Never Too Early: The Beginning is the first book in a series starring her cowboys, Jake and Tor from Bareback, and my firemen, Chance and Tucker from Heat. If you haven't read either of these, that's a good place to start. Necessary backstory! Then you'll be ready on November 5 when this book is set to be released.
I've given you some little snips before, but here's another scene just to give you an idea of the chemistry cowboys and firemen can have when they meet each other. Feel free to let us know what you think.
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He was about to make a joke of his own about the bourbon from Knob Creek when Tucker nudged him. "Well, I’ll be damned," Tucker murmured in a low voice. "Lookit who’s here."
Chance glanced up in time to see two familiar men standing at the hostess stand. Their hats were in their hands and the one named Jake was running fingers through his hair while Tor spoke to the young girl.
"Huh," he said out loud, then purposefully turned his attention back to the drink menu. It was a weird coincidence, that was all. And judging from the reception that Tucker’s invite had gotten last night, Chance was pretty sure Jake and Tor didn’t want to be bothered.
Within two minutes, however, a gray hat entered the edges of his field of vision. "Evening."
Before Chance could look up, let alone collect himself, Tor was joining in. "Enjoy your winnings last night?" he asked happily.
Chance cleared his throat. "Tucker enjoyed my winnings."
"Pfft." Tucker rolled his eyes and looked at Tor. "Listen to this one. Like he didn’t drink just as much as me. Like he didn’t practically go down on me in the restr--"
"Tuck!" Chance interrupted sharply, giving Tucker an elbow in the side. It didn’t deter him much, however. Tucker grinned at Tor and raised his eyebrows.
Jake stood quietly, Chance noticed, although he had definitely shuffled his feet when Tucker started running his mouth.
"A healthy relationship, then," Tor said, laughing out loud. "Good enough." He narrowed his eyes a little at Tucker. "You've got the accent. Have you eaten here before?"
"Shit. I don’t got no accent. Y’alls the ones with the accent. And you bet I been here before. Anyone who likes bourbon’s been here." Tucker waved the drink menu at him. "I can recommend some."
"How about the food?" Jake put in, one eyebrow up.
For once, Chance was grateful that Tucker was carrying most of the conversation. He studied Jake and noted how close he was standing to his partner. Possessiveness again? Chance didn’t know. Tor didn’t seem to mind.
"You like steak?" Tucker asked Jake.
"Of course." Jake nodded once and then added, "And all the stuff that goes with it. But we raise our own cattle so I'm a bit fussy about my beef."
"That's the polite way to put it." Tor sounded like he'd been around Jake when he was unhappy with dinner once or twice. "Completely a bitch is the other way I'd say it."
Chance surprised himself by laughing. "That’s not very nice," he admonished. "If a guy doesn’t like the way his meat is cooked, then send it back until it’s right."
"Yeah," Tucker added, with a smile that only Chance knew was sarcastic instead of agreeable. "Send it back. Again. And again. And maybe once more, because there prolly ain’t enough of the waiter’s spit in it yet."
Chance looked over to find Jake giving him a small smile. "Well?" Chance asked him. "Am I right?"
"You're right. Of course you're right. Who wants to eat a meal that isn't just the way it should be, especially if it has a price tag on it?"
Tor rolled his eyes so hard that Chance thought it must have hurt. "People who can relax and enjoy a meal someone else cooked, that's who."
"You eat your way, I'll eat mine. So, anything on the menu that stood out the last time you were here?" Jake looked at Tucker expectantly.
***
Check back here in a couple of weeks and there might be more... happy Sunday, slashers!
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