UPDATE: The winner is Katherine Robinson!

* * * * *

My daughter has perfect teeth. Not a cavity. Not ever. Thanks to genetics and modern dentistry. I, on the other hand, have horrible teeth. I have soft, chalky back teeth, prone to cavities. Which means, I have a few crowns back there. Last night, while I sat on my daughter’s sofa, she of the perfect teeth, one of my crowns fell out. Do you know, I had that one so long, I didn’t even know there was a crown on that tooth. Color me surprised!

Which really makes today a shitty, shitty day. I am going to call the dentist this AM to request an emergency appointment. This afternoon, I have a doctor’s appointment at the VA in Little Rock (oh joy). I had hoped for a little time to write. Now, I have a microscopic window open to write. So, I have a related question. Comment and you might win a free story! Don’t you love how I work real life around to having something to do with books? 🙂

For a chance to win your choice of one of these
Cowboys on the Edge stories, answer me this!

Do you have perfect teeth? Have you ever had a dental emergency?

(Click on a cover if you’d like to learn more!)

Don’t know what you’re missing in this cowboy series? Read a sexy excerpt…

Controlled Burn

This flame doesn’t need a match…

One high school prank gone wrong shouldn’t define the rest of Carly Lohan’s life. But setting fire to Caldera Canyon isn’t something townsfolk will ever forget. As the last part of her final act of restitution, she’s among the group of volunteers assigned to keep a prescribed burn of underbrush and grass from “running over the rim” into the ranches ringing the park.

Local rancher and volunteer firefighter Jeremiah McCord doesn’t trust the reformed firebug anywhere near the canyon’s controlled burn. Determined to keep her on a short rein, he’s everywhere she is, watching her. His distrust and determination sparks a plan for some sexy revenge—one that will get them both too close to the flames.

Get your copy here!

Long excerpt from Controlled Burn

Caldera, Texas had been aptly named by its founders. Although technically late winter, the air was unseasonably warm—hot as a witch’s cauldron, and the town just as cursed.

Or, at least the place was so far as Carly Lohan was concerned.

Carly closed her car door and drew a deep breath, thinking she’d as soon have a root canal as walk into the midst of the people gathering inside the community center. All gazes would turn her way. They’d nudge their friends, and the ugly whispers would begin.

She might as well have had a big “A” branded on her forehead, but not for adultery like Hester Prynne—her crime was far worse. Arson wasn’t something folks around here would ever forgive.

Not that she thought of herself as an arsonist. However, a charge like that, even against a minor, clung like skunk spray. Which was why she’d headed to college as soon as she’d graduated high school and now lived a town away. Tonight, she had to face Calderans one last time.

Gripping her purse like it was a shield, she strode toward the door. Before she even reached the steps, she heard a whistle sound from behind her.

“Well, would you lookie there. If it ain’t Carly Lohan. Long time, no see.”

If she were ninety, she would have recognized Tater Johnson’s nasal twang. He’d taunted from her first day in kindergarten and had been the biggest thorn in her side all throughout school. The fact she was here today was partly because of him. She forced a smile and turned. “Good to see you, Tater.”

He smoked a cigarette while sitting on the edge of his truck bed. “Burn up any canyons lately?” he drawled.

Wow. He didn’t even take a second to work up to that. Carly stopped the automatic wince before he could see it. The last thing she should do was rise to a single one of his taunts. “Not lately. You going to the meeting?” she asked, tilting her head toward the open doors.

“Course.” He tipped back his cowboy hat and gave her a narrowed stare. “Keepin’ Caldera Canyon safe is important to me—which is why I’m wonderin’ what the hell you’re doin’ here.”

Carly felt her face heat. Before she could think of a more mature reply, she shot him the bird and turned on her heel. Good Lord, she’d only been back for five minutes and was already reverting to her old ways.

His grating chuckles followed her inside the large hall. The instant satisfaction she’d felt at giving the rude gesture faded as she entered and searched the rows of metal folding chairs. All seats were taken—of course, except for a couple right in front of the speakers’ table. Shit.

She didn’t have a choice. She’d be sitting across from the current sheriff of Caldera County. Her gaze snagged on the man sitting beside him, Jeremiah McCord, and her stomach sank at the glare he leveled. Shit-shit-shit.

Only to herself would she admit the man intimidated her. He was a large man—well over six feet and broad. And he was handsome when his features weren’t set into grim lines as they were now.

“Let’s call this meeting to order,” a man dressed in a park ranger’s uniform said. “We’re all here to talk about the prescribed burn we’re implementing inside the park four days from now.”

She turned her attention to the speaker. At least, he wasn’t staring at her. She didn’t know him, so she kept her gaze glued to the ranger as he started the slide show.

Pictures of happy campers sitting around campfires flashed on the screen, followed by more photos of the rugged bluffs surrounding the park. “Our goal, come Monday morning, will be to burn brush and dried vegetation from the canyon floor, while keeping the fire under control and halting it before the blaze runs the rim of the canyon, endangering local ranches. We won’t touch the areas around the campgrounds or the park service buildings. Those have been kept clear of excess brush by camp personnel. We’re focusing our efforts on the areas north of the campgrounds, through the upper canyon, toward the north rim of the park.”

The next picture was of a jackrabbit hiding in the brush. “A prescribed burn is good for the canyon’s plants and trees, and for its wildlife. By removing underbrush and new seedlings, we give the forest a chance to grow and deprive wildfires of fuel.”

The next photo was of rows of volunteers digging firebreaks, with flames licking across dry grass. The flames blazed orange, yellow, purple—so pretty—she couldn’t stop herself from startling when the slide changed to a photograph of those same volunteers, covered in soot, but smiling as they stood in front of a scorched patch of earth, trees with their bark only slightly singed.

“This is the outcome we want. A safe burn. A way to renew the earth and prevent uncontrolled blazes in the future…”

Carly drew a deep breath, and then made the mistake of again looking at Jeremiah. His gaze bored into her, cold and hard. Had he seen how the picture of the fire held her mesmerized? Her stomach tightened, and she felt a little sick.

Keeping her expression neutral, she returned his stare. She wasn’t that same reckless girl. She’d done her penance, and then some. Performing this last act of restitution would expunge her juvenile record, and she could function without worrying someone would discover her past mistake. She could submit a job application without her hand shaking, because she feared a background check would reveal her crime. And maybe she could finally make use of her teaching degree.

Thank God, she didn’t have to work around here. Jeremiah would consider it his civic duty to make sure everyone kept a close eye on her. He wasn’t exactly the most forgiving man, and if she couldn’t find a better job, she’d never be able to repay him for what he’d lost.

The rest of the presentation droned on and on. The park ranger was followed by the local fire chief, and then the park service expert they’d brought in to help supervise the burn. She tried to pay attention, but felt as though a hundred accusing fingers were pointed at her back. So she sat rigid in her seat, arms crossed, waiting for the briefing to end. She’d get her team assignment and head back to the motel where she’d left her suitcase. Then she could close her door and sleep until Saturday’s training.

Seven years hadn’t been nearly long enough to ease the feeling of guilt that weighed her down. Moving away had helped her live a more normal life, but she’d had these little reminders every so often, part of the deal the judge had made with her to protect her future. Participating in the controlled burn inside the park would be the last time Calderans would have to suffer her presence. And she theirs.

At last, the park ranger turned off the projector. Everyone rose and made their way to the board where team assignments were listed.

She waited patiently while being jostled—probably deliberately. At last, she scanned the list.

Her name was listed on a team of ten—and led by Jeremiah McCord. Shit.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s another book—revised, fresh new cover—ready for your pleasure! But be warned. This story’s truly an alphabet soup sex-fest. There’s mf, mm, mmf…and a very pissed off brother of the lucky heroine. (His story’s next!) I hope you’ll pick up a copy this weekend, and if you do, I hope you’ll take time to post a review or tell a friend.

One quick question: have you read my Lone Star Lovers series before?

Thanks for your support! And enjoy!

How does a girl choose between the bad boy who needs her and the boy next door she’s always loved?

Dani Standifer arrives home at her West Texas family ranch a day early, ready to pick up where she left off with Rowe Ayers, her high school sweetheart. However, when she opens the door to their line-shack trysting place, it’s clear she waited a day too long. Rowe’s with someone else—another man. And not just any other man— it’s Justin Cruz, the bad boy with whom she shared one wild encounter, years ago.

Justin’s waited a long time for this moment. He knows his reputation, but since he seduced Rowe, he’s been a one-man cowboy—waiting for Dani to return and become the delicious fulfillment of his and Rowe’s needs—if she’s up to the challenge.

To her own surprise, Dani finds she’s more than ready to have both men in her life—as soon as she and Rowe teach Justin a lesson or two about love.

Their small town may not be ready for their kind brand of loving. And Dani’s brother Cutter’s mile-deep grudge against Justin throws in a complication that could break the foundation the three of them hope to build…

Get your copy here!

Can you believe it? My sister and I started this writing journey back in 2000. That’s right! We’ve been at it for 17 years and are still going strong. After many years of languishing under the bed, we’ve had the pleasure of releasing several of our co-authored stories in the Texas Billionaires Club series. WHO’S YOUR DADDY is the 3^rd in the series and we have one more! LOVE & WAR. These books are different from my usual action and suspense, but they show the lighter, funnier side of our personalities. You see, when my sister and I get together, we love to laugh. And when we do, we sound like cackling hens, which makes us laugh more. To some it might sound ridiculous, to us, it’s joyful and leaves us in happy tears. I challenge each of you to find something to laugh about today. Make it a deep, belly-laugh. They’re the best kind. And if you like to laugh, give WHO’S YOUR DADDY a try!

Who’s Your Daddy?

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | IBooks | GooglePlay

Rachel Taylor is an advertising executive who wants a baby without the complications of a husband. Jesse Jordan is just the cowboy to complicate Rachel’s neatly laid plans.

Feeling her biological alarm clock ticking, Rachel single-mindedly embarks on a search for a suitable sperm donor.  She begins her search by engaging the services of Date-Your-Mate dating service. Yet, even with the less exacting scrutiny of her best friend, Genie, she doesn’t find that certain man to spark her interest enough to be willing to procreate with him. Her next move is to place an ad in a singles column, arranging to meet each of the candidates in the neutral zone of a bar. But after a discouraging round of interviews with her hopefuls, and consuming a few too many drinks, she declares that the next man who walks through the door will be the father of her child.

In walks Jesse, the golden-haired, billionaire cowboy, whose charm and good looks automatically inspire fairy tale dreams.  Rachel’s only objection is that he is one of her clients at her advertising agency and she refuses to mix business with her personal life. He’s also one of Texas’s most eligible bachelors, who has a reputation for playing fast and loose with his women. The fastidious Rachel refuses to consider him as a possible donor.

Jesse isn’t nearly the bad boy the tabloids paint him to be. One look into Rachel’s soft brown eyes, and he finds a powerful attraction to the starchy ad executive. Her apparent disinterest only increases the challenge of the chase.

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I have another of my refurbed stories ready for prime time! Pay attention to the warning:

Warning! Burning up the sheets is putting it mildly!
Inhibitions are out the door with scenes of m/f/m, m/f/m/f, f/f, and m/m!

Enjoy an excerpt! Happy reading!

Raw Silk

A wicked, no-strings one-night stand turns unexpectedly complicated when lonely hearts collide…

Camille sacrificed romance for success long ago. Now that the lingerie company she and her best friend built is hugely successful, she has a few regrets. Wanting to let down her hair and explore the possibilities, she agrees to meet a man at a bar for drinks only to wind up needing help when she rebuffs his sexual overtures.

Jake and Daniel are two firefighters hitting the bar for a quick drink after a long shift when they see a classy beauty fending off an overzealous boyfriend. With a flex of biceps, they chase him off then settle in to seduce the lovely woman whose eyes reflect a hunger they understand all too well.

What starts as a simple, pleasurable one-night stand, quickly burns up the sheets. While Jake falls deeper into love with Camille, Daniel still thinks he can walk—until he gets a whiff of Camille’s best friend Lacey. Suddenly, three isn’t enough.

Warning! Burning up the sheets is putting it mildly! Inhibitions are out the door with scenes of m/f/m, m/f/m/f, f/f and m/m.

Get your copy here!

An excerpt from RAW SILK…

Camille’s hands shook as she inserted the key in her apartment door. The two burly men flanking her hadn’t given her an inch of space to breathe, hadn’t left her alone a single moment to rethink this plan.

It had all happened so fast. One minute her focus was Malcolm and the contract his company had been on the verge of offering. Then in the blink of an eye, she’d been seduced away from her purpose by two slick firefighters with bodies to die for. Was she really going to make love with both of them? Was she that desperate?

The lock clicked. Jake reached around her and shoved open the door.

She shouldn’t have been excited by the urgency his action telegraphed. Alarm would have been a more natural reaction, but she did like the way he took charge. How long had it been since a man did anything other than follow her politely inside?

Danny pushed her through the door. His hands were already tugging away her jacket and going for her blouse, reaching around her to unbutton the long row while he touched her intimately down her front.

Too late, she remembered the creamy, ultra-feminine floral bra she’d donned at the shop. As soon as her blouse opened, her nipples peeked above the “shelf”.

Danny’s breath hitched, jerking his chest against her back. His hands cupped her bare flesh, squeezing.

Jake closed the door behind them and stalked past, pulling his T-shirt over his head. All she could do was gape. With a strong male body heating up her backside and all that luscious muscle to view while she was being stripped, she knew she was in way over her head.

When he glanced back, Jake’s face was taut, his gaze narrowing on her mostly naked chest. Looking at him was like eyeing a tiger at the zoo, only there weren’t bars between them to keep her safe.

Holding her gaze, he strode toward her and knelt, his gaze smoldering. He eased his hands under skirt.

Her breaths shortened when his fingertips traced the tops of her thigh-high hosiery. His fingers lingered, slipped inside the snug bands and let them go.

The snap and the darkening pleasure etched on his face made her knees weak. He rolled the hose downward, lifted one foot at a time to slip off her pumps and the stockings. Then he was back under her skirt again, swooping upward. His hands stopped at the edge of her lacy panties then traced the elastic around her hips.

The rise of his eyebrows and the amused quirk of his lips was all the reaction he gave. Hidden under his skirt, he tugged the slender elastic, tightening it between her buttocks.

She bit her lips rather than bleat a breathy Jesus, because she had the feeling she’d be praying for release over and over again this night.

How the hell had she gotten herself into this situation? Did she really want rescuing? Maybe she just needed them to slow down so she could catch her breath—or so she could savor the scandalous delight.

This was all her sister’s fault. Amy’s newfound happiness with her husband had Camille rethinking her own life choices. Including the one that had excluded any long-term relationships. How could she have known she’d have such a long drought of partners?

She’d wanted the career and the opulent storefront. However, the soft chubby-cheeked baby she’d held in her arms last weekend had reminded her that time was marching on, and she wasn’t getting any younger.

If she was going to find Mr. Right, she had to get out more. Malcolm had seemed an appropriate choice. She’d mistaken him for a gentleman.

These two enthusiastic men weren’t on her agenda at all, but then again, she needed some practice. What would one night of freaky sex hurt anyway?

It wasn’t as if they were ever going to see each other again. They didn’t run in the same circles. They could have their choice of women given their attractiveness and sheer maleness. So it wasn’t likely that either of them would give her another thought past this delicious moment.

She could do this…let some of the pent-up yearnings she’d ignored unravel a bit. And she couldn’t think of two better candidates for the job.

Jake was the taller of the two, his shoulders nearly as wide her doorway. He’d had to duck to step inside. He was handsome in a rough-hewn way with a blunt nose and chin. His eyes were a startling blue. Even his close-cropped brown hair appealed. For as large as he was, he moved with grace. She remembered the way he’d danced, his body surrounding her, supporting her with his thigh and the tender crush of his fingers.

Danny, only slightly less tall and broad, was still mouthwateringly masculine. His brown eyes danced with easy humor until aroused, then glinted darkly, his expression growing almost feral. Scary, in a completely sexy way.

And she was going to experience them both. Somehow, she knew they wouldn’t be one-minute wonders, and that the competition between them would only spur them to provide her greater delights.

If Lacey could see her now, she’d be shocked. And beside herself with laughter. Steady, much-too-sensible Camille was about to be the filling in a very naughty sandwich.

“You’re thinking too much,” Jake said, still kneeling at her feet. Her blouse was open, her bra hanging off her arms, and Danny was peering over her shoulder at her breasts while he played.

The corners of Jake’s mouth curled, and he grabbed the hem of her skirt and began to roll it upward, baring the length of her legs then passing her crotch until the fabric bunched around her waist.

Out of reflex, she pressed her knees together, but he wasn’t having any of it. Jake slipped his hands between her legs and pushed apart her thighs.

Danny pinched her nipples, distracting her, and then Jake leaned closer and pressed kisses on her upper thighs. When his fingers grazed her sex through the delicate lace, she jumped, gasping. But he only smiled and planted his thumbs on her outer folds, pressing through the fabric to spread them open. He gave a quick upward glance and winked, catching her open-mouthed expression.

She swallowed hard as he stuck out his tongue and touched her there. Rubbing it over the lacy fabric above her hooded clit. Just that one little spot when she was ready for him to plunge deep. But the teasing little flicker sent darts of electric pleasure zinging toward her womb.

Danny pinched her nipples harder, and she quivered, jerking softly against his chest.

Jake burrowed deeper and latched his wicked lips around her cloaked clit and suckled, the moist sounds obscene in the silence surrounding them. She was the only one nearly naked. The only one exposed.

“Are you close, sweetheart? Tell me when you’re close,” Danny whispered in her ear.

“Almost there,” she moaned. Her breath caught, and her eyes widened because, amazingly, she was beginning the spiral.

Jake leaned back and smoothed his hands up the outside of her thighs, soothing her while she caught her breath. He lurched upward and grabbed her waist, hoisting her off the ground. Danny’s hands fell away.

“Put your legs around me,” Jake growled. “Where’s the bedroom?”

UPDATE: The winner of the free download is…Charlotte!

* * * * *

My alarm went off today (yes, I do still use one on occasion to push my ass out of bed!), and I had the horrible thought, Jesus, can I call in sick? For a second there, I thought I had a day job. Next thought was, God, do I have something to wear I don’t have to iron? It was only after I’d sat on the edge of the bed to swipe my cellphone screen that I remembered—Oh, yeah! My job’s waiting for me in the next room! 

For a chance to win your choice of one of these Cowboys on the Edge stories, answer me this!

Do you set alarms? Do you have to set more than one?

(Click on a cover if you’d like to learn more!)

Don’t know what you’re missing in this cowboy series? Read a sexy excerpt…

Cain’s Law

When love is on the line, a cowboy will risk everything…

Texas Lawman, Cain Whitfield, has been burned before by a beautiful brunette with dark doe eyes. He won’t be fooled again. But fate has a rotten sense of humor when he discovers the latest stranger to arrive in his small Texas town is a former mob enforcer’s girlfriend–something he learns when the cabin she rented goes up in flames and her boyfriend tries to run them both off the road. Now, he’s got to keep her alive and under wraps long enough to arrest the bastard. Resisting his attraction to the drop-dead gorgeous brunette proves impossible when they’re forced to share a safe house while the sheriff and the other deputies double patrols to keep her safe.

Even though she knows they’re all wrong for each other, Carina Black can’t help her attraction for the proud lawman. She’s done with the glitz and glamour of her former life, but can she convince Cain to look beyond her past to trust she’s ready for life in a small town? As her former boyfriend closes in, she worries too that her poor judgment could bring harm to a decent man.

The longer they’re together, the hotter their passion burns…

Get your copy here!

She tugged her hand away then straightened her shoulders. “I’ll go. I know it’s the smart thing to do, and you’ve already done so much. But, I have to know…”

Cain felt his belly tighten in rejection, because if she asked, he’d tell her. And God help them both.

Her gaze dropped to her hands, which were curved into fists on her thighs. “Do you… could you ever…see yourself with someone like me?”

“Dammit, Carina,” he said, his voice rasping. “You’re so damn young.”

Her chin shot up, and her eyes flashed. “Too young for you?”

“Fuck, you deserve better than me.” His jaw clenched.

“If you’re looking for excuses for me to go, that’s not the best one to use. I’ve had money. I wore clothes that I would bet cost more than you make in a month. But, I wasn’t happy. And I didn’t like me.” She dipped her chin. “I feel safe with you.”

“I can’t be your bodyguard. Not forever.”

“I’m not talking about that. I feel safe—I know you won’t hurt me. That you won’t hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it.” She lifted her gaze, locking it with his. “I can’t imagine letting anyone else touch me.” She stopped short and turned away her head.

Cain sat beside her, not breathing. She’d imagined him touching her. She’d flirted. Outrageously, but he hadn’t taken her behavior seriously.

She’d imagined being with him.

Cain straightened. What he should do was tell her she’d find another man. Someone good. Someone who could give her things. But his nobility could only stretch so far. He reached for her hand, but she pulled it back again, so he gripped her by the waist and pulled her over his lap.

Her body shivered against him. Her palms pushed against his chest.

He kept his arms around her, loosely. She could escape if she wanted, but with every second that passed, he watched her grow calmer. Watched rose creep across her cheeks, her tight lips relax.

When she leaned toward him, letting her ripe nipples scrape across his chest, only then did he move. He laid his palm against her cheek and rubbed his thumb across her plump bottom lip. “Stay with me.”

Carina made a noise, something between a sob and laugh, and pressed closer, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and pushing her breasts against him, because she needed to feel his hardness. She craved so much more. Had since she’d lain alone that first night with the sounds of him walking circles around the house, knowing he would keep her safe. Alone with the smell of his lovely, manly musk on the sheets, she’d let that feeling grow over the past days, wondering whether this was how being in love felt. His care for her was as close as she’d ever experienced to being cherished. But since he hadn’t acted on any of the many invitations she’d offered with her eyes and “accidental” peeks at her ass, she’d begun to wonder if he considered her damaged goods—because of whom she’d lived with and what he’d done.

But there wasn’t any mistaking the look he gave her now with those clear blue eyes. No misunderstanding his raw tone. Stay with me. Before she’d let him reconsider, she reached for the hem of the tee she’d ruined with paint and pulled it over her head.

His gaze fell to her full breasts. “Jesus.”

“They ache, Cain. I ache. For you.” She felt breathless. Her heart skittered wildly.

Slowly, he raised his hands to palm her flesh, and she closed her eyes, loving the heat, loving his gentle caresses.

He bent his head and trailed his mouth across her shoulder, then lower, pushing her back so he could kiss the tops of her breasts. The moment he latched onto a tingling nipple, she cried out, so joyous was the feeling flooding her body with warmth.

Suddenly, he drew back. His hands gripped her bottom, and he rose.

She wound her legs around his waist as he walked to the bed. “I’ll get paint on your sheets,” she whispered.

“We’ll both get dirty, sweetheart. I’m not worried.” He set her down beside the bed then knelt to open her jeans and slide them down her legs.

Nude, she held her breath as he glanced at her sex.

His gaze dropped to her feet, and he held down her pant legs as she stepped out, leaning on his shoulders for balance. Then he stood, and she went to work on the chambray shirt he wore, unsnapping the buttons down the front, and then parting the sides to get her first look at his broad chest. He had far less hair than Joey, and it was brown and silky. She raked her fingertips through it, plucking. When he gave a little groan, her mouth curved. So, she nuzzled his nipple, loving the way he gently cupped the back of her head and rubbed her scalp. Lord have mercy, she loved the taste of his skin, the soft texture of his flat brown nipple. With her teeth, she teased it into a point then fluttered her tongue against the tiny bead.

“Witch,” he muttered.

She glanced upward, her gaze snagging on his hooded eyes. “I want you, Cain. All of you.” She backed away, sitting on the edge of the bed before lying full-length and stretching, her gaze going to his still-clothed body.

He didn’t need another hint. His clothing flew off. And then he was climbing over her, his large, long body inches from her skin, but still warming her, breast to toes.

He held still, braced on his arms as she raked his body with her searching gaze. Everywhere her gaze touched was tanned and hard. His stomach was firm, muscled, his arms and thighs bulged. Sweet heaven, his cock was lovely—reddened and engorged, straight with a plump, round head.

Her pussy clenched. Fluid rushed to wet her channel. She squeezed together her legs to hold it inside.

“I don’t want to scare you, baby.”

“I’m not a baby, Cain. And Joey humiliated me, but he didn’t leave me damaged. I swear, I want this. I want you.” Slowly, caught in his intense gaze, she inched apart her legs and raised her knees. Then she reached downward and wrapped her fingers around his cock. “Come inside me, Cain Whitfield,” she whispered. “Fill me.”