Good morning!
I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving. I literally can't believe it's almost Christmas! Why does time fly so quickly? I remember time going much slower when I was just a kid. Although, I must say, I do love the holidays. I love the colder weather and rain. I really, really hope we get some rain this winter. I live in California, and we need it.
I re-released Memories Follow last week. This is the story I wrote for Felice Steven's Kindle World launch. I borrowed her characters Rafe and Alex from One Step Further for my story. I loved writing in her world. It was a wonderful experience.
I thought I'd let you have a taste of the story. The book price will go up Monday November 19th, so if you're interested, grab it while it's on sale.
Blurb:
Scottie Kinland works as the Kennel Manager for the Paws For Care veterinary clinic. Spending his days with animals is the only way he can feel safe. He has first-hand knowledge of how cold and calculating humans can be. How could he ever forget? He wears the scars on his face and his heart.Lance Franklin likes to play the field. Still reeling from a lying cheating fiancée, he’s plowing through men like aspirin; only the pain of betrayal still stings. When he takes his mom’s dog in to the Paws For Care clinic, he’s immediately drawn to the quiet loner Scottie. But Scottie wants nothing to do with Lance.Lance persists and he manages to forge a fragile relationship with Scottie. But just as both men begin to believe perhaps fate has something beautiful in store for them; the past collides with their future in a shocking way.
Excerpt:
I’d been nervous enough about taking
over the front desk for Patty without that good-looking guy coming in and
getting me all rattled. Jesus, I was sweating like a pig, and he kept staring
at me which only made me fumble around even more.
When the phone rang I pounced on it,
grateful for anything that would distract me from the guy holding the little
Chihuahua mix. I focused on booking appointments and greeting patients until
Dr. Hazelton buzzed me to let me know he was ready for the next patient.
I called the next person’s name and
led them to the office door. When I opened it, Dr. Hazelton was standing near
the examination table. “Thank you, Scottie.” His voice was warm. I would always
be grateful to him for taking a chance on hiring me to manage his kennel.
“No problem.” I dropped my gaze and
stood aside for the customer to pass.
“Patty has you on the front desk
again?”
I grimaced. “Yeah.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
I grunted and closed the door and
returned to my seat at the front counter. When I glanced up, that dark-haired
guy was watching me again. I touched my scar self-consciously, wondering if
that was why he couldn’t stop looking at me. I felt ugly and conspicuous when I
met his gaze again because he was really good-looking. I’d noticed that the
second he walked into the clinic. He had a nice body and glossy chestnut hair
that brushed his collar. His eyes were a honey brown that had made my pulse
speed up whenever he held my gaze.
It had been a long time since a guy
had made me feel interested sexually. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to
have my cock warm and hard between my legs. But something about that guy got to
me. I had little doubt he was only staring at me because I was acting so odd. I’d
barely been able to get a word out when I’d signed him in. I was well aware I’d
been less than charming to him. It hadn’t been intentional. My antisocial
behavior rarely was. But he’d still been nice and polite to me. It had been
kind of sweet the way he’d tried to reassure me I was handling the front desk
well. We both had to know he was full of shit.
The clinic was busy today, and I
couldn’t wait for my hour on the desk to be over. Patty had said it would be
good for me to run the front while she was gone. She was always trying to help
me get out of my shell. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it wasn’t just that
I was shy. I had a real reason for not trusting mankind. It was best I stuck to
my dogs. They loved me and I loved them. We understood one another in a way
humans rarely could.
My heart began to bang in my chest
when the dark-haired guy stood and approached me. “Can I help you?” I was
annoyed when my voice wobbled.
He twisted his lips. “I can see you
guys are super busy today. Do you think maybe I should rebook and come back
another time?”
I looked down at the big appointment
book. “You’re next.”
He glanced at the clock over my head. “It’s
just that I have to get to work by five thirty and it’s four forty-five now.”
“Well, it’s your choice.”
He sighed. “I guess I’d better. Pinky’s
only here for a checkup. It’s not like she has a disease or anything.”
I looked at the dog, noting her bright
eyes and wet nose. “She looks healthy to me.” He smiled and my stomach did a
somersault at his sexy dimples. “Not that I’m a doctor.”
He put his hand on the appointment
book. “Is it okay if I make a different appointment, then?”
His fingers were tanned and long. I
couldn’t help but wonder what they’d feel like on my skin. I shook myself,
embarrassed at my stupid reaction to him. Jesus, I was acting like I’d never
met a nice-looking guy before. “Do what you want.” My tone was way snippier
than I intended.
He pulled his hand away and gave a
short laugh. “Okay. Can you book me another appointment for this week, maybe
earlier in the day so I can get to work on time?”
“Sure.” I searched the register and
found a few openings. “Two o’clock Thursday?”
“Sounds good.” He smiled at me again.
“What’s your name?” I felt my face
warm. “Never mind. I’ll just put your mom’s name again.”
“Either. My name’s Lance by the way.”
He held out his hand.
My heart banged against my ribs as I
stared at his hand. I wanted to touch him. I wanted to feel his smooth flesh
against mine so much it was ridiculous. But I was afraid my hand would be
sweaty. In fact I knew my hand would
be sweaty since I felt like I was having a panic attack.
He surprised me when he leaned closer
and took my hand. A spark traveled up my arm straight to my chest. He grinned. “You’re
cute.”
I just stared at him, embarrassed that
my crotch was bulging and grateful for the counter that hid that fact.
He still held my hand, and he swept
his thumb over my tingling skin. “Will you be here next time I come in?”
I shook my head. “God, I hope not.”
He frowned. “That’s not very
flattering.”
Heat filled my cheeks yet again. “I
mean I don’t like working the front desk.”
“Ahhh.” A flirty gleam entered his
brown eyes. “That’s okay, then.”
I pulled my hand from his and
stammered, “You’re all set. Two o’clock on Thursday.”
“Trying to get rid of me?” His full
lips curved in a smile.
“No.” I was certain he was aware of
how much he affected me, and it was getting painful trying to act normal.
Normal-ish.
“I’m just teasing.” He twisted his
lips. “So I’m all set for Thursday at two?”
“Yes. I guess we’ll see you then,” I said
quietly. “I mean… I probably won’t because I’m usually out back.” I swallowed. “Anyway…”
God, had I always been this lame around other guys?
He gave me another one of his sexy
grins. “Maybe Thursday I’ll come out back and say hi.”
I opened my mouth to speak just as
there was a loud growl and one of the dogs behind him lunged for another
smaller dog. The owner of the bigger dog was taken completely off guard. She
was a thin, frail-looking woman who didn’t have a prayer of holding the huge
Rottweiler back from the smaller yellow Lab. Without thinking, I raced around
the counter and got between the two dogs.
The bigger dog had the lab by the
throat, but he hadn’t really latched on very well. With my heart pounding, I
grabbed his jaws and tried to pull them open. “No! Let go.” My voice broke as
anger got the best of me. “Let go, now.” The lab yelped, sounding panicked and
scared, and the Rottweiler pushed against me, trying to get a better grip on
the Lab. I elbowed his muscled chest and strained to open his mouth. “Stop,” I
yelled.
Miraculously the Rottweiler suddenly
obeyed and sat back on his haunches still growling but eying me warily. I
breathed hard as I wedged between them completely, shielding the Lab with my
body. “You’re okay, boy.” I stroked his head, and he whined and pushed his face
into my chest.
I was surprised and relieved to
discover Lance had moved to help restrain the bigger dog. His hand was latched
on to the dog’s collar, keeping Pinky safely tucked on his other side. “I’ve
got him.” His jaw was tight as he held the huge animal.
I spoke to the owner of the Lab. “Follow
me. Let’s get him somewhere safe so he can calm down.”
The examining room door was flung open
and Dr. Hazelton raced into the room. “What’s going on?”
Still panting after my tussle with the
dogs, I tried to get the words out. “Rottweiler attacked the Lab. I broke it
up.”
His eyes dropped to the Lab. “Is he
hurt?”
I shook my head. “Don’t think so.
There’s no blood.”
“Thank goodness for that.” He stood
back as I led the Lab into one of the examination rooms. He followed and
stroked the Lab’s head. “You’re a good boy.”
I met Dr. Hazelton’s gaze. “Is it okay
if he stays in here until his turn? He’s shaking.”
“Of course. I’ll see him next so we
can get him home ASAP.” The doctor narrowed his gaze and then said, “You need
to be careful getting between two dogs in a fight.”
“I had to do something.”
His brown gaze was admiring. “I know.
I just don’t want you getting hurt. You did a good job, Scottie.”
“Thanks.” I flushed at the praise.
He patted my shoulder. “That was
enough excitement for one day.”
“Yeah.”
He left me and returned to his other
patient, and I lifted the dog onto the examination table. The poor Lab was
still trembling and uneasy.
“Thank you so much,” the owner of the Lab
said. She was an older woman with white hair and steely blue eyes. “I thought
Robbie was toast. I didn’t know what to do.”
“That woman has no business with a big
dog like that,” I muttered, stroking the soft fur of the Lab and feeling his
neck for any broken skin.
“You were very brave,” the Lab’s owner
said softly. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
I grimaced. “I didn’t do anything
anyone else wouldn’t do.”
She laughed gruffly. “You were the only
one who jumped between them.” She frowned. “I was too frozen with terror.”
“Me too.”
When Lance spoke behind me, I twitched
uneasily and faced him. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“I wanted to see if the dog was okay.”
My pulse spiked as I met his pretty
brown eyes. “Thanks for your help.”
“Of course. But I didn’t do much.”
“You did more than you know.” The
skinny owner of the Rottweiler had been like a paper doll on the end of the
leash. I’d felt much better once Lance had stepped in.
I checked over the Lab thoroughly,
making sure he wasn’t hurt. The dog was nervous, but he seemed unharmed. I
patted his fluffy head. “Poor thing. You were just sitting there minding your
own business, weren’t you, boy?” The dog licked my face and I chuckled. “Awww.
I like you too.”
Patty opened the door of the room and
peeked in. “Everything okay?” She bit her lip. “I mean other than the dog fight
in the waiting room.”
“Sorry.” I held my hands stiffly at my
sides. I was embarrassed that a dog fight had broken out on my watch.
She frowned. “I’m not blaming you,
silly. You were the hero in the room.”
Scowling, I said, “No. Not even close.”
“You’re my hero.” Lance had a big grin
on his face.
My heart fluttered and I shoved away
those sappy feelings. The guy was way out of my league. I was stupid for even
talking to him. I met Patty’s gaze. “Can I get off the desk now?”
She nodded with a sigh. “Yes. Run away
back to your animal pals.”
I started to leave, and Lance grabbed
my arm. “Hey, mind if I come out back?”
“What?” I frowned. “Why?”
He twisted his lips. “Um…” He
brightened as if an idea had come to him. “Well, if anything ever happens to
Pinky and she has to spend the night here, I want to know what the facilities
are like.”
I squinted at him. “Are you just
making that up?”
Patty laughed and addressed the Lab’s owner.
“Mrs. Brown, I need you to sign a few papers about the incident with that other
dog. Can you follow me?” She guided the other woman out of the room with a
little smile on her face.
Lance waited until they were gone, and
then he asked, “Is it against the rules to give a customer a tour of the
facilities?”
“No. But I thought you had to hurry
off for work?”
Smiling coyly, Lance said, “I have
some time.”
I didn’t like how nervous he made me.
I preferred to be left alone in my little bubble. I felt safer that way. I didn’t
want to know him better. I didn’t want to know anyone better.
“M… maybe another time.” I took a step
back from him.
His mouth turned down at the corners,
but he pressed closer to me. I caught a whiff of his spicy cologne and my body
responded again, my crotch warming. His gaze fell to my mouth and he licked his
lips. He was so close I was self-conscious about my scar. I put my hand over my
jaw and swallowed uneasily.
“Do I make you nervous, Scottie?” His
voice was husky.
I wasn’t the type of person who picked
up guys or got picked up while out shopping or running errands. I knew a lot of
people thought nothing of meeting people that way, but that wasn’t my style.
And I definitely didn’t pick up guys at my work. Not to mention how mystified I
was that anyone like him would be bothering with a guy like me. Even before I’d
turned into an antisocial weirdo, Lance probably would have been out of my
league. It was obvious the guy had money. His clothing was all designer labels,
while I was wearing the same ratty jeans I’d owned for years. Was he just
messing with me? The idea of that made me pissed. I hated fake people who toyed
with others’ emotions. I hated them with a passion.
Apparently unaware of my inner
turmoil, Lance winked and said, “Come on, take me out back.”
I sucked in a big breath and said, “No.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“You don’t really want a tour.”
He grinned. “Sure I do.”
I kept my hand over my scar, feeling
inadequate and grumpy. “I’m working.”
“Aren’t you ever spontaneous?”
“No.” Not anymore.
He pouted his lips. “You’re no fun.”
“I’m not here to have fun. I’m here to
work.”
He leaned closer. “All work and no
play makes Scottie a dull boy.”
That annoyed me even more. Did the guy
have no boundaries? I needed this job. It didn’t matter how good-looking he
was, making out with customers in the back would get me fired. I wasn’t about
to fuck things up at work because this guy got his jollies flirting with the
help. “What exactly do you think is gonna happen here?”
He laughed. “I don’t know. Maybe we
can go out back and see how good of a kisser you are? Or maybe I can get your number
and we can have a little casual fun one night.”
“Oh really?”
“Sure.” He frowned. “Did I read the
signals wrong? Are you straight?”
“No.” I was mortified I’d apparently
been giving off signals of some kind. “But that’s not the point.”
“What is the point, then?”
I felt like my face was on fire. “We
just met.”
“Even better.”
“Seriously?”
“Sure. Why not? You’re cute.”
Irritation flushed up my neck. The
more he talked, the more I realized what a shallow jerk he was. Did guys
usually just roll over and stick their asses in the air for this routine? As
anger rolled through me, I turned and lifted the Lab to the ground. His owner
would be back in a minute, but I didn’t want him falling off the table when I
left the room.
“So what do ya say? I can see you’re kind
of shy. Can I at least get your number?” Lance’s voice was velvety and coaxing.
I faced him and I could feel the veins
bulging in my neck as I spoke. “No way.”
He looked completely floored. His eyes
widened and he laughed. “Why not?” He touched my arm softly. “I can tell you’re
attracted to me.”
I pulled my arm away and glared at
him. “I don’t know what kind of stupid game you’re playing. But I’m not interested.” I turned around and
left the examination room, shaking with anger.
Hope you enjoyed that snippet! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving if you celebrate the holiday, and stay safe! :)
S.C.
