Written by Skylin O'Thomas
Tip Jar Shorts contemporary fare offers sexy flash fiction stories perfectly sized to read in one brief sitting. Your time might be limited, but your satisfaction doesn't have to be.
Featuring modern settings, smoldering couples, and delicious relationships, these contemporary shorts come to life and take you on a quick trip through Romancelandia.
So … pick up a copy of your choice, sink into a sexy, sensuous story, and escape for a short while.
Eppie Collins and Vin Derbish are brought together by Organic Nature.
Eppie Collins runs an organic gardening business from a farm she inherited from her grandmother. She's spent four years getting the product mix just right, the financials into the black, and avoiding romantic entanglements. Vinson Derbish is a local contractor who just got out of a merry-go-round relationship. He promised to give the female population a wide berth, but can't resist Eppie's sassy charm. He's ready to take another plunge, but has to convince Eppie he's the man for her.
PUMPKIN PATCH $1.00 Tip [Item Number: SO001ON]
Vin Derbish, a local contractor, falls hard for Eppie Collins who runs Organic Nature on a farm she inherited from her grandmother. Both have been burned in past relationships, but they have a solid connection and Vin has plans for their future. He lays the groundwork with a terrific surprise on Eppie's favorite holiday—Halloween.
[Halloween, holiday romance, sexy romance, sexy short, m/f, Organic Nature]
3 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Vinson Derbish—Vin, to
everyone but his mom—stood back and admired his handiwork. Okay, his and three
of his sub-contractors. He'd only had about five hours to pull the surprise
together for the woman he hoped to spend the foreseeable future with. All right,
he'd been planning the surprise for months, down to the last detail, but the
window of opportunity to get it ready had been short.
Epinera Collins—Eppie
to all but her deceased grandmother—rarely left the organic farm and garden
business she'd spent the last four years expanding and building into a
profitable venture. No easy feat, but her determination to succeed won out.
He'd met her at the end of the second year, when she'd needed a new roof for
the main house.
They'd been together
pretty much ever since.
Taking the progression
of their relationship slowly, he'd only started spending a night or two a week
and the weekends about six months ago. His small cottage still remained home
and he didn't mind. She'd been burned more than once and he had an ex who liked
to blow through town every once in a while to try and kick up the dust on their
long dead connection.
Wouldn't she be
surprised when he firmly put her out of his life for good the next time she
came around?
He hoped, anyway.
Everything hinged on Eppie's reaction to his major transformation of her
backyard, bordering on her pumpkin patch.
Shaking his head, he
did a slow turn inside the transformed shed, pleased with the end result. He'd
started with a basic design and outfitted it with everything Eppie would need
to have a getaway close to home. A sink with a hand pump and small shower tucked
under the steps to the loft, both fed with a rainwater cistern. A two-burner
stove where she could try new blends for soaps and oils and a small
refrigerator completed the area by the sink. He'd placed a bed on the diagonal
in one corner and hung a gauzy surround to create a nook for reading, lounging,
or whatever else came to mind. In the opposite corner, he'd added a cheery
woodstove so Eppie could use the space all year around. The loft area could
store supplies and equipment and he'd put pegs in the floor joists for drying
herbs, flowers, and to hold the wreaths she created with seasonal plants. A
café table and two chairs took up a space in the center of the building, decked
out and ready to go.
In the spring, he
wanted to add another outbuilding, but one she could use as a small storefront
to display and sell her handmade soaps, essential oils, and anything else she
wanted to add. As her business continued to grow, he could add on to the structure
when necessary. As for the little shed in the pumpkin patch… if Linus and Sally
could spend the night waiting for the Great Pumpkin, why couldn't Vin and
Eppie?
Now he needed her to
return so he could present his surprise.
On cue, gravel crunched
under tires and he stepped out of the shed, locking the door behind him. The
car door slammed shut and Vin couldn't wait to reveal his labor of love.
TURKEY TROT $2.00 Tip [Item Number: SO002ON]
Eppie Collins can't have the Thanksgiving meal with Vin Derbish who has to finish up a contracted job, but she plans to have the leftovers ready and waiting on him when he returns home that evening. But when Vin's ex-girlfriend shows up and plows into Eppie's SUV, she has to face his past, which isn't easy because the ghosts of hers get in the way.
[Thanksgiving, holiday romance, sexy romance, sexy short, m/f, Organic Nature]
3 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Eppie pulled out of the
drive and made the ten-minute trip to Vin's cottage, angling into the lane
leading to the house. She skidded to a stop, sliding on a patch of ice. Getting
out of her SUV, she gingerly made her way to the back and unloaded the
leftovers, stacking the boxes on top of each other. She carried the items to
the back door, set the containers down to slide her key into the lock, and
opened the heavy wood slab. Walking into the kitchen, she turned the oven on to
warm and went back out for the food.
After she placed the
leftovers in the oven, she stowed the dessert in the fridge then made her way
back outside to grab her overnight bag. She'd just put the case in Vin's room
when the sound of a vehicle coming up the lane pumped her heart rate up a notch.
But a sixth sense kicked in. The car came in too fast, and Vin didn't drive
like a maniac.
A sickening sound of
metal crunching and scraping had Eppie dashing for the door. A sporty coupe
spun sideways in the driveway, its tail end lodged under the bumper of Eppie's
SUV. Eppie ducked outside, making a beeline for the car.
She peered through the
window. "Are you okay?"
Angry brown eyes met
Eppie's gaze before the door flew open and a woman stepped out. "Do I look
okay? Who the hell are you?" She glanced towards the cottage. "Why
are you here? Where's Vin?" She finally stopped asking questions and glared
in Eppie's direction.
Eppie blinked. The
woman could only be Vin's ex, Sheri, based on his description and the few
anecdotes he'd shared. Eppie hated awkward encounters, but couldn't escape this
one if she wanted to.
And she found she
didn't want to avoid a confrontation.
HOLLY HOLLOW $2.00 [Item Number: SO003ON]
Eppie's
business, Organic Nature, turned its best holiday profit yet, and Vin wants to
whisk her off for a celebration at Holly Hollow, a secluded B and B. The insane
pace from Thanksgiving to December twenty-third has Eppie in a bah-humbug mood, and Vin wants to put a smile back on her face.
[Christmas, holiday romance, sexy romance, sexy short, m/f, Organic Nature]
3 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Vin Derbish hit send
and didn't wait long for an answer. "Dani? Hey, it's Vin." He paced
back and forth, a little nervous about going to Eppie's sister behind her back.
"Would you mind if I steal Eppie over Christmas?" He didn't want to
cut into family time, but Eppie needed a break.
Dani snorted. "You
mean the Ebenezer crone that used to be my bubbly sister?"
Vin's eye widened.
"You've noticed the wild mood swings, too?" Although, of course, Dani
would see the change in Eppie.
Dani sighed. "Oh,
definitely. She's trying to do too much on her own."
Vin agreed
wholeheartedly. "Right. I suggested she hire some extra help, just for a
week or two, and I swear I thought her head was going to spin around and pop
off." He grimaced. "First night I've spent alone, wondering if we
were okay." Only his ex-girlfriend's Thanksgiving Day stunt gave him the
free fall feeling of uncertainty, which Eppie cleared up right away.
Thank the universe.
Dani commiserated.
"When I've gone over to wrap presents for the kids, she's been snapping
and snarling after closing up for the day, which isn't like her at all."
She laughed. "Maybe being a dancing sugar plum fairy during working hours
is draining her holiday cheer." Her voice lowered. "But you've nailed
it, Vin. She needs some help when it's really busy."
Vin finally sat down at
his kitchen table. "Didn't help she sold out of so much—the hand milled
soaps, essential oils, and body lotions. I mean she stayed up until after two
a.m. making more." His offer to help fell on deaf ears and earned him a
nasty look.
Dani agreed.
"Yeah, I helped her out with the edible items. The pumpkin butter and
cranberry sauce sold like hot cakes."
Vin pinched the bridge
of his noses. "It's a good problem to have, but she's stressing out. The
pumpkin rolls she made for Thanksgiving delivery got a lot of Christmas Eve
repeat business for the chocolate peppermint rolls. And that's where stealing
her comes in." Once Eppie filled the last of her orders, he wanted her to
have a stress-free holiday.
Dani's voice took on a
conspiratorially tone. "What's your plan?"
NEW YEAR'S NIP $2.00 Tip [Item Number: SO004ON]
Eppie turns the tables to surprise Vin for New Year's Eve
Eppie Collins has a terrific guy, one who gave her a wonderful Christmas holiday. She's returning the favor on New Year's Eve, making surprise last-minute plans to watch the midnight fireworks in the city. Vin's not the only one who can pull out all the stops.
[New Year's Eve, holiday romance, sexy romance, sexy short, m/f, Organic Nature]
4 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Cozy in her bed, Eppie
stretched and almost purred like a cat. Her final numbers for the year, after
she added the Christmas sales in, far surpassed her expectations. She'd been so
pleased she'd dragged Vin to bed at seven o'clock and didn't let him sleep
until after midnight.
A niggle of guilt
fluttered in her consciousness. He scheduled his year-end meeting with his
employees this morning and had to get up at the ass crack of ugly o'clock to go
back to his place and pull all his notes together then stop and pick up the
annual bonuses he gave the workers, which usually doubled their standard weekly
pay and made up for having the week between Christmas and New Year's off.
And he got a late start
because she'd been in the mood for wake-up sex.
"Amazing what a
couple days away and kick-ass profit did for my libido." And the trip to
Holly Hollow over Christmas definitely helped her grinched-out mood improve.
She sat up and swung
her legs over the edge of the mattress. Planning something hot and sexy for New
Year's would be a great way to repay Vin's generosity and general awesomeness
for putting up with her stressed-out insanity. If he could plan and execute an
amazing holiday surprise, she should be able to pull off the same.
"And I've got just
the idea to blow his mind."
After grabbing a quick
shower, Eppie dressed and went downstairs. She poured a mug of coffee and
checked her phone for messages. Finding none, she scrolled through her contacts
and found the person she wanted. Swiping her finger over the send button, she
waited for a response.
"You've reached
the Chamberlain. This is Maj. How can I help you have a fantastic day?"
The renovated hotel on the city's waterfront had become a popular destination
on the final day of December and Maj took pride in making every visitor feel special.
Eppie's lips curved.
She'd roomed with Maj Domer their freshman year of college and they'd remained
friends over the years. When spring arrived, Eppie couldn't wait to have Maj
over for a weekend of girl talk and catching up in her new haven—the shed Vin
built for her.
Eppie jumped right in.
"By finding me one last room for the New Year's Eve celebration." She
waited a moment. "Please, please, please." The city always put on a
gorgeous fireworks display over the water to welcome in the New Year.
Maj gave a happy
shriek. "Eppie? Oh, my God, how are you?" She spoke to someone else
on her end. "Cover the front desk. I'm taking five." A moment or two
passed then Maj spoke again. "Sorry, wanted a distraction-free
environment. What's going on? How was your holiday?" Maj never failed to
throw a million questions out before Eppie had a chance to answer the first
one.
But she'd had lots of
practice with Maj's chaotic style. "I'm terrific. Had the best year to
date for Organic Nature. And my excellent holiday was spent in a secluded B and
B."
Maj lowered her voice.
"Is that hot man of yours still rocking your world?"
Eppie laughed.
"Absolutely. That's why I'm hoping you can work some magic and find a room
for me." She didn't care what kind as long as it had a bed and bathroom.
Maj hesitated a moment.
"Welllll, I might happen to have
just the thing." Her fingers tapped on a keyboard. "But … I have to
swear you to secrecy. Okay?"
Eppie didn't think
twice. "Done. My lips are zipped." Excitement thrummed through her
veins.
Maj lowered her voice
again. "We have a suite reserved all year round for one client. He pays in
advance, and we keep the suite ready for him at all times. Actually, he has the
entire top floor booked for his use." She paused, no doubt on purpose to
draw out the suspense. "That said, due to something of a personal
relationship with him, I happen to have permission to use the suite when he's
not going to be here." She stopped, letting the innuendo sink in.
"He'll be out of the country until mid-January, so the suite is yours if
you want it."
Eppie fist-pumped the
air. "Sold. How much?" She didn't care what figure Maj named, she'd
happily pay whatever the price. "And we obviously need to do some major
catching up on this new personal relationship." She hoped this guy worked
out for Maj.
Maj laughed.
"Since I owe you several times over, I'm going to comp your stay. Why run
the hotel if I can't let one of my closest friends surprise her hot, sexy
man?"
Eppie huffed out a
breath. "Don't think I'm not aware you changed the subject. And thank you.
I am trying to surprise Vin."
Maj clicked her tongue
against her teeth. "I knew it. And I did jump topic, but only because I
don't want to talk about him while I'm working or do it over the phone."
Her tone grew wistful. "We need a girls' weekend. Soon."
Eppie agreed.
"Let's make some time in the spring. I'll have a better idea of what's
free after Valentine's Day."
Maj didn't argue.
"Sounds good. Now here's how we're going to be all covert…"
Eppie listened to Maj
provide details. They would bypass regular check-in and go directly to the
suite. They could come and go as they pleased, but Maj directed her to use the
VIP entrance and gave her the code to enter and exit, which Maj would change
after their stay.
The VIP entrance. Eppie
shook her head when she ended the call. Maj surpassed Eppie's wildest hope to
secure any room, even if only a last-minute cancellation. But an entire suite
on the top floor?
Oh … she had some plans
to make.
~*~
Black Unicorn Comics—collective genius or creative madness—follow the adventures of Brian, Lucy, and their friends and decide.
Black Unicorn Comics is on the cusp of indie success. Brian Wells and Lucy Sanderson are the driving force behind the accomplishment. Friendly rivals and romantic partners, they push each other to do great work. Surrounded by a close-knit group of coworkers, the ups and downs play out on a daily basis.
Brian and Lucy act as the calm in the crazy storm of creativity and keep their relationship burning hot—usually in spite of the antics going on around them. They follow where the muse leads, and it's worked out successfully so far.
CREATIVE INK (EPISODE ONE) $3.00 Tip [Item Number: SO001BU]
Brian and Lucy are on the verge of mainstream success—watch it happen in Creative Ink.
Lucy and Brian—creative rivals and romantic partners—are pushing the boundaries of their work and stepping into the realm of indie success. They're challenged with keeping their relationship strong and hot when leading their friends up the ladder.
[contemporary romance, contemporary, romance, coworker romance, m/f, sexy short, sexy romance]
3 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Lucy Sanderson sat in front of the
monitor, eyes riveted to the screen.
So into the material, she almost
missed seeing Brian Wells enter the office. She finished reading the page just
as he settled into his seat across from her, a mug of hot coffee in his hand.
Lucy cocked her head sideways.
"So…" She drew the word out. "Where do you get the shit in your head?" She fought back a smile
when his confused eyes flew to hers over the top of the cup. "I mean does
it just exist there waiting to come pouring out, or do you have to work at
creating it?" She purposefully waited until he had a mouthful of coffee
before she added. "Or does wanting me to be half naked all the time
inspire you?"
To his credit, Brian choked down
most of the hot liquid, managing to keep the bit that did spew out to a
minimum. "Dammit, Lucy. You hacked my password again, didn't you?" He
grabbed a napkin to wipe his chin.
Lucy gave him a cheeky grin.
"I keep telling you to make it harder. Altering your birth date by a few
days is too easy." She picked up her mug of coffee and took a drink.
Brian mumbled something she
couldn't quite make out—probably a threat for payback. But she called him on
the password thing all the time.
"If I make it too hard, I won't remember the bloody thing."
Lucy chuckled gleefully. Brian
never failed to entertain her, and his British accent came out in full force
when he got riled about something. Two of the many things she loved about him.
She sat up and leaned closer.
"Seriously, Brian. The issue you're working on now is gonna blow people
away."
~*~
Mix a little danger with hot romance.
Sun,
sand, and danger. International intrigue mixes with steamy romance to create
hot situations—South of the Border.
DOWN IN MEXICO $3.00 Tip [Item Number: SO001SOB]
Boy meets and falls for girl. Girl 'dies' in a fiery explosion. Five years later, they meet again.
Kiernan Darby spends five long years playing dead. It's a life in limbo, but it lets Lars Rademacher do his job and eliminate the members of a lethal crime syndicate.
Lars tracks Kiernan down in Mexico. Their reunion is sweet … until he reveals a pesky detail he conveniently forgot to mention.
[contemporary romance, contemporary, romance, reunion romance, m/f, sexy short, sexy romance]
3 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Kiernan scoffed. "Lars, I'm
not stupid." She sat up and turned toward him. "I lined up new
suppliers … use my new name in case there's any crossover." She leveled
her gaze on him. "Believe it or not, I learned a lot from you guys during
my stint of doing undercover work."
He still looked skeptical, so she
added more.
"Look. I may not be able to
kill people ninety-seven different ways, but I can cover my tracks." She
gave him a pointed look. "Took you five years to find me."
He winced. "Two, but point
taken." She'd been careful. He got it now.
"Hey, want some dinner?"
The emotional turmoil combined with the magnificent sex had her stomach
growling.
Lars looked at her askance.
"Are you cooking?" She didn't blame him. She'd had zero talent in the
kitchen five years ago.
She chuckled. "Not
tonight." She had Thai takeout in the fridge. "But … I'll have you
know I have mad cooking skills now." She'd learned from her neighbor. The
woman ran a restaurant and had the patience of a saint.
Lars grinned. "You'll have to
show me." He swung his leg over the edge of the bed. "Will you cook
for me, Kier?"
She leaned down for a quick kiss.
"You betcha. Tomorrow. Dinner. I'll cook." Shrugging into a robe, she
nodded toward the closet. "There's a pair of my dad's old dungarees in
there."
Lars flashed a grin. His clothes
were still outside.
"Thanks. I'll be out in a
few."
Kiernan tied the sash around her
waist and headed out.
~*~
When it's okay to be one and done
Steamy one-offs with sexy smolder, racy romance, and happy endings, these stand-alone stories are quick, fun reads. Whether it's the big city, a small town, or an exotic location, these titles feature friends or enemies to lovers, reunited sweethearts, or meet-cute couples. Choose your adventure!
BUSTED IN BUBBLES $2.00 Tip [Item Number: SO001]
Rayne McKinnon searches for the perfect woman to complement his business and his life. Emsley Bourne fits the bill.
Emsley lives for the next thrill, whether in business or life. When she keeps running into Rayne at conferences, she looks no further.
[Contemporary romance, contemporary, romance, coworker romance, m/f, colleague romance, sexy short, sexy romance]
3 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Emsley glanced in each direction
before she used the master keycard to let herself into Rayne's cabin. If she'd
figured the timing right, it shouldn't take longer than five minutes to short
sheet his bed and another six to get the card back to the concierge desk. Poor
Ron had no clue she'd borrowed his all access entry key to pull a prank. Hell,
he didn't have any idea she'd lifted the damned thing at all.
With a smug smile, she crossed the
living area and started up the spiral staircase to the loft. About five steps
up, she froze, carefully listening and hearing water sloshing in the bathroom.
Shit. Rayne must've skipped the fancy-pants dinner. Okay, could she still pull
off her traditional short sheeting of his bed and still leave him none the
wiser?
She pondered, considering her skill
level against the chance he might discover her presence. Should she risk it?
Yeah. She loved a good challenge.
She started up the next step and
stopped again. Wait … bath? What the hell? Curiosity ate its way through her
intention of getting in and out. Rayne couldn't possibly be soaking in a tub.
Hell. Yeah, he could … and he might have company. The thought bothered her …
even if it shouldn't. She might find the combination of looks and brains a
heady mixture, but it didn't give her any claim to his affections.
She hesitated. Indecision warred in
her brain. She had zero desire to become a voyeur if Rayne had brought someone
along for this trip and they'd decided to get kinky in the tub. She weighed her
options. The possibility of finding him with some woman wrapped around him
would be like a kick in the teeth, but…
Screw it. She made her way back
down the steps, tip-toeing to the bathroom door.
She had to know if the do-it-all security expert liked to soak in a
tub. Peeking around the corner, she bit her cheek to keep from laughing out
loud. Sure as shit, Rayne McKinnon sat up to his shoulders in frothy bubbles.
An open bottle of bubbly, nestled in a bucket of ice, sat beside the tub, a
glass filled with the golden liquid held in one of Rayne's hands, dangling
outside. His head rested on the rolled edge of the tub, eyes closed, his
fingers lazily tilting the glass back and forth.
The humor died and Emsley's face
heated up. God, he looked damned good, bubbles or not. A wave of jealousy hit
her … he appeared so content. The relaxed pose, the hot water, the alcohol … geez,
she could go for all three. Okay, four. She could go for Rayne right now, too.
Rayne opened his eyes and shook his
head. "Come to short sheet the bed again, Ems?"
She blinked and sputtered, but
didn't deny the accusation. "How did you know?"
Rayne drained his glass and poured
another flute. "You're the only person I know brazen enough to swipe a
keycard at a security conference and not worry about getting caught." His
lips quirked knowingly. "That juvenile record of yours must come in handy
sometimes."
Emsley almost missed the backhanded
insult. Her eyes had been riveted to the sculpted muscle playing under his skin
when he poured the drink.
She nodded absently. "Yeah, it
does." His words registered. "Wait. What? My juvie records are
sealed. You shouldn't know about them."
Rayne's
lips curved in a slow smile. "It pays to have extraordinary hacking
skills."
~*~
MERRY AND BRIGHT $3.00 Tip [Item Number: SO002]
For Presley, waking up between Gunnar and Frazier is one way to be merry and bright.
After losing her parents, Presley Griffith will be spending the holidays alone, and wishes new traditions were easier to establish. But instead of being by herself, she ends up in bed with Frazier Boyle and Gunnar Stewart. The detective and the firefighter heat things up and cool them down and Presley can't think of a better way to be merry and bright.
[Content warning: threesome, multiple partners]
[Christmas, holiday romance, contemporary, contemporary romance, m/m/f, sexy short, sexy romance]
4 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Presley sat in the middle of happy
chaos, surrounded by gifts, wrapping paper, and her two guys. "Look, I
love being an auntie. My brothers keep thinking I need to get married and have
a buttload of kids, but I'm perfectly content borrowing theirs." She
laughed. "Dave, the oldest one, fears I'll end up an old lady surrounded
by sixty cats."
Frazier narrowed his eyes.
"Hmm. No, can't see that. Twenty-five, maybe, but not a cat over
fifty."
Presley wadded up a pile of
wrapping paper and threw it his way, striking his chest. "Shut up. They
don't think I’m normal because I'm not in a huge rush to start dropping kids
like they did."
Gunnar shrugged. "Sounds
perfectly normal to me. Then again, I think I define the word a little
differently than most." He kicked his feet out and leaned back against the
couch. "To date, I've celebrated one"—he made air quotes—"traditional
holiday with the works, and a mishmash of every other kind you can think
of"—he ticked off the names—"Hanukah, Kwanza, Yule, and then we had
the standard dinner, visit from Santa, and treats at the group home." He
lifted his shoulder again. "Definitely something different all the
time."
Presley gave him a sad smile.
"Sounds a little lonely."
His lips quirked. "Sometimes,
but seriously, not that often." He nodded toward Frazier. "What about
you, Fraz?"
Frazier rolled his eyes.
"Normal growing up, but over the last five years, more like a
warzone." He got up and started gathering the torn wrapping paper.
"If the folks weren't having a shouting match, my mom would go on and on
about how insane her youngest son was for running into burning buildings instead of out of them." He jammed the
festive packaging into a trash bag.
Gunnar snorted. "Dude, she's
got a point." He ducked when Frazier tossed Presley's huge pillow in his
direction.
Presley gave Gunnar a considering
glance. "Says the hard-assed detective who steps into the line of
fire." She shook her head. "You're both kinda crazy, but so very
necessary."
Gunnar smirked. "It takes a
special kind of weird to do what we do, right, Fraz?"
Frazier nodded. "You know it,
bro."
Enjoying herself immensely, she got
up and helped Fraz clear up the mess while Gunnar neatly stacked her new gifts
under the tree. She plopped down on the couch, and the guys settled on either
side of her.
Leaning her head back against the
cushion, she said, "Guys. I have a confession to make." She propped
her feet up on the coffee table. "I'm never, ever going to own a
cat."
Frazier burst out laughing, and
Gunnar's shoulders shook.
Frazier nudged her leg. "Pres,
don't let your brothers get you down. You'll either find someone you want, or
you won't. Felines don't have to be involved."
Gunnar rested his head on the
cushion beside hers. "A dog might be nice, though."
Presley giggled, and then she
laughed. "Oh, man, you two are perfect." She sat up. "Seriously,
thank you guys so much. My siblings are pretty great, and I know they want me
to be happy and all, but both mentioned they had friends they want to fix me up
with over the holidays, and ugh, I just didn't even want to think about
it." She shuddered. "One runs a trucking company, and the other owns
a restaurant."
Frazier cocked his head to the
side. "Hmm. Nope. Can't see you with either type."
Gunnar lifted a brow. "I
wouldn't want to see her with either type."
Presley crossed her arms over her
chest. "It's not about type, you guys. It's about having something in
common, and I don't with either of them."
Gunnar nodded. "I get it. You
should be with a man who's committed to his work but understands what you do is
important, too."
Frazier agreed. "Or someone
who's passionate about helping people when they can't help themselves." He
glanced in her direction. "Like you did with the abuse victim we brought
in."
Presley snorted. "See. You two
just described each other. And combined you'd make the perfect man." She
threw her hands up. "It's why I don't wanna choose between you."
~*~
FANTASY EXCHANGE $3.00 Tip [Item Number: SO0003]
A fantasy exchange leads to hot action for Kelsey and Vas.
Kelsey Drum and Vas Batista harbor sexy feelings about each
other. When they're in a position to exchange fantasies Kelsey goes for it, but
Vas is the team leader and holds back, which doesn't make Kelsey a happy
second-in-command.
[coworker romance, military romance, contemporary, contemporary romance, colleague romance, m/f, sexy short, sexy romance]
4 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Stiver held up a hand and everyone
quieted. "Kels, you and Vas are the only ones left." He topped off
her glass. "Spill it. Who's your ultimate fantasy?"
Kelsey fought the urge to glance in
Vas's direction. He'd been her prime fantasy fodder since they'd been assigned
to the same base. But their work situation made hooking up complicated.
Stick
close to the truth, Kels.
She shrugged. "Eh, mine would
be a superior officer." She grinned. "No one in particular, but if
I'm gonna go for it, I'd have to at least break regs." Or get involved with the boss.
Sheri laughed. "Because…"
Kelsey finished. "Not worth
it, otherwise." She cast a quick glance in Vas's direction.
Sheri high-fived Kelsey.
"Kels, you never change. Always gotta push the envelope."
Stingray jerked his head toward
Vas. "Okay, Batista, you're it. Who's your fantasy woman?"
Vas shook his head. "Uh-uh. If
I name a name, there's no fantasy anymore."
Howie called bullshit. "Yeah,
yeah. Or maybe she hits too close to home, my man."
Vas lifted a shoulder. "Look,
the whole point of having a fantasy is to know what you want in a person,
right? What if your perfect match doesn't have the same fantasy? Make it
tangible and the dream's over."
He slid his gaze toward Kelsey and
she jolted. Holy shit. Did Vas consider her his fantasy woman?
Maggie nodded. "Okay, I get
what you mean, but it sucks balls you won't at least give us a clue about what
gets you going."
Vas settled back in his seat.
"Strong women turn me on. Is that good enough?"
Kelsey leaned in. "That could
be any female in this room. Care to elaborate a little more?"
Vas gave her a long look. "Not
really, no." He downed his drink. "I'll let you guys use your
imaginations."
BLAME IT ON THE RAIN $2.00 Tip [Item Number: SO004]
Vala and Gates work together leading tours through the
wilderness and love their job. But when close friends go through a breakup, Vala
and Gates take opposite sides and it strains their relationship, especially
when they get trapped in the elements and have to find shelter for the night.
[contemporary, contemporary romance, romance, coworker romance, m/f, sexy romance, sexy short]
3 Firecracker heat level
Excerpt:
Gates exited on to the highway
leading out of the city. He watched the clouds roll in, the brief glimpse of
sun breaking over the horizon wouldn't last long.
Vala shot his a sideways glance.
"Why are you taking thirty-three?" She grabbed her coffee and took a
long swallow. "I figured we'd take fifty-seven, heading west toward
Burnside."
Gates shook his head. "They're
not going to be anywhere we take tour groups, Vala." He had no clue why
she thought Jane and Karl would go anywhere near a work location.
Vala snorted. "Why not? It's
only thirty miles from Beacon Valley." She put her cup back in the holder
then grabbed it again, a sure sign of her agitation. "So we're skipping
Landing's Loop, too?"
Gates didn't relish trekking around
to find Karl and Jane any more than Vala did. "Yes, because both are
obvious options and they don't do obvious." And why stick around where
they could be easily found?
Vala quirked an eyebrow. "So
they drove all the way back through the city and headed out in the opposite
direction? Where to?" Her shoulders slumped. "Marble Hills,
right?"
Gates shrugged but didn't reply.
She'd nailed the location he thought they'd find their friends.
She propped her right foot on the
dash. "Maybe not obvious, but it's effing stupid." Her gaze straight
ahead, Vala crossed her arms over her chest, the cup of coffee loosely held in
her grasp.
Gates sighed. Great. Vala in
shut-down mode. The next forty minutes should be loads of fun.
The first fat raindrops hit the
windshield, a precursor for the deluge that followed when the clouds closed in
and the skies opened up. A perfect accompaniment to the crappy mood trapped
inside the vehicle.
Awesome fucking way to start the
day.
~*~
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