on the sidewalk. “Let’s go, momma. They might not have anything left by the time we get there.”
I could reassure him that it’s a bakery, open all day, and unlikely to run out of anything for a few hours. But I capitalize on his hustle.
“Lift, don’t push.”
We make it a few more feet, and even I feel tired.
I hear the truck pull up alongside us before I turn and see Wraith, face like thunder. His boots make a crunching sound when they land on the asphalt. “Where are you going with that?”
I look at the dresser, then at Wraith. “Hmm. Let me think. I saw a dresser on the road and said to Fen we should see how long it would take us to drag it the full length of Main Street for kicks.”
Wraith crosses his arms across his chest. “It was a simple question, blue”
“That already had an obvious answer. You saw my place. The dresser was free. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I promised Fen a doughnut if we get it to the bakery without stopping.”
Fen looks up at Wraith. “Does the bakery sell doughnuts, Wraith?”
Wraith looks down at my boy, and for a millisecond, I swear his features soften. “Pretty sure they do, kid.”
“Well, as lovely as this interaction was, we need to get going before it rains or something,” I say.
The three of us look up at the utterly cloudless blue sky.
“Yeah. I can see why you might think that might happen.” He walks to the dresser and pulls the first drawer out before depositing it into the bed of his truck.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He huffs a laugh and starts to grab the second one. “Guess I’m not the only one capable of asking obvious questions.”
“I don’t need begrudging charity. I don’t need your help when it’s obvious you’d rather be any place other than here.”
Wraith tosses the second drawer into the back of the truck, then pauses to unfurl a ten-dollar bill and hands it to Fen. “Go with your mom and get that donut. I’ll drive the dresser over to your place and leave this in the doorway for when you’re done.”
Fen gleefully takes the bill from Wraith’s hand, then surprises both of us by reaching to throw his arms around Wraith’s waist. “Thank you for helping us. It was heavy.”
Wraith looks uncertain for a second then pats the top of Fen’s head. “You’re welcome, kid. Guess you’re the only one in your family with manners.” He tips his chin in the direction of the bakery. “Go get yourself a donut too.”
I think about my husband. How everything was earned, had consequences, and required repayment. Nothing was ever freely done. So, I take the money from Fen’s hand and pass it back to Wraith.
He holds his hands up. “Not taking that back.”
Maybe it’s because I’m tired and still recovering from being so sick, and exhausted from trying to lug the heavy furniture the mile to our home.
Or maybe I’m just overwhelmed by the memories of the life I used to have and the fear I have of repeating that mistake.
So, I step into Wraith’s space and fold the note before putting it into the pocket of his leather cut.
“I can’t afford to owe you.”
Wraith reaches for me, as if to touch my cheek but quickly draws his hand away. “You don’t owe me shit.”
“Men always say that.”
The air between us hums with tension. I need to leave, but I’m desperate to know what it would feel like if one of his large fingers brushed against my skin. What it would feel like if he placed a knuckle beneath my chin and lifted my lips to his.
His tongue runs over his lower lip, and I wonder if it’s because he’s thinking the same thing I am.
My breath catches, and while my brain is screaming at me to take a few steps back, to move out of his orbit, I could no sooner move than two opposing magnets placed next to each other.
Wraith reaches out his hand toward Fen, but I notice his pinkie finger is hooked. “Hey, Fen. Come here and make a pinkie promise with me.”
“A what…?” I say. Which is ridiculous because I know what a pinkie promise is. I just don’t know why this intimidating biker is offering to make one with my son. “Wait.”
He crouches to eye level with Fen, his pinkie finger still raised. “You know what a pinkie promise is, kid?”
Fen nods enthusiastically because unlike me, he seems happy to be around Wraith. “I do.”
“Well, I want to make a pinkie promise with you that you two will never be expected to repay me for moving the dresser to your home.”
“Never?” Fen asks.
“Never. Not you. Or your mom.”
Fen offers his pinkie, tiny in size compared to Wraith’s. And Wraith shakes it gently. “You got a strong grip,” Wraith says kindly, and Fen soaks up the compliment.
His father always called him weak. Stupid and pathetic. He berated him for his love of nature and the birds that used to come to sit in the garden.
Wraith stands and looks at me. “Good enough?”
“You and I both know it’s not legally binding.”
Wraith smiles softly, then pulls the ten-dollar bill from his pocket before handing it to Fen. “A man’s only as good as his word. And my word is all I got. Go get Fen a donut. The dresser will be outside when you get home.”
I reach for Fen’s hand. “Thank you.”
He tips his head once, then returns to removing the drawers and putting them in his truck.
Walking away is harder than I thought. For a moment, I pretend it’s the risk of him putting the dresser on the sidewalk outside the apartment entrance and someone else deciding to take it.
But I made a pact with myself when I left, that I wouldn’t lie to myself again.
I won’t ignore warning signs. Or try to convince myself that things will be okay if I simply do better or be better, or love better.
So I admit it’s leaving Wraith.
And so on brand for me that I’m attracted to another dangerous and reckless man.
The Grief We Hold is out next month, and I can't wait for you all to meet Wraith. So, I thought I'd ease the wait by introducing him to you and sharing an excerpt where Wraith is simply being who he is, which is:
Grumpy: Man, does this hero get grumpy about the tiniest things, like how Raven is self-sufficient and doesn't need him...even though he doesn't want her to need him at all.
Widowed: Urgh, the heartbreak he feels over the loss that happened two years ago. I may have cried while writing.
Loyal: This man is so loyal to his club and former family, that he barely has room in his heart for the new single mom and her son who drift into town.
Sergeant at arms: Vengeance gets in the way of doing his job properly...and it takes an Outlaw from another chapter to set him straight! (Any guesses who that might be? WINK!)
Afraid to commit: Oh, boy, does he fight his fall into love!
Dirty talker: I can't even with this one. But the combination of his mouth and a fondness for hot wax, you'll melt with this one.
Now read on for that unedited excerpt, and please consider pre-ordering!
Pre-order - https://books2read.com/thegriefwehold
S 💙
UNEDITED AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE!
“Okay. Let’s make this a game,” I say to Fen. “See the bakery down the street there?”
His little nose screws up as he looks ahead for a second. “I see it.”
“If you can help me get this dresser there without complaining, I’ll buy you a dessert for after dinner tonight.”
Fen claps his hands. “Can I get a doughnut?”
“If they have doughnuts, yes. If they don’t, you could maybe get a cookie or something.”
He puts his little shoulder against the free dresser we just found on the sidewalk. “Let’s go, momma. They might not have anything left by the time we get there.”
I could reassure him that it’s a bakery, open all day, and unlikely to run out of anything for a few hours. But I capitalize on his hustle.
“Lift, don’t push.”
We make it a few more feet, and even I feel tired.
I hear the truck pull up alongside us before I turn and see Wraith, face like thunder. His boots make a crunching sound when they land on the asphalt. “Where are you going with that?”
I look at the dresser, then at Wraith. “Hmm. Let me think. I saw a dresser on the road and said to Fen we should see how long it would take us to drag it the full length of Main Street for kicks.”
Wraith crosses his arms across his chest. “It was a simple question, blue”
“That already had an obvious answer. You saw my place. The dresser was free. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I promised Fen a doughnut if we get it to the bakery without stopping.”
Fen looks up at Wraith. “Does the bakery sell doughnuts, Wraith?”
Wraith looks down at my boy, and for a millisecond, I swear his features soften. “Pretty sure they do, kid.”
“Well, as lovely as this interaction was, we need to get going before it rains or something,” I say.
The three of us look up at the utterly cloudless blue sky.
“Yeah. I can see why you might think that might happen.” He walks to the dresser and pulls the first drawer out before depositing it into the bed of his truck.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He huffs a laugh and starts to grab the second one. “Guess I’m not the only one capable of asking obvious questions.”
“I don’t need begrudging charity. I don’t need your help when it’s obvious you’d rather be any place other than here.”
Wraith tosses the second drawer into the back of the truck, then pauses to unfurl a ten-dollar bill and hands it to Fen. “Go with your mom and get that donut. I’ll drive the dresser over to your place and leave this in the doorway for when you’re done.”
Fen gleefully takes the bill from Wraith’s hand, then surprises both of us by reaching to throw his arms around Wraith’s waist. “Thank you for helping us. It was heavy.”
Wraith looks uncertain for a second then pats the top of Fen’s head. “You’re welcome, kid. Guess you’re the only one in your family with manners.” He tips his chin in the direction of the bakery. “Go get yourself a donut too.”
I think about my husband. How everything was earned, had consequences, and required repayment. Nothing was ever freely done. So, I take the money from Fen’s hand and pass it back to Wraith.
He holds his hands up. “Not taking that back.”
Maybe it’s because I’m tired and still recovering from being so sick, and exhausted from trying to lug the heavy furniture the mile to our home.
Or maybe I’m just overwhelmed by the memories of the life I used to have and the fear I have of repeating that mistake.
So, I step into Wraith’s space and fold the note before putting it into the pocket of his leather cut.
“I can’t afford to owe you.”
Wraith reaches for me, as if to touch my cheek but quickly draws his hand away. “You don’t owe me shit.”
“Men always say that.”
The air between us hums with tension. I need to leave, but I’m desperate to know what it would feel like if one of his large fingers brushed against my skin. What it would feel like if he placed a knuckle beneath my chin and lifted my lips to his.
His tongue runs over his lower lip, and I wonder if it’s because he’s thinking the same thing I am.
My breath catches, and while my brain is screaming at me to take a few steps back, to move out of his orbit, I could no sooner move than two opposing magnets placed next to each other.
Wraith reaches out his hand toward Fen, but I notice his pinkie finger is hooked. “Hey, Fen. Come here and make a pinkie promise with me.”
“A what…?” I say. Which is ridiculous because I know what a pinkie promise is. I just don’t know why this intimidating biker is offering to make one with my son. “Wait.”
He crouches to eye level with Fen, his pinkie finger still raised. “You know what a pinkie promise is, kid?”
Fen nods enthusiastically because unlike me, he seems happy to be around Wraith. “I do.”
“Well, I want to make a pinkie promise with you that you two will never be expected to repay me for moving the dresser to your home.”
“Never?” Fen asks.
“Never. Not you. Or your mom.”
Fen offers his pinkie, tiny in size compared to Wraith’s. And Wraith shakes it gently. “You got a strong grip,” Wraith says kindly, and Fen soaks up the compliment.
His father always called him weak. Stupid and pathetic. He berated him for his love of nature and the birds that used to come to sit in the garden.
Wraith stands and looks at me. “Good enough?”
“You and I both know it’s not legally binding.”
Wraith smiles softly, then pulls the ten-dollar bill from his pocket before handing it to Fen. “A man’s only as good as his word. And my word is all I got. Go get Fen a donut. The dresser will be outside when you get home.”
I reach for Fen’s hand. “Thank you.”
He tips his head once, then returns to removing the drawers and putting them in his truck.
Walking away is harder than I thought. For a moment, I pretend it’s the risk of him putting the dresser on the sidewalk outside the apartment entrance and someone else deciding to take it.
But I made a pact with myself when I left, that I wouldn’t lie to myself again.
I won’t ignore warning signs. Or try to convince myself that things will be okay if I simply do better or be better, or love better.
So I admit it’s leaving Wraith.
And so on brand for me that I’m attracted to another dangerous and reckless man.
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