Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway: THIN ICE by Lane Hayes (The Elmwood Stories #4)

 

Thin Ice
By Lane Hayes

The Elmwood Stories, Book 4

The hunky dad, the hockey coach, and a new start…

Bryson

Elmwood isn’t good for my love life. Hey, I’m a positive person and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about small-town living, but I haven’t had a date in years. That’s fine—my son is and always has been my number one focus.

Except now he’s grown and gone. And it’s lonely.

Okay, yes, the new hockey coach is hot and single, but he’s off-limits. Smitty’s trouble with a capital T, and his baggage might outweigh mine. Besides, we said nothing would happen after “that” night. It was a one-time, never to be repeated deal.

At least…that’s what I thought.

Smitty

Am I sad about retiring from pro hockey? Honestly, no. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t in pain. I need a rest and I could use a distraction from unwelcome memories at home. Stat.

So…Elmwood.

Look, we all know I won’t last a whole season of coaching high school kids, but stepping in till they find a better candidate is a good temporary plan. And Bryson’s here.

There’s something about the hot dad with the sunny smile and bad dad jokes that makes me feel alive again. I’m not in the market for forever—been there, done that. Look, I’ve taken risks for my sport, but I’m not giving my heart away again. I know thin ice when I see it.

Or do I?

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Excerpt

Smitty gamely followed me to the next vignette at Pinecrest’s premiere home and furniture boutique. “It’s a coffee table, Bry. It serves two functions—a footrest and a place to leave dishes…and the remote control. Anything is fine.”

“Yeah, right,” I huffed. “Somehow I doubt the guy who couldn’t live with yellow walls and had lots of opinions about the sectional he special ordered doesn’t care about the coffee table that will go in the same room.”

Smitty darted his gaze around the store and leaned in close. “Places like this intimidate the f*ck out of me. It smells like a perfume factory and everyone is smiling…but their eyes are dead. Like they’re zombies. Is this a Pinecrest thing or a bougie thing? I don’t do well with hot cotchure.”

I burst into laughter. “Haute couture?”

“Sure, whatever.”

I brushed my hand against his in a show of solidarity, then linked our pinkies for a brief moment and pointed at a handsome dark-wood coffee table with a wide base. “What about that one?”

Smitty shrugged. “Looks nice.”

“I think so too.” I clandestinely checked the tag. “Yikes. It’s pricey. Let’s keep looking.”

“Do they have a coffee table with cupholders?”

“Absolutely not, and why would anyone want a cupholder in a coffee table?”

Smitty widened his eyes comically. “Are you kidding me? Why would anyone not want a safe place to plop a cup? You never have to worry about spilling a drink or knocking it over, and you wouldn’t have to fumble for it when you’re watching a game, ’cause your cup is right where you left it.”

“Okay, that’s a whole lot of nonsense. And thankfully, a moot point.” I glanced at our surroundings as if to be sure that was true and noticed the salesperson watching us from the register. I couldn’t remember her name off the top of my head, but I was pretty sure I’d sold her and her partner a house two years ago. I lowered my voice and added, “They don’t have such a thing, but even if they did, I’d stop you from buying it.”

“How? I’m bigger than you. And I’m fast. I could whip out my credit card in a flash and shove this f*cker into my truck before you could say ‘No, bad table!’ ”

Carra's Review

So I have a weakness for sports romances, especially hockey romances.  It shouldn’t be any surprise that I added this to my reading list as soon as I knew it was coming out.  I was already pretty confident I’d be getting a good story since I’ve really enjoyed this author’s other books, and that was once again the case here with Thin Ice.

I loved both of the main characters.  I always enjoy a story centered on more mature characters, and here both men are at the point in their lives where each knows what they want …or at least they believe they do.  Smitty more so than Bryson has to figure out what he truly wants for his life going forward, and it was great to see him discover this as he and Bryson embark on their relationship.

The two of them together are just right, they had excellent chemistry in all areas.  While they start off with the purely physical with their obvious instant attraction, things develop over time into more as they each open up to the other.  

There is a fantastic cast of supporting characters from the previous books in the series, but you don’t need to have read the other stories to enjoy this one.  I hadn’t had the chance to read the others before this one and had no issues following along…though now of course I want to go back and read everyone else’s stories.

Thin Ice was a great read and is getting 4.5 stars from me.  I’d definitely recommend it to any M/M romance fan, and if you love age gap, mature characters, and hockey romance you will have hit the trifecta here with Thin Ice.  This story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Thin Ice, Lane is giving away the Winner’s choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

About the Author

Lane Hayes  lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesn’t mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, who’s pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.

She’s been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yes…romance is much more satisfying!

Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolate…in any order. Add a book and she’s set!

Reader's Group, Lane's Lovers - Newsletter - Blog - Twitter - Facebook - Amazon - BookBub - Instagram - Instagram Author - Goodreads - TikTok

New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: THIN ICE by Lane Hayes (The Elmwood Stories #4)

Thin Ice
By Lane Hayes

The Elmwood Stories, Book 4

The hunky dad, the hockey coach, and a new start...

Bryson

Elmwood isn’t good for my love life. Hey, I’m a positive person and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about small-town living, but I haven’t had a date in years. That’s fine—my son is and always has been my number one focus.

Except now he’s grown and gone. And it’s lonely.

Okay, yes, the new hockey coach is hot and single, but he’s off-limits. Smitty’s trouble with a capital T, and his baggage might outweigh mine. Besides, we said nothing would happen after “that” night. It was a one-time, never to be repeated deal.

At least…that’s what I thought.

Smitty

Am I sad about retiring from pro hockey? Honestly, no. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t in pain. I need a rest and I could use a distraction from unwelcome memories at home. Stat.

So…Elmwood.

Look, we all know I won’t last a whole season of coaching high school kids, but stepping in till they find a better candidate is a good temporary plan. And Bryson’s here.

There’s something about the hot dad with the sunny smile and bad dad jokes that makes me feel alive again. I’m not in the market for forever—been there, done that. Look, I’ve taken risks for my sport, but I’m not giving my heart away again. I know thin ice when I see it.

Or do I?

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Excerpt

Smitty gamely followed me to the next vignette at Pinecrest’s premiere home and furniture boutique. “It’s a coffee table, Bry. It serves two functions—a footrest and a place to leave dishes…and the remote control. Anything is fine.”

“Yeah, right,” I huffed. “Somehow I doubt the guy who couldn’t live with yellow walls and had lots of opinions about the sectional he special ordered doesn’t care about the coffee table that will go in the same room.”

Smitty darted his gaze around the store and leaned in close. “Places like this intimidate the f*ck out of me. It smells like a perfume factory and everyone is smiling…but their eyes are dead. Like they’re zombies. Is this a Pinecrest thing or a bougie thing? I don’t do well with hot cotchure.”

I burst into laughter. “Haute couture?”

“Sure, whatever.”

I brushed my hand against his in a show of solidarity, then linked our pinkies for a brief moment and pointed at a handsome dark-wood coffee table with a wide base. “What about that one?”

Smitty shrugged. “Looks nice.”

“I think so too.” I clandestinely checked the tag. “Yikes. It’s pricey. Let’s keep looking.”

“Do they have a coffee table with cupholders?”

“Absolutely not, and why would anyone want a cupholder in a coffee table?”

Smitty widened his eyes comically. “Are you kidding me? Why would anyone not want a safe place to plop a cup? You never have to worry about spilling a drink or knocking it over, and you wouldn’t have to fumble for it when you’re watching a game, ’cause your cup is right where you left it.”

“Okay, that’s a whole lot of nonsense. And thankfully, a moot point.” I glanced at our surroundings as if to be sure that was true and noticed the salesperson watching us from the register. I couldn’t remember her name off the top of my head, but I was pretty sure I’d sold her and her partner a house two years ago. I lowered my voice and added, “They don’t have such a thing, but even if they did, I’d stop you from buying it.”

“How? I’m bigger than you. And I’m fast. I could whip out my credit card in a flash and shove this f*cker into my truck before you could say ‘No, bad table!’ ”

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Thin Ice, Lane is giving away the Winner's choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

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About the Author

Lane Hayes  lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesn’t mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, who’s pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.

She’s been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yes…romance is much more satisfying!

Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolate…in any order. Add a book and she’s set!

Reader's Group (Lane's Lovers) - Newsletter - Blog - Twitter - Facebook - Amazon - BookBub - Instagram - Instagram (Author) - Goodreads - TikTok

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Audiobook Review & Excerpt: FALLING FOR RAINE by Lane Hayes - Narrated by Joel Leslie - Includes Giveaway!

Falling For Raine
By Lane Hayes

Narrated by Joel Leslie

The gentleman, the hot mess, and a little British adventure…

Raine

Moving to London is scary and daunting, but I desperately need this job–and a redo. Okay, so I may have oversold my qualifications. That shouldn’t be a big deal, though. I mean, being an assistant’s assistant seems easy enough, and I’m a fast learner.

Hold up!

I’m already in over my head with spreadsheets, new pronunciations, and temperamental appliances. And just as I’m mentally preparing to face going home early, the big boss offers me an opportunity I can’t refuse. And I definitely should because Graham Horsham is an infuriating, complicated grumpy bear with a razor-sharp tongue, a wickedly dry sense of humor, and…I like him far too much.

Graham

I’ve been bamboozled. I’m not quite sure how I ended up with an assistant who spills coffee daily, wears wrinkled shirts, and chatters nonstop. He can’t stay, but I don’t want him to go and that’s madness. The Horsham Group is closing one of our biggest deals ever and I won’t jeopardize it. This one is personal.

Yet so is Raine.

He’s a breath of fresh air—silly, impetuous, lighthearted, good-natured, and…quite lovely. I like him more than I want to admit. For some reason, I can let my guard down with him. It’s unnerving and probably unprofessional.

But not to worry…I will not, under any circumstances, fall for Raine.

Falling for Raine is an MM, age-gap romance featuring a British gentleman, a desperate but adorable American, and a UK adventure!

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Excerpt

What in the hell was going on? It was as though I’d entered an alternative universe. Everything looked the same, but it was different.

Of course it was Raine.

I studied him shaking hands with everyone in the shop as I shrugged on my jacket. He was…hypnotic, addicting—a cross between an inappropriate dinner party guest and a fistful of forbidden sweets when you were on a diet. He didn’t fit in this world I’d carefully constructed, yet I kept inviting him in and forgetting whatever reason I’d concocted for this to make sense.

Like now.

“Perhaps you’d like to try something on.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch him.

He widened his eyes and sidled close, whispering under his breath, “Are you nuts? One shirt here costs half my rent. Unless…oh, no. Oh, no, no, no!”

“What?” I demanded, pulling him with me outside.

“Are you going daddy on me?”

“Excuse me?” I furrowed my brow, stopping under the eaves where rain sluiced off the roof and fell like a curtain around us on two sides.

“Slow your roll, G, I’m not looking for a meal ticket, and I’m not taking hand-outs. I can be talked into bedroom daddy kink, but if you want me to call you Daddy—”

“Oh, for f*ck’s sake, you daft man. I do not want you to call me Daddy,” I growled just as a well-dressed man stepped onto the mat next to me, pausing for a moment to close his umbrella and dart a quick look between us.

Raine pursed his lips, then burst into laughter when the man entered the shop. “Ha! You should see your face. I was kidding.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I huffed, my lips twitching.

“I’ll be good, Daddy. Don’t spank me.”

“Don’t test me.” I pretended not to notice him fanning himself with a slack-jawed expression as I gestured toward the pub on the next block. “If we stay under the eaves, we’ll stay dry, but we’ll have to hurry.”

“No need. I bet they sell umbrellas in there.”

I squinted at the tourist shop at the corner on the opposite side of the street, its windows papered with Union Jack memorabilia. “That’s crap, Ray-n.”

“So what? It’s fun crap. My treat.”

He sprinted into the deluge, dashing into the tourist shop while I stared after him. What was he doing? Now he’d be wet and stuck with a tatty tourist umbrella that would undoubtedly flip inside out at the first gust of wind.

A crack of thunder spurred me into action. I borrowed a sturdy umbrella from Ives and Harris with the promise to return it as soon as possible, then walked down the street to find Raine.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that he’d managed to make a friend in under five minutes. He stood in front of a wall stuffed with tartan throws, holding two compact umbrellas and chatting up a salesman. It took a bit of persuading to convince him he didn’t need the blanket—however, I couldn’t talk him out of purchasing two Union Jack umbrellas. I warned him that they were poorly made, but he didn’t care.

We squabbled all the way to the pub, argued over what to order, who was paying, and where to sit before finally settling into a table for two at the window. I frowned when he beamed a sunshine smile my way.

“Stop being so happy,” I teased, cradling my glass. “It’s miserable out there.”

“But it’s warm and yummy in here,” he countered, sliding his calf along mine under the table. “And you’re cute when you’re cranky.”

“I am neither cute nor cranky. I’m—okay, never mind, I am cranky. If we’d come straight here, we could have avoided the queue and had that corner booth.” I pointed at the booth currently inhabited by a gaggle of noisy businessmen. “Do you ever listen to reason?”

“Have you met me?”

Carra's Review

I’ve enjoyed many of this author’s previous books, so when I saw this one and that it was set primarily in England (one of my favorite places), I knew I wanted to add it to my reading list.  Putting one very likable mess of a young man together with his suave, worldly, and wealthy British boss was a combination I couldn’t pass up.

Raine is one of those guys that everyone seems to like, someone who endears himself to even the most stern, no-nonsense people.  Graham is quite the opposite, serious and focused, never letting business and pleasure mix.  Put them together and they do complement each other—and of course the sparks between them physically are awesome.  

While you might think Raine is one of those party-type guys who is just looking to coast from one thing to another, he actually takes responsibility for the bit of a mess he’s gotten himself into and owns up to it.  Everyone loves him, it’s hard not to.

Graham is a tougher nut to crack, but Raine worms his way in anyway.  You know that will happen, and it’s just a matter of whether Graham will let himself be happy in the end.

Falling for Raine was a solid 4 star story for me, and I’d recommend it to any M/M romance fan, especially if you like the boss/employee trope.  The two of them are pretty hot together, so this book is meant for readers and listeners 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

The narration is absolutely excellent.  Joel Leslie does another incredible job voicing Raine and Graham, and even kicks it up a notch when Graham’s character starts slipping into his hometown accent.  The narration elevates the story, and gets 5 stars from me!

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Falling For Raine, Lane is giving away the Winner's choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

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About the Author:

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.

Connect with Lane:
My Readers’ Group, Lane’s Lovers

Newsletter - Blog - Twitter - Facebook - Amazon - BookBub - Instagram - Goodreads - TikTok

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New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: FALLING FOR RAINE by Lane Hayes

Falling For Raine
By Lane Hayes

The gentleman, the hot mess, and a little British adventure…

Raine

Moving to London is scary and daunting, but I desperately need this job–and a redo. Okay, so I may have oversold my qualifications. That shouldn’t be a big deal, though. I mean, being an assistant’s assistant seems easy enough, and I’m a fast learner.

Hold up!

I’m already in over my head with spreadsheets, new pronunciations, and temperamental appliances. And just as I’m mentally preparing to face going home early, the big boss offers me an opportunity I can’t refuse. And I definitely should because Graham Horsham is an infuriating, complicated grumpy bear with a razor-sharp tongue, a wickedly dry sense of humor, and…I like him far too much.

Graham

I’ve been bamboozled. I’m not quite sure how I ended up with an assistant who spills coffee daily, wears wrinkled shirts, and chatters nonstop. He can’t stay, but I don’t want him to go and that’s madness. The Horsham Group is closing one of our biggest deals ever and I won’t jeopardize it. This one is personal.

Yet so is Raine. 

He’s a breath of fresh air—silly, impetuous, lighthearted, good-natured, and…quite lovely. I like him more than I want to admit. For some reason, I can let my guard down with him. It’s unnerving and probably unprofessional.

But not to worry…I will not, under any circumstances, fall for Raine.

Falling for Raine is an MM, age-gap romance featuring a British gentleman, a desperate but adorable American, and a UK adventure!

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

---

Excerpt

What in the hell was going on? It was as though I’d entered an alternative universe. Everything looked the same, but it was different.

Of course it was Raine.

I studied him shaking hands with everyone in the shop as I shrugged on my jacket. He was…hypnotic, addicting—a cross between an inappropriate dinner party guest and a fistful of forbidden sweets when you were on a diet. He didn’t fit in this world I’d carefully constructed, yet I kept inviting him in and forgetting whatever reason I’d concocted for this to make sense.

Like now.

“Perhaps you’d like to try something on.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch him.

He widened his eyes and sidled close, whispering under his breath, “Are you nuts? One shirt here costs half my rent. Unless…oh, no. Oh, no, no, no!”

“What?” I demanded, pulling him with me outside.

“Are you going daddy on me?”

“Excuse me?” I furrowed my brow, stopping under the eaves where rain sluiced off the roof and fell like a curtain around us on two sides.

“Slow your roll, G, I’m not looking for a meal ticket, and I’m not taking hand-outs. I can be talked into bedroom daddy kink, but if you want me to call you Daddy—”

“Oh, for f*ck’s sake, you daft man. I do not want you to call me Daddy,” I growled just as a well-dressed man stepped onto the mat next to me, pausing for a moment to close his umbrella and dart a quick look between us.

Raine pursed his lips, then burst into laughter when the man entered the shop. “Ha! You should see your face. I was kidding.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I huffed, my lips twitching.

“I’ll be good, Daddy. Don’t spank me.”

“Don’t test me.” I pretended not to notice him fanning himself with a slack-jawed expression as I gestured toward the pub on the next block. “If we stay under the eaves, we’ll stay dry, but we’ll have to hurry.”

“No need. I bet they sell umbrellas in there.”

I squinted at the tourist shop at the corner on the opposite side of the street, its windows papered with Union Jack memorabilia. “That’s crap, Ray-n.”

“So what? It’s fun crap. My treat.”

He sprinted into the deluge, dashing into the tourist shop while I stared after him. What was he doing? Now he’d be wet and stuck with a tatty tourist umbrella that would undoubtedly flip inside out at the first gust of wind.

A crack of thunder spurred me into action. I borrowed a sturdy umbrella from Ives and Harris with the promise to return it as soon as possible, then walked down the street to find Raine.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that he’d managed to make a friend in under five minutes. He stood in front of a wall stuffed with tartan throws, holding two compact umbrellas and chatting up a salesman. It took a bit of persuading to convince him he didn’t need the blanket—however, I couldn’t talk him out of purchasing two Union Jack umbrellas. I warned him that they were poorly made, but he didn’t care.

We squabbled all the way to the pub, argued over what to order, who was paying, and where to sit before finally settling into a table for two at the window. I frowned when he beamed a sunshine smile my way.

“Stop being so happy,” I teased, cradling my glass. “It’s miserable out there.”

“But it’s warm and yummy in here,” he countered, sliding his calf along mine under the table. “And you’re cute when you’re cranky.”

“I am neither cute nor cranky. I’m—okay, never mind, I am cranky. If we’d come straight here, we could have avoided the queue and had that corner booth.” I pointed at the booth currently inhabited by a gaggle of noisy businessmen. “Do you ever listen to reason?”

“Have you met me?”

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Falling For Raine, Lane is giving away the Winner's choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

---

About the Author

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.

Lane's Lovers (Readers' Group) - Newsletter - Blog - Twitter - Facebook - Amazon - BookBub - Instagram - Instagram (Author) - Goodreads - TikTok

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New Release-Exerpt & Giveaway: YOU, AGAIN by Lane Hayes (The Elmwood Stories #1)

You, Again
By Lane Hayes

The Elmwood Stories, Book 1

The hometown hockey hero and his best friend’s brother…

Vinnie

Hockey is in my blood. I learned to skate before I learned how to ride a bike. I’ve been on a wild ride, playing at the highest level for some of the biggest and best teams in the league. But now it’s over, and I’m not sure what to do with myself.

So I'm going home to Elmwood.

But I’ll tell you what I’m not gonna do—I’m not going to coach my buddy’s junior hockey league. No chance. I don’t know how to deal with kids, and besides, the other coach—who happens to be my best friend’s brother—hates me. With reason.

That may be old news, yet something tells me we’re going to have to deal with the past.

And that's almost as scary as coaching teens.

Nolan 

No, I don’t hate Vinnie, but he drives me nuts. 

He’s cocky, goofy, selfish, and yeah…after all these years, I’m still attracted to him. But I’m a responsible adult now. I run my family’s business, and with the help of my ex, I’ve made Elmwood Diner into a New England institution. 

So maybe my life isn't particularly exciting at the moment, and maybe Vinnie isn’t the worst. Nonetheless, I have no desire to rekindle a friendship with the hockey hero who no doubt will be on the first flight out of town the second he gets bored or gets a better offer.

And I’m not coaching with him. No way. 

Ugh…

I can’t believe I’m doing this again.

You, Again is an MM bisexual, best friend’s brother, frenemies to lovers romance featuring old friends, a new quest, and a little hockey HEA! 

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Excerpt

Vinnie set a twenty on the table and stood. “Thanks for the coffee.”

“It’s on the house,” I insisted, pushing the money toward him.

“No, no. I support local businesses. Keep the change.”

His over-the-top wink practically begged me to roll my eyes, but I had more to say. We had to clear the air…at least a little.

“Um…hey, even if you don’t make it through summer, your presence alone is good for business for the whole town. ‘NHL Hero Comes Home’ and all that bullsh*t. If you don’t mind the attention, and I’m assuming you don’t—come help out at the rink. It’s easy and fun. You won’t regret it.”

Vinnie rubbed his scruffy jaw thoughtfully. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

I smiled tentatively and raised my hand for a high five. “Great.”

“But only if you’re my assistant.”

“What?” I pulled my hand away before he could slap it, furrowing my brow. “No way. Gavin is perfectly capable of—”

“Nope. It has to be you.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“ ’Cause…” Vinnie blew out an exasperated breath. “I want to fix this. Me and you. And I can’t do that if you ignore me.”

And just like that, the invisible wall between us shook in its foundation.

“We’re fine,” I bluffed.

Vinnie arched a brow. “You’re mad at me. I know why, and I get it. We don’t have to go into it now, but at the very least, we should call a truce ’cause if we’re working with impressionable teens, you really oughtta be nice to me, Moore.”

My mouth opened in a perfect O. “I’ve been perfectly civil to you. More civil than you deserve, Kiminski.”

“See? That wasn’t nice,” he teasingly scolded. “I can’t believe I’m the voice of reason here.”

I fixed him with a bored sardonic stare. “You are never the voice of reason.”

“I kind of am now.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Yes, I am.”

“No, you—oh, my God.” I pointed at the door. “Good-bye, Vinnie.”

He snickered, flashing a lopsided devil-may-care grin my way. “Wait up. Let’s seal the deal on this truce.”

“Oh, brother.”

“I’m serious. Let’s shake hands, hug it out, kiss and make up, or all of the above.”

I regarded his outstretched hand suspiciously and cautiously slid my palm against his. “Fine. Truce.”

“See, that didn’t sound friendly. You ruined it. Gimme a hug,” he demanded, pulling me into a bear hug, squeezing me hard enough to crack a rib.

I let out an oomph of surprise and tried to wriggle out of his hold. He took the hint and loosened his grip. I knew it was all in good fun or at least meant to playfully rile me up, but when he bent to kiss my cheek, I turned my head just as he swooped in and bam! Our lips collided in an actual, honest-to-God kiss.

A fucking kiss.

I couldn’t speak for Vinnie, but I was too shocked to move.

We’d been here before.

Sure, it had been almost twenty years ago, but I was positive neither of us was looking for a repeat. I certainly wasn’t. Any second now, he’d back up, swipe his hand across his mouth and make some ridiculous joke to right the balance. But he didn’t.

He softened his lips and molded them to mine, tilting his chin as if testing a new angle. And suddenly, this felt real.

Oh, no.

Oh…no.

I pushed out of his arms, sucking in a gulp of air.

Holy sh*t.

My heart beat like a drum, and my mouth was bone dry.

“I think—I think we’re good now,” I rasped.

Vinnie’s shell-shocked expression gave way to something unreadable. He scratched his nape and stepped aside.

“Yeah. Uh…what time is practice?”

“Thursday at three.”

He nodded and tried a smile that never reached his eyes. “Cool. See ya, Nol.”

I froze in place as the door swung shut behind him, willing my heartbeat to calm the f*ck down.

Did that happen?

It wasn’t real. I knew that, but he didn’t pull away. He lingered, he pressed closer, he…he kissed me.

Reality check: Vinnie was a notorious prankster. He was always doing something to push boundaries—make you laugh, make you mad, make you stop taking life so damned seriously. Silly was his fallback language. If lighthearted pranks and teasing kept some uncomfortable parts of the past at bay, I was all for it.

But I was still confused. Very confused.

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of You, Again, Lane is giving away the Winner's choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About the Author:

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.

Connect with Lane:
My Readers’ Group, Lane’s Lovers - Newsletter - Blog - Twitter - Facebook - Amazon - BookBub - Instagram - Instagram Author - Goodreads - TikTok 

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Audio Tour-Excerpt & Giveaway: BAXTER'S RIGHT-HAND MAN by Lane Hayes (The Baxter Chronicles #2) - Narrated by Nick J. Russo

Baxter's Right-Hand Man
By Lane Hayes

Narrated by Nick J. Russo

The Baxter Chronicles, Book 2

The movie star meets his match…

Pierce

Welcome to Hollywood, baby! Perhaps you’ve heard of me. I play Baxter, the adventure-seeking, crime-fighting hero, adored by fans around the world. Nice gig, right? My job has its perks for sure—private jets, a chauffeur, and the best tables at the fanciest restaurants in town. It’s nuts!

Downside—it’s hard to know who you can trust.

But I trust Lorenzo. He’s funny, sweet, and very real.

Look, I’m not in the market for anything serious. Between my greedy brother and the old man who claims we’re related, I’m a little wary, but I could use a friend.

And a sexy distraction.

Lorenzo

What is happening here? Major movie star, Pierce Allen wants me.

Me!

I don’t get it. I’m too fabulous and he’s too famous.

No, wait. He wants something from me, like my help and maybe my body. This should be a no-brainer. However, closing the last chapter on a long-term relationship has left me feeling a little fragile, and the last thing I need is to risk another broken heart.

But I’m too intrigued to walk away. I can play the part of Pierce’s “right-hand man” and keep things light and friendly. No problem.

I’m way too smart to fall for a movie star.

I hope.

Baxter’s Right-Hand Man is a MM, bisexual romance featuring a sexy, slightly egotistical movie star and the adorable diva who brings him back to reality.  

Universal Link

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Excerpt

“So…you’re here. In my apartment.”

“I guess I am.”

“This is weird,” Lorenzo mumbled under his breath.

“Do you want me to leave?”

He shook his head as he gathered some ingredients and set them on the counter. “Don’t be silly. I invited you.”

“Actually, I invited myself when you bragged about this soup.”

Lorenzo chuckled. “That’s true.”

“Can I help?”

“Do you know how to make a salad?”

I cracked my knuckles and made a production of rolling up my sleeves. “Dude. I am hands down the world’s best salad maker. Ever.”

Lorenzo raised a brow. “Here you go…lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, pepitas, avocado. Do you like those ingredients? Wait, before I attempt to feed you, are there any allergies I should know about? I don’t want to accidentally poison you and end up on the news.”

“Everything sounds good, and no allergies,” I declared, picking up the cucumber and smacking it on my palm.

“No playing with the cucumber, sicko. Here’s a bowl. Knock yourself out.”

I studied the lettuce and frowned. Tear or cut? Cut…probably. I reached for the knife he’d left on the cutting board and tried to decide where to start chopping—middle or end?

“Am I supposed to wash this first?”

“I did that already. But you do need to wash your hands.”

Right. I obeyed and spent more time than necessary drying them methodically as I peeked over his shoulder to watch him stir meatballs into broth.

“Smells good,” I commented.

Lorenzo quirked his lips in amusement. “You don’t know how to make a salad, do you?”

“Uh…I just haven’t done it in a while and the last time I did, I opened a bag and called it a day.”

“You can’t fail at this. Just chop everything and throw it into the bowl.” He squeezed my elbow and winked. “I believe in you, Pierce.”

I released a beleaguered sigh. “All right. Here goes nothin’.”

“So…did you happen to see the photo of us with the hunky firefighters on social media?” he asked as if to break an impending silence.

“No. Is it good?”

“Of you? Yes. I’m not sure how I got in the shot. Or how I ended up being called your assistant,” he huffed with mock annoyance.

My grin split my face in half. “Really? You work for me now? I like the sound of that.”

Lorenzo rolled his eyes. “I bet. My friends were freaking out. Don’t worry. I assured them it was the product of a weird confluence of coincidence.”

I let out a low whistle. “Confluence of coincidence. I’m gonna have to look that up. Um…I hate to ask, but do your friends know I’m here?”

He laughed. “No f*cking way. First of all, I wasn’t sure you’d show up. Second, they wouldn’t believe me, and third…no offense, but…you’re not my type.”

I gasped and gestured behind me. “I’m gonna need help pulling that dagger from my back. What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing at all. Your straight quotient is a tad high, though.”

I snorted. “I’m not straight.”

“No, but you probably like classic rock and have a thing for fast cars.”

“Well, yeah. So?”

“That’s…nice.”

I snickered. “By nice you mean…yuck. Right?”

“Don’t be so defensive. To each his own.” Lo smiled and pointed at the mess of lettuce in front of me. “Cut that a little finer.”

“Bossy, bossy,” I grumbled without heat, loving the melodic sound of his laughter.

We worked quietly, side by side, but it wasn’t a soothing form of silence. Not for me anyway. The air crackled with unspoken questions. What was I thinking? Why do I have butterflies? That sort of thing.

Seriously, I was a little dizzy, and my stomach felt wonky. There was nothing wrong with me, other than having a bad case of the stupids. It took a beat for me to recognize the signs for what they were.

I had a f*cking crush on this guy.

That was so…weird.

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Baxter's Right-Hand Man, Lane is giving away the Winner's choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

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About the Author:

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, 2018-2019, 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.

Connect with Lane:
My Readers’ Group, Lane’s Lovers - My Newsletter - Blog - Twitter - Facebook - Amazon - BookBub - Instagram - Goodreads - TikTok 

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