Taking a LOOK at the backlist: Keeping House

LOOK

Look! A Writing Challenge!  This is revised from a challenge that was circulating in 2012.

The Rules are simple:

 Find the word LOOK in one of your back list books, and then post the three paragraphs surrounding it. Post your favorite three, the ones that are most intriguing and then tag three other authors who might like to share their back-list.  I'm tagging Tom Webb, Angel Martinez, and Havan Fellows. 

  

My excerpt is from KEEPING HOUSE, available at

Amazon

All Romance eBooks

Bookstrand

Breathless Press

“Sorry to wake you, Mr. Holloway,” he called, grateful that his voice came out sounding masculine instead of squeaky. Knowing there was nothing he could do to disguise his erection in his tight clothes; he turned quickly back to survey the jumbled interior of the small van.

 He heard Donovan’s approaching footsteps squelching in the soggy leaves and looked down to see the man’s long, elegant feet in flip-flops parked next to his own combat boots. Fuck. He even had sexy feet? There really was no justice in the world. If there were, the man would have some visible flaw to counteract his gorgeousness. Maybe he’s got a tiny cock, and that’s God’s little joke, or he prefers to bottom, too. In which case even if I got him into bed neither of us would know what the fuck to do with the other.

 Coughing, he turned to his friends. “Mr. Holloway, these are my friends, who were kind enough to help me move.” Actually, he’d quite recently discovered that they were his only real friends, but Donovan didn’t need to know that the hundreds of hangers-on who’d been happy to party with him when he was flush had disappeared when the money had gone. He pulled Bella forward from where she tried to hide behind him, “This is Bella, and that’s Dex and Trick.” He waved in the direction of the twins hoping their behavior at the moment was discreet enough not to turn Donovan off the idea of letting them in his house. 

Coming Soon: Holidays With Jacob

Releasing February 15, 2013 

Holidays With Jacob

Pre-order at BREATHLESS PRESS

In Loving Jacob they were torn apart, then brought together again for a fresh start. Follow Malcolm Jenner and Jacob Renault through a year of special days as their relationship grows.

Join Malcolm and Jacob as they forge their relationship amid the ashes of the past. From making love again for the first time, to letting go of past ties, these two men still make mistakes, but the past has taught them to be honest with one another and to consider each other's needs in addition to their own wants and desires.

 Celebrate a year of holidays, joys, failures, and triumphs as Malcolm and Jacob learn that it takes more than love to build a relationship that lasts. 

Excerpt

Malcolm stopped him with a hand on his forearm. "Let's take a walk on the beach while there's still some light and clean up later." He managed to make the suggestion sound casual though he felt as though his heart were beating out of his chest in a visible cartoon character manner. He patted nervously at his pocket for the items he'd placed there earlier.

Jacob nodded and twisted his wrist so that their hands were clasped together. Malcolm's heartbeat stuttered as he caught a brief glimpse of the fine scars that criss-crossed their way up Jacob's arm. They hadn't been good for each other all those years ago. What made him think that this time around would be any different? Hand in hand they descended the shallow steps to the sand from the deck. He started to speak a few times, and bit back the words. He wasn't sure how to phrase what he wanted to say. Damn it.

"Malcolm, what's going on here?" Jacob's voice was soft, tentative. He seemed very young and insecure suddenly, more so than Malcolm had ever seen him.

Bracing his spine and turning to face Jacob, Malcolm took a deep breath before finding his voice, husky with emotion. "If I tell you the truth…"

Jacob's gaze locked with Malcolm's. "Malcolm, you're creeping me out here. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but this is all just a little, well, creepy. The truth would be fine. Go ahead. I can handle it."

Malcolm smiled. He rubbed his thumb over the scars at Jacob's wrist. He felt on comfortable footing again. "But, is it more than you want?"

Jacob flushed and swallowed visibly, but answered without hesitation. "No. I want this." He gestured to the romantic moonlight with their clasped hands, towards where the incoming tide washed away the remains of the day. He hesitated briefly then rushed on as though determined to get the words out. "I love you. I always have, since the very first time in the elevator." Jacob laughed, a little darkly. "Hell, I moved back here from Vermont, gave up a good teaching position with the university, for a second chance with you, Malcolm. Whatever your truth is, I can handle it."

Malcolm paused in astonishment. On reflection, he realized that it was true, and recognized that on a certain level he had known all along that this was the case. The soft glow in Jacob's eyes hadn't appeared there suddenly, it had been there all along. The knowledge gave him the courage he needed to speak himself.

"I love you, too. I want to be with you. That is my truth."

Love is in the Air

Winner by random draw is 
pnelson6915@gmail.com
Thank you to everyone else who stopped by, I really appreciate your support! 

Love Is In the Air Blog Hop

Hosted by Under the Covers

THE NITTY GRITTY

1. Blog hop runs from 12:01 AM February 7th through to 11:59 PM February 14th, 2013.
2. You must include your email address for notification purposes if you win. Entries without email addresses will be disqualified.
3. Prizes must be claimed within seven days (by Feb. 21) or are forfeit.
4. Winners will be announced on this page and notified by email on Feb. 15^th.
5. Physical prizes are US only. E-books, gift cards, etc. are international.

The Sweet Talk

It has come to that time of year again – Valentine’s Day.

It is a time for the bad poetry and naughty underwear to be dusted off and put to use.

But if you want more than just barely-there underwear and a few sonnets,

how about a sexy romantic book to get you in the smooching mood?

Join us in our Love is in the Air blog hop for a chance to win

and make your Valentine’s Day perfect!

.Book Related prizes....

I have just the thing!

Designed by the fabulous Freia Inguz, especially for the season...

Plus, a collection of M/M romance Paperbacks Including....

Encounter 

Variety is the spice of life- here's a collection of short stories to heat up your day.

Encounter: A nervous wannabe actor slips away to steal a smoke at an audition and finds more relaxation than he expected. 

Finding Justice: When Justice figures out his boyfriend considers him nothing more than a piece of ass on the side, he takes matters into his own hands. 

Nick: Insecure nurse Nick discovers something about his rock star boyfriend he just can't forgive.

Loving Jacob (insert pic)

When Malcolm Jenner’s sex-on-the-side turns into more, he isn’t above begging for a second chance.

Malcolm is looking for a bit of fun, nothing serious.  He's got duties and responsibilities, after all. He doesn’t usually choose his lovers from the office, but his attraction to Jacob Renault is too compelling to resist.

However,  Jacob isn't interested in temporary.  He wants it all, Prince Charming the castle, the happily ever after.  There's no rule that says he can't have fun while he's searching for his prince though.

At first neither is willing to compromise their stance, but an agreement is reached, with each man planning to do his best to subvert the other to his viewpoint.  Lust turns to love, and what’s impossible becomes merely improbable, but is it going to be enough?

Like that taste? Want to see more of how our heroes reached this point?

The Librarian 

Valentine Michaels has just taken a vow of celibacy. Adrian Grey intends to take full advantage of that vow to re-create his relationship with Val.

Val is at a crossroads in his life. A college dropout, he's gone as far as he can in his career as a cosmetologist, owning his own style salon. He no longer finds satisfaction in it, though he's put years into proving to his bigoted parents that a college degree and the veneer of straightness aren't the only roads to success. They'd turned their backs on him, and he proved he didn't need them to make it.

His love life is no better than his working life. His relationships always start with a bang and fizzle into boredom, or worse, anger.

Adrian has his own agenda for helping Val: he's been in love with Val since they were freshmen. The intervening years of listening to Val's gossip about his lovers and relationships have taught Adrian just what it was he did wrong all those years ago, and he thinks this time around he now knows exactly how to get—and keep—his man.

Want to win?

Just leave me a comment below with

a.     your email address( for notification purposes)

b.     your idea of a perfect Valentine date

c.      Alternatively- a decadent treat you enjoy spoiling your loved ones with on special days...

That's all.

Click on over to the other participating blogs via the linky thingy.

Sometimes, linky thingies don't work- so here's the link to the master blog.

http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/2013/01/love-is-in-the-air-blog-hop-sign-ups.html

Tomato Rice Soup

Recipe Theme of the Month: Nostalgia

Hey there! I've been thinking a lot about recipes my mom used to make, tha I loved as a kid but never seem to serve as an adult. This is a really simple dish that we had frequently.

Tomato Rice Soup

My mom made this soup with a can of diced tomatoes, or sometimes with tomatoes she'd canned from the garden the summer before.  Beef or chicken stock, rice or even at times barley- though I guess not many people cook with barely anymore. It's hot, light, and filling. Perfect for an afternoon meal with a grilled cheese sandwich and a great way to use leftovers!

Ingredients:

1 can of diced tomatoes with juice

2 cups broth

1/4 cup chopped celery with leaves

1/2 bay leaf, crumbled (you can play with the seasoning... I made this yesterday with Italian seasoning)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup cooked long grain rice

Preparation: 

Bring tomatoes, broth and seasonings to a boil in a large saucepan. Add rice and heat through. Taste and add more salt and pepper to taste.

You can kick it up with Mexican spices, use macaroni instead of rice, make it your own in a lot of ways. Do you have a homestyle favorite soup?

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee

Who has lit your flame?

Yes, I know, the grammar's a bit flubbed. 

I think I owe that flame to quite a few people over the last 45 years. From the fifth grade teacher who had our class write legends explaining natural phenomena as part of a history lesson, to the sophomore literature teacher who gave us everything from the Wizard of Oz to the Great Gatsby to read, to the professor who asked if I had always written with grace...

I owe my "spark" to dozens of influences.

Where does yours come from?

February Releases Update

February Releases

Hi everyone!

Just a note about what February is bringing. I have three releases scheduled for this month. That sounds like a lot, but when I tell you two of them are 5K short stories, and the other is a collection of short stories I wrote over the course of 2012, you'll realize that I am not being over worked. LOL

First, I've had a short story that I wrote back in 2011 that I love. Its hard to find a publisher who accepts shorts though, outside of anthologies, and believe it or not, a lot of people don't buy anthologies! So, this story is finally seeing the light of day via Lime Time Press, my little self publishing venture. It's a Valentine story about a man with a secret, and the man who hopes to love him. While it's a romantic story, it doesn't end with a wedding or an avowal of love. It's a beginning with the promise of a future HEA. Look for Under the Pier at e-book dealers on Feb. 8^th. 

Second, my anthology of Malcolm and Jacob short stories is releasing form Breathless Press on February 15. This collection covers a year of holidays as Malcolm Jenner and Jacob Renault, heroes of Loving Jacob, try to put their relationship back together again. It is currently available for pre-order at BREATHLESS PRESS and will release elsewhere on Feb. 15.

Last, you may not know this, but I write stories that are more erotic, less romantic, quick erotic sex-capades without the HEA, under the name L.B.. The first series of those, A Rake in London, is releasing over the next few months Book #2, A Debt of Honor: Collected will release at the end of February. They are a lot of fun to write, and the Regency is a lovely era to visit. If HEA isn't a requirement for you, I hope you give them a try!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee

Recent Releases

Chances Are book #1...

Pulp Friction: Where Hardboiled Meets Erotic

The Accident

"Fine never meant fine when Shane said it. Fine meant "Fuck off, asshole.""

The Aristocrat & His Servant

Pulp Friction Heated Exchange: Leaving you satisfied for now

Crawl in Bed With Vaughn....Sort of...

Crawling Into Bed With Vaughn

And a Good Book Wish Me Nothing

*Crawls into bed* Important things first, are these sheets silk or cotton?

I like the simple things in life. Cotton is fine with me, though I do splurge for the higher thread count once in a while. You don't really think of these types of things when your boyfriend can pretty much conjure up anything you wi— um...desire.

Hm...What were you going to say? Nothing, huh? What are you wearing?

 Just my—

*clap of thunder*

*lightning shoots through the bedroom*

*an evil yet humorous laugh follows*

Shan:  Hold on now. Wait just one minute. Seriously Lee, you want to interview him? This guy is so vanilla he has black dots on his white skin. You need a little blue in your bed baby...

Vaughn:  We had an agreement about yo—

*Shan sucks on Vaughn's nose*

Shan:  You're absolutely right, butter cream, there is nothing little about me. Now be gone, and don't forget to tell Ar I goosed your no-no square, I just love it when his hemisphere rumbles.

*waves as Vaughn disappears screaming at him*

So now, where were we you tall, dark and spanking honey? Oh yes...wardrobe. How about I dress in a big ol' heaping of...you guessed it...blue?

*Djins out with nothing on*

*mouth drops open* Good lord man! Put that thing away before you put someone's eye out! What are we snacking on in bed while we read tonight?

Well I know what I'm nibbling on tonight? Question is, you gonna repay the favor? 

Nope, sorry. If I open this nightstand drawer, what will I find?

Remember...vanilla? Now if you wanna sah-wing down to my place I'm sure I can find something to your liking. Do you prefer coarse or soft?

Fabric? I'm partial to flannel and soft faded denim, as a matter of fact. But I don't keep either of them in the nightstand. Do you roll up in the blankets like a burrito, or kick the covers off during the night?

Does the burrito have a cream filling?

Don't get out much, do you? A burrito usually has a meat, bean, rice or cheese filling...or you know, some combination of the above. Can I put my cold feet on your calves to warm them up?

Is that what you humans are calling it now? Calves? Foot away baby jay...just make sure when you tuck your toes up underneath there that you wiggle them a bit. I just love the sensation that creates...

*eyeroll* You are a real handful, aren't you? *covers eyes* Forget I said that, huh? Jeeze...What are we reading?

We're reading about the night that I single-handedly saved my brother's delectable derriere. Now some people might claim it happened differently, but come on now—who you gonna trust?

*holds hands wide and smiles showing his sharpened fangs*

Fine, let me prove it to you...

Ar and Vaughn have a great relationship. When Vaughn makes a simple slip of the tongue, Ar's life is put in jeopardy. Whatever you do, don't say "I wish".

Blurb:

Ever hear the old saying "Be careful what you wish for"?

What happens if you find out that the Djin are not just fairy tales? That could be bad. Now, what happens if you find out that your boyfriend of a year and a half is a Djin? That could be worse.

In one fateful night, Vaughn Boggs's world is turned inside out. Not only does he find out his boyfriend, Ar, is keeping a life shattering secret from him. But when other Djin threaten Ar's life, Vaughn has to work with Shan, Ar's lecherous brother, to find a way for them all to survive so they can see the next sunrise.

Vaughn isn't sure a human can take on the magicks of the Djin, and he definitely isn't sure he can trust Shan...but for Ar he's willing to wish that both are possible.

Wish Me Nothing is available for pre-order at Breathless Press

Excerpt:

Immediately Vaughn jumped out of the chair and ran to the other side of the room. When he turned around, a Djin rested his hip casually against the corner of the desk. Without moving closer, Vaughn studied him. This one was a new one; though he resembled Ar in some aspects, he didn't reach Ar's height. His face also lacked the viciousness of the beach Djin. Okay, a new one. Great.

"Who are you? None of you are supposed to be able to get in here!"

"Aw, isn't that cute. You aren't afraid of the big blue man. Silly human. Ar couldn't keep me out even if he tried, and trust me, he tried."

The man—no, the monster—pushed off the desk and advanced on Vaughn slowly, like a beast stalking his prey. For every move the stranger took, Vaughn mimicked it in the same direction, attempting to keep the distance from minimizing.

"What do you want with me?"

"Well, you see, the way I figure it, if you're good enough for Ar to give up his life...well then I might as well give you a go. I'm thinking your dick shoots gold or something. Wanna show me?"

Vaughn bumped into the leather love seat and quickly side-stepped behind it. "Let's not and say I did."

"Now come on, coy doesn't become you. I'm really quite good at it. Betcha I'm better than Ar in the sack." He jumped over the love seat and cornered Vaughn, planting a palm on either side of Vaughn's head flat against the wall so no escape could be made. "I promise to be gentle, for the first five minutes or so at least. Until you beg me to be rough." He leaned closer and breathed in Vaughn's ear, "And oh yes, you will beg. They all do."

Vaughn put his hands on that blue chest and pushed him away. Or at least strove to, but he concluded a brick wall would move before this Djin did.

The stranger rubbed his chest into Vaughn's hands and sighed loudly. "Oooh that tickles. Do it again?"

Vaughn snatched his hands back and contemplated the likelihood of slipping under one of those massive arms.

"Shan, I suggest you back away from him right now."

Vaughn's muscles relaxed a bit when he heard that voice. "Ar?"

"Jeez Ar, you're just ordering everyone to leave your toy alone. Didn't you ever learn the value of sharing?" Shan licked Vaughn's ear. Vaughn felt his sharp teeth nip at his lobe and cringed. "Ar!"

"Shan. The next part of you that touches him will be removed."

Shan huffed a chuckle into Vaughn's now wet ear.

"Let me rephrase that. The next part of you that touches him I will delight in ripping off with my bare hands."

"Your loss, moon pie. Ahh, we coulda been so good together," he whispered before moving away from him.

Vaughn rushed to Ar's side and looked at Shan's smug face. "He stronger than you also?"

"No. In fact, this one seems to like it when I beat the shit out of him on a regular basis."

"Ah yes. I remember. It seems like just yesterday when you used those big strong hands all over my body. Teaching me a lesson and punishing me to where it hurt so good." Shan shuddered, leaning back against the wall and smirking again. "So Ar, am I in need of more punishment? Will you let your toy watch this time?" He ran his hand up the middle of his naked chest and pinched his nipple.

Vaughn looked between Ar and Shan. "Um...Ar? Should I leave you two alone?"

Ar let out an exasperated breath. "Shan, stop it now. You've had your fun; what do you want? What purpose for your visit?"

"Better question is how the hell did he get in here if you protected this house?"

"I couldn't keep him out; we share the same bloodline. Vaughn, meet my baby brother."

Vaughn looked between Shan's blueness and Ar's tan-ness. "Sorry, don't see the resemblance." He chuckled a bit madly, then stopped. "Wait a second, he's your brother and you two...did that together? Damn, that's...well that's...okay, that's kinda interesting."

Ar gave him a droll look. "We did not have sex! His personality alone would wither my erection."

"Oh stop it, Ar. You're making me blush here." Shan pushed off of the wall he leaned on and swayed over to them. "So, you two ready to get this party pumping?" He gyrated and thrust his hips toward Vaughn.

Vaughn moved closer to Ar. "You did say you could take this one, right?"

Ar situated himself between Vaughn and Shan. "What do you want, Shan? Why are you here?" Vaughn could hear the irritation in his voice.

With Shan still in his Djin form he easily winked over Ar's shoulder at Vaughn. "Why dearest brother, I've come to help you and your toy. I figure if anyone gets the pleasure of terminating you it should be yours truly, not those idjits who think they call the shots."

Crawling Into Bed With Remy Remington

____________

And a Good Book: Oceans Apart

*crawls into bed. *eyes two hulking men* Important things first, are these sheets silk or cotton?

Seriously? I bought them at Target. Who the hell sleeps on silk?

Well, I will admit that the majority of my interviewees prefer cotton. What are you wearing?

What the fuck does that matter?

Seriously? You do know that half the people reading this are hoping for a glimpse of... Oh never mind. What are we snacking on in bed while we read tonight?

The only thing I eat in bed is— *ouch* What the fuck, Miggy? Why’d you hit me on the back of my head?

Miggy: Be nice, querido. Lee is friends with Laura. And in case you haven’t noticed, Havan’s over there in the corner. She doesn’t want to hear what you eat in bed.

What is this nursery school?

Miggy: No, Remy, but people are supposed to be reading this to see if they want to read the book—

Like I give a—

Havan: Alrighty now...*raises hand* um...if I could just pipe in here—just for a second...I'm very interested in what gets eaten in this bed...just saying *winks*

Shhh. Havan! Don't poke him, he might bite... in a not too pleasant way. He's a might touchy it seems. If I open this nightstand drawer, what will I find?

“What?” Oh, hmm… slick, condoms, socks.

Miggy: Socks? Why do you keep your socks—Remy? Your socks are lined up in neat little rows, by colors…

Point, Miguel?

Miggy: Well, it’s just so…organized—

S’the way I like things. That okay with you, Migs? Everything has a place for a reason. Sorry about the interruption, Lee. My housemate seems to think this is the time to bring up personal issues. I’ve got a flashlight, spare batteries, and an extra charger for the phone. My gun goes in here when I’m ready to sleep.”

Miggy: Ay-yi-yi. Wait! Don’t shut that drawer…what is this?

What? Wait...stop, Miggy. Get your hand outta there.

Miggy: What is this, querido? You saved the Father’s Day card Toby gave you? And…Remy? This picture of—

Shut the fuck up, Miggy. Give me that back! It’s no big deal. What else do you want to know, Lee? Because if that’s all, I’ve gotta—

*Eyes Wide* Do you roll up in the blankets like a burrito, or kick the covers off during the night?

Kick ‘em off. Too damn hot here in Phoenix for covers.

Um...Can I put my cold feet on your calves to warm them up?

Can I put my dick in your—

Miggy: Remy!

Don’t worry, Miggy, I was teasing…don’t get your panties in a knot.

Havan: Hey now! *grabs Lee* Oh wait...can we see the panties?

Are you sure you don't want to finish that question, Remy? No? Okay, well, I guess we'll never know, will we? What are we reading?

Oceans Apart is the second book in a four book series. Book one was Continental Divide.

Here’s the blurb for Oceans Apart:

It’s been two years since Lord Jamie Mainwaring and Detective Remy Remington worked and loved their way through their one and only case before going their separate ways. Now Jamie is once again mixing agency business with pleasure as he and his partner, Agent Ryan Whiteside, are assigned to a case involving piracy in the Caribbean. Remy and his old friend Miggy are still detectives, but they’ve gone private in Phoenix. When their biggest client sends them to supervise an unusual diamond transfer, they think their toughest challenge will be maintaining their cover as a gay couple on a barefoot-style cruise.

When murder connects the dots between the two cases, the four men must learn to work together as relationships and loyalties are tested amid misunderstandings and memories on the high seas.

An Excerpt from Oceans Apart, from the night Toby graduated from high school.

“I can’t believe I really did it,” Toby said for maybe the twentieth time since they’d sat down at the table.

Miggy watched the boy…no, he corrected…young man. Toby was still grinning as he reached for another sparerib from the bar tray-sized platter of barbeque that the restaurant served family style. The celebration dinner at Dave’s Family Bar-B-Que had been Toby’s choice; he loved the monster-sized family meals. This was the first restaurant they’d gone to when they’d brought Toby home to Phoenix and it touched Miggy that he’d selected the local home-style eatery to celebrate this milestone. They were making memories together.

Remy reached for a paper towel from the wooden spindle mounted on the table, then swiped at his mouth and fingers. Wadding the makeshift napkin into a ball, he tossed it on his plate. Miggy reached over and rubbed his thumb over a smear of sauce on Remy’s jaw, drawing a raised eyebrow from the big guy.

Shrugging, Miggy grinned. “It wasn’t a good look for you, chulo.” Turning to wink at Toby, he added, “You can dress him up…”

“But you can’t take him anywhere,” Toby finished on a laugh.

The tie Toby had picked for Remy was long gone, tossed into the back seat of the truck as soon as they left the stadium. The open collar and rolled up sleeves might have said casual businessman, if it weren’t for the tanned, heavily muscled forearms and rugged face. His tousled sandy brown gave the impression that he’d just removed his cowboy hat. Of course, Toby wasn’t much better, since his cap and gown had joined the offending neckwear, leaving him in khaki slacks and an Arizona Diamondbacks T-shirt. With their similar coloring, Remy’s hazel eyes and Toby’s green, they often were mistaken for father and son. Miggy was the odd man out with his black hair and dark eyes. He mentally rolled his eyes at himself, acting like they were a real family.

Remy sipped his beer then sat back and looked at Toby with his characteristic half smile-half smirk. “Are you really sure you want to spend the rest of the evening with us Toby? Isn’t there a party or grad night event? I thought I saw a flyer—”

“Stop, Remy. You know I’m not into that shit. Besides—”

“Yeah…we know,” Miggy said. “So, you’ve put this off long enough. What is it you wanted to tell us? You know we have ways to make you talk.” He waggled his eyebrows and twisted his fork in the air.

Toby laughed. “I know, Migs, I know. First, uhm…well, thanks. Okay? Remy, you always sort of blow me off when I try to thank you, but I mean it. You two got me out of the group foster home and brought me out here. I probably would have just been back on the street without you, man. So…uhm, yeah…thanks…” He swallowed hard and dropped his gaze.

Remy and Miggy’s exchanged a quick glance before Remy turned to face Toby. He spoke so quietly that Toby leaned forward to hear over the clatter of the dining room. “Tobes, you and Miggy both know my life started a lot like yours…but I survived and made something of myself. You survived too, and now you’re on your way. Miggy and I…we don’t want you to think we’re done just ‘cause you graduated. Shit. We’re family now, right?”

Toby blinked, almost as if in surprise, but it was nothing to the shock that rolled through Miggy’s stomach as Remy’s words hit home. Family. It was so close to what he’d been thinking minutes earlier. Shaking off his own uncertain feelings, Miggy grabbed Toby’s forearm and squeezed. Remy mirrored the gesture, and once again, their gazes met. Remy gave Miggy half a smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners, as if they shared some secret joke. Remy turned to speak to Toby, but Miggy was having a damn hard time looking away from Remy’s strong profile.

“Listen, we’re all pretty shitty at saying stuff…so give me a break here, Toby. I am thirty-nine years old, and never going to have a kid of my own, but if I did? I’d want him to be just like you. I’m happy to think of you as my son in every way that counts, okay?”

There was a long pause while they all examined their plates. Toby cleared his throat then spoke first, his voice thick with emotion. “Shit, Remy.”

“Hell. What he said,” Miggy added. He tried to put as much feeling as he could into the words. Then he started to laugh. He couldn’t help it. Remy was right, they were all bad at talking about feelings.

~~*~~

You can contact me through my website and blog http://lauraharner.com

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/lauraharner

Facebook: http://facebook.com/lauraharner

All romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-oceansapartseparateways-977380-145.html

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B009TIO230

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/oceans-apart-laura-harner/1113634110?ean=2940015886863

Flash Fiction: Every Note

Well, you might have known that I couldn't make it long without writing to a prompt...And of course, I dragged Havan along with me. This is a rather long flash, but I thought every word was needed. If you find any extraneous, don't tell me!

Prompt: "What are you doing here?"

Every Note

Copyright Jan 2013 © Lee Brazil

"What are you doing here?" Trey rolled over in the bed and pried one eye open. Yep. Jax lounged in the doorway in his usual, come and fuck me I'm home pose. In fact, he'd made himself so much at home that he'd already shed the disgraceful aged sandals he called footwear. Probably left them right inside the front door, where you can trip on them in the morning, Trey thought bitterly, letting his gaze roam hungrily over the lean figure slouched in front of him. Long dyed dark hair had been mussed by the wind, thin lips stretched in a hopeful smile, and damn it...it looked like the man had lost at least twenty pounds on this tour.

"The tour is over. Where else would I be?" Jax shrugged matter of factly.

Scrunching his pillow up and shoving it under his head, Trey sat up and glared, bleary eyed, at his ex, the rising star of the folk rock world. "We broke up before you went on this tour, or did you conveniently forget that?"

Jax rolled his eyes and strolled toward the bed, stripping off his tight band t-shirt and shucking his worn jeans. "That was just you being controlling and jealous. I know how your mind works. You wanted me to think about us while I was gone. It worked. I couldn’t get you out of my mind for the last three months."

If that could be interpreted as meaning that he hadn't been with anyone else, Trey would have scooted over and rolled Jax under him in a heart beat. Unfortunately, he knew better. "Right. In between all the glamour of life on a tour bus, you were thinking about me, about us, about life in a one bedroom apartment just barely on the right side of the tracks." He didn't even try to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. What was the point? Jax wasn't interested in the day to day minutiae of life and love. He wanted the sex, the companionship on his own terms, not the work.

"You painted the living room. The couch is three feet closer to the patio, that's a new coffee table, the plant your sister gave us when we moved in here two years ago seems to have spawned, and the picture of us at your graduation is missing from the end table." Jax knelt at the side of the bed. "Should I go on? I didn't check specifically, but I'd bet my cd's, movies, and books are all missing. The shelves looked a little skimpy. I'd have checked, but I was anxious to see you, you see."

Trey's jaw dropped in astonishment. "How long have you been here?"

"I've been watching you sleep, just for a minute or two. I wanted to store up the memory, just in case." Callused fingers stroked his exposed shoulder, pleading eyes met his gaze.

Trey shuddered. Stay firm, he urged himself. This close, it was easy to see the sparse five o'clock shadow of thin blond hairs, the tiny lines of fatigue at the corners of that pouting mouth. "It's so easy, when you've been away, to think that this is what you want." He argued. "But when you're the one who stays at home, who waits for someone to return, seeing those little reminders every day...It's too much to ask."

"I can't stay here; traveling is part of the job."

Jax sounded as weary as Trey felt. "I know. The music comes first, it always has. When will we come first?"

He realized his mistake when Jax's expression brightened. "So you admit there is a we still?"

Opening his mouth to issue a denial, Trey couldn't find the words to express himself. "Damn it, Jax. There's been a we since you pranced in to pre-school in a purple tutu twenty-three years ago." He ignored the bright flash of white teeth as Jax's smile broadened. "But sometimes, the we that we are isn't good for me. Sometimes, I have to think about me, not us. Just like touring is good for you, and your career, I have to think about what's good for me."

Blue eyes darkened with hurt, though Jax controlled his flinch quickly. "You're saying I'm not good for you?"

"You've never been good for me, Jax. Not even during those purple tutu days." His heart ached at the admission.

Jax reared back from him, eye's widening in shock. "What?"

"I've always stood behind you Jax, even when standing there got me made fun of, mocked, ostracized, beat up. Being your friend, being with you, made it all worth while. But when you're not here, how does that make it a we?" He wasn't making sense, he knew that. But his heart believed every word he said, and from the expression on his face, Jax understood what he meant, even if he didn't understand the mess in his head himself.

"There's always a we, right here." Jax tapped his chest. "You're always with me, every mile on every bus, every minute of every concert, every note of every song. Do you think I could step up on a stage anywhere and have the guts to sing about love, or friendship, or hope, if I didn't have you with me?"

His heart rate picked, up, a slow burn began in the pit of Trey's stomach. "Really? But..."

"But nothing. I told you, it's always you. Nothing ever happens on a tour that isn't just work. I crawl into my bunk exhausted after smiling til two am, and I dream of you, of coming back to you, of kissing you—"

Trey stopped his speech with a kiss, flinging aside the bedclothes to invite Jax to climb up with him, devoured his mouth with a hunger born of denial, of loss. He tore his mouth away briefly to mutter, "I love you." Then swallowed Jax's response with another demanding kiss.