by Jayne Rylon | Mar 9, 2011 | Uncategorized
Hello everyone! I hope you’re enjoying the Compass Brothers book tour so far. Today is an amazing stop for me. RT magazine contacted me about being interviewed for their website. I was thrilled! Once getting to know their lovely interviewer, whose name just happens to be Morgan!, I am twice as excited to share the end result with you.
Many of you know I have trouble being serious for too long. I tried my best since RT is so prominent in the world of books. I mostly pulled it off I think š In any case, you can check it out here along with not one but two new reviews AND an exclusive excerpt from Powertools book 3, Kayla’s Gift.Ā The review for Morgan’s Surprise is especially awesome as it earned a coveted 4 1/2 star RT review!Ā Yippee!Ā I hope you enjoy the interview
Don’t forget, the Compass Brother Tour is still going strong. Here are our remaining stops! (Release is less than a week away!)
March 10 Mari hangs out with fellow Cougar Challenge pal, Desiree Holt.
Jayne is interviewed by fellow author, Lynn Lafleur.
March 12 Mari travels all the way to Australia to visit the Down Under Divas.
March 13 Join Jayne and Mari for a Compass Brothers Hoedown ā SP cafĆ© at 7 PM.
March 14 Mariās getting All Tied Up at the Forbidden Bookshelf
March 15 Northern Exposure RELEASE DAY!
Jayneās blogging at Samhainās Weblog.
Mariās hanging out at Seductive Musings
Jayne is stopping by Novel Thoughts as well!
Mari and Jayne are interviewed by fellow author, Drea Becraft!
March 16 Mariās joining Kris Cookās Chatters at 8 PM
March 19 Join Jayne and Mari for a Compass Party Facebook-style with their International Heat pals
March 21 Mari and Jayne are interviewed by fellow author Cari Quinn.
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
by Jayne Rylon | Mar 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
Mari Carr and I are over at Twitter today posting 140 character quotes from Northern Exposure and Southern Comfort (the first two books in our co-written series, Compass Brothers). RT the quotes for chances to win an ARC of Northern Exposure which releases 3/15 from Samhain Publishing. Weāll announce the winner tomorrow!
Hereās one to get you started (Short quotes are kind of hard!):
āYour wife is in love with my son. Has been since she was shorter than my knee.ā
āYou think thatās news to me, JD?ā
āGonna admit you want him too?ā
Hope to see you there!
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
by Jayne Rylon | Mar 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
Happy Friday! I’m checking in from information superhighway where my next stop is Ebook Addict Reviews! Come on over today to chat and read an excerpt. Tomorrow is going to be a super fun day as Mari and I hit Twitter with 140 character quotes. We’ll be posting snippets from Northern Exposure and Southern Comfort all day. Retweet for entries into a drawing for an ARC of Northern Exposure! As a reminder, here’s the schedule for the Tour. And don’t worry if you’re busy one of the days, you can catch most of our stops archived on the websites hosting us.
Hope to see you there! Jayne
The Compass Brothers Virtual Book Tour
Jayne Rylon and Mari Carr will be making numerous appearances in March to promote the release of the first book in their Compass Brothers series, Northern Exposure. There will be lots of excerpts, fun facts and prizes! Below is a list of scheduled appearances.
March 4 Fellow International Heat pal, T, lets Jayne take over Ebook Addict for the day!
March 5 Twitter-fest! Follow Jayne and Mari for cowboy fun on Twitter!
March 6 The Compass boys will be heating things up over at Heat Wave.
March 7 Mari will be blogging at Novelspot ALL week
March 8 Jayne visits Brandy at B Renae Reads
March 9 Mari hangs out with fellow Cougar Challenge pal, Nicole Austin.
Jayneās been interviewed by RT online!
March 10 Mari hangs out with fellow Cougar Challenge pal, Desiree Holt.
Jayne is interviewed by fellow author, Lynn Lafleur.
March 11 Join Jayne and Mari for a Compass Party Facebook-style
March 12 Mari travels all the way to Australia to visit the Down Under Divas.
March 13 Join Jayne and Mari for a Compass Brothers Hoedown ā SP cafĆ© at 7 PM.
March 14 Mariās getting All Tied Up at the Forbidden Bookshelf
March 15 Northern Exposure RELEASE DAY!
Jayneās blogging at Samhainās Weblog.
Mariās hanging out at Seductive Musings
Jayne is stopping by Novel Thoughts as well!
March 16 Mariās joining Kris Cookās Chatters at 8 PM
March 21 Mari and Jayne are interviewed by fellow author Cari Quinn.
by Jayne Rylon | Feb 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
Well the first review is in for Northern Exposure, which is the first in a four-book series co-written by Mari Carr and me.Ā It’s a great review!Ā You can check out the whole thing on the Whipped Cream review site butĀ I really like this part:
“It is not everyday that you fall in love with all the characters in a book, but each one left me with a warm and contented feeling through out the story.
Both Jayne Rylon and Mari Carr did an incredible job telling this wonderful story, and the plot just flowed like cool water on a hot summer day from beginning to end. Yes, there were some steamy love scenes between the three — enough to make you squirm in your seat — but it was definitely done with good taste and a lot of soul deep emotion.
Northern Exposure is truly a love story that will warm the heart and take the chill of the winter from your bones. Do not miss this one –it will be an absolutely delicious addition to your library. I cannot wait for the next book in the Compass Brothers series so I can see how Lucy, Colby and Silas are doing as well as see what Silas’ other brothers are up to.”
Is it March 15th yet?!
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
by Jayne Rylon | Feb 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
It’s finally here, the moment many of you have written to me asking about… the day Star finds an HEA/HFN ending.Ā I suppose this technically makes the Red Light Series cross the line from erotica to erotic romance in many people’s minds, but for me, I always thought of the story as erotic romance just one where the hero and heroine had to work extra hard.
Star will never be traditional.Ā So don’t expect this book to be either.Ā However, I think the storyline is evolving to demonstrate what perfect happiness looks like for our unconventional couple.Ā I hope to write many more stories in this series as I can imagine a million more adventures for the pair.
Just in case, I feel comfortable with where they are by the end of this book.Ā I hope you’re satisfied too!
Can’t Buy Love is the third installment in an ongoing saga about a sex worker in Amsterdam.Ā It can be read as a standalone book but relies heavily on prior episodes.Ā For the fullest enjoyment I would recommend reading them in order.
PS… Don’t tell Mari Carr I made her a hooker, it’s our little secret.
Blurb:
What man would be crazy enough to date a whore?Ā Star is a sex worker in Amsterdamās red light district.Ā After the intimate exchange between her and Rick, sheās hoped to take their adventure into affection farther.Ā Too bad heās disappeared for weeks.
When he resurfaces, to deliver her portion of the paycheck theyād earned by starring in a live sex show together, the magnetism between them proves irresistible.Ā In the wake of undeniable passion, theyāre left wondering if they can make a relationship work in unconventional circumstances.
Theyāre both convincedā¦ you can buy sex, but you canāt buy love.Ā And nothing else will satisfy their hunger for each other.
Excerpt:
An Excerpt From: CANāT BUY LOVE
Copyright Ā© JAYNE RYLON, 2011
All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.
Bleeding Love
I scour the bobbing faces that comprise the current of humanity streaming past my window. None of the unfamiliar features belong to the man I crave. Rick. Where is he? He should stride by my booth in Amsterdamās red light district, or maybe hop inside for quick reliefāhis and mineāand end up being a few minutes late to his post as a bouncer for the live sex show debauching the other end of the block.
Should.
If he maintains his clockwork schedule. Sometime in the past three years since Iād opened my window to negotiate the first of a million not-so-standard suck and fucks with him, Iād noted his rock-solid patterns in the recess of my mind. Worse, Iād become accustomed to his routine. Until he let me down by withholding my glimpse of him.
For two weeks straight.
My cell phoneās simple bell tone startles me, jarring me from my obsessive inspection. I donāt have to leave my perch on my stool to reach the tiny stand holding my ledger, a lockbox, a clock and my phone. I tilt the screen toward myself, hoping the glowing readout proclaims Rick is attempting to contact me despite never having given him my unlisted number.
Oh crap. Not only is it not him, but it also seems Iāve been busted.
I hit the receive button, bracing myself for a typhoon of well-intended scolding.
āPerk it up over there, sister!ā
I canāt help it. I laugh when Mari shouts so I can hear while I bring the device to my ear. Sheās not psychic. She works the booth across the street from mine. I glance up to witness her blowing me a kiss. Instead of catching it, I bat it back with my middle finger.
A couple stares at me as though Iām crass simply because of my profession. Well, if the gesture fitsā¦
āDonāt you have anybody else to harass? Your regular Tuesday-at-nine customer likes it when you spank him. Save it for someone who will reward your effort.ā
Mari sticks her tongue out at me, catching the interest of a young man in ripped jeans who probably couldnāt afford a fifteen-minute session with the high-end workers in this section of the district. Too bad, he seems cute and frisky. Exactly the type Mari prefers and attracts with her lighthearted, playful offering.
āSeriously, Star.ā Mari pauses her habitual swaying to meet my gaze across the canal and the river of people passing us by. āAre you all right? Iāve never seen you so solemn. No dancing, no flirting, no smiles for the shy guysā¦ā
āIām fine.ā
āJust lovesick.ā
āHow the hell did this happen?ā I massage the ache at the base of my neck.
āWell, you met this smoking-hot guy who doesnāt seem to mind that you service other men for a living. Then somehow you left him hanging.ā
āMariāā
āSorry, Star, Iām just joking. Not the right time. I know.ā Sheās seldom serious and I canāt fault her for it now. Men adore banging her silly. Perky and intelligent donāt often pair up. And itās not as though sheās entirely wrong. āI hate that youāre hurting. Itās like the time that drunk bastard hit me when I wouldnāt agree to anal and you flew off the handle. I donāt know what I would have done if you hadnāt chased him off with your wicked heels. I justā¦ Let me be here for you?ā
āI appreciate the thought. But thereās no bad guy this time. No one to hunt and destroy.ā
āMore like someone to hold hostage and perform all your tricks for until he sees what a mistake heās making. Look, maybe Rickās spending an extended time with his family. You said heās close to them, right? He headed home for the holidays. Iām sureā¦ā
āI convinced myself that was the case for the first week. The holiday season is peak time around here, sex shows included. Tommy canāt be down his best bouncer for that long. Rick has to be back by now.ā
āDo you want me to ask around? I can take a break later tonight and run over there quick. I can be stealthy.ā
āWhat part of daisy dukes and two sunflowers on fishing line covering your ginormous tits will camouflage you in the middle of winter?ā I glare at her from my post. āDonāt you dare. No way. I wonāt be that girl. Come on, how attractive is it when one of our clients turns clingy? Takes things too far. Rick and I fucked. Onstage. For a ton of cash. And celebrated afterward in private. It might not have meant anything more to him.ā
āAnd you?ā
āIt doesnāt matter if he never shows up at my window again. Heās allowed to change his mind.ā
āShit, and he was a loyal customer too. Maybe your best.ā
āNo kidding. Iāll missā¦ā I canāt bring myself to admit it. āThe income.ā
āLiar.ā
āBitch.ā I smile as I deliver the lighthearted curse. āPay attention. The younger, blond-haired guy approaching from the north looks interested. Heās done a not-so-subtle browse twice already, debating. Seems like he could be a fun one. Nice body under that soft gray fleece.ā
āDamn, youāre right. I gotta go. Iāll check in later. Maybe we can grab some breakfast?ā
āSure.ā If my appetite for nourishment in forms other than a hunky bouncer reappears anytime soon.
Why did Mari have to plant her wild ideas in my braināin my heart? She couldnāt have known Rickās boss Tommy had arranged to drop off my check from the Kinkmas pageant in less than a half an hour. How hard would it be to ask, casually, if Rick had made it home yet?
Damn it, no. If my costarāmy client, my friend and the only true lover Iāve ever hadācares for me to know where the hell heās vanished to, heāll impart the news himself. Did my decision to walk away after a night of public thrills and private sharing kill any chance we had to sustain even our casual relationship? Had he realized dating a sex worker couldnāt lead to anything but disaster?
Truth is, Iām afraid to ask. Iāve nurtured the fuzzy tingles in my belly, hoping for another chance to stretch our boundaries or at least return to the intimate exchange of pleasure weāve perfected over numerous sessions in my window.
The answer could fracture the delicate spark glowing in my core. Itās too new, too brilliant for me to take the chance.
So, I stand here, wearing the platform-heeled boots that make me the perfect height for Rick to fuck while Iām standing, bent over on my loft stairs. I waitānot so patiently. I dreamāof what might have been with one special partner while hundreds of others consider purchasing the goods I would freely give my absent lover. A fraction of what Iād gift him with really since our trust ensures Iād journey deeper into kinky sexuality in his arms than I would with the average patron.
Our electrifying Christmas show had proved the extremes we were willing to indulge in onstage before the admiring gazes of a thousand or so strangers. Could Rick abandon what theyād all applauded, the chemistry arcing between us as bright as the sparks heād harnessed to thrill me? My hand slips over my ribs to cup my breast, rubbing my straining nipple.
A man crashes into the bicycle rack in front of my window.
Not the first time thatās happened. Mari and I have joked about strapping a pillow to the weathered metal or covering the flaking paint with a coat of florescent orange to avoid a negligence lawsuit.
Even the unintended compliment canāt inspire my smile for long. I miss the radiance of Rickās eyes, the imperfection of his twice-broken nose and the well-muscled frame he fills out so damn well. Almost as much as I mourn the loss of his open-minded acceptance, genuine attentiveness and the natural attraction that billows between us like a mushroom cloud whenever we enter the same space.
A gnawing ache twists my stomach. Hunger has built inside me since I rejected the feast Rick offered on Christmas day. Despite my ironclad belief it had been the right decision for Rick and his family, fifteen days have oozed by with the bizarre unnaturalness of ultra-slow-motion video. By running out on Christmas day, I sacrificed my chance to go back for seconds, thirds or five hundred and seventy-sixths of the passion he inspires in me, sweeter than any dessert. Like a woman on a restrictive fad diet, the longing for a taste of himāeven just a quick blowjobāis driving me insane.
When did I become the sort of woman who reconsiders her outfit in case a particular male happens to catch a glimpse of it? Or one who fusses with arranging herself at the best possible angle for viewing from his usual direction of approach?
I canāt pinpoint the exact moment he altered me.
Still, that doesnāt stop me from scrutinizing each tall tourist with close-cut yet messy hair or wilting a tiny bit more with each near miss.
I glance at the clock beside my ledger. Quarter after nine. His shift has already begun. Heās never lateātoo dependable for tardiness. A do-gooder bad boy, if such a thing is possible. Heās not coming. Again.
My sigh buffets the soft, natural waves of my hair, which hides my eyes as I study the ancient hardwood flooring. Until a familiar triple knock rattles the glass.
Available from Ellora’s Cave
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
by Jayne Rylon | Feb 19, 2011 | Uncategorized
Jayne Rylon and Mari Carr will be making numerous appearances in March to promote the release of the first book in their Compass Brothers series, Northern Exposure. There will be lots of excerpts, fun facts and prizes! Below is a list of scheduled appearances with more to be added, so keep checking back.
March 1 Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Maya Banks Facebook Launch Party (simply Like Mayaās page to attend)
Mariās blogging at The Romance Studio
March 2Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jayne was interviewed by Elayne S. Venton
March 3Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jayne blogs at International Heat
March 4
March 5Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Twitter-fest! Follow Jayne and Mari for cowboy fun on Twitter!
March 6Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The Compass boys will be heating things up overĀ at Heat Wave.
March 7 Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Mari will be blogging at Novelspot ALL week
March 8
March 9
March 10Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jayne and Mari hang out with fellow Cougar Challenge pal, Desiree Holt.
March 11Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Join Jayne and Mari for a Compass Party Facebook-style
March 12
March 13Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Join Jayne and Mari for a Compass Brothers Hoedown ā SP cafĆ© at 7 PM.
March 14Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Mariās getting All Tied Up at the Forbidden Bookshelf
March 15 Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Northern Exposure RELEASE DAY!
Jayneās blogging at Samhainās Weblog.
Mariās hanging out at Seductive Musings
March 16Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Mariās joining Kris Cookās Chatters at 8 PM
by Jayne Rylon | Feb 19, 2011 | Uncategorized
It’s almost here!Ā Wednesday (2/23)Ā marks the release of Can’t Buy Love, the third installment in the Red Light series featuring Star and Rick.
Blurb
What man would be crazy enough to date a whore?Ā Star is a sex worker in Amsterdamās red light district.Ā After the intimate exchange between her and Rick, sheās hoped to take their adventure into affection farther.Ā Too bad heās disappeared for weeks.
When he resurfaces, to deliver her portion of the paycheck theyād earned by starring in a live sex show together, the magnetism between them proves irresistible.Ā In the wake of undeniable passion, theyāre left wondering if they can make a relationship work in unconventional circumstances.
Theyāre both convincedā¦ you can buy sex, but you canāt buy love.Ā And nothing else will satisfy their hunger for each other.
Also, I wanted to let you know that Mari Carr and I are going to be doing a Virtual Book Tour in honor of our co-written release, Northern Exposure.Ā The first half of March we’re going to be doing something fun every day so check back soon for more details on where you can come hang out with us, chat and win some prizes.
Hope to see you there!
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
by Jayne Rylon | Feb 11, 2011 | Uncategorized
I feel like there’s been a bunch of fun news lately but I’ve been busy at my day job, including a whirlwind trip to Montreal in the heart of winter, and writing Mistress’s Master (Men in Blue 3) in the evenings.Ā Between all that, I haven’t taken the time to share as much as I could have.Ā Sorry! š
So…Ā first up, is a biggie.Ā I just found out today that Can’t Buy Love, Red Light Book 3 featuring Star will release from Ellora’s Cave on FEBRUARY 23RD!Ā HOORAY!Ā And you don’t have to wait a long time either.Ā For those of you who were a little timid about reading because of the lack of HEA, you’ll be glad to know there is a solid HFN at the end of Can’t Buy Love that incorporates the story line from the first two books.Ā Click on the cover for a blurb and excerpt!
Next, Kayla’s Gift has an official cover!Ā I have to say my hat’s off to Angie Waters again for bringing the crew to life.Ā In fact, Kayla’s Gift is dedicated to my fabulous cover artist.Ā The artwork she’s done for this series has really captured the spirit of the heroes and are just plain yummilicious.Ā Click on the cover for a blurb and excerpt from Powertools book three, coming MAY 3RD.
As a random aside, Kayla’s Gift will be my fifteenth published book!Ā My good friend Jambrea Jo Jones has her fifteenth coming out just hours apart.Ā We’re going to have to have a celebration event of some sort so keep your eyes peeled!
I also heard today that Morgan’s Surprise was awarded a 4.5 Cherry review from LASR Whipped Cream!Ā This means it will be up for best book of the week in the poll that opens for voting tomorrow.Ā If you enjoyed the book, I would love your support.Ā You can check out the review here.
Last, as far as I can remember at the moment, but certainly not least… When I first started writing I stumbled upon a great group of critique partners who helped me immensely.Ā One of them was Elayne Venton!Ā Almost five years from sitting down to write my first book, the group we belonged to is defunt but we haven’t lost touch with each other.Ā In fact, Elayne has interviewed me in her newsletter this month.Ā Feel free to stop by and read a little bit about how I got started and what’s coming next here.
Whew!
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
by Jayne Rylon | Jan 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
Thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to email me about the latest of the Crew’s adventures.Ā I’m so glad the consensus seems to be very positive.Ā I admit, I had a moment where I feared Kate’s Crew might be a one hit wonder so I’m relieved and thrilled to have received so much amazing feedback in just a few short days.Ā I also have to say that I was so moved by all the emails that I’ve dedicated the book I’m editing right now (Can’t Buy Love from EC) to every person who’s ever sent me fanmail.Ā Consider yourself dedicated to!
To cap it all off, Morgan’s Surprise was awarded five stars from Judging the Book by Its Pages Reviews!Ā Woohoo!Ā You can check out the entire review at Drea’s site but I thought I’d share some of my favorite parts here.Ā “Its no secret that I am a big lover of Jaynes work. Whenever something new comes out from her I try my best to get my hands on it as soon as possible.Ā Now I am going to give Jayne props for the cake scene. I will never look at a cake the same way again, wow was that scene just the yummiest thing I have ever read.”
Available at Samhain Publishing (just $1.75 with new release discount!)
Available at Amazon
Available at B&N
by Jayne Rylon | Jan 25, 2011 | Uncategorized
The crew is back!!!Ā Morgan’s Surprise is officially available today.Ā The second installment in the Powertools series takes the crew through a new season, and a new adventure.Ā Soon I’ll be sharing more details about Kayla’s Gift, the third book in the series which will be out in July.Ā I’ve seen the non-finalized cover and I have to say Angie Waters has done it again.Ā Devon’s Pair will round out the series late in 2011.Ā But… TODAY… you can pick up a copy of Morgan’s Surprise at many of your favorite ebook sellers including:
Samhain Publishing (30% off new releases makes Morgan’s Surprise a bargain at $1.75!)
Amazon
B&N
Below you’ll find the blurb and an excerpt from Morgan’s Surprise.Ā Ā Thank you so much to all of you who wrote to tell me how much enjoyed Kate’s Crew and hoped to read more about the rest of the guys.Ā I hope it was worth the wait!Ā Happy Reading!
Out TODAY from Samhain Publishing
For a tasty birthday treat, add four men and stir.
Note to self: When confessing a crush on an ultra-hot construction worker to your best friend, make sure heās not
Kate's Crew by Jayne Rylon
standing right behind you.
If Morgan thought spilling the beans on her lust for Joe would scare him off, she couldnāt have been more wrong. Following her birthday wish gone awry, the hunk is treating her to one surprise after another. From little things that make her smile to lavish, romantic dates, Joe is turning out to be the stuff of dreams
Joeās attentions to the sexy pastry shop owner begin as lighthearted fun. Until he finds out about the past that, until now, has made her keep him at armās length. Determined to show her seeking pleasure is no crime, he sets out to fulfill her steamiest fantasiesāwith a little help from three of his best friends.
After a four-course birthday adventure, which presents Morgan as the sweetest imaginable dessert, she expects Joe to walk away. But now that Joeās brought Morgan out of her shell, heās hungry for something he never expected to craveāa forever kind of love.
An excerpt from
Morganās Surprise
Copyright Ā© 2011 Jayne Rylon
All rights reserved ā a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication
Morgan aimed a puff of breath at the flame dancing on top of the candle.
āWait! Too fast! Didnāt you make a wish first?ā Kate jerked the plate holding Morganās cupcake out of the trajectory of the warm air. The orange glow dimmed but didnāt extinguish. āThere must be something you want.ā
Carnal visions burned hotter than the fire melting the sprinkle-coated frosting of her gourmet confection into a golden pool. The color reminded Morgan of the burnished skin of her crush. It should be illegal for Joe to gallivant without a shirt on as often as he did. Spectacular memories of his displays sparked her fantasies at the most inopportune moments of the day and wreaked havoc on her sleep patterns.
Kate was polite enough not to hound her while she let her gaze wander, devouring the glistening expanse of Joeās perfect shoulders. Morgan sighed when she thought about the painted wooden sign heād craftedāand now hungāoutside the plate-glass window of her fledgling bakery. It bore the name heād helped her brainstorm. Sweet Treats.
So thoughtful. And sexy as hell.
It kind of surprised her not to see steam rolling off his bunched muscles. How could he be comfortable working half-naked in the brisk autumn air? She shook her head. The motion didnāt erase all the naughty ideas sabotaging her rationality. The dirty thoughts tempted her with a variety of ways to warm the handyman up when he finished his task and rejoined them inside.
Morgan sighed when a snap of fingers returned her attention to the interior of her admittedly cute shop. Itād taken six months to decorate everything just so.
āYou going to pick somethingā¦maybe someone? Or are you planning to wait until wax drips all over your birthday cupcake?ā Kate chuckled.
Morgan decided denying her infatuation with Joe would be futile. Kate had been her best friend since grade school. The lucky bitch had referred the hunky craftsman and his crew of skilled friends in the peak of the summer heatāafter sheād scored the crewās foreman for herself.
No way could Kate miss Morganās similar craving.
The crew had taken on odd jobs, fixing up the crummy space in the strip mall that housed Morganās boutique in exchange for loads of the decadent goodies she whipped up. Damn, those guys could eat. She wondered if manual labor accounted for all of the voracious appetite they possessed. It had to take more than swinging a hammer to burn off those calories. Lord knew they found some way to stay fit and trim.
Sheād baked Joeās favorite todayāa caramel apple tart. He deserved that and more for his considerate gesture. Two customers had already stopped in to say the colorful sign had caught their eye. Thanks to him, sheād sold out of brownies and cheesecake long before the after-work rush. Too bad she couldnāt generate the nerve to offer him something a little more sinful than her luscious dessert as a reward.
Sheād considered it once or twice before, but she couldnāt stop drooling long enough to try. Always quick to flash his toned abs and rock solid biceps, Joe kept her off balance and lost in a haze of unvented desire. Heād become her favorite treat weeks ago. An instant addiction. Thoughts of him left her craving a tasteāor moreāof him in the dead of night.
She bit her lip when he reached for something along the roofline. From his perch on the ladder, his body rippled with strength.
āDamn, Kate. I donāt think the birthday fairy would sanction what I have in mind.ā Morgan grimaced at the dopey grin on her friendās face. Three months of blissful dating and wild nights with her boyfriend, Mike, had turned the woman into a ridiculous ball of giggles with a perma-smile. Worse were the googly eyes that emerged when the love of her life entered the room. Kate and Mikeās soul-deep bond was hell to be around.
Jealousy didnāt exactly flatter a girl.
āThe big 3-0ās not until the weekend anyway.ā Morgan pried her stare from Joe.
āI know but Mike and I will be out of town then, so it counts today. Besides, youāll never know if you donāt try.ā Kate squeezed Morganās hand. āSometimes dreams come true. Believe me.ā
Yep. There went that grin again. āYour face is going to stick like that if youāre not careful.ā
Kate kept right on beaming.
Morgan swallowed hard then scrunched her eyes closed. She was tired of hoping Joe would ask her out. So she tried a new tactic instead.
I wish I had the courage to ask him on a date. Itās time to move on. Time to try again. I wish I could take a riskābe wild for once in my life.
When she blinked into the amber autumn light streaming through the window, Joe had vanished. A cosmic sign? Or had he needed some extra tool off his pickup?
āSoā¦ Was Joe the only guy involved in that wish or did some of the other hot construction workers we know feature in it too?ā
Morganās mouth gaped open. More than Joe?
She never would have confessed to greed that titanic on her own, but Kate knew her better than anyone. Morgan had thought about it. A lot. The way the guys worked seamlessly together on projects made their bond impossible to ignore. When theyād crowded upstairsāin her tiny apartment over the bakeryāfor beer and cookies, theyād overflowed the cramped space with testosterone and something a bit more elusive.
Their camaraderie transcended their partnership. At least she thought it did. But she could have imagined the inside jokes, meaningful looks and secret smiles more common between lovers than friends.
The menās intimacy could have been a figment of her overactive imagination but there was no mistaking their open arms. Theyād accepted her right away, making her more than just a friend of a friend. Every time Morgan witnessed the interplay between the partners, her mind had spun with possibilities. That didnāt mean she had to say so. āIsnāt it one of the cardinal rules of wishingāif you tell, it wonāt come true?ā
āCome on, you donāt believe that nonsense do you?ā Kate joked but persisted with a wiggle of her brows. āFess up. Youāve wondered what it would be like to have them in your bed. At the very minimum, youāre burning up the sheets with Joe in your dreams.ā
āOkay, fine. How could any woman resist? Theyāre buff, hardworking, playful, sexy as sin and sweet. Iāve got it bad for Joe. So damn bad. Like, worse than our Bon Jovi lust in high school bad. Heās strong but gentle. I could talk to him for days. Heās always surprising me with little things that make my day. And the way he fills out those ripped jeans has me thinking Iām going into cardiac arrest every time he bends over. But the rest of the crew isnāt far behind. Hell Iām so distracted, Iāve burnt more cookies since theyāve come around than in all the rest of my life.ā
āAbout time you admitted it.ā
Morganās heart froze at the deep rumble over her shoulder. It kicked in triple time when a broad hand settled on the side of her neck. She jerked from the retro-dinette chair she and Joe had salvaged and restored last weekend.
The sneaky bastard caught the vinyl-covered seat, saving it from crashing to the floor. Would he do the same for her if her jellied knees gave out?
āYou set me up.ā She gaped at Kate, betrayal and humiliation burning her cheeks.
āNo, Iām sorry.ā Her best friend stood, reaching out, but Morgan scooted further into the corner to avoid her seeking grasp. āI didnāt know he was there. I swear.ā
āI came through the kitchen. Left my boots out back so I wouldnāt track mud all over the place.ā Joe waved toward his socks. His grin turned feral. āBut I wonāt pretend to be sorry about what I heard. You want me. Bad.ā
āJerk!ā
āMaybe. But only because Iāve let this shit go on too long.ā
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
by Jayne Rylon | Jan 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
I know it’s just Monday but this week is off to a fantabulous start!Ā Not only is Morgan’s Surprise in Samhain’s Top 10 list the night before it releases officially (YEYEYEY!) but I also got the final, signed copy of my contract with Ellora’s Cave for the third book in the Red Light Chronicles series, Can’t Buy Love!Ā And, if that wasn’t enough, Mari Carr just told me that Razor’s Edge was voted The Romance Studio’s Five Heart Sweetheart of the week.Ā WOOHOOO!Ā A huge thank you to everyone who voted š
Before anything can go wrong I’m off to write.Ā It’s not very often that I’m home from my day job, finished with dinner and ready to write by 8PM on a Monday.Ā I’m working on Book 3 of Men in Blue, Mistress’s Master, so the kudos on Razor’s Edge are major motivation.
Thanks to everyone who played a part in making my Monday awesome.Ā See you tomorrow to celebrate the release of Morgan’s Surprise!
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
by Jayne Rylon | Jan 23, 2011 | Uncategorized
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to enter the drawing for Sylvia Day’s new book, Pride and Pleasure!Ā It will be officially released on Tuesday (along with Morgan’s Surprise, yey!).Ā I know I can’t wait to read it.Ā So… drumroll, please…
The winner is:Ā Junegirl63!
Please email me your address for your prize.
Happy reading everyone š
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
