RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT & REVIEW - MF - Waylaid (True North #8) by Sarina Bowen

 CREDITS: Photo by Wander Aguiar

Cover design by Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations

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It’s a tale as old as time: the bad boy meets the good girl. He makes a daring proposition. Then the boy gets a mysterious head injury and loses a year of his life…

The first time I meet Rickie, I don’t know what to make of him. The second time we meet, he doesn’t remember the six hours we spent together. Or standing me up afterward.

I’m not the same, either. I’ve got secrets. I’ve told lies. Bad boys aren’t my type, anyway. Even the ones with troubled gray eyes.

But now we’re roommates. Cue the awkward moments in the hallway when he’s wearing only a towel and a smile. He’s determined to win me over, and his talented hands weaken my resolve.

It’s all fun and games until my past rears its ugly head and his secrets come to light, shaking our fragile connection, maybe even breaking it…

Note: this is Daphne Shipley's story. Contents include Vermonty ice cream flavors, nerdy awkwardness, tattoos, and a playboy grandpa.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Waylaid is a delightful small town romance by Sarina Bowen. Set in her True North world, it's a great contribution to the world of the Shipleys. If you haven't yet read this series, it's easy to jump in with this one. 

Rickie's spending a summer working and living at the Shipley farm. Unfortunately, this is complicated for both him and Daphne.

They have a messy past that is even more complicated by an event that took place after that. 

I enjoy the way everything unfolds for these two. There's plenty of intrigue and suspense about the past, and I adore the way Daphne steps in to help. 

Rickie's past is traumatizing. Literally. The man is living with a traumatic brain injury, and the loss of his memory as a result. His story is sad and heartbreaking. The poor man. 

As for Daphne's past, damn, I certainly want to hurt some people on her behalf. Poor girl.

This is a story with a lot of charm and a light mystery throughout. The  reader spends a lot of time waiting to find out what's going on. 

There's a whole lot of depth to these characters and their story. For them, this is a second chance of sorts. And it's lovely.

I love the Shipleys, the Shipley farm, and everything surrounding the Shipleys.

Written in present tense, there are definitely some moments that are awkward to me. I often struggle with present tense, so this is on me. It's written in alternating pov though, which works great to bring both characters to life. 

Waylaid will have you emotional throughout. This Sarina Bowen read is a fabulous addition to her small town Vermont fun. Anyone who's been reading along will love this gem. And if you haven't yet started reading the books surrounding the Shipleys, do so now. They're all wonderful. 

I read all the way to the highway exit, but I only get halfway through the first article. It’s dense and full of statistical analysis that’s over my head. 

By the time Rickie rolls down the exit ramp, I feel the onset of a full-blown case of imposter syndrome. Dr. Drummond is expecting me to be sharp. What if they ask me to work on this type of analysis, and I can’t do it?

“I see the ice cream place,” Rickie says. “But there’s no entrance back onto the highway. What the hell?”

“Doesn’t matter,” I mumble. “It’s three miles down a side road to exit 6.” I close the journal with a sigh. I feel so panicky right now. I’ve always tried to be the smartest girl in the room. But it’s all an act. I’m obviously the worst kind of dunce—the kind that can’t see her own mistakes until it’s way too late. (See: the last twelve months of my life.)

Is it normal to have a midlife crisis right before your twenty-first birthday?

Rickie rolls into the gravel parking lot of the Dreamy Creemee and puts the truck in a shady spot. He rolls down the windows before killing the engine. It’s getting toward dinner hour, so there aren’t many people here. Just a couple of moms pushing toddlers on the swing set.

And I’m quietly having a panic attack in the passenger seat.

I take a slow but shaky breath. Do I even want ice cream? Is there a flavor on that signboard that could take me out of my own head? I reach for the door handle, but Rickie stops me. 

“Look," he says. "About that time we shared a ride home from Connecticut...” 

“No,” I say forcefully. If he makes me relive that embarrassing experience, I might lose my cool. “Just forget it, okay? So what if you ghosted me?”

His eyes widen. But my rant is only picking up steam. 

“None of that matters. I didn’t even blame you. And the only way I'm going to make it through this year is if I put Connecticut behind me, okay? Just leave it alone.” 

My voice cracks on that last word, and I realize that I might actually cry. Which is a thing I never do. But Harkness College was my dream, and I blew it. My damn eyes get hot and my throat constricts. 

“S-so just forget it," I squeak. “It's already in the past. It can just stay there.” 

Rickie's gray eyes are soft now. And they're moving closer. To my utter surprise, he leans forward and presses a kiss to my lips.

So soft, my brain sputters. 

“Shh,” he says against my lips. His kiss is warm and unhurried. Like a ray of sunshine when you’re shivering. 

For once, my squirrel brain forgets to scurry. And I just let it happen. He kisses me again. It’s still gentle. His bright eyes measure me. I don’t know what he sees. But whatever it is, he decides he likes it. 

Those soft lips brush and press. Again. And I'm only human. Rickie's surprisingly tender kiss has caught me at a vulnerable moment. I lean in, experimenting with the slide and pressure of his mouth against mine. A sizzle of heat flashes across my skin. It’s the strangest sensation—as if he’s transferred an ounce of that devil-may-care attitude across the steering column and right into my soul. I drink him in, lips parted. Ready for him to take it further.

But then it ends. Rickie sits back, his head cocked to the side, as if in deep contemplation.

I’m bereft. “Wh-what was that for?” I stammer.

I expect a smirk. But his expression remains soft. “You seemed a little freaked. So I brought you to an ice cream place on a hot summer’s day. But that wasn’t enough, apparently. You needed even more distraction. So I gave it to you. And I’m good at that. A real specialist.”

Replying is impossible. All I can do is sit here and try to process that kiss. That lovely kiss. 

He really has some nerve.

Hideaway (Vino & Veritas #8) by Rachel Lacey

 

Release Date: April 5, 2021
Amazon
Add to Goodreads here: Goodreads Link
Share this page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/
Cover Design: Christine Coffey

One woman’s hiding place is another woman’s home.

After becoming an inadvertent viral sensation—and losing her job and her girlfriend as a result— Phoebe Shaw retreats to Vermont. Renovating her late grandmother’s cabin into a vacation rental seems like the perfect way to lie low for a while. But the last person she expects to encounter on the property is the woman whose kiss was her teenage sexual awakening . . . and whom she’s never quite forgotten.

Taylor Donovan has been hiking on the trails behind the Shaw family’s cabin her whole life. As children, Taylor and Phoebe were best friends before sharing a secret summer romance when they were sixteen, which left Taylor brokenhearted when Phoebe fled at the end of the summer. Now the property has become Taylor’s home away from home, and she wants nothing more than to convince the Shaws to sell it to her. But Phoebe’s return puts a crimp in those plans--and brings back old feelings she thought she’d overcome. 

Of all the things Phoebe regrets, leaving Taylor is at the top of the list, but Taylor is determined to protect her heart. Yet the pull between them is stronger than ever. This time around, will love stay hidden . . . or finally see the light of day?

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Hideaway is a nice second chance lesbian romance. This is Rachel Lacey's contribution to the multi-author Vino & Veritas series. Each book is a standalone.

When Phoebe returns to her hometown, she is given a second chance with her high school girlfriend, Taylor.

Both women are likable and the storyline enjoyable. They are definitely hot together. But it's the sweet development of their relationship that had me impressed. 

Their story includes a pregnant dog and adorable puppies. I love their part in the storyline. Seriously, this part is wonderful, and definitely serves to bring the women closer. 

The writing is great, with alternating first person pov, and a well developed background for each woman. The flow is good and the narrative enjoyable. 

The setting is well established, and it's wonderful how much Phoebe connects with the slow pace and beautiful setting. 

Overall, Hideaway is a nice addition to this series. This is my first Rachel Lacey read, but I definitely plan on checking out more of her books. 

I sipped my cider, savoring its tangy, refreshing flavor. Over the hum of conversation, I could hear a woman singing, accompanied by the tinkling notes of the piano. I stared into the amber depths of my cider while I enjoyed the soulful quality of the singer’s voice. Whoever this was must be new, because I didn’t recognize her voice or her style.

I picked up my glass and spun my stool toward the stage, only to find myself facing Phoebe. I inhaled, and my glass tipped dangerously in my hand. Of all the people I’d expected to see on that stage…

Phoebe’s hair was pulled back in a loose bun , but a few dark curls had escaped, spilling down her back. She wore a slinky black dress that highlighted her curves and stood out in stark contrast against her pale skin. Her voice was low and smoky, hitting me somewhere in the vicinity of my solar plexus, a jolt that warmed my stomach and radiated outward, flushing my skin.

As I watched, Phoebe looked up, and our eyes met. I lifted my glass and took another sip of my cider, feigning indifference, because it was just unfair that she could still affect me like this after so many years. Phoebe dropped her gaze to the piano in front of her as her fingers danced across the keys.

I remembered sitting beside her on the bench at Margery’s piano, my arm wrapped around her as Phoebe sang. Her voice had been different then, lighter and sweeter, or maybe it just seemed that way, filtered through the blinds of my memory. Margery told me Phoebe had given up the piano—and singing—after she graduated from high school.

Maybe she was feeling nostalgic now that she was back in Vermont. Or maybe she was just trying to torture me with the allure of her voice. I gulped from my cider.

“Hi,” a female voice said.

I spun to find myself facing an unfamiliar blonde. “Hi.”

“I’m Rebecca,” she said. “Are you from around here?”

“Taylor, and yes. You?”

“Just in town for the weekend,” Rebecca told me.

“Ah.” I sipped my cider. Rebecca was pretty, although not exactly my type with her trendy dress and long, red-painted nails. She looked like she’d never hiked a day in her life. But when I glanced to the left, I saw Phoebe watching me from the stage, and it gave me an absurd thrill to let her watch me flirt with someone else. “Where are you from, Rebecca?”

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT & REVIEW - Booklover (Vino & Veritas #6) by J.E. Birk

 

Release Date: March 29, 2021
Pre-Order here: Amazon Link
Add to Goodreads here: Goodreads Link
Share this page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/
Cover Design: Christine Coffey

Two guys meet over a stack of romance novels. Soon they're turning pages late into the night...

Jamie Morin’s college GPA drops every time a cow breaks through a fence, but he’s determined to get his degree and keep his parents’ Vermont dairy farm afloat. He’d rather be reading than milking, but he can’t let his family down…not the way his brother did. So the last thing he needs is distraction in the form of an irresistible bookseller with a mysterious backstory.

Briar Nord has a lifetime of experience proving that happily-ever-afters only happen in his favorite books. But his luck might be changing. He’s got a great job at a bookstore, and he lives in a city that puts maple syrup on everything. But Briar knows not to trust anything or anyone. And that includes a gorgeous farm boy with soulful eyes and too many obligations.

When Jamie joins Briar’s romance novel book club, they both feel an instant connection. Soon they’re turning pages long into the night. But Briar’s past was bound to catch up with him. Sometimes, though, it takes two heroes to write a new ending . . .

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Booklover is a fabulous story by JE Birk. The sixth book in the Vino & Veritas multi-author series, this is a great addition to the small town Vermont fun. 

Jamie and Briar meet at a book club at Vino & Veritas. Both men are hurting as they have complicated lives. 

Jamie's family is draining him. They are all wonderful, and he loves them, but his responsibility to helping out at the family farm, leaves him losing his dreams. It's a large part of this story and it's so damn emotional. I just want to hold Jamie and help him. 

How can he finish college, get his dream job, and still help out his parents? He can't. And that's the problem. 

And then there's Briar. He loves his job at V&V, but his past comes knocking on his door and threatening all he has. How can he keep his past from ruining everything without actually ruining everything? And omg, when we learn his past, I was bawling. 

I love these men. And I love their story. And best of all, I love the writing. I was drawn into this story at the start, and I was consumed throughout. Oh course, the light angst definitely had me turning the pages quickly to get to the happy ending. 

Written in alternating first person pov, the men fully come to life. I felt every feeling, every emotion, every look, and every touch. And if you enjoy cute chapter titles, you will love these ones.

And then there's the setting. The Vermont aspect is well developed and is felt throughout. The mud. The farm. The maple syrup. The small town. The haunted library. All of it adds to the small town feel. 

And oh how I love the book club and all it's members. 

Booklover is a wonderful, feel good read. This JE Birk tale is beautiful, sweet, and tender. I can't recommend it enough. 

 

I start heading toward the circle of couches and chairs near the back where the inaugural meeting of The Booklover Club is supposed to take place. I make a quick stop at a shelf of new titles because the store’s got at least three that I’ve been meaning to read. I grab one of them, a nonfiction book about dairy farming, and I take a quick pause to wonder if my wallet can handle a bookstore binge. I’m still reading the inside of the jacket flap when I hear a voice behind me. 

“Can I help you?”

I turn around and try not to do that thing Jeremy says I sometimes do, where I just stand there staring at someone or something without speaking. In my defense, I think the problem comes from spending most of my childhood surrounded by cows. Sometimes I just forget how to people. 

         Especially when incredibly hot human beings are standing in front of me. Which is happening right now.  

This guy looks exactly like Porter, one of my other favorite book characters. He’s in Alyssa Samuel’s gay romance novel Lost Key, and right now I can’t help but wonder if he walked right off the pages of that book and into this store. The Porter look-alike in front of me has sharp, angular cheekbones sitting under hazel eyes and dirty blond hair and eyebrows. He’s got some scruffy I-wanna-be-a-beard-but-I’m-not-there-yet hair around his chin that’s straight out of the Vermont tourist brochures. His head is covered by a pilling green tuque, and his skin is this olive tone that should be next to impossible for any white guy to have in Vermont in March. He’s wearing a flannel shirt and jeans, which is pretty much the stereotypical Vermont uniform, but somehow on him it manages to look cool and unique.

         And as if all that weren’t enough? He’s carrying a stack of books.

         Some men dream of seeing their perfect lover strutting around in hot lingerie or tiny speedos. I dream of my perfect lover naked, with a stack of books strategically placed in front of them.

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Heartscape (Vino & Veritas #2) by Garrett Leigh

 

Release Date: March 22, 2021

Purchase here: Amazon Link

Add to Goodreads here: Goodreads Link

Vino & Veritas Series Page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/

Cover Design: Christine Coffey

From award-winning author Garrett Leigh comes a gorgeous new romance in the True North world! Think: great food, burly men and good times. Beards are optional but encouraged.

I’m not the obvious choice to run Burlington’s coolest wine bar—quiet, brooding, clueless about tannin content, and always one wrong turn away from another downward spiral.

But no one seems to mind that I'm a wreck. Besides me. I just focus on getting through each shift until the night a beautiful stranger appears, looking as lost and damaged as I feel.

When a mutual friend calls in a favor, the sexy newcomer winds up crashing on my couch. I don't know if it's his melodic Cornish accent, or his ocean blue eyes, or the rock-hard body with the mysterious scars, but I get the feeling whatever happened to him runs far deeper than those wounds.

Having Jax in my home makes my chest warm. Makes me shiver. Makes me want more. But I've got a pile of baggage and I don't want to be a burden on anyone let alone a man who seems to have enough demons of his own.

Our chemistry is off the charts. His arms feel like home. The last thing I want is to screw this up. Is it wrong to hope we can heal each other? Or will one of us die trying?

HEARTSCAPE is a heartfelt MM friends-to-lovers romance in the True North world, with a brooding bartender, a rugged outdoorsman, sweet angst and lots of Shipley cider. Triggers: contains mentions of depression, suicidal ideation and PTSD recovery.

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My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Heartscape is the second book in the multi-author Vino & Veritas series. This is Garrett Leigh's contribution and it's fantastic. 

Both Tanner and Jax know all about heartache. Their tale is heavy, with pain, depression, trauma, and PTSD. This is a major aspect of their journey so avoid if you're not in the mood for a serious emotional story.

Every moment of their journey is wonderfully developed and executed. I love these men, and isn't that the point. I want to hold and comfort both of them. Luckily for me, they eventually have each other to lean on.

I enjoy the pace at which everything unfolds. Their journey is perfectly satisfying and leaves me thrilled to have enjoyed the details. 

This series takes place in a small Vermont town and the author does a great job bringing the fell of this town to life. You can feel this Sarina Bowen created world completely, and I wish V&V was a read place. 

Heartscape is a riveting romance. This Garrett Leigh tale is a tough read, full of heartache and pain, but it won't disappoint. 

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Jax kisses me. In my wildest dreams I’m expecting it, but it still catches me off guard. His lips are soft, but demanding, and there’s nothing I don’t want to give him.

So I kiss him back. 

I slide my hands under his layers of winter clothing and pull him close, and we kiss and kiss and kiss as if it isn’t the first time we’ve done it. 

His lips feel like home. 

His soft touch dances along my jaw. 

I want to kiss him forever, but we run out of air.

Startled, I draw back and instantly find myself lost in Jax’s blazing stare. His gaze usually calms me—it really is like the deepest, bluest ocean. But right now, his eyes are stormy and hot. I want to dive back in headfirst, and for once what I want makes sense. 

And it’s right here. I don’t need words. I stand, cup a hand around the back of his neck, and kiss him again. Jax makes another low sound, and the fact that he’s spent the night in my bed to babysit me stops mattering. Shadows fade. Heat draws us ever closer, and it’s easy to pretend we spent all night doing this. I can’t contemplate that it has to end.

But it does end. 

Jax pulls back with a rueful smile, cheeks flushed, breathing hard. “I have to go. I promised Jerry I wouldn’t be late again.”

The mention of Jerry jars something in my brain enough to form a sentence that has nothing to do with how fast my heart is beating. “How did last night go?”

“Okay, I think.” Jax steps away. “Dude talked so much I stopped listening, but the apartment was all right. I can move in whenever I want.”

I should be happy for him. I am happy for him. He didn’t deserve to lose all his things in the hostel fire, and it sucks he had to take help from a stranger when he needed so badly to depend on himself. But I’m still dazed from his kiss. I say the first thing that comes into my head. Raw. No filter. “I’m gonna miss you.”

He gives me a soft grin. “I’ll miss you too.”

Then he leaves, and the reality that it might be the last time we do this hits me like a train. Jerry’s buddy’s apartment is probably outside of the city, closer to where Jax needs to be for his work. It isn’t a million miles away—nothing in Vermont ever is—but it’s not waking up to find Jax in my bed. It’s not drinking his weird tea together or eating dinner on the couch with him. It’s not opening my eyes every morning to feel the comforting hum of his presence.

It’s not being there to let him know, every day, that he fucking matters.

So tell him now.

I lurch from my bed and snag a T-shirt from the clean laundry pile I haven’t even thought about putting away. My shoes are by the front door. I stamp into them and fish my keys from the dish. Then I make a run for it down the stairs and out into the morning gloom.

The sidewalk is icy from the plummeting temperatures that are starting to move in from the mountains. But I’m a Vermonter; I know how to handle that shit. I dash to the parking lot where Jax is waiting for Jerry, his broad back to me as he contemplates the ground.

I grab his arm. “You don’t have to leave.”

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RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Headstrong (Vino & Veritas #3) by Eden Finley

 

Release Date: March 22, 2021

Purchase here: Amazon Link

Add to Goodreads here: Goodreads Link

Vino & Veritas: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/

Cover Design: Christine Coffey

A straight guy gives gay hookup tips to a virgin. What could go wrong?

When I first met Whit, I couldn’t get away from him fast enough. He’s a hockey player, and I hate everything to do with the sport that once broke my heart.

But I can’t help feeling sorry for the guy. He’s newly out and desperate to meet someone, but his eagerness seems to scare potential hook-ups away.

Agreeing to be his wingman should’ve been simple. Watching him flirt with other guys made things complicated.

Whit challenges me in every aspect of my life, from my hatred of hockey to the new questions I’m asking myself. Like why a straight man suddenly can’t stop thinking about kissing another guy.

I think the answer lies somewhere on Whit’s lips...

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My Rating - 5 Stars!

Headstrong is the third book in the multi-author Vino & Veritas series. This Eden Finley contribution is a wonderful gay awakening romance. 

Rainn and Whit's story is riveting from start to finish. 

Witt's a twenty one year old virgin. He's a newly out hockey player for Moo U. And he wants to lose his virgin status. Rainn hates hockey players, but agrees to help Whit with his pursuit. 

These two are simply adorable. Whit's the gay guy, yet it's the straight bartender Rainn who helps him embrace his sexuality. With a developing friendship, they get to know each other well, and Whit crushes on Rainn big time. 

And it's awesome. I love everything about the way things evolve for them. They are super fun together. 

This is a sexual awakening tale, with Rainn being so damn confused when he kisses Whit. There are great first times, including a wonderful first kiss. Oh how I love that kiss. 

I love this story. The tone. The pace. The writing. The men. The town. The bookstore. The bar. 

Written in alternating first person pov, everything about this story works for me. The small town Vermont setting is felt throughout. 

Headstrong is a wonderful read. Eden Finley is amazing in this small town, college sports romance. Eden's a seasoned writer and this story is as sweet as can be.

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A steady stream of drink orders keeps me busy for a solid half hour, but that doesn’t stop me from noticing Whit moving around the room to flirt with guys. Ultimately, from what I can see, he strikes out and wanders back to me during a lull.

He sits at a stool and bangs his head on the countertop.

A laugh bubbles out of me. “I don’t know how hygienic that is.”

Whit’s lips turn down. “You work here.”

“Exactly.”

“Eww.” Whit wipes his forehead. “Is being gay always this hard?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“I have to admit, this isn’t exactly what I was expecting.”

I lean my hip against the bar. “What were you expecting?”

“I dunno? For guys to see how hot I am and ask to blow me in the bathroom or something?”

A full-blown laugh falls from my lips this time. I have to admit, the dude is funny even if he’s not trying to be.

“So glad my misery is entertaining to you.”

“Sorry.”

“Where are all the easy men who want all the gay sex and no strings or names?”

I purse my lips. “Maybe it’s like that in big cities? The scene is low-key here. I mean, all bars by nature have that hookup culture, but if you’re looking for boys in booty shorts and orgies, you’re definitely in the wrong place. When Harrison opened V and V, he wanted to create a safe and queer-friendly environment that everyone could enjoy.”

“Is everything about gay people in mainstream media wrong?”

“Probably.”

He pushes his empty closer to me. “Can I get another cider?”

“Sure.” I switch them out.

The night isn’t super busy, but the work is steady. I leave him again to serve others but keep stealing glances at him. It’s confusing. Objectively speaking, he’s a good-looking guy. His intriguing eye color is a draw in itself, along with his dimples when he smiles. His suit doesn’t make him look like your typical college hockey player. It’s a mystery why he’s striking out.

Jake reappears at Whit’s side, and Whit’s face lights up. Then Whit’s mouth moves a hundred miles a minute, and Jake’s eyes gloss over.

I can’t hear what Whit’s saying, but I think I’ve found the reason why he’s not having any luck.

Jake turns his head toward me and mouths, “Help.”

Super-bartender to the rescue. Not all heroes wear capes. I give Jake a new drink. “Whit here’s too young for you.”

Jake gives me a grateful look and moves away quickly.

“Oh, age isn’t a big deal to me,” Whit calls after him.

If possible, Jake moves faster.

Whit slumps.

“You don’t want to date that guy anyway. He’s in here all the time trying to score.”

“Aww, that sounds perfect for what I need.”

I cock my head.

“I can’t be a virgin when I graduate in the spring. That’s sad. I mean, ideally, I won’t be a virgin by my next birthday which is in seven weeks, but I’m willing to be flexible.”

Oh dear.

“This has been your opening line to guys tonight, I’m guessing?”

“Well … I told myself not to talk, but then, I don’t know, isn’t that something you should disclose? It feels like something you should tell someone. Because, they have to be, like, gentle and shit, and it’s not like gay sex is something you jump into, right?”

“Again, I wouldn’t know. But has anyone ever told you that you talk a little too much and maybe say things you don’t need to put out there right away?”

“Really?”

“Well, we’ve only met twice, and oversharing and boundary crossing seems to be a common theme.”

Whit groans. “I’m fucking this up.”

“You really aren’t. You’re just coming on a little strong. You’re hot—I mean, I’m guessing. Everyone keeps staring at you and checking you out. It’s your mouth that’s holding you back.”

“So I just have to fill my mouth with something other than words.”

His words make my straight cock twitch a little. Ah, blowjobs. Oh, how I’ve missed thee. I point at him. “That. Right there. Lead with that.”

Whit glares at me, and I have to say his tough face is kind of laughable.

“Or every time you feel yourself rambling, take a drink,” I suggest.

Whit’s head falls to the bar again. “I’ll die of alcohol poisoning.”

It’s not my fault a laugh escapes. Seriously, I can’t tell if this guy is entertaining or plain sad.

He lifts his head. “You should be my wingman.”

I should do what now? “As tempting as that is, I kinda have a job to do already.”

“Yeah, but that’s why you’ll be good at it. You know people, and you’ve seen things.”

“I’m straight, remember? I know nothing about gay hookups. I’d tell you to go on dates and make them feel special before trying to get them into bed.”

“Is it against gay law to go on dates and make each other feel special?”

I throw up my hands. “I don’t know. Which is exactly why I shouldn’t be your wingman.”

“Worth a shot.” Whit finishes off his cider. He stands, and I think he’s going to go back to mingling, but he takes his coat off his chair and puts it on. “Thanks for the drinks.”

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