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Showing posts with label Siren BookStrand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Siren BookStrand. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 October 2017

Book Tour + #Giveaway Merlin's Rogues: The Permesis Magician - by B. Bentley Summers @bryce_summers #mm #erotica



Merlin's Rogues:
The Permesis Magician
by
B. Bentley Summers
Genre: Dark Fantasy, M/M Erotica


Pretty boy Devon has no idea his week of midterms at a Kansas university is about to go from arduous studying to meeting four magicians who call themselves Merlin's Rogues. He's about to be even more surprised to discover that he's a magician, too, and sought out by dark forces--for what, however, he does not know. But he will soon discover why.

Devon's sexbuddy kidnaps him and, using powers bestowed on him by evil forces, curses Devon into becoming his sex slave. Devon is taken to a mysterious suite in London where he gratefully does his master's bidding. Devon's exertions, though pleasing, are grueling, and it's clear this sexual coupling is feeding a dark entity, resurrecting something wicked. 

Merlin's Rogues, including Devon's crush, Cedric, are in hot pursuit and must battle evil dark forces that stand in between them and Devon. Even if they save the enslaved magician, Cedric will need to use his passion for Devon to break the atrocious Master-Slave spell. Then, maybe they stand a chance against the new odious powers that have risen. 

Note: This book contains forced seduction. 
** A Siren Erotic Romance
[Siren Allure ManLove: Erotic Alternative Fantasy Romantic Suspense, M/M, HEA]




Bryce is a psychologist, author, and the founder of Queer Sense Theory. 

Bryce writes popular fiction genres meant for all audiences under Bryce Bentley Summers, and pens gay fiction under B. Bentley Summers,
although he'd argue that anyone would enjoy his gay fiction pieces.

Bryce's full time work is at the Veteran Affairs where he has been employed for five years. He has extensive history of working with people diagnosed with PTSD and he used these experiences when writing FreshMeat.

The novel, Fresh Meat, recently won Dan Poynter's Global eBook Awards for best gay fiction. This piece is more than just a book, but embraces gay identity while deploring the hateful violence that happens in the U.S. prison system, and across the world. The book parallels the vicious Man-Punk prison system to the long ago abolished American Slavery System. However, Fresh Meat is not non-fiction, but fiction, and it's genre is best described as Supernatural Horror.

Rotville and The Zombie Squad, are two of Bryce's recent completions. The Zombie Squad is a teen Post-Apocalyptic Thriller that recently

received Reader's Favorite 5-Stars. This novel has humor and is fast pace, that follows four teens in New Orleans who find themselves not
only chased by psycho gangsters, but in the middle of zombocalypse.
Rotville is a new adult/ adult Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic Horror that takes place in the near future, in a city called Rotville where people with a rot disease are quarantined. Inside this city is the mega prison Colleseo, where inhumane experiments are carried out on inmates. It's also the birthplace of Dylan, a super soldier who must fight his way out, save a couple of youths from the new deadly mutants, and keep from being re-caught by the greedy director.

Bryce is also the author of the fiction Young Adult Dark Fantasy/ Sci-Fi
series AMEN TO ROT. The novel NYTE GOD is the conclusion to this series. The Amen to Rot series and Nyte God pit Ace and his friends against alien invaders who are turning humans into mutant creatures. 

Bryce authors popular fiction with a style that entices readers of all
backgrounds to consume, and makes every attempt to make his characters diverse. 

As noted, Bryce does dabble in gay fiction, and pens it under B. Bentley
Summers, though in truth, these works are meant for everyone to read.
Bryce is the founder of Queer Sense, a theory that describes how people form attitudes. The theory provides insight into how specific components in cultural contexts shape our beliefs and values, which
ultimately form our attitudes. The nonfiction book, QUEER SENSE: How
Are Attitudes Formed? A Revolutionary Guide for Teens, Parents, Mental Health Professionals and Anyone Interested in Queer Theory, is due out by 2016.





Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!



Friday, 27 January 2017

New Release - Dragon Trap [Coalition Mates 5] by Sarah Marsh @SM_fiction #shifter #menage mmf

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Dragon Trap, Coalition Mates Book 5

**AVAILABLE NOW!**

Bookstrand

(Will be available on Amazon/Kobo/B&N etc approx. Feb 19)

Blurb:


All Marisol Lewis had ever wanted was a family, but her ex-husband back on Earth made sure that would never happen while they were together. Now? After waking up on an alien planet, she has a plan and she’s more determined than ever to see it through on her own.

When the contract comes up that will give her exactly what she’s always dreamed of, she’s eager to sign on the dotted line and begin the journey to her new home planet of Dolovia. But when things go horribly wrong, she ends up surrounded by mad doctors and Frankenstein space pirates.

Luca and Baelion are dragon shifters with a troubled past, shunned by their own people, they now work for the Coalition Council taking rescue jobs that no one else can do. They manage to find Marisol—but their rescue plans take a wrong turn and they all end up stranded on a dangerous quarantined planet.

Mari finds out the hard way that life often gets in the way of best-laid plans…and dragon shifters most definitely do get in the way of hers.

Good thing for her that dragons are naturally quite stubborn once they decide they want something—and they’ve decided she’s theirs.


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Story Excerpt:


Mari stared at the sheer beauty of the male in front of her. His chest was a sculpture of rippling golden muscles. Fine beads of sweat made their way down his toned stomach, drawing her gaze ever lower. She watched as his hips swayed back and forth to the seductive music, his low, loose pants barely clinging to his lean body. She wasn’t sure if she’d even seen a more beautiful man before; it had certainly been long enough since she’d had her hands on any man at all. The sighs of the woman next to her finally broke the trance of his delectable gyrations and allowed her to turn her eyes away. No point in torturing herself any further with things that she couldn’t have.

“God, Mari, how can you even look away from a sight that divine?” Devyn fanned herself with both hands. “I mean, I love Benic like a brother, but when that boy dances, even I can’t keep my thoughts platonic.”

“Well, I’m almost old enough to be his mother, so I shouldn’t be gawking at him at all,” Marisol answered as she stood up from the stone bench where they’d been watching the dance performance. The gardens of the Courtesan Guild building were created for showcasing and practicing all sorts of exotic performance arts, and most of those who attended the classes or worked in the building loved to enjoy the shows.

“You’re leaving right in the middle of his routine?” Devyn asked, looking back at her as if she were crazy.

“I’ve got an appointment with the Guild Matron in twenty minutes. Sally says she’s found the perfect contract for me.”

“Oh,” Devyn answered with a frown. “This soon? I thought it would take longer, that we’d have at least until I’m done with classes before you shipped off to planets unknown.”

Mari reached over and gave her friend a tight hug. For some reason, little Devyn’s perky, outrageous personality had meshed perfectly with her own—surprisingly, since she’d been told on more than one occasion that she was too serious, too much of a control freak. So the tiny tornado of happiness had become her best friend here, and if she was sent off world, she would miss her something fierce.

“Don’t worry, Devyn. It might not even be one that I want,” Mari said with a shrug. “No point in worrying over nothing. I’ll see you after.”

As Marisol walked back through the education center and into the Courtesan admin wing, she had to admire the sensuous beauty of the building. If she had been ten years younger and perhaps a little bit braver, she would have loved to apply to the Courtesan Guild. It sounded so glamorous and fascinating, and Sally certainly couldn’t look any happier than she was in her new role as Guild Matron. Of course, it didn’t hurt that it was a role that just happened to come with a smoking-hot husband, Guild Master Arkenon Quinn. A more devastating alpha male Mari had never met, and she couldn’t help but be a little jealous of her friend.

She walked into Sally’s new office and was not surprised to see the intimidating Kalista Dax standing at the secretary’s desk, going over some paperwork. When the former Tokka assassin turned her unsettling solid blue eyes toward Mari, it was all she could do not to book it back out the damned door. Kali had always been very nice to the rest of the rescued Earthers and actively went out of her way to make friends, but the rumors of the kind of violence she was capable of left Mari just a bit freaked out.

“Hello, Marisol. Are you here for your appointment with the Guild Matron?” Kali asked, an almost smile trying to form on her beautiful, pale white face.

Mari knew that Kali liked to spend so much time with the Earth females because they were so expressive emotionally. She was only half Tokka and had been forced to suppress her physical expressions at an early age. Since Kali had defected from a society where it was unacceptable to show emotions of any kind, she was trying to learn by observing them, and sometimes the results could be…unsettling.

“Yes, Sally said that she may have found a placement for me,” Mari answered, trying to maintain eye contact with the much taller woman.

“Mari, come on in!” Sally bellowed from her desk, which made both Mari and Kali smile at how outrageous their new Guild Matron could be.

Sally was up to her elbows in material swatches when Marisol sat down in front of the large desk. The office was beautiful, with an incredible view of the mountains through the floor-to-ceiling windows on one side. The furniture was all made in a black wood that looked exotic and expensive. But then again, Sally’s new position as Guild Matron was one of the most important on the entire planet of Sirus. It was just strange because Sally really didn’t seem to care about the prestige at all. She had really grown into herself since that day they had all walked out of their rooms for the first time and realized they were now on an alien planet, but she was still just Sally to the rest of her friends.

“Argh, I’m supposed to decide on material for new dresses for the council meetings, and I seriously couldn’t care less. I wonder if I can hire someone to do all of this clothing crap for me?” the Guild Matron said, shoving the material to the other side of the desk with a look of disgust. “So how are you, Mari? How are the classes going?”

“Good, Sal. I’m almost done with the EMT equivalent, so I’m sure that will be handy to have on top of my nursing experience. You said you had a possible match for me for placement?” She squirmed in her chair, trying not to look too excited.

dragon-trap-mari


Adult Excerpt:


“You’re so wet for us already,” the low sexy timbre of Luca’s voice only made her want him more. “I need to taste you.”

“Later, Luca. I need you right now.” She moaned as Baelion took one of her aching nipples deep into his mouth. “I can’t wait. Please.”

She boldly moved her legs farther apart, planting her feet flat on the mats. It was an unmistakable invitation—one Luca didn’t disappoint her on. He quickly rid himself of his shorts and then moved between her thighs, rubbing the swollen, thick head of his cock along her wet folds.

“Luca, stop teasing me.”

His only answer was a low growl as he slowly pushed his length inside of her, his eyes locked on hers. It was extremely intense. His gaze never left hers as he filled her up.

“Watching you take him is so fucking hot, Mari.” Bae’s voice from beside her snagged her attention. His own blue eyes were locked to where their bodies joined. He ran one finger down her stomach until it lightly made a slow path around her swollen clit, causing her to moan and tighten around the hard shaft buried deep within her.

“She’s so warm and wet, Bae. Feel for yourself.” Luca grabbed Baelion’s hand and guided it lower to where the root of him met her body.

Mari’s hips bucked up when Bae continued to rub a trail along her folds and then back up to her clit. Meanwhile Luca set a leisurely pace, thrusting in slowly and then retreating. She could feel the pressure building inside of her, and she sighed when Baelionmoved to capture her lips in a slow kiss.

The two of them continued their sensual torment, never letting her set the pace or tempt them to lose control. Bae had her arms gently pinned above her head with one hand. The thrill of being completely under their control seemed to electrify all of her senses. They were true to their word, completely tender in their care for her—but there was an intensity to their actions that was different than before. They were loving her so intently that it was her undoing.

“Oh God.” She whimpered into his mouth as Luca’s firm but steady pace lit her up until she was just on the cusp of orgasm. “Please, I need to come.”

“Come for us, little one,” Bae murmured as he finally pinched down on her swollen button, causing her to spasm all around Luca’s shaft.

“Yeeeessss.” She moaned as she came. All of the tension in her body finally broke and swept her away in a warm rush of pleasure.  Luca pushed deep one last time before he joined her, groaning her name.

Baelion still slowly stroked her as she came down from the high, Luca still buried deep inside of her. There was certainly something to be said for slow and steady. It was a different type of pleasure than the passionate coupling from their previous encounter, but no less impactful. It was more intimate. There was more tenderness in their touch, and it melted her.

“How are you feeling, Mari?” Luca leaned forward to slowly sip at her lips. She opened her eyes when he stopped, only to see that he had moved to kiss Baelion as well.

“Much more relaxed,” she murmured, hypnotized at the sight of their lips and tongues moving together. Her satiated libido suddenly roared to life once again as Luca withdrew his spent shaft from her and settled himself this time behind Baelion.

“And what shall we do with you, love?” Luca reached over the other man’s hip, moving lower until he grasped Bae’s turgid length and stroked it slowly. “Let us take care of you now.”

“I don’t want to make Mari sore.” Bae’s voice was quiet and strained with desire as she joined her hand with Luca’s on the other man’s cock.

“I’m fine, Bae,” she whispered, leaning in to lick at his neck. “I promise.”

“Move closer and give me your leg, Marisol.” Luca released Bae’s cock and pulled her thigh up to rest over both of their hips, opening her up to them.

She moaned when the wet tip of Baelion’s cock rubbed up against her sensitive clit, loving how hard he was for them. When he slowly slid into her, they both let out a long breath. He was slightly thicker than Luca but felt oh so good as he stretched her.

“Neither of you move.” Luca’s voice was thick with desire once again as he reached for the remainder of the julla leaves and collected the thick gel on his fingers before returning to his position behind his mate.

Baelion tightened his arms around Mari’s waist as he groaned low in her ear, his hips bucking slightly against her. She had a pretty good idea what Luca had done, and when he was once again tight against Bae’s back, she leaned over and kissed him, moving her hips slowly, working the thick length inside of her.

“Ahh, Goddess, this feels amazing.” Bae panted as Luca began to thrust into him and Mari continued to move along his shaft. “It’s too much. I can’t last long.”

She had a feeling that was Luca’s intention as he bit down on Bae’s shoulder, making the other man cry out as his hips bucked furiously, taking her breath away every time he slammed against her swollen clit. Mari could feel the force of Luca’s thrusts as he took Bae’s ass.

“Do you like being fucked by both of us at the same time, love?” Luca whispered into Bae’s ear, the dirty words only increasing her desire.

“Yes, I love it,” was Bae’s breathless response, sweat beading at his temple and then slowly making its way down the side of his face.

“Mari, come on his cock.” Luca locked eyes with her. “Make him come inside of you.”

She nodded and bit her lip as she reached down between their straining bodies. Her fingers slipped in the wetness before finding purchase, and all it took was two passes over her clit before her orgasm hit. She tightened around Bae’s shaft, urging him to find his own release.

“Mari!” he bellowed before sinking deep inside of her one last time. She could feel the tremors flow through him as he came hard, his peak, in turn, bringing Luca as well. His roar of completion rang out into the quiet night.


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About the author:


Sarah Marsh was born in British Columbia where she still lives, she has only recently began her writing career finding it the perfect outlet for taking the edge off a nine to five office job. She’s been a science fiction and romance junkie for years and when her imagination started to take the characters she’d read about even further in their adventures she decided to try writing something of her own.

Sarah’s also a former pastry chef and spends a lot of time cooking and baking for friends and family as well as painting and knitting. Her biggest weaknesses are animals of any kind…she even loves the ones that wake you up at four in the morning because they can almost see the bottom of their food dish.

When it comes to life in general she’s a big believer that laughter is the best medicine and that there’s no such thing as too much love, which is why she’s such a sucker for a happy ending.


Connect with me!


dare-to-love-banner

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

#NewRelease Jayson's Redemption by @mskelsiebelle [Playing for Keeps Sequel]

Jayson's Redemption (MF)

by Kelsie Belle
Sequel to Playing for Keeps
Siren-BookStrand, Inc.

Heat Rating: SEXTREME

Word Count: 56,047

[Siren Classic: Erotic Contemporary Romance, HEA]

Blurb


Jayson Tacoma has sworn off love and relationships ever since an unfortunate incident with his best friend leaves him emotionally scarred. That was until fate causes him to cross paths with the mysterious Mya Delgado, who appears in the small town of Bailey Springs seemingly out of the blue. Soon, he finds himself struggling with his overwhelming attraction to yet another dark-haired beauty and the two get caught in a game of cat and mouse that neither of them can control. Will getting involved with this woman, who harbors so many secrets, turn out to be another devastating mistake for him? Or will Mya Delgado finally be Jayson's redemption?



Adult Excerpt

Without warning, he yanked her forward, crushing her body to him just as his mouth slammed down on hers in a ferocious kiss. His tongue invaded her mouth, licking into the hot, wet cavern relentlessly.

As the kiss continued, he twisted their bodies slightly then his legs began to move forward, propelling her backward until the back of her thighs hit the edge of the dresser. Breaking the kiss, he quickly spun her around so that she was facing the mirror, her back pressed up against his chest. Their eyes met in the mirror and the look of pure, unadulterated lust that was burning in the depths of his, seared Mya to the core. Heat unfurled in her belly like molten lava, dripping from her center onto her thighs.

“God, you’re spectacular,” he said softly.

The warmth of his whispered words fanned her neck, making her skin prickle with gooseflesh. Moving her hair to the side, he began to place feather light kisses along the side of her neck, nipping his way down to her shoulders. At the same time, his hands came around to cup her breasts, gently kneading the soft flesh as he continued to kiss and nip her shoulder blade.

A little whimper escaped her at the feel of his rock solid hard-on pressed up against the cheeks of her buttocks, sending shivers of anticipation coursing through her body. She reached behind her to shove her hand into his thick, inky hair and pushed her hips back into his pelvis.

“Jay, I need you,” she whispered.

“Tell me what you need, sweetheart,” he groaned against her skin, moving his hands from her breasts to trail a heated path down to her waist. “I need to hear you say the words.”

She writhed against him as one of his hands splayed over her stomach and then began inching its way toward the valley between her thighs. “I-I need you…touching me, feeling me,” she whispered.

His hand traveled over her shaven crest until it got to the place where she ached the most. Using his fingers to part her swollen, throbbing flesh, he slid his long, middle finger through the slickness there. Mya’s eyes fluttered closed as her entire body shuddered with delight.

“Yes, Jay, more…I need more.”

“Open your eyes, baby girl,” he commanded. “Look at me.”

She forced her eyes open again and they collided with his in the mirror just as he slid one long finger into her heated core.

“Ahh,” she moaned, her head falling back onto his shoulder as he began to move the digit in and out of her pussy. Her legs trembled with need as he worked his finger inside her, her chest rising and falling rapidly with the effort it took to breathe.

“Feels good?” he asked, his hot breath scorching her ear.

“Y-yes, so good…More, please.”

“Tell me what you want, Mya.”

“Another finger…Give me another finger, please. Touch my clit, get me off with your hands.” The words spilled out of her like a plea for salvation, her voice hoarse and raw with unbridled desire.

His lips curled into that devastatingly hot smirk she knew so well and he winked at her in the mirror as he drawled, “Yes, ma’am.”

Instantly another finger joined the first inside her snug channel. Jay wasted no time twisting and curling them inside her with just the right amount of pressure, causing her pussy to clench around them. Then he reached down with his other hand to press the pad of his index finger against the taut nub of her engorged clit and began rubbing it in lazy circles. Lightning exploded inside her, the pressure of her release heightening in her core in an instant.

“Oh! Oh God, yes!” She cried as he continued to use both hands to work his magic between her thighs. Moaning wantonly when his fingers rubbed up against the sweet spot inside her, she pushed her legs further apart to give him more room. He took the opportunity to increase the pressure of his finger on her clit, moving his fingers faster inside her. Her climax made a steady crescendo inside her, and when it finally crashed into her like a forceful tidal wave, a piercing scream ripped from her throat.

It took several seconds for the incredible quakes of pleasure to subside but finally her eyes drifted open to meet his in the mirror again. She could see a definite wildness in his dark eyes now, an almost feral need swimming beneath their surface. His hands moved to the small of her back and he nudged her forward so she was bent over the dresser. Never taking his eyes off her in the mirror, he allowed his hands to caress her rounded ass, which was now spread wide for him.

“Damn, baby girl, I love watching you come,” he rasped, squeezing the cheeks gently. “Was that all you needed from me?”

Mya was shaking her head in dissent before the last word even made it past his lips. Skewering him with her eyes, she let him know what she needed in no uncertain terms. “I want you inside me, Jay,” she whispered. Her voice was breathless and barely audible but she didn’t give a hoot. “I need you to sink your dick into my pussy and fuck me like there’s no tomorrow.”


Buy Link: BookStrand
A Look at Book 1: Playing for Keeps


Blurb

Left broken and bleeding, night club owner and accountant Cassidy Samson did her best to pick up the pieces of her broken self and move on with her life. She vowed never to let anyone get close to her heart again…until the potent force of a pair of green eyes threatens to bring her to her knees.

Hired as the new guitarist in the band at the Escape Lounge, Cameron Chase is intrigued and aroused by Cassidy’s tough-as-nails attitude and sets out to barrel through the formidable wall she has constructed around her heart, to get to the real woman behind the façade. He agrees to play by her rules in a reckless game of lust in hopes of finding love.

But will Cam be able to chase away the demons of Cassidy’s past that threaten to consume her? Will his love be strong enough to make her whole again? 



Contact Kelsie here:

Twitter: @mskelsiebelle

Facebook

Website

Email: kelsie.belle@yahoo.com
 
Author Pages:  

Sunday, 27 October 2013

Guest Willa Edwards Author of Dirty Work

Could Mr. Wrong really be Mr. Oh-So-Right?

We all like different types of men. Some women like bald men, running their fingers of a smooth round scalp, while others crave thick curly hair all over their men, head, chest, back. Some women like tall and thin men, while others like stocky men covered with muscles. Every women has a different idea of who her Mr. Right is and what traits he might possess, whether it’s a man who works with his hands, or a man who’s better with equations than car motors. Every woman has a different idea of what Mr. Right should look like, and that was the whole basis of my Naughty Holiday List series.

One night, five women, Callie, Mallory, Krista, Amy and Giselle, all write down what they want in a man. They create lists of everything they want in their Mr. Right, very different lists, detailing different needs, and wants. And throughout the course of their stories they’ve all found those men.

Put what if the men you want are not the men you think you should want? That’s the issue that Giselle has to deal with in Dirty Work. She wants Garrett. He’s a working man, with oil under his fingernails and grease on his face. But after having several relationships with these kind of men, Giselle thinks she should move on and start dating a different kind of men. Men who spend more time sitting at a computer and working with numbers than car engine parts.

But can you deny who you’re attracted to? Can you really change the type of man that is your Mr. Right? And will Garrett give Giselle that chance? To find out, you’ll have to read Dirty Work now available with Siren Publishing.

Blurb

As her friend's wedding approaches, Giselle Rossini feels more discouraged than ever. She's not where she wanted to be in life. She loves her job, but longs for something else to fill her days.

When she walks into her ex-sweetheart Garrett at her school, declaring he's the new auto shop teacher and he wants her back, Giselle finds her last refuge quickly vanishing. Years ago she loved Garrett, but all he did was break her heart and prove to her men are all the same.

Garrett Montgomery never stopped loving Giselle. And now he's back, determined to work his way into her life. He's not surprised Giselle isn't ready to welcome him back into her arms, but he'll do anything to earn her trust again. Garrett's never been afraid of a little hard work, especially when it includes some dirty talking and getting naughty in the backseat of a car.

But can he break through Giselle's perfect impregnable shell and into her heart, or will the labor be too much for him to withstand?


In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, and to celebrate the release of Dirty Work I’ll be donating one dollar for every comment I get on my blog between now and Oct 31st, to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. http://www.willaedwards.com/2/post/2013/10/celebrating-a-release-with-a-good-cause.html

Please stop by, leave a comment, and help me provide mammograms to women in need.
If you want to find out more information about how you can help provide mammograms to those in need, or find out more about preventing and diagnosing breast cancer you can go to https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

Excerpt

Giselle stared down at the list. The homemade paper was rough in her hands. The smell of pine and rose petals wafted from the page. The bright holiday ornaments and snowflakes stared up at her mockingly.

Ever since she’d created the list with her friends nine months ago the items cataloged on the holiday paper taunted her. It had seemed like such a fun idea, writing lists of the qualities your dream man would possess, with the hope that man would then find his way to your life. All her friends had been successful with it. One by one they’d all fallen under the spell. Each finding their own version of happiness. All of them, except her.

She dropped the list to her desk, right beside the invitation for Callie and Eric’s wedding, releasing a deep sigh. Only another day until the big event and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t get excited about it. At least not as excited as she should be. She was the party planner, the event organizer. She should be in her element, but it felt forced, like she was going through the motions.

All her friends had found happiness with someone they loved. She should be happy for them. And she was. But it didn’t stop the pang in her heart that throbbed with her own loneliness. Or the quiet voice in the back of her head that wondered if there was something wrong with her, something unlovable. 

She’d never thought she’d be the one whose life revolved around work. She thought she’d be married by now, maybe have a few kids. But life hadn’t worked out that way. Instead, she was at the school three days before the new year began, categorizing her supplies, and determining what she needed to order before the curriculum began. At least her students benefited. Most of them could out cook Rachel Ray with all she’d taught them.

How had she become this person? She was pretty sure she hadn’t always been this focused on work. It certainly wasn’t who she wanted to be, but she had no clue how to change it.

Giselle shoved the last of the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda back into the cabinet and noted the remaining ingredients she needed for the blueberry muffins she always made the first day of class with her Home Ec students, before grabbing her purse and heading toward the door. She’d promised to meet Callie early to finish decorating the pavilion in the park where she was to be married. Tonight was the rehearsal dinner and Giselle had promised to make sure the event went off without a hitch so Callie could enjoy herself. 

Not that she had a choice. No one else would be able to help Callie as well as she could. She couldn’t stand the idea of having to spend all day tomorrow looking at someone else’s lopsided flower arrangements or mismatched table linens. She shuddered at the thought of her best friend drinking out of plastic champagne glasses.

The sound of her heels clicking across the floor echoed through the empty halls. The rest of the teachers were off enjoying what remained of their summer vacation before the horde of hyper kids, helicopter parents and school board demands usurped all their time. Every teacher with a life, that is.

Giselle turned the corner, and the clang of metal coming from the auto shop lab piqued her interest. She smiled. She wasn’t the only one without a life.

They must have hired the new teacher. After Mr. Miller retired, James, one of her best friends’ husbands and the middle school vice principal, had revealed they’d decided to go a different way with the position. He mentioned hiring someone with less teaching experience and more real life experience. Giselle assumed that meant someone willing to work for less. Given how their school budget continued to dwindle, she didn’t blame him.

Curiosity getting the best of her, she snuck a peek toward the shop. The door hung wide open, giving her a good view of the cluttered room.

The new teacher was bent over, picking up a tool beside the broken down Ford Taurus they used for the kids to practice on. Her stomach flip flopped and her temperature rose as she stared at the delicious sight of the new shop teacher before her. She’d have to compliment James on the new hire. He’d made a very nice choice.

Giselle leaned back against the door jamb to admire the picture before her. She didn’t often ogle men, she just wasn’t that type of girl, but the sight before her was too good to ignore. His worn jeans cupped a very nice, well-formed ass. His thick masculine body would have all the female teachers interested in learning how to change their own oil.

She’d always loved manly guys, men who worked with their hands. It had gotten her into trouble more times than she could recall. She’d tried to be attracted to a man who spent more time behind a computer screen and reading books than he spent with grease beneath his fingernails, but so far it hadn’t worked. Yet another reason she was here today, instead of curled in bed with someone special.

He stood and Giselle smiled, walking further into the room. Now seemed as good a time as any to introduce herself to her new coworker. Maybe she’d offer to show him around the school, introduce him to all the other teachers. Her mood lightened and a small smile leapt to her face. Didn’t most people meet their significant other at work? Maybe the universe was finally working for her. Maybe this was her chance to meet her future husband. The next wedding they attended could be hers.

His back came into view, a dark red T-shirt spread across his broad shoulders. His blond hair spiked around his head, perfect for running her fingers through. She hoped he had brown eyes. She’d always been a sucker for a pair of dark eyes.

He turned around and Giselle gasped, all the air leaving her lungs in one large gust. She reached her hand out, grabbing hold of the doorframe to keep upright. The edges of her vision darkened.
“Hi, Dixie.” He grinned at her. His big foolish smirk knotted her insides, the drawl from his Georgia roots highlighting the nickname he’d given her over eight years ago, on their first date. “It’s great to see you again.”

Guest Blogger Willa Edwards