Not So Silent Night by H.L. Day

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU 
Goodreads Link

One grumpy patient. One unconventional nurse. Twenty-two reindeer later.

Things aren’t great for Xander Cole. It’s Christmas, he’s fractured his pelvis on a skiing trip he never wanted to go on, and his on/off boyfriend is most definitely off. No wonder he’s not exactly full of festive cheer.

Ferris Night isn’t having much luck either. His plan to take a break from work before starting a new job has been wrecked by a flooded flat. With nowhere to stay, he grabs the opportunity for a job as a live-in nurse with both hands. After all, how hard can it be?

Xander doesn’t need a nurse. Especially one who’s far too flirty, far too attractive, far too into Christmas, and far too good at getting his own way. But Ferris has never faced a challenge that couldn’t be overcome with a bit of charm and perseverance. It doesn’t matter how attractive Xander might be. He’s immune. Maybe.

As banter and sparring between the two men turn into more, a nurse might not be needed, but both men could be in for a fresh start to the new year.

A low angst 63k romantic comedy, which features snarky banter, a slow burn relationship, two men who can give as good as they get, an annoying ex, and a Star Wars nativity scene.


*Please note that this story was originally released as a single POV short story as part of the Winter Wonderland Prolific Works giveaway. The story has been revised and is now dual POV with over 40k of added content* 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Not So Silent Night is a delightful holiday romance by HL Day.  

Xander and Ferris' tale is full of Christmas fun, snark, and plenty of feel good moments. 

I adore Xander from the start, with his grumpy attitude as he's stuck alone during the holidays with an injury. Enter Ferris, who is hired to help nurse him back to health.

Omg. These two are night and day. Ferris is full of life and is the perfect person to push back against all of Xander's complaints. 

I love the way these two develop their banter into caring for one another. Ferris is fabulous and is successful at bringing Xander to life. 

Their story is full of flirty fun and quick wit. I enjoyed it all. 

Not So Silent Night is a warm and lovely holiday romance. HL Day adds plenty of Christmas sweetness into this opposites attract Christmas romance. I would definitely recommend this one when you're in the mood for a quick holiday read. 

Here Without You (Cooper's Ridge #2) by J.J. Harper

Amazon Link - Available in KU ?????
Goodreads Link

Archer Hawkins and Mallory Halston literally run into each other and a true love story is born. Archer pursues Mallory with absolute determination making him fall hook, line, and sinker.

“I really would like to get to know you, Mallory.” His voice husky in my ear.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, I’m sorry.” I’m already kicking myself for turning him down. “That’s okay, I’ll ask again tomorrow, and the day after, I’ll get you to say yes in the end.”

But just when they’re about to get everything they ever hoped tragedy strikes leaving Mal alone and adrift. Putting his past behind him Mal stumbles upon Cooper’s Ridge. Changing his name to Carter, he takes a chance, becoming a bartender at The Last Drop Inn, and embarking on a new life.

Local attorney, Dan Mortimer, has finally found and captured the heart of Cooper’s Ridge’s newest resident, Carter.

“I was coming in to see you, and maybe get you to agree to dinner with me. C’mon Carter it’s only dinner, I’m a nice guy I promise.”

But when Dan’s college friend comes to town to recuperate after a horrible car accident, it seems the most important men in his life may have something to answer for. And just how far will an evil, conniving, homophobic mother with a vendetta go to bring them all down?

This book can be read as a standalone
Here Without You is a gay ménage story with plenty of hot sex and strong language and is therefore suitable for readers aged 18 and over.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Here Without You is the second book in Cooper's Ridge series. This JJ Harper book is a delightful menage romance. 

This one starts off fast, as in extremely fast, with Archer and Mallory moving in together faster than I expected. But, there's a reason for that, as this story isn't about their initial time together. 

I had mixed feelings about this one. It's tough to get emotionally invested in the relationships at first. All of the relationships. Each seems to just start with the sex, and later we get the emotional attachment.

But, in the end, I enjoy the story, the twists and turns, and the angst. As for the coincidences, they're over the top forced, but I'm able to overlook that. 

This is a story with a manipulative mother, a homophobic father, and some wonderful redemption. The author excels in gifting these men with character growth and helping them to heal. 

And damn, I love the three together. And the sex is amazingly hot. The three definitely make each other better people. Dan heals them and brings the others back together. It's beautiful.

Here Without You is a delightful menage. Ultimately, I enjoy this KK Harper read. It's messy and emotional, with a fabulous ending. 

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT & REVIEW - MF - Doubletalk (Busy Bean #6) by Teralyn Mitchell

 

DOUBLETALK BY TERALYN MITCHELL

Release Date: September 13, 2021

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/DoubletalkAmazon

Apple: https://geni.us/DoubletalkApple

Kobo: https://geni.us/DoubletalkKobo

Nook: https://geni.us/DoubletalkNook

Google: https://geni.us/DoubletalkGoogle

All the links in one spot: https://shor.by/busy-bean

Add to Goodreads here: http://bit.ly/2MFT3pU

Series page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/busy-bean/

Cover Design: Elle Maxwell Designs

Basketball has always been his one love, until now . . .

Zeke Armstrong never imagined he’d be back in Vermont, but here he is, living in Colebury and trying to rehab an injury that could mean an early retirement from pro basketball. Running into his former classmate, Mallory Barrett, shouldn’t be a distraction. It shouldn’t mean anything, so why is he accidentally on purpose showing up at the coffee shop where the beautiful writer spends her time?

Mallory Barrett has met a guy. Well, she hasn’t met him yet, except for on the dating app she almost refused to download. “Coby” sparks her interest and gets her jokes--and gives the romance-novel heroes she loves so much a full-court run for their money. When their first date doesn’t work out, she decides to give him another shot . . . just as a man she despises reenters her life. While her interest in the mystery man on the app grows, she clashes constantly with Zeke in real life. She can’t forgive him for humiliating her in high school, yet she can’t deny she’s drawn to him now.

She’s somehow gone from confirmed bachelorette to the tie-breaker between two men.  Meanwhile Zeke has a secret--one that will cost him the game if Mallory finds out . .

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

Doubletalk is Teralyn Mitchell's contribution to the Busy Bean series. Each book in this multi-author series is a standalone. 

Zeke is an NBA player who's back in Vermont while healing from an injury. His future is up in the air as he doesn't know if he can make it back into the game. 

While home he gets to see his former best friend, Mallory, for the first time in years. There's plenty of emotion between them, as things got between them and they carry pain and hurt. 

Both characters are at a roadblock with their careers. As Zeke struggles with his injury, Mallory's struggling with her writer's block. 

This is a story with a lot of explanations and forgiveness. I enjoyed the characters and their journey, but I struggled to always stay connected to them. It's a story with an online dating app and a long carried secret that looms overheard for way too long. The storyline is promising, but I just don't love the way it's all executed.

Doubletalk is a nice addition to this small town world. But this Teralyn Mitchell book isn't my favorite in the series. 

She didn’t wait for me to say anything else, spinning on her heels and heading for the nearest store or restaurant where she could sit down. I chuckled and turned to head in the other direction. A hard wall of muscle made me stumble. Two strong hands gripped my upper arms. I looked up to see who had saved me from falling and who I needed to thank. The need to be polite shriveled and died when I saw that it was Zeke holding onto my arms.

“Are you okay?”

The combination of his deep voice and his hands on me caused me to shiver. I shook him off. What the hell? Why was I always reacting to him? I didn’t like him or his stupid good looks. I crossed my arms over my stomach.

“Why are you always where I am?” I snapped.

“Small town?”

“We’re in Burlington.”

“Still small, Ror. You also don’t have a monopoly on all things Vermont.”

I rolled my eyes. He had me there. “So, you’re telling me you normally wander the Marketplace on a cold Sunday?”

“When I have something to do, I wander around,” he said. “And maybe Stacey texted me and told me the two of you would be here.”

I clenched my teeth. Of course, she told him we’d be here. She went out of her way to make my life hell. So even though today had been about me getting her back, somehow, she’d figured out how to stick it to me too. I mean, not really. It’d probably been innocent, but I was going to blame her anyway.

It was frustrating to continuously run into Zeke. He had a point about it being a small town. This was what I dreaded when I realized he was back in Vermont and living in the town I now called home.

“You and Stacey talk often?”

The smirk on his full lips made me narrow my eyes at him. I hugged myself tighter as my stomach clenched. A tingle down below, that I was not acknowledging, had me pursing my lips. Why did he have to be so goddamn handsome? I was sure women fell all over themselves when he smiled at them like he was smiling at me right now. Especially when that dimple in his left cheek popped, but I wasn’t going to. Delight danced in his hooded light brown eyes. His sharp jawline was sprinkled with hair that looked good on him; it wasn’t a full beard but cut close to his skin. Not that I was looking, or rather, staring.

“Jealous?”

I groaned. “Not even a little, but I do want to have the facts right when I confront her about divulging my location to the enemy.”

He let out a deep laugh. “You’ve always been a bit of a drama queen,” he teased. “Stace and I exchanged numbers the last time we happened to be at the Busy Bean. We’ve only talked a few times.”

“Whatever.” I was done with this conversation and being around him.

I started walking, only for him to fall into step beside me. I let him walk beside me for a few minutes before I couldn’t resist saying something.

“Can I help you?”

“I don’t think so, unless you work at Burlington Records.”

“That’s where you’re going?” I asked.

“Yep.”

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - Tricky Tracks (Holeshot #5) by Lynn Michaels

 

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Tricky Tracks
By Lynn Michaels

Holeshot Series, Book 5

Recovery has never been so complicated.

It’s difficult enough to recover from a potentially career ending wreck, but Cole has to do it in front of a camera. Add in that the sexy videographer, Nix, has more than Cole’s tires spinning and it’s more than problematic. Facing the truth and redeeming himself for his past actions is trickier than making a good comeback for a team that doesn’t want him.

Nix Braumere is making a great career out of filming sports stars, and his friend, Jason, has him working on a Supercross documentary focusing on injuries, particularly, Cole Lindt’s. Making the hot racer the star of his show wasn’t supposed to wreck his heart. But Cole’s grouchy front obviously hides a world of pain that Nix wants to ease.

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

_________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Tricky Tracks is the fifth book in the Holeshot series. This Lynn Michaels tale is definitely best read as part of the series.

Cole's having problems with injuries, his career, and his father. And his love life. 

Last time we saw Cole, he was upset that the man he loved choose someone else. He definitely wasn't a likable character, but he easily becomes lovable in this one. Yay for a good redemption story!

Cole and his new videographer Nix start to really hit things off, both physically and emotionally. And this helps Cole deal with everything. I really enjoy the way Cole changes with Nix's help.

Of course there's plenty going on in this one, including trying to deal with some long distance issues. I didn't love all the Tyler stuff, but it's definitely fitting with what we previously knew about Cole. 

Tricky Tracks is a good addition to this series. This whole Lynn Michaels series is full of action and romance. I highly suggest it when you're in the mood for some hot motocross guys. 

_________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________ 

Special Release Excerpt:

Meet Cute or not so cute…

“Excuse me.” A young man pushed passed us. “I need to check on Mr. Lindt. I’ll be with you after that.” He walked over and examined the machinery. “Okay, Cole. Let’s walk it off.” He pushed buttons on the treadmill and slowed Cole to an easier pace.

“Hi, I’m Jason Gibbons. We’ll shake later. This is my partner and videographer, Nikolai Braumere.”

“Call me Nix.” I never used my full name and had no idea why Jason would throw it out there now. He was one of only a few people who even knew it.

Cole turned his head to look at us. He rolled his eyes. His spectacular eyes. They were precious gems to Jason’s worthless rocks, blue and green with flecks of gold making them seem exotic. When he turned away without a word, I only wanted him to look back. Hell, I couldn’t even really see the rest of his face with the mask on, and I wanted more.

The trainer turned to us, though, and he didn’t look happy. “You’ll have to wait until he’s finished.”

“No worries.” Jason held his hands up in front of him to placate the guy, but he looked at Cole. “Just wanted to drop in and let you know we were here. Vick is meeting with us in a few to go over everything regarding you and this project, then we’ll be your shadows.” He faced the trainer and held up his hands as if protesting. “Not interfering or getting in the way.”

Cole glanced back, taking us in, then graced us with another eye roll. Then he pushed some buttons on the treadmill, jumped on the side boards and pulled the mask off. “I’m done.” He started handing the equipment to the trainer and faced us while he pulled the electrodes off his chest. The trainer set the mask down and started popping off the ones on his back. “I’m not thrilled about this, just so y’all know. I don’t particularly want everyone seeing my training and progress. I’m going along with it because Vick says I have to. So don’t get in my face with your cameras.”

His attitude was something else I hadn’t been expecting. “What about questions?”

“What do you mean?” He turned those amazing eyes on me again. They gleamed against the sheen of sweat covering his face. His hair was a blondish-brown, darker where it was wet. I liked a sweaty Cole, and I felt my energy spike.

“Questions? Will you be willing to answer questions?”

“Like an interview?”

Jason scoffed. “More like questions as we go. If we see or hear something we don’t understand, or want more information about, we’ll ask.”

Those eyes rolled again. “I guess it depends on what you’re asking.”

“We’re not digging for trade secrets, Cole. Can I call you Cole?” Jason asked.

“We’re going to be stuck together for a while, so I guess you better. Now, I have work to do.” He pointed to the trainer who was now openly scowling at us.

“Right. We have stuff to do, too. We’ll see you at the meeting.” I needed to be either out of his cosmic glare or stripping those workout shorts off him. I turned Jason back toward the door.

“Well, he’s a regular bowl of sunshine.”

I snorted at that. “I thought he agreed to this. That sounded like he was coerced.”

Jason shrugged. “There’s obviously something else going on. I knew he was a cold dude, but I didn’t expect that.”

“That? What? You mean his open hostility?”

“Are you talking about Cole or his trainer?” Jason laughed. He wasn’t wrong. They were made for each other, it seemed.

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Tricky Tracks, Lynn is giving away Signed copies of Books 1-3 with the old (now limited) covers for a US Winner and a e-set of Books 1-3 for an International Winner!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57260/?

---

Lynn Michaels lives and writes in Tampa, Florida where the sun is hot and the Sangria is cold. When she's not writing she's kayaking, hanging with her husband, or reading by the pool. Lynn writes Male/Male romance because she believes everyone deserves a happy ending and the dynamics of male characters can be intriguing, vulnerable, and exciting. She has both contemporary and paranormal titles and has been writing since 2014. Her stories don't follow any set guidelines or ideas, but come from her heart and contain love in many forms.

Connect with Lynn:

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LynnMWritesSignUP
Website:  https://lynnmichaelswrites.com/
Facebook friend:  https://www.facebook.com/lynn.michaels.71465
Facebook LIKE page:  https://www.facebook.com/LynnMichaelsWrites/
Facebook LIKE MM sports page:  https://www.facebook.com/mmSportsRomance
Lynn’s Looney Bin - Facebook Readers Group:  http://bit.ly/LooneyBinonFacebook
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/sljasble
Amazon:  http://bit.ly/LynnOnAmazon
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8430620.Lynn_Michaels
eXtasybooks:  http://www.extasybooks.com/lynn-michaels/
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/LynnMichaelsonBB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnmichaels69/

---

---

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT & REVIEW - Ache by Marley Valentine

 

Release Blitz & Excerpt:
Ache by Marley Valentine

I couldn’t tell you when I fell in love with Gael Herrera, but I wish I knew how to make it stop.

Falling in love with a straight man is a rookie mistake. But falling in love with my soon-to-be-married-to-a-woman best friend is nothing but heartache.

Through all the years, and all the men I’ve fooled around with, he’s always been at the back of my mind. An unrequited crush I wish I could shake. A dream that was never going to come true.

When I whisk him off to a surprise bachelor party weekend in Vegas, I surrender to the idea that this is an opportunity for me to finally let go of my feelings for him and say goodbye.

But after a heated exchange and an even hotter kiss, everything I thought I knew about our friendship changed.

Maybe I had it wrong. Maybe, after all this time, we were more than best friends. Maybe, just maybe, he felt it too.

Universal Link

Goodreads

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Wow! Ache is an amazing friends to lovers romance by Marley Valentine. This book got me in all the feels. I love it all!

But, and this is a BIG but, if you can't read a tale with cheating, run far from this one. Cause this is all cheating. 

From the start, the emotions are front and center in this book. I was mesmerized throughout. 

The cheating is tough, but hot damn, I was rooting hard for these men to be together!

And then - omg - then... I still can't breathe.

Damn, the twists and turns gutted me. UGH!!!! I wanted to scream NOOOOOO!!! 

The writing is great, including multiple povs. I am not adding details, because, just not doing it. 

Everything about Ache is perfectly developed. This Marley Valentine story had me gripped throughout. I couldn't have loved it more! Just read it!

---

 

Special Release Excerpt: 

“Gael,” I breathe out. “Please.”

He shakes his head, and even though every fiber of my being knows how dangerous this is, being like this, I stay still. I stand there and let him hold me, intimately, as he tells me he loves somebody else.

Slowly, his hands rise, ghosting the length of me and settling on either side of my neck. “Ask me why I’m not with you. Why I’m not marrying you.”

Unable to look at him, I turn my head, and he persists with the questioning. “Ask me why, Jordan.”

“Stop,” I plead. Forcefully, I step out of his hold and let my eyes land on his. “What is the point, Gael?” I ask, exasperated. “What is the fucking point of rehashing all the things we want and can’t have?”

“Why can't we have them?” he says.

---

Living in Sydney, Australia with her family, Marley Valentine is a USA Today bestselling author and a former social worker who uses her past experiences to write real life, emotional and heartfelt contemporary romance.

She enjoys mixing it up with both M/F and M/M Romance incorporating all forms of life, lust and love as her characters embark on their journey to their happily ever after.

When she's not busy writing her own stories, she spends most of her time immersed in the words of her favourite authors.

Marley enjoys interacting with her readers so please feel free to reach out to her via Facebook, Instagram, email and/or subscribe to her newsletter.

Connect with Marley:
Website: https://www.marleyvbooks.com
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/MarleyVNL
Audio Newsletter: https://bit.ly/MarleyVAudio
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2VuYfg8
Instagram: http://bit.ly/MVBooksIG
Twitter: http://bit.ly/MarleyTwitter
BookBub: http://bit.ly/MVBookBub
Amazon: http://bit.ly/MarleyV
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/MVGoodreads

---

---

RELEASE TOUR, EXCERPT & REVIEW - Aftermath (Vino & Veritas #5) by L.A. Witt

 

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

Brent Weyland was the life of the party until an injury ended his hockey career. Now he’s retreated alone to a lakefront house, trying to make sense of a life and body that don’t feel like his anymore. 

Jon Norquist was happily married right up until he wasn’t. Now a single father in his forties, he’s trying to figure out what comes next. In the meantime, he pours his heartache and regret into the lyrics he sings for the wine bar crowd a couple of nights a week.

When a friend coaxes Brent out for a night of wine and music, he puts Brent and Jon on a collision course. Their chemistry is instantaneous. Jon gives Brent’s battered body a much-needed remedial lesson in pleasure. And Brent gives Jon a reason to smile again. 

Multiple reasons, actually. Neither man wants anything serious, but love has a habit of showing up whether it’s welcome or not. No matter how hard they try, the two can’t help having feelings for each other, even as life continues to throw them curveballs.

But they’ve both got baggage to unpack and hurt to move past, and if they can’t leave their pasts in the past, they might just miss out on an amazing future.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

LA Witt's Aftermath is a wonderful small town romance. The fifth book in the multi-author Vino & Veritas series, this just may be my favorite. 

There is so much going on in this book. And I love it all. Brent and Jon are both suffering in their own way. There's chronic pain, a controlling father, feelings of inadequacy, an ex wife, and a child who's affected by it all. And dogs!

Both men think they aren't worthy. Brent's a ex hockey player who suffers from chronic pain and has been living as a hermit, giving into his depression. Jon is older, with an angry ex wife, a young son, and a plate full of baggage. 

The chronic pain aspect is brilliantly approached. I am in awe at how well the author addresses this. Every single moment with Brent is written with how this affects him. It isn't just written to guide the story and his issues, but it's written in every single thing he does. Every step is taken with pain. His sex life is affected by his pain. His pain is felt throughout and as someone who deals with chronic pain, I love every moment of this aspect.

Both men have some external issues. Brent's relationship with his father. Omg. I won't even bother to go into the details, but, omg, I just want to punch him. I truly hate him. For Jon, it's his ex wife and her boyfriend that's the issue. Jon's a stand up guy and I applaud him for the way he handles her. Their journey and the way they developed into strangers is all too honest and heartbreaking. 

The dogs. Omg, the dogs. These shelter dogs are instantly a major part of this story and add a tremendous amount of love to this tale. But even more, they parallel the men so well. Both men are broken and struggling. Both men are trying to deal with their new situations and together help one another heal, as well as learn to live fully. And the dogs are the same way, both helping each other heal. It's wonderful!

I have to start by saying that I love the writing style. LA Witt is a well known author in the genre and this is just one more amazing story by her.  This story has a lot of description, but I love it. The writing shows us little things that are happening, but it's never overkill. As well, written in alternating first person pov, this book is loaded with internal dialogue. And no one does it better. These moments are fantastic, with so many important things being considered and contemplated throughout. I love it all. 

Aftermath is a long, well drawn out tale. It's a beautiful love story, but it's a big commitment, so put some time aside for this beauty. This LA Witt tale is a hurt/comfort romance that you can't miss. I love every moment of this story. 

If there was one thing I was good at when I performed onstage, it was engaging my audience without being distracted by them. The lighting here at Vino and Veritas didn’t mask the crowd in shadows like bigger venues did—no blinding stage lights in my eyes obscuring the people beyond them—which meant I could make out a lot of faces. And there was usually a fair amount of activity, too. People came and went. Waiters brought out drinks and food. Bartenders poured drinks. Quiet conversations went on. Some loud ones, especially as more alcohol flowed.

I was used to it, and I was never distracted by it. The sea of motion and faces was easy to ignore.

Except for that guy’s face.

One glance at him, and thank God I’d been between songs, or I’d have forgotten what I was doing.

And it didn’t help at all that he’d been looking right back at me as if I’d caught his eye the way he’d caught mine. Not just like people casually watched a performer onstage, but like something I’d done had made him stop dead and stare. He was still, his eyes wide and his lips parted as he stared at me. I couldn’t tell if it was a trick of the lights, but I swore he blushed too.

As I played on, I kept my gaze down, or at least tried to only let it drift toward the side of the room where he wasn’t sitting. Otherwise I was going to go blank on every note and every lyric.

But then I was far enough into the music that I forgot, and I glanced in that direction again, and there he was, still looking right at me, and—

What song is this?

I only missed a beat or two, fortunately, and I recovered quickly. I doubted many people noticed, if any of them did. In a venue like this, a lot of people were only half-listening, as opposed to during an actual concert when they were all focused on me. I was background noise for most, even those who applauded between songs. Just as well when I was this distracted.

By some miracle, I made it through my set, and people didn’t mutter things like, “Oh my God, finally,” or “One more and I was going to stab my own eardrums” as I left the stage. Given that this hadn’t been my best or most focused performance, I’d take it.

In the back room where overflow books and promo items from the bookstore were kept, I put my guitar in its case and downed the rest of my water bottle. That had been, hands down, the hardest set I’d done since I’d started singing here. The first few had been tough because the emotions had been a lot more raw—because I’d been real smart, singing what I’d just written about my painful divorce-in-progress—so it had been rough for a while. But even during that period, I’d never actually struggled like I had tonight to remember lyrics and chords, or to keep my fingers from slipping or my tongue from getting tied. 

And now I needed a drink. Not just water this time, either. 

So, I left my guitar and jacket in the back where they were safe, and then headed up to the bar for a glass of wine. Only one, since I was driving. I’d probably have a couple more when I got home. Maybe not the healthiest thing in the world, but I’d been in a shitty place all day, and singing about my divorce poured some salt in wounds that hadn’t closed yet. I wasn’t apologizing for numbing that with a little alcohol once in a while. 

“The usual?” Rainn asked over the bar.

I shook my head. “Glass of pinot blanc.”

Our eyes met. Then Rainn nodded and stepped away to get the wine. He knew me and what I’d been through the last several months, so he didn’t question me. He just didn’t need to know that my ex-wife wasn’t the one screwing with my concentration tonight. 

He handed me the glass, and I thanked him before taking a sip. I wasn’t much of a drinker, but I had to say, I loved the wine they poured in this place. One of these days, I’d buy a bottle or two to keep at home. Maybe after I finished redoing the kitchen and had a place to put a wine rack.

That was another depressing thought that didn’t need to take hold tonight, so I focused on enjoying the amazing wine while I wound down after my set. My son was at his mom’s tonight, so I didn’t need to rush out of here to pick him up from the babysitter. I preferred the evenings where he was with me, but when he wasn’t, I couldn’t complain about relaxing here for a little while.

Someone stepped up to the bar beside me, and as I moved aside to give them some room, I glanced up and—

Oh. God.

Him.