Come meet my triage nurse and his guys in Together, an Arbor Heights story for the holidays.
| Title | Together Holiday 2011 Release #28 |
| Author | Diana DeRicci |
| ISBN# | 978-1-60820-502-8 (ebook) $5.99 |
| Release Date | December 2011 |
| Cover Artist | Deana C. Jamroz |
Blurb:
Isaac arrived home not expecting to find anything but his warm bed waiting for him in the dead of winter. A nearly frozen friend from his past brought with him a bad break-up, old memories best left forgotten and one particular problem he hadn’t anticipated. An attraction that he just wasn’t ready for. Not when faced with his friend’s worst problems, it became a priority to help Shawn heal.
Will either be able to accept that they could be stronger as three when they meet Quinn?
One thing they will learn is all things are possible together.
Available at the Publisher
REVIEWS:
5 of 5 from Talking Two Lips reviews:
a really powerful love story that has very memorable characters. ~~ Tina
Excerpt:
Pulling in front of his apartment Isaac didn’t see the movement of the person in the shadows by his door until he was out of his car. He squinted in the bad light, discerning the form quickly. “Shawn?” What on earth was he doing there?
“Thank God,” he whimpered. Shawn bounced from foot to foot. “Can I come in? It’s freaking cold out here.” He wrapped his arms around his body bringing his shoulders in, bouncing from foot to foot.
“No shit. Where’s your jacket?” The sweater he wore wasn’t nearly enough to battle the chill snaps of wind blasting around the apartments. He inserted the key and opened his apartment door, herding Shawn through first.
Isaac took his jacket off to wrap over Shawn, then led him to the couch. “Let me make you something hot, then you can tell me what happened.” Shawn’s teeth chattered and clacked as he nodded in answer.
The best Isaac could do was coffee, even at that late hour. Glancing toward the man on his couch, Shawn rocked with cold, shivering, to dig into Isaac’s jacket as if he wanted to crawl into it and its lingering warmth. Shawn’s ears and nose were bright red. It didn’t really matter how long he’d been there waiting, it had been long enough to cause himself harm.
Isaac wondered what had happened, and knew Shawn would fill him in as much as he could. Shawn was a friend of Jasen’s, Isaac’s ex. Isaac and Shawn had always got along fine, and had stayed in contact even after the split. He wondered why he was here instead of finding friends closer to home.
Carrying the mug to Shawn, he sat next to him on the couch. It was a wonder the man didn’t have icicles hanging off him. At least his shakes were slowing down. “Take slow sips until you begin to warm up,” he cautioned. Shawn only nodded, his eyes closing in bliss as he took the first drink. He didn’t even complain that it was straight black.
“I’m sorry for just showing up, Isaac,” he said, curled up tight beneath the jacket, bent over the coffee mug like he was guarding it. “I left Tam.”
Out of all the possibilities, that was the last he would have expected to hear. “What? Why?”
Shawn sipped again, blinking and taking slow breaths. “He’s doing drugs again.”
“Shit, Shawn, I’m sorry.” Isaac thought Tam got that out of his system after his stay in rehab. He was really sorry to hear that wasn’t the case. Knowing Shawn had been dealing with this made Isaac want to curl him against his chest and protect and comfort the other man.
Shawn shook his head, his lips pressed together firmly. “Don’t be. This time I followed him. I have proof, pictures on my cell.” Shawn stared between his hands, nowhere else. “I sent the information to his probation officer. I…” He swallowed, a hard dry sound. “He’s in jail now. I was gone before I even made that call.”
“Wow, Shawn.” That took guts. “Wait. How’d you get here from LA?”
“I had enough money on me for a bus. I need to go to the bank and clear all that up tomorrow. Make sure he’s off the account. I don’t care about the apartment. It was in his name, his stuff.”
“Damn, Shawn.”
“Isaac,” he croaked. He sipped at his coffee, determined to stay in control. “Can I stay here? I don’t have any place to go.” He ran a quivering hand beneath his nose.
“Of course you can,” he answered while rubbing circles over his back trying to calm the shakes out of Shawn.
Finally Shawn’s hunched shoulders relaxed, the weight of the world dragging him down, evaporating.
“Thanks.” Silence filled the apartment between them. “Jasen was a dick to you, Isaac,” he said softly. “I was sorry to see you leave LA.” He looked over his shoulder at a quiet Isaac. “I know John and Blake didn’t even think about it. They have their own world, but I missed you. You were a good friend.”
Seeing Shawn was close to exhausted tears, he replied, “Hey. We still are friends. You needed me. I’m here. Never doubt that.” He shook his shoulder lightly. “Tomorrow, things will look better. You won’t be freezing your nuts off for one.”
Available at the Publisher
Thanks for the excerpt. I now want the book *adds it to wishlist*
I know the feeling. Seems I’m always finding books on these party days to add to my lists. I put it in a comment on Facebook earlier today: Excel is my best friend. Or I’d never keep them all straight on what to buy.
This looks great, Diana. ; )
Sounds like a must have for me. I am adding this to my must have list.
Thanks for sharing such a great excerpt.
I’m liking your excerpts more and more. With this book, I personally know what it feels like dealing with a person who refuses to leave a drug habit. More needs to be written on the topic. Thanks for sharing, hon.
GiveARush