Happy Independence Day!!
Here in the states we are celebrating the 4th of July. That means picnics, potlucks, parades, watermelon, fireworks, and READING! At least, for me it means reading. I am remaining at home today to take care of my mom. She has dementia and loud noises scare her. When she’s scared she is a little hard to deal with. So a quiet day at home reading and an early night is just what we need.
If you are reading too, you may like to pick up one of my books. They are all on sale either for free or for $0.99 until this evening. That’s a great price! My books are on sale everywhere ebooks are sold. Here are a few links.
Here is a link to Barnes & Noble
Happy 4th of July!
Happy Reading!
Tuesday Teaser July 3, 2018 Gina’s Wolf Part 17
Look, I didn’t forget to post the teaser on Tuesday!
Honestly, I almost did forget, but luckily I remembered in time. This is a little rough and I think I’ll make some changes during revisions, because one character doesn’t act like I think she would act. I’ll have to do some thinking about it. But meanwhile, here you go:
“Where are we going?” Cole asked his dad.
“The Limit,” his father replied. “We have rooms there.”
Gina knew of The Limit, although she’d never gone inside. The high-end restaurant and club was outside her budget. She’d seen the outside of the historic mansion that housed the restaurant and had wondered what it was like inside. It looked like she’d get to find out.
At this crazy speed, they reached the posh district in only ten minutes. Sal cruised through a gate in a stone wall and drove up a long driveway.
The house was dark, but as they drove around to the back, Gina saw lights come on in some of the windows.
“Everybody out!” the little driver screamed over the idling motor.
Cole’s dad hopped out and raised his hands to help Gina down. The men poured out of the back of the truck. Sal roared off toward a stable turned garage before the tail gate was closed. The sound of the heavy metal door banging against the truck faded quickly.
Cole took her hand and led her into the house. The rest of the men trooped in after them. They went through what must have been a mudroom, although it was too dark to see it clearly. The next room was a large kitchen. A light flipped on, dazzling Gina’s eyes. A voice quavering with age spoke.
“Mr. Wolfe? What are you doing up? It’s not dawn yet. Even the cook isn’t up yet. Couldn’t you sleep?”
The woman who spoke was tiny with a puff of silver hair rising around her head like a halo. Going by the wrinkles on her face, her age must be great. There was a younger woman on her left, probably around forty or so, with dark blond hair brushing her shoulders. A slightly older woman with long brown hair was on her right. That woman’s eyes were fixed on Cole with tears gleaming on her lashes.
Cole’s dad spoke respectfully. “We went out to find my son, Ms. Mary.” He nodded to the younger woman. “Rose said she knew where he was.”
The old lady turned to her youngest companion. “You are so clever, my dear.”
Rose smiled, nodding at Ms. Mary, but her gaze turned quickly to Cole, and then Gina. The third woman launched herself at Cole, clenching her arms around him. He let go of Gina’s hand to hug her hard.
“Colby,” she said over and over. “Colby. Colby, you’re alive.”
“Mom. I’m alright. What are you doing here?” He lifted his cheek from her hair to glare at his dad. “This isn’t a good place for her. Or Aunt Rose.”
“Or your sister?” His father gave a faint grin.
Cole’s mouth dropped open and snapped closed. “Patia is here? Dad, it’s not safe.”
“If you think I could have kept your mother home when you were lost and maybe dead, then you don’t know her. And your sister is frantic with worry about her mate.” He went to his wife and son to join in a group hug.
Gina stepped back to give them room. One of the naked men behind brushed past her to hug Rose. Gina primly averted her eyes, but not before she saw the strong line of his back and the curve of his muscled butt.
“Well.” Ms. Mary cleared her throat loudly. “I’m very happy you found your son. But it is time you gentlemen put on some clothes. The kitchen staff will be here in a few minutes and they are too young to see such a thrilling sight.”
Gina choked trying to stifle the giggle that flew into her throat. The men behind her made a hasty retreat to the mud room.
The old lady came and took Gina’s hands in her own frail, blue-veined hands. “My dear, you are frozen right down to the bone. Please, come in. Sky, build up the fire in the …” She trailed off, frowning slightly at the man still hugging the blond woman. “Sky, hurry and get dressed. We need to decide where this lovely young lady is going to sleep.”
Cole untangled himself from his parents. “With me,” he said forcefully.
Gina opened her mouth to protest. His mother spoke first, in a hopeful tone. “Did she accept your mate claim?” She turned to Gina. “Did you?”
“No!” said Gina.
Cole’s dad made soothing noises. “Now, sweetheart, there’s no reason for them to be apart. Colby would never take advantage, and it would be a good way for them to get to know one another.” His smile turned roguish. “And it worked for us.”
His wife sniffed. “It did work for us, Taye, but if your mother had been there, what would she have said?”
Taye’s smile fell. “There’s not another room free,” he persisted.
“There is plenty of room,” his wife decreed. “And if not, you and Colby can bunk together, and Colby’s mate and I will share a room.”
Neither Cole or his dad looked happy about that.
The man called Sky suggested, “She could stay in the women’s dormitory in back.”
“No,” said Cole forcibly. “My mate stays with me!”
“Gentlemen,” said Ms. Mary in a thin shout, “go get dressed!”
Too late. Two teenaged girls came into the kitchen, gasped, and broke into red-faced giggles. Taye and the man called Sky hurried past them and disappeared into the house. Ms. Mary took charge.
“Denise, you and Rachel forget you saw anything upsetting and get to work. Make coffee and bring it to my room.”
Gina doubted the girls were upset by what they saw. The big grins on their rosy faces didn’t look upset.
“Ladies,” the old woman said to her, Cole’s mom, and Rose, “follow me.”
In a few minutes, Gina was seated in a delicate chair close to the fire in Ms. Mary’s private sitting room, with Ms. Mary in a matching chair a yard away. Rose had stoked the fire in the grate to a nice blaze, and she and Cole’s mom sat on a padded bench between Gina and Ms. Mary. Cole’s mom gave Gina a blinding smile.
“I am Carla Wolfe,” she said. “Colby’s mom. I am so happy to meet you. How did you and Colby meet? Have you known him long? Are you going to accept him?”
Gina resisted the urge to lean away. “I, uh, I don’t know.”
“Carla, give the girl a minute to breathe,” said Rose. “I’m Rose Wolfe. My mate is Sky. He used to run this house a long time ago.”
Gina blinked and nodded. “I’m Gina Summer. I met Cole at the coffeeshop I worked at.” How long ago? Two weeks? Three? It couldn’t have been four weeks ago. Everything was happening so fast she couldn’t keep up. “I never even knew about werewo—I mean, wolf warriors until a week ago.”
Carla smiled warmly. “I know it can be overwhelming. When Taye won me in a Bride Fight I was scared to death, and there were no other women at the Den, so I felt alone. You don’t have to worry about that. All of us will do everything we can to help you. Now, we can share a room. If you don’t want Colby to bother you, I promise he won’t come near you if you’re with me. You don’t even have to see him if you don’t want to. I’ll take care of you as if you were my own daughter. So, shall we share a room? Or would you like Colby for your roommate?”
Without even considering her options, she blurted, “I want Cole.”
From somewhere in the house a triumphant wolf howl rose.
Tuesday Teaser Gina’s Wolf Part 16–LATE!
Aaack! I don’t know how, but I completely forgot to post the teaser this week. Please forgive me. I am so sorry! My only excuse is that I got horribly sick on Friday. My temp went as high as 102.1 and I slept pretty much the entire weekend. I did make it into the office on Monday, but I was still exhausted. Then on Tuesday my mom came down with it. My brother was out of town for the week, so I was trying to take care of mom while I was still sick myself. Let me just say that I have a whole new appreciation for moms who take care of their sick families while they are sick themselves. Don’t know how you do it!
And hey, I have a question for you. I have brought 7 members of the Pack/Clan to Omaha, but I haven’t decided who yet. Taye is there, of course, to find his son. Who else would you like to see have a role in this story? Let me know and maybe you’ll see your choice in an upcoming snip. 🙂
I’m sorry the teaser is late, but here it is, and you get more in just a few days, on Tuesday Better late than never? Tuesday Teaser for Tuesday, June 26 Gina;’s Wolf Part 16:
Her hat must have fallen off somewhere along their desperate flight. Gina did her best to tidy her hair. She didn’t want to meet her prospective in-laws looking frazzled or bedraggled. Gina could see the trucks were almost here, three of them, with deafeningly loud engines. Was his father driving one of the trucks? Or was it his cousins that she had met in Omaha that day in the coffee shop?
Two of the trucks sped up and went past them, probably in pursuit of the motorcycles. They wouldn’t catch up. The motorcyclists were her stepfather’s crack advance troops. They could go faster than heavy, lumbering trucks. The third truck slowed and rolled to a stop nearby. But her attention was pulled from the truck by the arrival of what seemed like a whole pack of dogs. The headlights of the truck showed the dogs were big, gray, and fierce. She took half a step back and froze when they … shimmered.
Her mouth gaping open, she stared at the naked men who appeared out of the shimmers. She silently counted seven men. They were equally big and fierce. Some had long black hair, some had shorter hair in black and various shades of brown. One was blond. Most appeared young, probably in their early to mid-twenties. One was in middle age. Although his body was still lean and muscled, silver gleamed in the black of his hair. Was this Cole’s dad? When the men finished embracing Cole, they turned to look at her. The weight of their combined stares made her want to flinch. Of course, she lifted her chin and stared back, careful to keep her gaze on their faces, not other, more embarrassing, portions of their bare bodies. She felt relief when Cole came to her side and draped his arm around her shoulders.
“This is Gina Summer,” he said proudly. “My mate.”
She attempted a smile. Cold and maybe a little shock made her teeth chatter. Concern appeared on every face, incongruous with their savage auras. The older man waved toward the truck.
“Let’s get the lady inside the truck, out of the cold,” he said, his tone making it a command.
She expected Cole to snarl at being given an order, but he only rubbed a hand up and down her upper arm. “Yeah, come on, Gina, I’ll help you up.”
The driver’s door in the truck cab opened and a small grizzled man leaned his head out. “I’m not sitting around out here all night,” he called disagreeably. “Get in before I go and leave you here.”
Several of the men exchanged glances. “Coming, Sal,” the older man said.
Cole pulled her over to the truck. The wolf men all followed closely, appearing to sniff discreetly as if trying to smell her. Gina fastened a hand over the throat of her coat and tried to look calm. Cole only grinned at them while he opened the passenger door and jumped in. The older man accepted a wad of dark fabric from one of the others. It was a pair of loose pants which he casually slipped into, as if being naked in front of a strange woman wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. He put his hands on Gina’s waist and lifted her to the cab before climbing in after her. The cab would have been roomy with two people, snug with three. There were four of them in the truck cab now.
“Dad,” Cole said, “you could ride in back with the rest.”
Gina stared at the older man. It was too dark in the cab to make out his features clearly, but his build was the same as Cole’s and the way he tilted his head was exactly the way Cole did.
“Sal’s a good man, but he’s not Pack, so do you want your mate sitting next to him? If you put yourself next to him, then your mate is vulnerable against the window.”
Sal, who was obviously not deaf in spite of his age, growled, “Sitting right here.”
Cole grunted in acknowledgement. His response to the crowded conditions was to slide her onto his lap. Gina felt uncomfortable and grateful for the warmth at the same time. The truck cab wasn’t heated.
Cole’s dad slammed the door shut and in just a minute Gina heard the truck’s tailgate squeak and clank as it was opened and the slight sway of the truck as men jumped into the back. Sal put the truck in gear and the almost quiet idle of the engine turned to a monster’s roar as the vehicle jolted down the road at an alarmingly fast speed. Cole tightened his arms around her to keep her from bouncing into the cab’s ceiling.
Cole’s dad raised his voice to be heard. “I’m Taye Wolfe,” her shouted. “Colby’s father. We’ll talk more once you’re safe in Omaha.”
There was no more talk during the short ride to Omaha. The little man drove like a demon. He drove so fast that whoever was manning the gate in Omaha’s wall didn’t have time to get it fully open before they roared through. Gina clenched her eyes shut and hunched her shoulders, expecting a sideswiping crunch if not an outright crash. Somehow, Sal was able to pass through with precision, like he was threading a needle. She collapsed like a wet noodle against Cole’s chest in relief when the truck left the gate behind. Cole rubbed his hand over her shoulder in soothing circles.
“Scared ya, Missy?” Sal screeched.
Gina didn’t answer. He didn’t notice, probably because he was too busy cackling with glee while he raced the truck down dark roads.
“Where are we going?” Cole asked his dad.
“The Limit,” his father replied. “We have rooms there.”
Gina knew of The Limit, although she’d never gone inside. The high-end restaurant and club was outside her budget. She’d seen the outside of the historic mansion that housed the restaurant and had wondered what it was like inside. It looked like she’d get to find out.
After the Crash on sale now!
I have pneumonia. Again. I am awfully tired of being sick. Seems like I am always sick. Sigh. Cough. Yesterday, I mostly slept. I slept for a few hours, got up to get some water and use the bathroom and went back to bed. When you’re too sick to even sit in bed and read you are SICK, right? I am a little better today, enough that I am reading. Sadly, my book budget is already depleted, so nothing new for me. I am re-reading nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. It’s so good!
I thought others might like to read some of my books, but maybe their book budget is low too so…
For a limited time I have put all of my books on sale for $0.99 everywhere!
https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B004GSVMGI
Tuesday Teaser 6/19/18 Gina’s Wolf Part 15
It’s hard to believe it has been only a week since I got back from RAGT! It feels much longer. I started the new day job yesterday. It is with the same company, and even the same team. I’m an Operations Coordinator and my main responsibility will be QAing work. Quality Assurance R Us. I think I will like it when I get settled into the job. This week I have to go into the office every day, which is a big change from rolling out of bed and just walking into the other room. Now I have to get up, take a shower, put “real” clothes on, eat something, and drive to work. Oy!
Ready to get back to the usual weekly snips from Gina’s Wolf? As always, these aren’t edited or even proof read, so please overlook any booboos. Oh, and speaking of booboos, have you see BooBoo Stewart? He’s very young, only twenty-four. I imagine lots of the next generation of the Pack and Clan look like him. Just had to share!
Enjoy the image and the snip!
Chapter Six
The sound of barely controlled terror in his mate’s voice forced more speed from his weary legs. Cole knew his boast that he could take twelve men was an empty one. Deep inside, his wolf cringed at the memory of the pain and confusion that followed the bullet slamming through his head. Omaha was only a mile and a half away, a mere five minute sprint for him if he were rested and not carrying a burden. No, never a burden. Gina was his one chance at love and a family. He would save her. He had to save her. He made his legs to stretch farther and faster. His head throbbed in time with his steps.
The outline of Omaha’s wall was a murky shadow in the dark ahead. So close. Not close enough. The shine of the motorcycle lights gleamed on the road beneath his feet. So close. Too close. He was running, but it was a terrible effort now. His lungs were on fire, his ankles threatened to turn with every step, his arms were clenched around his mate in death grip.
“Drop me,” Gina screamed in his ear. “They won’t hurt me. You can run faster without me.”
He’d already said he would never leave her. He didn’t have enough wind to repeat himself. “No,” he grunted between pants.
The roar of one motorcycle was bare yards behind him now, the others close behind it. His speed was failing. His strength was almost gone. Defeat rose in a bitter wave to crash over his heart. But his mate was clinging to him, breathing in almost silent sobs against his neck, so he spit on defeat and kept running. His legs didn’t want to obey. His feet and thighs screamed with every step. The thought of his mate―his mate!—being forced to marry someone else kept him going. I won’t let them have you, Gina, he swore silently. I will save you or die trying.
It would be better to live, but with Omaha silent in the dark ahead and her stepfather’s army nipping at their heels, death looked more likely.
I failed you, mate. His footsteps were wavering now, his heart close to bursting with exhaustion. I’m sorry. So sorry.
“Put me down,” she begged.
For one moment he considered it. The motorcycles were right on his heels. They would shoot him as soon as they got a clear shot that wouldn’t hurt Gina. If he left her, he could run to Omaha and get help. Or, he thought with disgust, they’ll pick Gina up and shoot me in the back while I run away. He clenched his teeth. No, if I die, I’ll do it facing my enemy and defending my mate.
New strength rose in him from some deep well he hadn’t known he had. From the corner of his eye he saw the front wheel of a motorcycle drop behind him as he poured on more speed. There was a lone tree by the road a few yards ahead. If he could get there, he could drop Gina to her feet and put her between him and the tree to make a last stand.
A sound rose in the distance. It first it was only an undefined smudge in the dark, but it sharpened, piercing through the roar of motorcycle engines. Cole’s heart leaped. The sweet familiarity of wolf howls turned his desperate despair to fierce joy. He couldn’t spare the breath, but he howled back anyway.
Four footed black shadows flowed in great bounds over the road ahead. Cole doubted if the motorcyclists either saw or heard the wolf warriors coming their way. In the distance, a widening square of light opened in the wall around Omaha. The rumble of trucks joined the howling of the wolves. He laughed in fierce exaltation.
“Cole?” His mate sounded worried. “What?”
The headlights of the motorcycles swerved and swung away.
“We’re saved,” he shouted at her.
She twisted her head to look over his shoulder. “They’re giving up? Why?”
He allowed his speed to slow to a trot, then a walk. “My kin,” he said simply.
“Your…?” Gina twisted to look forward again. When she saw the bobbing lights of the trucks coming from Omaha she gasped. “Oh, my! You can put me down now.”
For a moment he held her closer, savoring her scent. The fear that gave it an acrid tinge was fading. He wasn’t as good with scents as some of the pack, but he detected a sharp edge of embarrassment and unease. The trucks were only half a mile away now, and his cousins were even closer. He dared to brush his lips lightly over her hair before he lowered her to the road.
His mate made futile attempts to smooth her hair. He smiled at her as he tried to control his breathing. She had nearly been captured by the enemy, but she fussed now about her appearance. It made his blood run cold when he thought of how close it had been. His legs trembled so badly from exhaustion he had to hobble to the tree and lean against it. He glanced back down the road they had travelled and saw the red taillights of the motorcycles growing smaller.
They were safe.
Her hat must have fallen off somewhere along their desperate flight. Gina did her best to tidy her hair. She didn’t want to meet her prospective in-laws looking frazzled or bedraggled. Gina could see the trucks were almost here, three of them, with deafeningly loud engines. Was his father driving one of the trucks? Or was it his cousins that she had met in Omaha that day in the coffee shop?
Two of the trucks sped up and went past them, probably in pursuit of the motorcycles. They wouldn’t catch up. The motorcyclists were her stepfather’s crack advance troops. They could go faster than heavy, lumbering trucks. The third truck slowed and rolled to a stop nearby. But her attention was pulled from the truck by the arrival of what seemed like a whole pack of dogs. The headlights of the truck showed the dogs were big, gray, and fierce. She took half a step back and froze when they … shimmered in the dark.
Her mouth gaping open, she stared at the naked men who appeared out of the shimmers. They were equally big and fierce. She closed her mouth and swallowed when the men went from embracing Cole to turning to stare at her.
Tuesday Truth 6/12/18: RAGT Rocked!
I arrived home from Lori Foster’s Anual Reader & Author Get Together last night. What a great time I had! As usual I didn’t take many pictures. Grrr. You can see some of the fun on the RAGT Facebook page here.
I got to see some of my favorite people like Paige Tyler. She is always kind enough to invite me to sit at her table for meals. Wendi Zwaduk, Cheryl Dragon and others allowed me to be part of their Sparkling Authors scavenger hunt, which was a ton of fun. I saw some wonderful friends again this year like Samantha H, Vanessa C, Jennifer K, Janet R and more. I went to a mini workshop on how to create Tea Favors (I love tea!) which was led by historical romance author Heather McCollum. She had a very full class. I sat on the floor with a few new friends and had a ball. I got to meet author Becca Jameson at last, and my table mate for the signing was none other than Stephanie Burke. I’ve had a bit of an author crush on her since around 2008. She had a few copies of her most recent book, a collections of novellas about “How not to Date…” an alien, a fae, a vampire, a werebear, etc. They all sound cute and fun and hot. Sadly, she sold out before I could get one. Luckily, there is Amazon for that! While I was setting up my table, author D. Renee Bagby came over to help me and gave me some great pointers on setting up. The best thing about RAGT are the people. I only wish I would have had more time to visit with everyone.
If you ever have a chance to go to RAGT, I highly recommend it! Great people, fun parties, time to hang around and chat with great people, all at an unbelievably low price. $50 for the entrance fee gives you all your meals paid, a free t-shirt, a $10 B&N gift card and a goody bag stuffed with books and swag!
Speaking of swag, I collected some extra and thought I’d share with one lucky reader. Below is a pic of some of what I will be sending out. There will be three of my books in paperback, and some others, plus swag from my stash and from some other authors. Good stuff!
Would you like to enter to win? I will be sending out the entry instructions in my next newsletter, which will come out Thursday night. I am doing away with my old newsletter since it is not GDPR compliant. That means anyone who signs up must check a box to tell me that I have permission (marketing permissions) to send them newsletters. If you’d like to sign up for my new newsletter you can find it HERE
Now it is time for me to relax and read. Ocean Light by Nalini Singh came out today and I DYING to start it! I hope you all have something wonderful to read too. Next Tuesday we get more of Cole and Gina. Until then, Happy Reading!
Tuesday Truth AND Teaser 6/5/18 RAGT and Gina’s Wolf
A two part post tonight. First, I am hitting the road tomorrow morning at 6:00 to head down to Lori Foster’s Annual Reader & Author Get Together. RAGT begins on Thursday afternoon, but it’s about about 14 hour drive from North Dakota to Ohio, so my friend Jessica and I make it a two day trip. I have packed all the things, (I hope) including the charms I an handing out as part of the Sparkling Authors 2018 game. Find each of the seven featured authors, and we will give you a charm. When you have all seven, come find one of us to be entered to win a $100 gift card.
I look forward to this trip every year. If you are going please come find me. I’d love to meet you!
Today’s snip is quite short, but again, this is best stopping place. Well, maybe it’s a little mean to leave you with a bit of a cliffhanger, but I promise in the end Gina and Cole will get their happily ever after. As usual, this is not edited so you will probably find all sorts of typos. Hope you enjoy it anyway!
Cole swept her up in his arms like a baby and ran faster than before. “Hold on,” he ordered, and for once she obeyed without complaint.
He was warm, but she barely noticed it. His speed was astounding. This was why her stepfather and the vicious major wanted to cut him open. They wanted to know how he could do things like this. She wanted to hide her face against his neck, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from the lights behind them.
“How many, Gina?” he asked, and now she could hear strain in his voice.
She counted the lights bobbing behind them. One, two, four…
“Six,” she shouted. “That’s at least six men, but maybe twelve, if they all have a sidecar.” That wasn’t likely though, was it? Then again, even six was too many. They would all be armed. Even a wolf with magical speed and strength couldn’t defeat six armed men. The headlamps were growing. The roar of the motors was louder. They couldn’t be more than a mile behind them. “They are getting closer,” she moaned.
“I can take twelve,” he said. His breathing was heavier, a little bit ragged, but his pace stayed the same.
Not if you’re exhausted, she wanted to say. Not if the men on motorcycles had guns. These men wouldn’t hurt her, but they would kill him. “Put me down. You can move faster without me. Go ahead to Omaha and bring back help.”
“Huh.” Derision rang in the grunt. “I’ll never leave you behind. Hang on.”
Somehow, he increased his speed. Being carried by a man running at full speed wasn’t comfortable but she’d rather be squeezed, bruised, and bounced around then be taken back to President Todd and the Allersons. She looked once more over his shoulder. The motorcyclists were close enough now for her to see the round outline of their helmets.
“Hurry, Cole,” she screamed. “They’re right behind us.”
Chapter Six
The sound of barely controlled terror in his mate’s voice forced more speed from his weary legs. Cole knew his boast that he could take twelve men was an empty one. Deep inside, his wolf cringed at the memory of the pain and confusion that followed the bullet through his head. Omaha was only a mile and a half away, a mere five minute sprint for him if he were rested and not carrying a burden. No, never a burden. Gina was his one chance at love and a family. He would save her. He had to save her. He made his legs to stretch farther and faster.
The outline of Omaha’s wall was a murky shadow in the dark ahead. So close. Not close enough. The shine of the motorcycle lights gleamed on the road beneath his feet. So close. Too close. He was running, but it was a terrible effort now. His lungs were on fire, his ankles threatened to turn with every step, his arms were clenched around his mate in death grip.
“Drop me,” Gina screamed in his ear. “They won’t hurt me. You can run faster without me.”
He’d already said he would never leave her. He didn’t have enough wind to repeat himself. “No,” he grunted between pants.
The roar of one motorcycle was bare yards behind him now, the others close behind it. His speed was failing. His strength was almost gone. Defeat rose in a bitter wave to crash over his heart. But his mate was clinging to him, breathing in almost silent sobs against his neck, so he spit on defeat and kept running. His legs didn’t want to obey. His feet and thighs screamed with every step. The thought of his mate―his mate!—being forced to marry someone else kept him going. I won’t let them have you, Gina, he swore silently. I will save you or die trying.
It would be better to live, but with Omaha silent in the dark ahead and the stepfather’s army nipping at their heels, death looked more likely.
I failed you, mate. His footsteps were wavering now, his heart close to bursting with exhaustion. He forced himself to continue staggering forward, but he knew his race was lost. I’m sorry, Gina. So sorry.
Tuesday Teaser 5/29/18 Gina’s Wolf Part 13
In only a week I leave for Lori Foster’s Annual Reader & Author Get Together in Ohio! I am so excited. This is the only conference I go to. That’s not because it’s closest. North Dakota isn’t really that close to Ohio. It’s because it is the most relaxed and laid back weekend that I can meet readers and other authors at, and just have a good time. Are you going to RAGT? I’d love to meet you. Come find me on Friday June 8 from 3 to 5. I’ll post again soon.
Now, on to Gina and Cole. This is shorter than I wanted it to be because there just isn’t a good stopping place. This isn’t edited. I haven’t even re-read it to fix basic mistakes. Please overlook the boo-boos. 🙂
His broad palm wrapped around hers seemed to warm her whole body. They didn’t speak much on their trek over the uneven ground, but she liked his hand tucked into her pocket. Holding hands with a man was another thing she hadn’t done before. It was strangely comfortable. She felt a connection between them, as if their joined hands were a bridge from her heart to his. No wonder lovers held hands.
It took them an hour and a half to get across the fields and onto a road. Gina paused to scrape as much mud off her shoes as possible. Strangely, Colby’s bare feet had almost no mud on them. “Aren’t you cold?’ she asked.
He shrugged. “No.”
“Are you sure? I mean, you don’t have any shoes or a coat.”
Cole laughed. “I’m fine. But if you’re worried, you could put your arms around me to keep me warm.”
“Hmph.” She marched down the road, leaving him laughing behind her.
He caught up quickly. “Are you cold? Aren’t you afraid you might trip? I should hold your hand.”
“I can walk just fine on the road,” she said primly. But she missed the warmth of his hand. “How much farther to Omaha?”
Cole glanced up at the sky. “Less than three hours. Maybe only two. The road is good.” He looked back at her with a faint frown. “You’re tired. I can hear you panting.” The tone of his voice took a commanding edge. “We’ll rest a little.”
Trudging through the mud had tired her, but her back stiffened at the order. “We can walk slowly for ten or fifteen minutes. I want to get to Omaha. My stepfather won’t be able to get me there, not without a lot of trouble.”
He touched her cheek, the lightest brush of warm fingers. “I want you safe, too.”
She turned away from his touch and walked down the road. As she walked she realized she liked him touching her. A small thrill tingled through her. It’s not love, she told herself. He’s handsome, but that is not love. She picked up her pace to leave those thoughts behind. He kept up with her easily.
He didn’t talk much. He walked alongside her but kept most of his attention on their surroundings. Gina was sure no one would be able to sneak up on them. But who would sneak up on them except her stepfather’s men? They saw no one on the road, although when the moon was clear, Gina could make out farm houses here and there. It must be a few hours after midnight. Everyone was sleeping. It was still and peaceful out here. Only twenty-four hours earlier she had been walking through the cold night, but this was different and much better. For instance, she was walking alongside a man, not behind a wolf, and she was dressed warmly. She wasn’t looking over her shoulder every other minute to check for pursuit, and she knew their destination. Compared to last night this was a pleasure stroll.
An hour later her feet were numb with cold, her nose stinging with the chill, and her head throbbed with every step. She would cheerfully have laid down on the hard, cold road to rest. She didn’t complain though. They had to be close to Omaha by now. Cole walked beside her, his stride was as lithe and untired as it would have been if he’d only been walking ten minutes. She watched him from the corner of her eye, wondering if his head hurt too. From the easy way he moved, it didn’t look like it.
Because she was watching him she saw the minute his posture changed. His head came up and cocked to the side, as if he were listening to something. The cold night air was completely still. She heard nothing but the sound of their footsteps on the road. No, nothing but her footsteps on the road. He was utterly silent. She opened her mouth to ask what he heard, but his hand came up. She listened harder. Nothing.
Cole grabbed her hand and sped up. She was nearly running to keep up.
“Cole,” she began in a whisper, but then she heard it, a buzzing sound behind them. Her heart stopped. “Oh, God,” she moaned. “Motorcycles.”
The only people who had motorcycles were her stepfather’s advance troops. Cole ran faster, dragging her behind him. “There,” he said quietly, not panting. “Do you see the glow ahead? That is Omaha. Not more than two miles away. Run, Gina.”
She ran. The glow that Cole said was Omaha didn’t get any closer. Her breath rasped in and out of her lungs in huge ragged pants. Her feet hit the hard pavement like sledgehammers. She ran as fast and as hard as she could, but a quick glance behind showed the glow of headlamps grow far brighter and closer than those of Omaha.
“I can’t,” she cried.
Cole swept her up in his arms like a baby and ran faster than before. “Hold on,” he ordered, and for once she obeyed without complaint.
He was warm, but she barely noticed it. His speed was astounding. This was why her stepfather and the vicious major wanted to cut him open. They wanted to know how he could do things like this. She wanted to hide her face against his neck, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from the lights behind them.
“How many, Gina?” he asked, and now she could hear strain in his voice.
She counted the lights bobbing behind them. One, two, four…
“Six,” she shouted. “That’s at least six men, but maybe twelve, if they all have a sidecar.” That wasn’t likely though, was it? The headlamps were growing, the motors louder. They couldn’t be more than a mile behind them. “They are getting closer.”
“I can take twelve,” he said. His breathing was heavier, a little bit ragged, but his pace stayed the same.
Not if you’re exhausted, she wanted to say. Not if they have guns. These men wouldn’t hurt her, but they would kill him. “Put me down. You can leave me and go ahead to Omaha for help.”
“Huh.” Derision rang in the grunt. “I’ll never leave you behind. Hang on.”
Somehow, he increased his speed. Being carried by a man running at full speed wasn’t comfortable. She’d rather be squeezed, bruised, and bounced around then be taken back to President Todd and the Allersons. She looked once more over his shoulder. The motorcyclists were close enough now for her to see the round outline of their helmets.
“Hurry, Cole,” she screamed. “They’re right behind us.”
Tuesday Teaser 5/22/18: Gina’s Wolf Part 12
What a week!
I spent hours (like nine!) on Saturday trying to set my newsletter up to be GDPR compliant, and adding a pop up form to the website so people could easily sign up. Grr. I broke my website banner. I’m not sure how, but after a couple of hours I slapped a few book covers up so there would be SOMETHING there. I need to email the woman who designed my website and see if she can fix it. Sheesh. I am a Luddite. 🙁
Anyway, the old newsletter will be discontinued on May 31. I have set up a new one, so if you would still like to get the newsletter please
SIGN UP FOR THE CURRENT NEWSLETTER HERE
What else is going on for me? I leave for The Annual Reader & Author Get Together in Ohio in two weeks. I am so excited by that! Amazon Kindle Worlds are being discontinued by Amazon. My two Kindle World books will be coming down in mid-July, and then with Paige Tyler’s kind permission, I will be re-publishing them on all platforms. That is Amazon,. Barnes & Noble, Kobi, iBooks, etc. More info to come in on those things in the near future. On to Gina and Cole.
As always, this has not been edited or even reviewed. There are probably a ton of goofs that I will fix when I start revisions. Enjoy!
Five hours later Gina was in the mudroom, dressed in the same borrowed jeans, sweater and socks, plus a shabby winter coat that had once been brown and was now nondescript beige, and a brown wool hat that was a little too big. Gina didn’t mind at all. This trip to Omaha would be as cold as last night, but the addition of the winter gear would make her much more comfortable. Colby was wearing the ill-fitting jeans and a threadbare flannel shirt, but not shoes or coat. He said he would be fine. Wolf warriors didn’t feel the cold like humans did. Gina hid her doubts about this. Maybe if he got cold he would turn into his wolf again.
She gave Nikki a tight hug. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done. Remember to burn my dress right away.”
The older woman returned the hug. “It’s a shame to destroy it, but I will.”
Beside her, Cole nodded firmly. “If the Kansas-Missourians come and see that dress they’ll know you’ve helped us. I hate to think of what they would do to you.”
Mr. Andrews shuddered. “No worries. They’ve never crossed the river, and if they do, we haven’t seen you.”
Cole shook his hand. “The Pack owes you.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Mr. Andrews smiled at his wife. “If it wasn’t for your kin saving Nikki I wouldn’t be the happy man I am today.”
Gina’s breath caught. The older man wasn’t handsome, but the tenderness on his face when he looked at his wife made him attractive. Her heart ached a little in longing. She wanted a man to look at her like that after more than twenty-five years of marriage. She flicked a glance at Cole. If she accepted him, would he look at her like that?
After one more hug and a round of handshakes, Cole led her out to the yard. They walked past the gate and down the road. When Gina turned around to look back at the house, she saw Nikki wave to her from the mudroom door. She waved back.
“They were so nice,” she said, stuffing her hands in her coat pockets. “It’s a miracle that we took shelter with someone you knew.”
“Actually, I don’t know them. Nikki lived at the Plane Women’s House and knew my parents. When we get home, I’ll take you to the Plane Women’s Eatery for supper.”
Gina would settle for getting to Omaha. She would feel safer there. She dreaded this walk. “How long until we get to Omaha?”
“That depends on how fast we walk. If we keep at this pace, it will be about five hours. Maybe a little longer. If we slow down or get bogged down in mud, it will be around seven hours.” He tilted his head and looked up at the sky. “It’s ten o’clock now, so even if we move slowly we should get to the gates of Omaha before dawn.”
She lengthened her stride. Cole put a hand on her arm.
“Don’t rush. You’ll get tired faster. We’ll keep to the roads as much as possible. It’s easier walking and any tracks we leave will blend with other tracks, but we have to go cross country at one point.”
She wanted to deny being tired, but he would probably know she was lying. She was not as tired as she was last night, but they had been walking for only twenty minutes so far. “Okay.”
His hand slid down her arm into her pocket and clasped her hand. “Are you cold?”
“No.” It wasn’t a lie, but if he asked again in an hour she would probably have a different answer. “You can let go of my hand.”
His fingers tightened over hers. “No.”
She stopped on the road. His momentum carried her half a step further before she dug in her heels. “You want me to accept you? Then stop being so bossy. You don’t have the right to just grab my hand and then refuse to let go when I tell you to.”
The cold moonlight showed his eyes go from narrow to wide. His mouth dropped open, and then closed. “Your hands will be cold. Nikki didn’t have any mittens or gloves for you.”
“So you were holding my hand only to keep me warm?”
He blinked. She could see a struggle on his face. “Not completely.” He pulled his hand out of her pocket and bent a little to look into her face. “Sorry. I’m an alpha. I know I’m bossy. My sister complains about it all the time. I’ll try to do better, I promise.”
That was a pretty decent apology. “Okay. I can’t ask for more than that.”
She started walking again. She would try to learn to love him and he would try to not be bossy. They walked in near silence for two hours before Cole guided her into a field. Clouds had covered the moon, making it hard to Gina to see.
“Time for some harder walking,” he said apologetically. “About two miles through some fields, and then we’re on the main road to Omaha.” He hesitated. “If you need help, let me know.”
She accepted his hand to climb down into a ditch and back up into a field, and then tucked her hands firmly back into the coat pockets. Gina couldn’t see five feet ahead. The road had been a hard surface, mostly clear of snow and mud, but the field was different. She tried to move briskly, but after only ten minutes she lost speed. Cole hadn’t touched her since he’d released her hand. Now, as she slogged through only half frozen mud and stumbled over ridges in the dirt, she knew it was time to ask for help.
She turned to look up at him. “Cole, can we slow down a little?”
His smile almost glowed. She narrowed her eyes, ready to slap down his gloating, but he didn’t look like he was gloating. He looked … happy. Happy? She opened her mouth to say something, but her mud caked shoe caught on a branch half buried in the muddy slush, and with her hands buried in her pockets she couldn’t keep her balance. The only reason she didn’t pitch face first into the muck was Cole. He swooped and caught her before she hit the ground.
“Are you all right?” he asked, and she could have sworn he sounded honestly concerned.
Being held so close to his warm chest let her know just how cold she had gotten. “Yes.” She wiggled her foot, which was several inches above the ground. “No damage done.”
He didn’t let her down. “Would you― Could I ―” He blew a breath out. “It would be better if I could hold onto you, at least until we get back to a road.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You mean carry me?”
Even in the dark she could see how his eyes lit up. “Yes, that would be good.”
“No!”
“But then there would be only one set of footprints,” he coaxed.
She stared up at him, uncertain. “Even if they come after us, will they be able to see our tracks in the dark? You’re just want to hold me.”
“Maybe,” he admitted with a smile.
Still no gloating. It confused Gina. “I can walk.”
He sighed. “Okay.” He set her down. “But can I hold your hand? Just so you won’t fall?”
Her hand was cold. “Okay.”
His broad palm wrapped around hers seemed to warm her whole body. They didn’t speak much on their trek over the uneven ground, but she liked his hand tucked into her pocket. Holding hands with a man was another thing she hadn’t done before. It was strangely comfortable. She felt a connection between them, as if their joined hands were a bridge from her heart to his. No wonder lovers held hands.
Tuesday Teaser 5/15/18 Gina’s Wolf Part 11
Hello! This has been a busy week, and I have more ahead of me. First, my website security certificate got bungled and I had to jump through hoops to get it fixed. It is fixed now, so that is a relief. I don’t know how you feel about it, but when I came here last week and saw that red NOT SECURE label I about had a heart attack! But as I said, I got that wrangled. The next thing is to become General Data Protections Regulations (GDPR) compliant. I did set up the cookie notification for the website, but I will need to re-vamp my newsletter. I will work on that this weekend and send a newsletter to let everyone know what do do to if you want to stay on my newsletter list. I’ll probably do a little Amazon Gift Card Giveaway to make it a little more palatable. So watch for that. 🙂
For the first time since the packing, the move, the packing, the pneumonia, the cleaning, and the unpacking (sheesh, no wonder I;’m so tired!) I was able to set up a writing schedule. I haven’t completely stuck to it as I had planned, but I’m back to writing regularly. Hopefully we’re back on track for the weekly Tuesday Teasers.
Speaking of which, here is the next bit from Cole and Gina’s story. You are getting a chunk from last week’s because I added a little bit. As always, this isn’t edited. I didn’t even re-read it so it probably has a bunch of typos and tings that will change. I hope you can enjoy it anyway.
She rolled to her side and reveled in the quiet joy of a warm bed. She punched the feather pillow into a more comfortable shape beneath her cheek and snuggled into it. Something on the pillow tickled her nose. She brushed her hair out of the way. Her nose still tickled. She opened her eyes a crack to get a better view of the offending hair.
It was black. Her eyes opened wider. Black? Her hair was mousy brown. The bleary confusion vanished with a jolt when she saw the black hair was attached to a head. Cole. He slumped with his cheek against the edge of the mattress, one side of his forehead pressed to the side of her pillow. His face was relaxed in deep sleep. She could look her fill without him knowing. All the things Nikki had told her about the wolf clan rushed to the front of her mind. If she could believe the other woman, Cole could never, ever have any other wife, even if she refused him. Did she want to refuse him?
She inched away and raised herself on one elbow to look down at him. She could see only half his face. It was dark against the white pillowcase and sheet. His nose was a straight blade, his eyebrow a dark slash. She’d always thought his mouth was hard, but now his lips looked soft. What would they feel like if she dipped her head right now and kissed him? When she remembered what had happened in the mudroom before he left to patrol, a strange warmth spread through her. He was asleep. He’d never know.
That thought was too tempting. She eased a few inches further away and went back to studying him. His eyelashes were unfairly thick and long. Men shouldn’t have such long eyelashes. With those lush lashes and soft mouth, he looked almost pretty. No, his chin was too square for that, his jaw too hard. She nibbled her lower lip, studying him. Not pretty. She angled her head to see more of him. He was handsome in both his face and his body. Strong and sleek. His father was a powerful man. Maybe she was the only woman he could be with now, but Cole had probably had a bunch of other women friends before he came to Omaha and saw her. Had those women stroked along the line of his shoulder and down his arm? Had they pressed their cheeks to his heart? Had they skimmed their hands down his chest to his belt?
She paused to consider the small, jagged pain those thoughts pushed through her chest. Jealousy. Did she even have a right to be jealous? Yes. Well, maybe. He said she was his mate. From he and Nikki had said, his people didn’t share their women like Brother Saul’s commune did. If they were married, she would darned well demand that he leave other women alone.
Married. She wasn’t sure if she wanted that or not. But she liked watching him sleep. He was wearing the borrowed jeans, but his torso was bare. Long, lean muscles showed in his shoulders and arms. She could barely see his belly past his folded arms. She leaned a little forward to get a better look. He certainly couldn’t be called girlish.
Her hair fell from behind her ear. She jerked back too late. A large brown hand shot out and gripped her shoulder. Cole blinked. Eyes the color of melted bitter chocolate fixed on her.
“Good morning,” she squeaked.
His hand dropped away. He lifted his head from the bed to glance at the window. “Not morning,” he said in a low, gravelly whisper.
“Um, no, I guess it’s late afternoon. Maybe.” She coughed and drew herself to a sitting position, excruciatingly aware that he could see her borrowed nightgown. She pulled the blankets high, which was stupid. The worn cotton flannel covered a lot more of her than her dinner dress had. “Sorry to wake you.”
His smile was disarmingly sleepy. “That’s alright. What are you thinking about?”
“You,” she blurted.
His smile broadened. “I like that. I thought about you the whole time I patrolled.”
“Did you see anything?” She swallowed. “Any sign that my stepfather followed us?”
“No.” He lifted his head and straightened so he sat facing her, hands on his thighs. “No, nothing. Tell me more about thinking of me.”
It was an order that for some reason didn’t raise her hackles. Maybe it was the low gentle growl, or maybe it was the sight of his bare chest. Since she hadn’t seen many bare chests, she couldn’t call herself an expert, but his was intriguingly beautiful. The heat of a blush burned her cheeks. She made herself look at her hands. “Nikki spoke to me about your tribe. I mean, your pack. Is that the right word?”
“Pack works.”
“She said that you don’t ever force a woman to accept a mate claim.” She shook her head slightly over the absurdity of mates and claims.
“Never,” he said immediately.
Her fingers twisted in the sheet. She lifted her head to look him in the eye. “You said I am your mate. How do you know that? Are you sure I am your mate? Nikki said you can have only one mate in your whole life.”
“Only one,” he agreed. “When I first saw you in the coffee shop in Omaha, I knew. My wolf jumped around inside me like a young colt running for the first time. He loved your scent. Everything about you woke him up.” He lifted one muscled shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t know how to explain it. He had never done that before. I could feel how focused he was. All of his attention was on you.”
“Oh.” Gina looked away and took quiet breaths to still her heart, which was kicking in her chest. He was being surprisingly non-bossy. She liked it. “Nikki said you didn’t choose the woman; the wolf did. Are you alright with him picking me?”
He used one finger to turn her chin to face him. “Yes.”
Such a simple word; such a gentle, open expression on his face. He was being charming. She wasn’t sure she liked it. Or maybe she liked it too much. She scowled at him. “I am a bad choice. Look at all the trouble my stepfather has caused.”
He smiled. “You are the perfect choice.”
“I’m not pretty,” she blurted.
“You’re not?”
“The only reason any man has wanted to marry me is because of my stepfather.”
He made a noise in his throat. “Do you think I want anything from Todd except for him to go away forever? No, I want you because you’re my mate.”
She pulled her chin away and was quiet for a minute, trying to arrange her words so they would be honest, but not confrontational. “You want me because I am now the only woman you can ever have. Nikki explained that you can’t ever be with another woman as long as I am alive, even if I don’t accept your mate claim.”
“That’s true.”
“That’s why you want me to accept your mate claim. Not because you care about me.”
“I do care about you.”
She had learned many years ago to never appear vulnerable. She licked her lips and steeled herself to say something that would make her vulnerable. “You don’t even know me. I want the impossible. I want what my mom and dad had. Being Gerald Todd’s stepdaughter made that about as likely as walking on the moon.”
“What is it?” he demanded, sounding a little more like his bossy self.
“I want my husband to love me.”
He nodded, looking thoughtful. She liked that he took a minute to think before responding. “My mom and dad are mates. They never knew each other before he won her in a Bride Fight, and they fell in love with each other.” He cupped her cheek with a gentle hand. “I want what you want. I want a mate who loves me. We can take time to get to know each other. We can learn to love one another.”
He made it sound so reasonable. But learning to love one another wasn’t the same as falling in love. Her mom told her that she could learn to love Brussel Sprouts if she just tried. She still couldn’t stand them. Falling in love shouldn’t take effort. It should just happen.
His hand firmed on her cheek. “Gina? Can’t we try?”
She forced a smile. “Sure. We can try.”
