As far as the weekly blog updates, my team has decided to change the set-up of the blog itself--as well as the contents.
More romance, more steam, more drama--less personal life boo-hoo! This is a direction I've been wanting to take the blog for several months, and it is FINALLY going to happen!
What this means:
*Short stories and little miniseries for FREE on this blog for viewers.
*Genre categories that vary from contemporary romance to gothic.
*Some material WILL be suitable for YA. For material that is not, there will be a disclaimer at the top of each entry.
This will be rolling out in the next couple weeks! This will likely mean blog entries will be shortened to 1-2 entries per month, but the quality will be FAR better!
Thank you for your patience--in the meantime, have a treat:
NEVER BEFORE RELEASED EXCERPT:
*NOT suitable for YA*
His Wrath, Her Honor
Nick Banes is spiteful, rude, malicious, perverted, and downright hateful...And his fury for the charitable but vulnerable Simone Silver knows no bounds. Early spring thunderstorms turn their tumultuous working relationship into a full-blown battle of wits and wills. Fueled with fire and lust, Nick torments Simone until she begins to unravel. Will he find his humanity and save her from herself, or will he let the flames consume her?
The Attractive Advertisement
Astrid was livid to find fifteen
shot glasses and 8 wine glasses destroyed. She had called Nick as soon as she
got home, seeing his handy work all over the restaurant.
“Nick, I swear to God! You better
not say one fucking word when I charge all new glasses to your AMEX! Not one
word! And I’m not going to bring up how the eight hours of floor waxing has
basically been ruined, but I’ll be sure to let you know the next time you show
up here, which should be any hour!” She slammed the phone back down and grabbed
a broom. Then spotted Simone on the floor.
“Please tell me YOU did not make
this mess?” Simone said nothing. “You know? I don’t get you. So cool and
calm…but not with Nick.”
Simone pulled herself off the
floor. “This is my fault. I pissed him off.” She took the broom from Astrid and
began sweeping all of the broken glass.
Astrid lit her cigarette and sat
down. “I guess you must have for him to throw such a tantrum. Impressive.”
“Impressive?”
“Sure. I've never seen a woman get
under Nick’s skin so badly.”
“He hates me. The things he says
to me…”
“Just like the playground, honey.
Men aren't so complicated.”
“He’s malicious.”
“He is.”
“And a pervert.”
“He is.”
“So how can you work for him? And manage this place and have him come in and out—wrecking everything?!”
“It’s a job. And he doesn't bother me.”
Simone put her head down, feeling
the tears building again.
“You know what I’d do if I were
you? I’d go out on the town. Meet somebody, anybody. Have a few drinks.”
“And what? Have a nice one-night
stand?”
“Nobody said anything about sex.
I get it. You don’t have any interest in it.”
“God, why does everyone keep
saying that!”
She couldn't mask her tears any
longer. Astrid got up and grabbed a bottle of gin. She poured a beer mug nearly
to the top and put it in Simone’s hand. “Down this, honey. Takes the edge off.”
“I’m not drinking a mug of gin.”
But out of desperation, she did chug about half of it, nearly choking.
“You remind me of myself ten
years ago. New in town. Fresh faced. Energetic.”
“Virginal?” She chuckled at
Simone.
“Maybe not that. But life is full
of surprises. Why let one man get you down so much? And hell, honey. If the
virgin aspect is really getting to you, you could always place an ad.”
“An ad? For my virginity?”
“Sure. Beautiful girl like you…”
She laughed until she realized Simone was not. “I’m kidding, honey. Don’t sell
yourself that way.”
“I think I want to be alone.” She
poured the broken glass into the trash can and exited. Astrid couldn't help but
notice she went into the office instead of upstairs.
Her thoughts a fumbled mess of
hurt and confusion, she sat at the office computer. What if Nick was right?
What if no man would have the patience for her? She had prized her virginity,
in a sense, out of fear of engaging in that next step. The past two weeks of
dealing with Nick had made her see men in a new light—raw, undisciplined, and
savage. The men who romanced her in books were charming and thought her
reservation something to overcome, not attack.
Worst of all, what if the thing
she had held so sacred for so long WAS the exact thing holding her back in
life? If that was true, Nick was right. And she was tragic. The click of the
mouse hovered above a personal advertisement.
It would be one night. One night
and no more. She could end her own torment and her own fear, and not have to
answer to a complete stranger. Or to Nick. With the final ounce of her
strength, she clicked on the link. It asked for a title to her advertisement.
She thought for a moment.
“Wanted: A Gentleman for a Gentle Task.” Satisfied, she filled the
body of the advertisement with vague details, and ended it with an email
address.
It was after midnight. No
response yet. But exhaustion prevailed. She tiptoed out of the office and up the
stairs. From behind, she thought someone was watching her. “Astrid?” After
several seconds of silence, she finished the short trek to her room, and fell
asleep almost immediately.
Reese arrived in the morning with
fresh coffee and donuts. He was surprised to see Nick on the front porch.
“You’re here early.”
“I had a rough day yesterday.”
“Yeah, Astrid filled me in on the
pricey new glasses she’s ordering.”
He opened the door for Reese,
thankful, in a sense, for the company.
“It was a rough day.” Nick repeated,
looking like he hadn't shaved or had a shower in over a day.
“You okay, buddy?”
“Fine. Just tired.”
Reese cocked his eyebrow. “How
long have you been pacing the porch?”
“Too long.”
“You want to talk about what’s
bothering you?”
Annoyed, Nick snatched a donut
and stood over by the bar…where he had pinned Simone. “What’s bothering me,
Reese?”
“A certain redhead who sleeps
right above this bar.”
“I have more to do than fixate on
that girl.”
“Really? It seems like that’s all you've fixated on lately.”
“How do you figure when I just
fucked her little housemate a week ago?”
“You’re obsessing over her.”
“Jessica?”
“No, Simone!”
“I haven’t brought her name up
once!”
“Or ever! Which is exactly my
point! We sit in the back and analyze every woman who walks in our path. EVERY
woman. With the exception of ONE.”
“Oh, please. Spare me your
psychology degree from the University of Tinkle.”
“University of Tinton.”
“Whatever. The girl isn't the
issue. I could care less.”
“Then what’s got you all up in
knots?”
“Maybe, little Reesy, I just need
a break from all of this happy town shit.”
“Well, we have tomorrow night
covered. You don’t have to even show up. Simone and I have a handle on
everything.”
He groaned and sat back down.
“Still my investment.”
“Yeah, I know. You remind me
every day.” Nick noticed his glib assertion.
“It’s business, Reese.”
“Not everything is. The way you
act, the things you say… You’re going to hurt the wrong person one day, Nick.
You’re going to push the wrong buttons.”
He laughed unapologetically. “If
only men were so weak.”
“It’s not a man I’m talking
about.”
He stopped laughing. “I have no
influence like that over anyone.”
“How’d you get that girl naked
out in the open after only officially meeting her an hour prior?” Nick
considered this. “You still think you have no influence? I think, to people who
don’t know you, you are worse than an incurable virus.”
He grabbed Reese by the collar of
his shirt. “Say that to me again, would you? And wet your lips before you do
it.” Reese head-butted him, sending him back first to the floor.
“Everything is a joke or a cruel
observation to you. But sooner or later, you’re going to instigate something
you can never take back. And no money in the world will save you when that
happens.” He grabbed his raincoat, heading for the door. “And I really hope it
isn’t Simone who pays. That girl has done nothing but help me, and you’re doing
your best to ruin her.”
Slamming the door behind him, he left Nick to stew in
his own self-made hell.
+++
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