The author for day 9 of 12 Days of Kissmas is Victoria Sue, and she brought the cutest darn picture!!! Victoria stops by once a month for a guest blog, and always brings the most fun stuff, so make sure you check it out. In the meantime, her first contemporary m/m comes out in February…and I don’t think anyone is randomly preggers. lol You never know with her books. 😉 Check out the awesome excerpt, and don’t forget to enter ALL the giveaways, there are still quite a few open. 🙂
In February I’m releasing a new series called Rainbow Key. The stories take place on a fictitious island off the west coast of Florida – think white sandy beaches, blue sparkling ocean, swaying palm trees. Paradise.
Except nothing is ever that simple, right? Poor Joshua can’t even pay the electric bill because the hotel’s out of money, has barely any paying guests, and he’s rapidly running out of options.
In steps Daniel – owner of a multi-national hotel chain, and obviously that isn’t as simple as it sounds either.
Here’s an exclusive excerpt:
He looks tired. Josh stood for a second and took in their new guest. Even standing with his back to him, Josh could see the tall, big shoulders that seemed to be hunched in and noticed he was leaning on the window frame as he looked out. His shirt was tucked into a narrow waist. Too narrow. The pants were being held up by a belt that was cinched in so much he would imagine the expensive tailor that had made the obviously hand-made Italian suit—Armani, if he wasn’t much mistaken—would be weeping into his chianti. Daniel Morgan was something important in New York. A high flyer of sorts. Josh didn’t know in what exactly, but it hardly mattered to him. The money he could get from this would finally get a new compressor for the A/C. Angie had been keeping the thing going on sticky tape and optimism for months and if they were going to have a proper season next year they would need it.
If we are still open.
Matt had collected their guest and a small suitcase. Angie said he hadn’t said much, but then Matt, complete with his inked skin and piercings, had probably scared the guy to death. He’d caught a glimpse of their new guest as he’d walked up from the jetty with Matt. He’d worn a jacket on the crossing that was casually slung over the chair now. November—even in Florida—had been quite cool. His jet black hair was tinged with a few silver streaks.
“I have your coffee, sir,” Josh spoke before the man turned around and saw him gawking. As predicted, Mr. Morgan turned and eyed Josh, smiling politely.
“Thank you.”
Wow. Josh gave himself a mental shake. Deer in headlights much? The brief glimpse of a few minutes ago had in no way prepared him for the gray, almost silver eyes looking at him and the killer smile.
Josh hurried into the cozy room, to cover his seeming inability to think of anything intelligent to say. The phrase, How are you? Welcome to Rainbow Key suddenly seemed crass and immature. At least the newly finished décor looked good, and he was especially pleased with how the painting had turned out. Pale cream walls except the one with the beach mural on it. Charlie was talented, and the full wall showing the breathtaking sunrise beyond the jetty was awesome. They’d finished the room off with pale brown shutters and matching comforter. Some dark chocolate-colored throw cushions completed the look. He’d gone for soothing in this room but they’d already started on the family suite at the top of the stairs, and Charlie was excited at doing a children’s mural in there.
Josh took a breath, realizing he was staring. “The cookies are walnut and banana. Fresh this morning.”
Mr. Morgan looked down at them as if he wasn’t sure what Josh meant, and Josh suddenly felt like an ass. The man was probably used to staying at The Four Seasons, and here he was blathering on about home-made cookies. He’d baked like a mad man after getting the phone call yesterday from Alan Hunt. He was sending a patient, a businessman overloaded with stress and in need of some down time to relax. Alan had also insisted on paying for four weeks upfront himself, and not to tell Mr. Morgan. Actually, Alan had referred to him as Daniel, but obviously Josh couldn’t be that unprofessional.
Mr. Morgan came over to the comfy two-seater that Josh had found in an estate sale in Tampa and sank down gratefully. Well, he seemed to appreciate the softness, anyway. Josh’s keen eyes took in the slight tremble as he reached for the coffee cup. Josh hoped he didn’t notice it was decaf. Alan had been quite strict about his patient’s caffeine intake.
“I don’t seem to be able to get Wi-Fi.”
Josh pinked slightly and noticed the expensive laptop unpacked on the bed. That makes two of us. It had been a choice between paying the electricity bill and paying for broadband. The electricity obviously had won over. “My apologies, sir. I believe Dr. Hunt explained we were doing some remodeling? We won’t have any service until next week.” Josh crossed his fingers behind his back and pretended he didn’t see the frown that marred the gorgeous gold skin under the black hair.
Josh quickly put a brake on his thoughts immediately. Thoughts like that were what had got him into trouble, and there was no way he was putting himself there again. Even if he was ever ready there was no way some good-looking business man would be interested in the likes of him. “There’s a lovely walk to the beach, sir, if you’re in the mood; or if you wanted a nap I’d make sure you weren’t disturbed until lunchtime.” Josh nearly groaned aloud at that one. Now he sounded like May-belle.
But Mr. Morgan laughed shortly. “I must look worse than I thought.” He glanced up at Josh and smiled. “Mister?”
Josh tried not to stare, but fuck when the man smiled he went from attractive to drop dead please take me to bed. Josh knew he looked stupid, but he couldn’t help grinning back. “Please call me Josh.” Please undress me and let me lick you all over.
What the hell? Josh put a break on his errant thoughts. Maybe it was hormones. Maybe it was the company of his own hand. Maybe it was knowing he was safe in his daydreams because no man that looked that hot would ever be interested in Joshua.
And maybe, let’s face it, you would be too chicken even if the stars somehow realigned and he was interested. No, Joshua told himself sternly. Good-looking—make that stunning—rich business men weren’t interested in fat boys like him. His shoes were probably Gucci. Josh’s were K-Mart.
The man sipped his coffee and leaned back. “Look, its fine. I know I’ve been dumped on you and you’re busy with a remodel. I’m only expecting to be here for a few days, so I’ll keep out of everyone’s way.”
“Oh, no sir,” Josh hastened. “Please don’t think you are an inconvenience. We’re glad to have you; it’s just I’m sure Rainbow Key isn’t the standard you are perhaps used to.” Josh noticed the quick calculating glance he got and wondered what he’d said to put it there.
“Well, I’m here to relax,” and as if he wanted to prove it he reached out for a cookie and took a bite. His eyebrows rose as he swallowed quickly. “Wow, these are so good. My compliments to the chef.”
Josh felt his face heating again. “Thank you, sir.”
“You made them?” Mr. Morgan took another bite.
“Yes, sir,” Josh answered, pleased.
Mr. Morgan swallowed again. “Call me Daniel,” he said, and then looked as surprised at the words he had spoken as Josh was.
Josh smiled and took a backwards step. He knew instantly the offer for Josh to call him by his first name was a spur of the moment comment that Mr. Morgan was immediately regretting. If one thing his previous employment had taught him, it was reading people’s body language. “Lunch will be at one unless you prefer another time, sir. You can either eat downstairs in the greenhouse or up here. Sorry,” Josh added, realizing what he had said. “I mean we have a Florida room overlooking the beach. You could eat there. That’s a conservatory,” he added lamely in case Daniel didn’t know what a Florida room was. May-belle called it the greenhouse.
Daniel was smiling again. His silver flecked eyes seemed to pop when he laughed. Stunning. Realizing that he was in fact staring once again, and calling the man Daniel even in his head wasn’t a good idea, Josh smiled politely and hurried out of the room.
Joshua’s Rainbow will be released in February. For all news, excerpts and regular competitions check out my facebook group – Victoria’s Secrets https://www.facebook.com/groups/1182647028418709/?ref=bookmarks
Thank you and Happy Christmas 😊
Wrote her first book on a dare from her hubby two years ago and he says he has regretted it every day since. Loves writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best—especially with either a paranormal or a historical twist. Had a try at writing contemporary but failed spectacularly when it grew four legs and a tail. Loves her wolves!
Is an English northern lass but is currently serving twenty to life in Florida—unfortunately, she spends more time chained to her computer than on a beach.
Loves to hear from her readers and can be found most days lurking on Facebook.
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