Dads Behaving Badly

Three of my very favorite authors have new releases out now that share something surprising in common--no, not the suberb writing, that was a given, as were the hot heroes, hot sex and heated exchanges. Nope, this is something else entirely. All three books featured less than exemplary fathers. Let's explore this phenomenon...

Stacy Gail's new release, Where There's a Will has not one but two nasty dads, and oh, the issues they have caused for the hero and heroine! All the lovely, lovely angst! If you like a bad-boy hero to die for and characters who come with a heaping helping of baggage, this is the book for you! 

This is installment number four in the Bitterthorn, Texas series, and it just might be the angstiest one yet--no mean feat when you consider that the series kicked off with last year's Starting from Scratch, and OMG, I knew that one was going to be a three-hankie read from the moment Stacy first told me the story line! Yummy...and I don't just mean the cookies. Both books are also reunion stories--and that is probably my all time favorite trope. Come to think of it, book two in the series, Ugly Ducklings Finish First was also a reunion story. No wonder I love this series so much! 

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Next up is Kelly Jamieson's new menage Three of Hearts, which is set in Nashville, TN. I was privileged to have spent time with Kelly in Nashville last year while she researched locations and wrote the song that is at the heart of this story. Yes. She wrote a whole, entire, frickin' country song. In like...half an hour. The woman's ridiculously talented. This book has only the one disappointing dad--he belongs to the heroine, who is also saddled with a cheating, hockey player boyfriend, by the way (because even Kelly's throwaway characters are delish). But before you get to feeling too sorry for our poor heroine, you should know the girl gets two smokin' hot heroes in exchange for those losers. And they're both swoon-worthy musicians, don't you know. Yeah, I'm thinking that's sooooo much better and sooooo worth it.

Three of Hearts is set at Christmas time. Is there anything better than a Christmas menage? No, I didn't think so. This is a sparkly Christmas present of a book. Sadly, it's not part of a series--yet. I do have hopes of changing that, however. Oh, Kelly, we need to talk...

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Last, but certainly not least, is Jenny Schwartz's Kiss it Better. Don't you just love that title?  This is a tale of two dads.  Okay, not really. It's a delightful steamy romance set in my new favorite Australian coastal town, Jardin Bay. The hero of Kiss it Better is a doctor and a CEO with a taste for motorcycles and classic cars. Mmmm. I'd call that a triple threat! There are two dads, however--along with an assortment of other relatives, both good and bad. One dad I loved. He's totally deserving of his own HEA. Are you listening, Jenny? The other dad, I wanted to strangle! Grrr. It's called parenting, people! Let's get it right!

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So there you have it. Bad news fathers and, sadly, all of them seemed pretty true to life. But are they part of a trend? A new trope? A sign of things to come? Or is it all no more than coincidence? Why not pick them all three books up and decide for yourself? Any way you look at it, these books make for some great reading. 

Oberon Box Set #1 ~ Now Available for Pre-Order

The first of THREE box sets is now available for pre-order on Amazon, for only .99 (for a limited time only). Welcome to Oberon contains three full-length novels: Scent of the Roses, A Sight to Dream Of and Sound of a Voice That is Still.  Buy now for a savings of almost $14! http://www.amazon.com/Oberon-Boxed-Set-Books-Welcome-ebook/dp/B00N5AOKSA/

Such Fleeting Pleasures, the Oberon prequel, is also available for only .99. And with a snazzy new cover, too!  http://www.amazon.com/Such-Fleeting-Pleasures-Oberon-Novella-ebook/

RT!

I'm leaving home early, early tomorrow to attend the 2014 RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans! If you're going, I hope I see you! You can click on the calendar tab at the top of this page to get an idea of my schedule. I might have books and treats and all sorts of goodies to give away.

I'll also be running a drawing for one of two Oberon mini-baskets.

Baskets contain: A "Scent of the Roses" rose petal sachet, a Crone's Nest coffee mug (and complimentary tea bags), decorative seashell-shaped soap, a jar of locally-sourced lavender honey, a wine-scented candle (it's sparkling peach chardonnay, to be exact--a little detail that readers of Touch of a Vanished Hand might appreciate), a rose-quartz beaded book thong, a sage smudge stick, some yummy Scharffen Berger chocolate (Lauren's favorite) and a packet of flower seeds--California poppies, of course!

If you're going to be at RT, stop by the Nine Naughty Novelists' table in Promotion Alley...or Lane...or whatever they call it, and drop your name and email addy in the box. That will add you to my mailing list and enter you to win the basket.

If you're NOT going to RT (or if you are and you want to enter twice--fine by me) you can still enter--because I have two of these bad boys! Just head on over to Facebook and join my Crone's Nest group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCronesNest/

Already a member? Shoot me an email at: pgforte@pgforte.com or comment below and I'll figure something out. :)

Fools for Love

Hi there, blog-hoppers! Welcome to another fabulous blog hop brought to you by Just Romance Me! As always, if you fall off somewhere along the line, just go to http://justromance.me to jump back on.

I love the theme of this blog hop! As soon as I heard it, I knew just which of my characters I'd be talking about today: Conrad and Damian from my vampire family saga, the Children of Night series. Conrad Quintano is a vampire, but not just any vampire. He's one of a special breed of vampires, the super-powerful Lamia Invitus. He's also the leader of Clan Quintano, the largest and most powerful vampire family in the San Francisco Bay area. When he's faced with the unexpected, in the form of newborn vampire twins Marc and Julie, he knows he needs help, so he reaches out to the one person he trusts more than anyone else, former lover Damian Ysidro Esposito-Montoya (the former Vizconde de Castille).

Conrad and Damian have been separated for a little over a hundred years when fate thrusts them back together. Working as a team to co-parent the twins, they eventually craft an uneasy truce between them.

When I first started writing In the Dark, the first book in the series, I had assumed that the two would remain exes for the rest of their days. After all that time apart, all the other lovers in their lives, all the bad-blood, so to speak, between them...sorry, bad vampire pun...they must be over each other by now, right?

Well, apparently not. As the first book came together, it quickly became obvious that they both still had very strong feelings for each other. And they both wanted nothing more than to reunite. In the end, I couldn't say no. I had to devote most of book two (Old Sins, Long Shadows) to telling their story. And that still wasn't enough for them! I'm working on book five at the moment, and by now I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that they've taken over the series.**

Luckily, readers seem to love these guys as much as I do.

**Not to worry, however. The twins will be stealing center stage away from their parents very soon. But, shhhh. Don't let the boys know that yet!

Here's part of the flashback scene from when they're first reunited. And if you'd like to catch a glimpse of their very first encounter with each other, way back in fifteenth century Sevilla, click on the Free Reads tab at the top of this page and check out Spanish Love Song. Enjoy!

When you live forever, you’re bound to make a few mistakes.

Children of Night, Book 1

1969 San Francisco. World-weary Conrad Quintano should have known better than to fall in love with a human—much less Suzanne Fischer, the barely legal, adventure-seeking hippie beauty known as Desert Rose. And the very last thing he should have agreed to do was to raise her babies and protect them with his life. But even twelve-hundred-year-old master vampires can find it hard to reject a deathbed request—especially when issues of love, guilt and blood are involved.

Present day. Raised in virtual isolation, twins Marc and Julie Fischer have always known they are vampires. But they never knew their parentage—or their unique status in the vampire world—until their “uncle” Damian comes to fetch them home. 

The family reunion, however, isn’t what they expect. They’re thrust into a world for which they’re totally unprepared. And the father they expected to see, Conrad, is missing.

How to find him…and whom to trust? Solving the mystery of betrayal and vampire family values will prove the Beatles had it right. All you need is love…and an occasional side of blood.

San Francisco, CA

Monday, November, 3, 1969

Damian stood on the sidewalk outside the gate of the Italianate Victorian mansion, staring irresolutely at the building before him, trying hard to quell the queasy nervousness he was feeling. So it had been a hundred and thirteen years since he’d last seen Conrad, was that any reason for him to be trembling inside like a virginal debutante hoping she’d be asked to dance? It wasn’t likely the man had changed. No doubt Conrad was still the same tyrant he’d always been. Short-tempered. Overbearing. Domineering. Ruthless…

“So then why are you here, you fool?” he asked himself. Good question. Why had he dropped everything and rushed to Conrad’s side the minute the selfish bastard snapped his fingers? “You’re acting just like the good little lap dog he always wanted you to be.”

But, the answer to that was obvious. He was here because it was Conrad who’d asked him to come. Conrad, who never forgot and never forgave and never took anyone back, who couldn’t possibly be reaching out to Damian now in hopes of reconciling with him…but who could hardly have had any other reason for contacting him, either.

“Idiot,” Damian chastised himself, as he leaned on the doorbell. After all this time, he should know better than to get his hopes up too high. He should have ignored the summons, pretended he’d never gotten the entirely too cryptic message and stayed at home.

Ah, but that was the problem, wasn’t it? Because, however much he might wish it were otherwise, home was still exactly the same place it had always been for him. Wherever Conrad was.

“Chi è esso?” Conrad’s rich baritone sounded exactly the same, as well—even despite the distortion caused by the intercom. “Who is it?”

Damian’s heart contracted. He bit back a shaky sigh. “Es-es yo,” he replied, his voice faltering just a little. “Damian.”

The intercom shut off with a snap and a buzzer sounded as the gate was unlocked—for all of an instant. Damian grabbed for it just in time and headed toward the house muttering beneath his breath—roundly cursing himself and Conrad and whatever unlucky stars had happened to have been in alignment on the day they’d first met. “I should have never have allowed myself to become involved with such a…with such a peasant.” That had been his first mistake.

The front door was ajar. Damian froze with his hand extended toward the doorknob and his pulse racing with the thought that it could be a trap he was walking into. For just an instant he considered retreating. But, what the hell? He’d come this far, what was a little more lunacy?

Still, as he pushed through the door and stepped into the darkened entrance hall the sound of his own heartbeat was so loud in his ears it drowned out any other sound. “Lucy, I’m a-home,” he called in his best Ricky Ricardo impersonation, almost jumping out of his skin when Conrad growled softly, “Quiet.”

Damian spun around to face him. For a very long moment he just stared, unable to do anything but drink Conrad in, as though his eyes had been starved for the sight of him. Finally, inexcusably late in the day, his self-preservation instincts kicked in. Fear had him drawing back, straightening his spine—even as his insides continued twisting themselves into knots. There was a faint frown on Conrad’s stern face, a wary gleam in his glittering, ametrine eyes. Damian’s own eyes widened in uneasy surprise when the squirming bundles in his old friend’s arms finally registered.

He waved one hand at the babies in a seemingly careless gesture as he joked, “Why, what are these, mi querido? Appetizers? But, they’re so small! You cannot possibly be planning on our making a meal of them?”

Conrad’s eyes blazed with a look that was just this side of insanity. He laid back his lips and snarled savagely, “They’re not food, you imbecile.” Then he turned on his heel and stalked away. “Shut the door,” he hurled over his shoulder as he disappeared down the hallway.

Shaking his head, once again, at his own stupidity—for not leaving while he still had the chance—Damian did as he’d been told and then followed Conrad into the large room that had been intended as the mansion’s formal dining room. Flames leaped and crackled in the ornate marble fireplace. Another unwelcome surprise. Even though today was the first decently overcast day the city had seen in weeks, it was certainly not cool enough to warrant a fire.

Perhaps Conrad had another purpose in mind for the blaze? Fire could serve as a weapon, could it not? Or as a devastatingly efficient means of destruction. But who, or what, might he be intending to burn in its flames tonight?

“Conrad, what the hell is going on?” All kidding aside now, Damian studied his friend with mounting concern. Conrad, his face drawn, sat slumped in an armchair uncomfortably near the hearth, and within arm’s reach of the crib into which he’d placed the two infants. “You look terrible.”

Conrad ignored the question and waved Damian toward a second armchair, on the other side of the fireplace. “Sit down.”

Damian crossed to the chair, but he cast a worried glance at the hungry flames as he did. His nerves were shrieking warnings. What was it that most alarmed him, he wondered; the doubtlessly deadly blaze, or his potentially murderous companion? He’d never seen Conrad in such a mood as this and he didn’t trust it. Standing in front of the chair, he hesitated. “Conrad,” he murmured pleadingly. “What is this? Why am I here?”

Conrad roused himself. Eyes flashing darkly, he fisted one hand on the arm of his chair, leaned forward and fixed Damian with a menacing glare. “It’s a long story. If you want to hear it, sit down!” Their eyes met. As his gaze focused on Damian’s face, it seemed as though a little of the madness left Conrad’s expression. His face relaxed. A small smile appeared and graced his lips. “Please?”

Too surprised to reply, Damian plopped into the chair behind him—quickly, before his legs could give out. It was the shock of being addressed so cordially, he told himself, refusing to even consider the awful possibility that it could have been Conrad’s smile that had once again made him go weak in the knees. No. I can’t. Never again.

For another long moment the two men stared wordlessly at each other. Finally, seemingly satisfied with whatever he’d seen in Damian’s face, Conrad dropped his gaze. He slumped back in his chair and sighed. “It’s good to see you, caro.” And then, again without giving Damian any chance to recover from this latest shock, he launched into his tale. “There was this girl…”

Living forever is hard, but loving forever? That’s damn near impossible.

Children of Night, Book 2

1856, New York City. Moments after Conrad Quintano drives his life-mate away, heartache and guilt descend around his heart like a pall. Convinced that Damian’s hatred is as permanent as the scars Conrad has inflicted on him, Conrad steels himself for an eternity of emotional torture.

Present day, San Francisco. For the sake of vampire twins Marc and Julie Fischer, Conrad and Damian present a united parental front. In reality, their truce is a sham. Conrad, weakened by his recent ordeal, struggles against the urge to bring his mate back to his bed. And Damian misinterprets Conrad’s explosive temper as proof their relationship is irreparably broken.

When an old enemy’s quest to create a dangerous new breed of vampire threatens the twins’ lives—and the precarious state of vampire peace—it’s imperative the estranged lovers put the past behind them. Or the shadows of the past will tear apart everything they hold dear.

Samhain | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

So it's St. Patrick's Day and I suppose I should be having little shamrocks falling down the page instead of roses, but I just finished my blog re-design...and my web re-design and several other art projects as well, and it's late and I'm tired so let's just imagine they're there, shall we?

What I do have, in lieu of shamrocks, is an excerpt from my Irish-themed story, Iron. Enjoy!

Blurb: Nineteenth century Ireland. Blacksmith Gavin O’Malley is a bitter man, with a heart as hard as the iron he forges. He wants his life back--the one that was stolen from him the day his wife died in childbirth--taking their firstborn son with her.

When Aislinn Deirbhile, an immortal, shape-shifting fae, arrives on his doorstep, he knows he’s in luck. For Aislinn can give Gavin everything he’s been missing: A devoted-seeming wife in the image of his beloved Mairead, and children who are sure to outlive their father. Now, all he has to do is find a way to keep her--without losing his immortal soul in the process.

But Aislinn has an agenda of her own. On the run from a vengeful fae lord who’s vowed to either make her his or end her existence, she knows the iron that allows Gavin to take her captive will also keep her pursuers at bay. In order to put herself permanently beyond her enemy’s reach, however, Aislinn will need something more. She’ll need to win Gavin’s heart and convince him to willingly part with a piece of the very soul he’s trying to save.

Excerpt:

The weeks continued to pass and it seemed to Gavin that if only time were not rushing away from him, as it was, he might find the time to think rationally about the matter. But time did not stop and rationality was nowhere to be found, and all too soon it was summer.

All at once, the roses were in bloom and the constant chirping of baby birds begging for their next meal had been replaced by the lazy drone of bees foraging among the flowers. The branches of the apple tree, which had long since lost their blossoms, were bent now under the weight of green fruit and the warm, sweet scent of clover greeted Gavin whenever he stepped foot out of doors.

But the changes to the landscape were insignificant next to the alteration the season had wrought in Aislinn’s appearance. She was even lovelier now than she’d been when first he saw her. Though how that was possible he didn’t rightly know, for she’d seemed then to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Now, however, her cheeks were rosy and flushed--even though she’d not set foot outside since that day he’d dragged her to the forge--and there was a new lushness to her body that held him utterly transfixed. It was as though she embodied summer; as though the season itself radiated from her, charging the atmosphere around her until Gavin would have sworn he was living within a sun-drenched glen, or a palace of sorts; anything other than an ordinary cottage.

But, that was just by day. At night, her presence infused his rooms with all the warm, wild glory of a sultry, star-studded night--and she the brightest star of all--until the mere sight of her, lying beside him in bed, left Gavin awe-struck and dazzled, too hesitant to even touch her.

“You’ve a peculiar look about you,” she observed, on one such night, her brow puckering slightly as she studied his face. “Is aught wrong with ye?”

He started to shake his head no, and then changed his mind. “Aye,” he answered, struggling for words. “Perhaps. Or, nay, now I think on it. ’Tis you. ’Tis everything about you ... do you know how beautiful you are?”
An amused smile curled one corner of her mouth. “I do, aye, for ’tis summer, is it not? Do you not recall my saying you knew naught of my true nature, having never seen me at this time of year?” She cast back the covers so there was nothing hiding her from his sight and stretched languidly. “So, Gavin O’Malley, do you like what you see? Does it please you? What is it you feel when you look at me? Tell me. For ’tis been a long time since I’ve been admired by a man who was seeing me thus for the first time.”

Gavin’s eyes roved greedily, taking it all in. But his thoughts were a muddle and, “How do I feel?” Ah, if only he knew the answer to that. He felt ... distracted, conflicted, confused, humbled and, “Fearful,” he replied at last.

“Fearful, are ye?” A silvery laugh broke free from Aislinn’s lips and swept through Gavin, brightening his spirit like a sudden shower after a dusty day. “And what is it you’re afraid of then, my darling one? Surely not of me?”

He nodded, still reeling from the effects of her laugh. “Aye, of you, indeed. Mortally afraid, I be.”

“You silly man,” she murmured, circling her arms around his neck and grinning up at him. “And why, pray tell? Dost thou think I would ever hurt you?”

Gavin sighed. Reaching a hand to her head, he fingered a strand of her hair, which still gleamed gold, even in the starlight. “Lass, I think you could very well destroy me. And I think you know it, too.” He shook his head. “I’m a simple man, Aislinn, whereas you...”

“Are not so simple?” she supplied helpfully, as her smile dimmed and turned mocking.

“Not even a little bit.”

“Perhaps not. But, I didn’t ask for it to be thus, you know. Besides, mo chroí,” she murmured wickedly, her smile returning as she rubbed her mound against him. “I’ve always been one who’s enjoyed the simple things life has to offer.”

“Have you now?” He took hold of her hips and pulled her against him, letting her feel the growing length of his shaft, enjoying the smoky look it brought to her eyes, the slight hitch in her breathing. Fearful or not, he planned to take full advantage of all that she offered; for he was a man, after all, and she was a risk well worth the taking. “And would I be one of those simple things to which you’re referring, then?”

“Oh, you are indeed, mo chroí,” she breathed delightedly. “Without a doubt.”

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Liquid Silver Books

 

And for more Irish-themed stories, be sure and check out Kelly Jamieson's delicious story Irish Sex Fairy!

 

The Irish Sex Fairy believes sex will cure all problems…

So says Great-aunt Maeve, owner of the Irish Sex Fairy, a sex shop in Kilkenny, California. When stressed-out Keara visits Maeve after a hostage situation where she was held at gunpoint, she’s ready to try anything to get over the flashbacks and nightmares and intense guilt over her role in the incident.

Enter sexy Shane Dunstan, Kilkenny’s deputy police chief and old flame of Keara’s. With black hair and blue eyes and a body a girl could easily lose herself in for a lifetime, he’s perfect for putting Maeve’s remedy to the test. He’s more than happy to help. A lot.

But while all the sizzling sex does seem to make Keara feel better, it creates a whole new set of problems. Keara needs to overcome her fears and get back to her career, but that means leaving Shane and Maeve. And when the past comes back to haunt her in a terrifying encounter, she’s about to find out just how effective Maeve’s cure-all is.

 

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Ellora's Cave 

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Welcome to out blog hop! As always, if you fall off somewhere along the line, just go to   http://justromance.me to jump back on.

Today, I've decided to post an excerpt from my Futuristic/Sci-Fi/Menage, Finders Keepers. It's set in the winter (in Lake Tahoe, for the most part) and it totally fits the theme of the hop. It's also my first published menage, it's out in print AND ebook, and I love it. Here's the blurb and excerpt. Enjoy!

 Blurb: Sometimes finding what you want is the easy part.

Caleb is a bionic soldier with little-to-no memory of his past. He's seeking the truth about himself and those missing memories.

Aldo's an undercover cop who just might have the answers to Caleb's questions. But if Caleb's the man Aldo thinks he is, how can he let him get away a second time?

Then there's Sally; she's an ER physician who used to be married to Aldo's late partner, Davis. Sally's not dealing with widowhood very well. In fact, it's getting harder, every day, just to find a reason to keep getting out of bed. If the truth about the men's shared past comes to light, she could lose them both. Along with her last, best reason to go on living.

This holiday season, chance will bring them together and give them an opportunity to help one another find what they each want most. But every gift comes with a price. And keeping what they've found once they've found it? Yeah, that's gonna be the hard part. 

Excerpt:

“It’s pretty up here, isn’t it?”

Caleb turned as Sally came to join him at the railing. She was wearing a fuzzy sweater—mostly purple, but with bright bits of pink and gold and olive green mixed in that made her eyes look even bluer—over snug jeans and carrying a steaming mug of coffee. In the sunlight her hair looked almost iridescent. “Yeah, it is,” he said, smiling at her. “And it’s just gotten prettier.”

That got him a smile in return—one of those knowing, secretive smiles all women seemed to do so well, full of mystery and promise—and a softly spoken, “Thank you.”

“Thank you for letting me barge in on your vacation like this. I hope I’m not intruding?”

Amusement sparkled in Sally’s eyes, and another pretty blush climbed her cheeks. She took a sip of her coffee and then said, “Aldo didn’t tell you, did he?”

Uh-oh. “Tell me what?”

“I only agreed to come because he said you’d be here.”

“What?”

Sally shrugged. “He’d been pestering me about it for weeks, but I guess I thought it would be too depressing. You know, just the two of us, sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves? I know he thinks he needs to take care of me, but he didn’t have to spend his holiday doing that.” She glanced at him and smiled. “But then he told me you were coming up here with him and…”

She trailed off, eyes gleaming, cheeks even pinker than before. Caleb felt his chest tighten in alarm. “I’m not with him,” he hurried to explain.

Sally ducked her head. “I know that. Or…at least I hoped that was the case. After you left the other night, I have to admit I wasn’t completely sure.”

Caleb sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run out on you the way I did.”

“Yeah.” She put her coffee down, leaned her forearms on the railing, and turned her head to look at him curiously. “About that. What happened there? I thought things were going pretty well and then…?”

“They were.” He placed his hand on hers. “You know they were. It’s just that I didn’t know about your husband at the time. And then when I saw your home…I guess I got it in my head that you had a boyfriend who was maybe out of town or, I dunno, maybe you two had had a fight or something, and I didn’t want to get in the middle of that. I mean, I couldn’t get in the middle of that. You know who I am, but it’s not supposed to be common knowledge. But then you kissed me, and I stopped caring about that. Until the phone rang and…” He broke off with a shrug. “I should have given you a chance to explain.”

Sally nodded sadly. “I know. You should have. And I should have told you about Davis. Aldo said the same thing.”

Aldo again. Caleb straightened away from her. “Sounds like you two are really close.” He couldn’t believe how much that fact bothered him.

Sally nodded. “We are. He’s my best friend.”

“And you met him through your husband?”

“Other way around. I’ve known Aldo since college. He’s the one who introduced me to Davis.”

“I see.” Aldo. Davis. Caleb suppressed a sigh. He loved the way her tongue caressed their names. He’d give anything to hear her say his name like that. “I guess I’m confused. I thought he was older than you.”

“He is. But only by a few years. He was in the military for a while. He went back to school after opting out.”

“Oh yeah? Where? What branch?”

“I don’t know.” Sally picked up her mug again and took another sip. “He might have mentioned it once. Probably he did, but I don’t remember and he never talks about it. Something happened to him there. I don’t know what other than that it left him disillusioned about pretty much everything—but don’t tell him I said that. Like I said, he hates talking about it.”

Her words barely registered. Caleb’s attention had gotten caught up in the way her tongue traced over her lips. The need to kiss her again had been building inside him ever since he’d left her apartment the other night. Now it all but overwhelmed him. He shifted closer. Her eyes widened in surprise when he took the mug from her hand and set it on the railing, then grew dark as heat and understanding took the place of surprise. Her lips curved upward, and that was all the invitation he needed.

He gently caged her face in his hands. As he bent his head, her mouth opened on a soft sigh. She tasted of coffee and cinnamon and woman, a lush, spicy flavor that went straight to both his heads. He groaned as he wrapped an arm around her back and pressed her close. He couldn’t get enough of her. From the way her hands clutched at him, crushing fistfuls of his jacket, he had the feeling maybe she felt the same. As she went up on her toes, her hips brushed along the length of his erection, stroking him through his jeans. Even that slight contact was enough. He sucked in a quick breath as desire knifed through him.

He cupped her butt in his hands, and then he lifted her against him, intent on grinding his hips into hers. A soft whimper left her lips as she slipped her arms around his neck and teased his tongue with hers. He had never been sorrier for all the layers of clothes that separated them. Despite the fact that they were outside in broad daylight and it was cold as hell, he’d have had them both undressed in an instant—if he could only figure out how to do it without breaking her hold on him or breaking their kiss, or without taking his hands off her for even a second.

It took the sound of a door slamming open and a loud voice announcing, “Hey, c’mon. Breakfast!” to shake Caleb back to his senses.

He lifted his head. His gaze immediately locked with Nash’s across the width of the deck. Nash stood just outside the cabin door. His hands were fisted at his sides, and an odd, angry-looking flush was on his face. 

There was a look in his eyes Caleb couldn’t decipher, even with his enhanced vision. What was that? 

Anguish? Longing? Jealousy? Need? It was gone before he could figure it out, if it had even been there at all.

Certainly Nash’s voice sounded nothing but jovial as he demanded, “Are you two at it already?” He spread his hands wide and arched one brow and looked pointedly at Sally until she giggled and hid her face in the front of Caleb’s jacket—for which reaction Caleb totally owed him. “I can’t leave you alone for a minute, can I?”

“Oh, sure you can,” Caleb replied, loosely folding his arms around Sally. “In fact, why don’t you just go back inside? Go back to doing whatever you were doing and let us get back to doing…whatever we were doing,” he added, consciously echoing Nash’s own words to him at the station the other day. He wasn’t ready to give this up yet. He was enjoying it all too much—the way Sally felt nestled against him, the way she fit so perfectly in his arms. This was why he could never give up women entirely—or part of the reason, anyway. It didn’t matter if a handsome man could turn his head from across a room or across a redwood deck. It didn’t matter that, right now, for example, the sight of Nash, with his thin navy pullover and well-worn jeans stretched taut over his muscular frame, made Caleb’s mouth dry, made his knees feel unacceptably shaky. Made him feel altogether too conflicted. Nash needed to leave. Now.

“Hey, if you want to stay out here all day, it’s your call,” Nash answered, those broad shoulders rising and falling in a small shrug that only served to focus Caleb’s attention even more firmly on them. “No business of mine. Just so you know, though, breakfast is ready, and I have a lot of other cooking to do between today and tomorrow, so if you don’t come in now, you’ll be eating it cold.”

“All right, you win.” Sally turned her head to smile at Nash over her shoulder. “We’ll be there in a minute.”

Caleb tightened his grip, loving the way her head felt pressed against his chest, loving the way her hair tickled his chin. “Better make that two minutes.”

Sally looked up at him and grinned. “Or better yet, three.”

Aldo rolled his eyes, shook his head, and went back inside, leaving Caleb to wonder when, in the last two minutes, “Nash” had become “Aldo” and why it was that the sight of him walking away should leave Caleb suddenly feeling…bereft? Why was he suddenly wanting to call him back, wanting to draw him into a three-way kiss?

“So,” Sally purred as soon as the cabin door closed and they were alone once more. “Where were we?”

Caleb glanced down at her and smiled, refocusing his attention. “Somewhere right around here, I think,” he said as he cupped his hand around the back of her neck. He loved the way she slipped her arms around his neck once again, loved the feel of her body against his as she rose up on her toes.

He sighed in contentment as he settled back into her kiss. He could be wrong, but he was pretty sure they were going to miss breakfast.

Finders Keepers is currently on sale at Loose Id 

Other buy links: Amazon, B&N, ARe

Going, going...

There's only a little time left to get this fabulous collection at such an awesomely low price. So, if you haven't picked up your copy yet...what're you waiting for?

There's also this contest going on:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, check out my updated app at: http://my.yapp.us/LBF5FH

I'll be at Keira Andrew's on the 29th, talking about Finders Keepers as part of her Make the Yuletide Gay event.

And at Lex Valentine's blog Sunlight Sucks, on the 30th--part of her 30 Days of Christmas event. I'll be giving away goodies there too!

Finally, from December 9th to December 23rd, it's Sweater Season at the Nine Naughty Novelists!

Look for info to go up on the blog on the 6th. The weather forecast calls for fun, prizes, new stories featuring some of your favorite characters and some truly memorable (and not always in a good way!) Christmas sweaters.

We'll also be partying on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/608592309212011/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming&source=1

Got Ink? Yes, we do!

Release day for Midnight Ink is finally here! And to celebrate, we've set the price for the entire anthology at only .99 cents. That's eight, brand new, tattooliscious novellas for less than a dollar! But you have to act fast because that price won’t last for very long.

Midnight Ink

One tattoo shop in one infamous city sets the stage for eight stories about resolutions, kink, love and ink. Get ready to let the good times roll!

Jayne Rylon

Report For Booty

When Burke Levine got marching orders, he couldn’t bear to make his girlfriend Chavon White a military widow. Years later, discovering his name tattooed on her perfect ass via a New Orleans’ artist’s portfolio confirms his epic mistake. Will Midnight Ink’s New Year’s Eve party grant them a second chance?

Sidney Bristol
Picture Her Bound
She’s a police officer desperate enough to break the rules. He’s the bounty hunter standing between her and ruin. Picture Her Bound–the first book in the brand new Bayou Bound series from Sidney Bristol–a story of right, wrong and binding pleasures. 

Robin L. Rotham
Not So Over Eli 
Paramedic Bart Rigger finally has the life he wants rather than the one his father dictated, thanks to hot new fiancée Rhonda Giannetti. But a whirlwind trip to New Orleans puts it all at risk when he’s forced to confront unresolved feelings for his first love, tattoo artist Elijah Bell.

PG Forte
Inked Memories
All Sophie wants is a tattoo to commemorate her battle with cancer. What she gets is celebrity tattoo artist Declan Ross, the same sexy bad-boy who used to rock her world. This time, they’ve both got scars and it’s still the ones you can’t see that are the hardest to cover.

RG Alexander
To The Bone Etta Santos has one resolution—to cover up the last visible evidence of her past. When Christie Ryder, sexy musician and new owner of Midnight Ink, pursues her, he seems too good to be true. His music touches her soul, but can she risk trusting another bad boy with her heart?     

Eden Bradley
Dangerously Inked - A Dangerous Romance
When the tattoo artist Finn Carter lined up for his visit to New Orleans turns out to be the mysteriously alluring sub he played on New Year’s Eve at The Bastille, the city’s BDSM club, more than his skin will be marked forever—and Rosie is just the woman to bring this playboy to his knees.

Carrie Ann Ryan
Ink Inspired (Montgomery Ink 0.5)

In Carrie Ann Ryan’s Ink Inspired, the prequel to her upcoming Montgomery Ink series, Ice Princess Shea Little wants ink and a change. Shepard Montgomery not only wants to ink her, but get through that icy exterior.  Together, they’ll heat up the streets of New Orleans…and each other.

Blank Canvas, Big Easy, book one

Disillusioned by divorce, Jennifer’s about to discover her wild side, starting with a tattoo from Caliph. And continuing with submission, spankings, wax play…all under the skilled hands of her wickedly sexy tattoo master.

Midnight Ink is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and ARe.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Only Four More Days!

Hey everyone.  Only a few more days until Midnight Ink is released! Meanwhile, author Erin Nicholas and I are throwing a little contest. Since Erin's book, Best of Three, (book 3 in her Counting on Love series, available through Samhain)  also releases on Tuesday, we've taken over the Nine Naughty Novelists' Facebook page for a little fun. 

We're calling it the Friday Fight Club and we're pitting our two heroes against each other. 

PLEASE stop by and vote for your favorite.  And if Declan is your favorite, that won't hurt my feelings AT ALL.  LOL!  

I 've gotten a sneak peek at  Best of Three, so I know Nate is absolutely wonderful as well, but if Erin's gonna publicly proclaim that her guy is best...well, I guess I am too. 

Bring it, girl. Fight Club is on!

*ahem* As I was saying...

The guys will be answering 6 different questions and you can vote for your favorite answer to EACH AND EVERY question. That gives you six chances to win. You can vote for the same hero each time if you like...which apparently some of Erin's fans have decided to do. Not that I mind, or anything.   OR you can vote for your favorite answer--you know, based on merit or something.  OR, you can even vote for BOTH guys 6 times for a total of 12 chances to win. Hell, it's fight club, it's not like there are rules! Voting continues until Noon Saturday (PST) but, you know what they say: vote early, vote often. 

What can you win?  I'm glad you asked! We'll each be giving away a copy of our new books to one lucky winner. In my case, that means the WHOLE MIDNIGHT INK COLLECTION which includes stories by Jayne Rylon, Mari Carr, Carrie Ann Ryan, Eden Bradley, RG Alexander, Robin Rotham, Sidney Bristol and, of course, ME. 

Yes! You read that right! We're giving away  NINE super-hot, awesome new books just for going here:  https://www.facebook.com/the9NN and casting your votes for Declan...um, or Nate. Sure, why not?  I probably won't hold it against you...much.

LMAO! Seriously, vote for whichever guy happens to float your boat. It's fun either way.  And good luck!!

Dona Nobis Pacem

Look at the pretty!

Midnight Ink - November 19

Jayne Rylon
Report For BootyWhen Burke Levine got marching orders, he couldn’t bear to make his girlfriend Chavon White a military widow. Years later, discovering his name tattooed on her perfect ass via a New Orleans’ artist’s portfolio confirms his epic mistake. Will Midnight Ink’s New Year’s Eve party grant them a second chance?

Sidney Bristol
Picture Her Bound (Bayou Bound)
She’s a police officer desperate enough to break the rules. He’s the bounty hunter standing between her and ruin. Picture Her Bound–the first book in the brand new Bayou Bound series from Sidney Bristol–a story of right, wrong and binding pleasures. 

Robin L. Rotham
Not So Over Eli 
Paramedic Bart Rigger finally has the life he wants rather than the one his father dictated, thanks to hot new fiancée Rhonda Giannetti. But a whirlwind trip to New Orleans puts it all at risk when he’s forced to confront unresolved feelings for his first love, tattoo artist Elijah Bell.

PG Forte
Inked Memories
All Sophie wants is a tattoo to commemorate her battle with cancer. What she gets is celebrity tattoo artist Declan Ross, the same sexy bad-boy who used to rock her world. This time, they’ve both got scars and it’s still the ones you can’t see that are the hardest to cover.

RG Alexander
To The Bone (A novella in the Bone Daddy series)Etta Santos has one resolution—to cover up the last visible evidence of her past. When Christie Ryder, sexy musician and new owner of Midnight Ink, pursues her, he seems too good to be true. His music touches her soul, but can she risk trusting another bad boy with her heart?     

Eden Bradley
Dangerously Inked (A novella in the Dangerous series)
When the tattoo artist Finn Carter lined up for his visit to New Orleans turns out to be the mysteriously alluring sub he played on New Year’s Eve at The Bastille, the city’s BDSM club, more than his skin will be marked forever—and Rosie is just the woman to bring this playboy to his knees.

Carrie Ann Ryan
Ink Inspired (Montgomery Ink 0.5)

In Carrie Ann Ryan’s Ink Inspired, the prequel to her upcoming Montgomery Ink series, Ice Princess Shea Little wants ink and a change. Shepard Montgomery not only wants to ink her, but get through that icy exterior.  Together, they’ll heat up the streets of New Orleans…and each other.

Mari Carr
Blank Canvas (Big Easy, book one)

Disillusioned by divorce, Jennifer’s about to discover her wild side, starting with a tattoo from Caliph. And continuing with submission, spankings, wax play…all under the skilled hands of her wickedly sexy tattoo master.

More Dream Men of Oberon

Jasmine: Hi everyone. I’m Jasmine Quinn. I know it’s a little early, but I’d like to welcome you all to another round of Oberon’s Sexiest Man. We’re going to be getting started in a couple of hours, but I thought I’d take some time now to introduce you to today’s contestants. I’ve been asked to be your hostess today on account of I know all three of these guys better’n anyone.

Seth: Excuse me? You what?

Chay: Hold on now, Jay, I don’t know if I’d go that far.

Brandon: Wait, what? You know all three of us…how well?

Jasmine: Guys! Minds out of the gutter! Jeez.  All I meant was that Seth and I practically grew up together, and—

Brandon: So he’s like a brother.

Jasmine: Right. And Chay is the brother of one of my closest friends. And she and I are almost like sisters so—

Brandon: He’s also like a brother.

Jasmine: Exactly. And now that that’s cleared up—

Brandon: But I’m not, right?

Jasmine: Like a brother to me? Ewww. No. Absolutely not. Never.

Brandon: That’s a relief.

Jasmine: I can’t even believe you tried to go there. That’s just so wrong!

Brandon: Hey, you started it.

Seth: Are you two going to be finished with this any time soon?

Chay; My guess is “no”. We still have two hours before we start, remember.

Seth: Great.

Jasmine: As I started to say earlier, I’d like to introduce today’s contestants. Contestant number one is Chayton Johnson. I’m sure everyone here has at least heard of him, right? Chay’s a long-time resident of Oberon. He founded the Kotoola Chook Native American Interpretive Center offering field trips, workshops and special events. Chay is also a renowned musician, flute maker, dancer, story-teller and all around good guy. Did I leave anything out?

Chay: You forgot tracker, animal rehabilitator and educator, but it doesn’t really matter. At least you didn’t say “baker”.  *winks* Thank you, Jasmine, that was a lovely introduction. And hello, everyone. Thank you for having me here today. I look forward to competing for your votes.

Jasmine: Contestant number two is a relative newcomer to Oberon. So everybody give a big hand to Brandon Ablemarle. Brandon is also an accomplished musician. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure, stop by the Temple Garden almost any Saturday night to hear him play. Although he originally came to Oberon to pursue graduate studies at nearby UC Abraxas in business, he stayed to pursue a career in music.

Brandon: Not exactly.

Jasmine: What are you talking about? You did too.

Brandon: No, actually, I stayed to pursue you.

Jasmine: Oh. Well, that too.

Brandon: Hello everyone. It’s a pleasure to be here with you today and an honor to be competing for the title of Oberon’s Sexiest Man. Thank you for your votes.

Jasmine: And, finally, we come to contestant number three, a young man who probably needs no introduction. Please welcome Oberon’s own, Seth Cavanaugh.

Seth: Wait—that’s it? That’s all I get?

Jasmine: Hold on. I’m not finished yet. Seth is Oberon born and bred. He also has the distinction of being the youngest contender for the title.  Seth is the owner-operator of Cavanaugh’s Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Services and can also be found helping out at Cavanaugh’s Farm Fresh Produce or, occasionally, at the Milagro Beach Nature Center.

Seth: Very occasionally.

Jasmine: Seth, is there anything you’d like to say to our audience?

Seth: Uh…yeah. Hi. Nice to see everybody. Thanks for the applause. And, uh…stick around, okay?  We’ll be getting started in just a little bit.

Jasmine: Okay, it’s time for the first question of the day. If you guys are ready, here we go. What is your deepest regret?

Chay: Wow. Okay. Well, I’ve been warned not to say anything that might constitute a spoiler, you know, so that eliminates the first couple of things that came to mind. I guess I’d have to say, not being a better brother to my little sister while we were growing up.

Jasmine: Aw, that’s nice. I’m sure Chenoa appreciates that.

Chay: I’m sure she doesn’t. But that’s also beside the point, isn’t it?

Jasmine: If you say so. Brandon? How about you.

Brandon: Not being able to do more to save my great-grandmother.

Jasmine: You answered that kind of fast. Are you sure you don’t want to say something else?  Like…oh, I don’t know, maybe not telling a certain someone you loved them a little sooner?

Brandon: Now, sugar, you know how sorry I am about that, but Chay’s right about the spoilers. So why don’t we just leave it, okay?

Jasmine: Hmph. We’ll see. Seth?

Seth: *sigh* Where do I start?  That thing with the dogs? I don’t know. This is stupid. What does any of it have to do with being sexy?

Jasmine: It’s to show off your emotional side. Girls like guys who are sensitive, you know.

Seth: If you say so. Okay, um…I guess…well, there were a couple of years when I screwed up on pretty much a regular basis. In retrospect, I kinda wish I hadn’t done that so much.

Jasmine: So, basically, you’re saying you regret everything you did between sixteen and eighteen?

Seth: Yep. Pretty much.

Jasmine: Seth! You can’t say that. You have to pick something specific.

Brandon: C’mon, sugar, give him a break.  That was emotional. Besides, this is a sexy man contest, all right? Not a sensitive, puppy-eyed man contest.

Seth: Puppies? Was that some kind of dig? Are you trying to piss me off?

Chay: C’mon, guys. Settle down.

Brandon: Me?  What’d I do? I was just trying to help a brother out.

Seth: Okay, fine. You want specific? I regret that I ever agreed to be in this contest—how’s that?

Jasmine: You have to be in it. All the heroes are.

Seth: Oh, hell. You’re not gonna start with that hero crap again, are you?  I’m not a hero, okay?

Chay: As it happens, brah, I know a couple of folks who say otherwise.

Brandon: Plus I think she’s talking about “romantic heroes”. You can do that, right?

Seth: Whatever. That’s still my final answer. Take it or leave it.

Jasmine: Oh, you’re no fun.

Jasmine: Okay, moving on to question #2. Let’s see what you all do with this one. If your life was turned into a movie, who would play you in it?

Brandon: Matt Lauria, maybe? I don’t know. He photographs younger than he is—and younger than I am too, for that matter. But I think he looks like me. Kind of. Or maybe Jensen Ackles?

Jasmine: Yeah. I can see both of those.  But there’s just one thing missing. Neither of them have your pretty brown eyes.

Brandon: I guess they’ll have to wear contacts then, huh?

Jasmine: Would your movie have a theme song?

Brandon: Maybe.  Is this your way of sneaking in an extra question?

Jasmine: Maybe. You gonna answer it?

Brandon: Absolutely. Easiest answer of the day. Everything She Does is Magic.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_y5aB6Faa8

Jasmine: Nice. Seth? How about you?

Seth: I want to say Zachary Quinto. But I don’t know if he’s tall enough. Maybe Jared Padalecki? Or John

Francis Daley?

Jasmine: Okay. Those are good choices.  Does your movie have a song?

Seth: *sigh* Yeah. Everything by Stereo Fuse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HjQr8kHPLY

Jasmine: Oh. Wow. Okay, moving on. Chay, how about you?

Chay: Well, he’s a little older than I am but I guess I’d have to say Rick Mora. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW4aVdxUpds

 Jasmine: Okay, he’s hot.

Brandon: Wait. You have your own tribute video?

Chay: Rick. Not me. And for a song, I’d pick And We Shall Dance by Mary Youngblood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LYcLRahr58

Jasmine: I see it’s time for another question. How about this one: If you could have dinner with any 3 people, dead/alive, fictional/real who would you choose?

Chay: Let’s see…Bob Marley, John Lennon and Chief Joseph.

Jasmine: Okay, so…you and three ghosts?

Chay: *shrugs* If I want to have dinner with living people, what’s stopping me? Although, I guess there’s nothing stopping me from meeting up with all those guys anyway. Hmm. Thanks for the idea.

Jasmine: Uh…you’re welcome, I think. Brandon? Seth? Either of you ready to answer?

Seth: I…shit. I have no idea. Who do I want to have dinner with? Who’s cooking?

Jasmine: It doesn’t matter who’s cooking! Just answer the question.

Seth: Of course it matters! It’s dinner, isn’t it? Okay, so I’m gonna choose Guy Fieri so I know at least we’ll have something decent to eat. Tony Hawke, so I can maybe get a little skating in afterwards. And Cesar Millan so we can talk about dogs.

Jasmine: Okay, that’ll work. Brandon? You ready?

Brandon: Yep. I’m going to go with John Coltrane, WD Gann and your father.

Jasmine: My father? Why him?

Brandon: Because there’s something I want to ask him for.

Jasmine: Oh? Oh! Okay. Well. *clears throat* I think we might need to take a quick break.  See you all back here in an hour.

Jasmine: I’ve been thinking we should try something simpler this time around. So, here we go. Guys, why don’t you tell me what your favorite season is?

Chay. Winter, because that’s when it rains. I have a special affinity for the rain. My love and I like to stay indoors. We spread a blanket in front of the fireplace and I serenade her with my flute.

Brandon: I’m going to have to go with winter too, even though I really don’t like the cold weather all that much. But someone once told me it’s the most magical time of the year. You can’t ever have too much magic.

Seth: Well, I like summer. I like to work outside so, summer’s the best time of the year, as far as I’m concerned. Plus it stays light later at night and there’s more to do—concerts and festivals, camping, skinny dipping. All that fun stuff. And I don’t care what you guys say, but if we’re talking about sex, being outside naked beats being bundled up inside any day of the week.

Chay: No one said anything about being dressed. That’s the whole point of the fire. And a blanket beats sand any day of the week.

Brandon: Yep. Plus, shared bodily warmth is still the best way to beat the cold.

Jasmine: I hope everyone’s ready for our next question. What’s your favorite form of exercise, guys?

Brandon: I like hitting the gym. Weights, treadmill, the whole deal.

Jasmine: Uh-huh. Yes, you do. And it certainly shows.

Brandon: Thank you.

Jasmine: You’re welcome. Chay?

Chay: I’d have to say dancing.

Brandon: Huh? Dancing is exercise now?

Chay: It is the way I do it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcPm0S_K6XM

Brandon: Yeah. I guess it is. Good point.

Jasmine: Seth?

Seth: Swimming. And that’s another reason I like summer. There’s nothing better on a hot summer day than cooling off with a nice swim. Or, you know, almost nothing.

Brandon: Okay, hold up. I’m changing my answer.

Jasmine: Ookay. So what do you want to say now?

Brandon: Sex.

Jasmine: What? No. You can’t say that!

Brandon: Sure I can. I just did. Besides, you know it’s true. Best exercise there is.

Chay: You know, he does have a point. In fact, I might have to re-think my answer too.

Seth: Yeah. Me, too.

Jasmine: No! Forget it. No more changes. We’re moving on now.

Jasmine: Last question guys. And this is a good one. What is the one thing in the world that makes you cry?

Seth: What makes us cry? Do we really have to answer that?

Jasmine: Yes, of course.  It’s part of the game.

Brandon: This is just payback for the last answer, isn’t it?

Jasmine: Nope. Not at all.

Chay: Well, I’d have to say music. If it’s played from the heart with passion and sweetness, it can move you like nothing else.  http://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com/p/the-courting-flute.html

Brandon: I’ll have to agree with that. Music, dancing, any kind of art, really. http://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com/p/hed-been-surprised-when-she-turned-up.html

Jasmine: Really? Because I seem to recall your saying once that art was useless.  

Brandon: Nah, you must be thinking of somebody else, sugar. I’m sure I’d never say anything like that.

Jasmine: Yeah, right. And anyway, these are terrible answers you guys! Who cares about art and music? We want to hear something personal. We want to hear about YOU.

Chay: Music IS personal.

Brandon: You just want more emo stuff and I think we’ve done enough of that for one day. Cut us some slack, huh?

Jasmine: Well fine. Just don’t blame me when you don’t win. Seth? You ready?

Seth: Yeah. My mom.

Jasmine: Your…what?

Seth: *nods* My mom. She doesn’t do it often, but when she gets upset—you know, really upset? Like, when she breaks down and cries?  it really gets to me. Every time. Especially if I’m the reason.  http://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com/p/seths-regret.html

Brandon: There. You happy now? You almost made us all cry.

Jasmine: As if!