April's Interlude

Work In Progress

As I’m sure most of you are aware by now Bronwyn and I take over each other’s blogs every Friday. Starting today we’re going to be posting a little something we’re working on. Now keep in mind it will be unedited, at least not by the people that make our books look so pretty all the time.

This week my Work in Progress comes from Pickleville Book 7. The working title is Places Like Home. I think the title will stick. It will come out August 15^th.  This is Jackson’s story. If you follow the Pickleville series then you met him in book one, Whispers of Home.

The first draft is finished but I still need to rewrite it.

Anyway, here’s a little excerpt.

Jackson sat around the living room with everyone else as Andrew relayed the story for Dakota. Dakota sat on one of the bar stools, with his eyes down, as if the most fascinating thing in the whole world was taking place on Jaron's hardwood flooring. The poor guy had been through hell. No wonder he didn't want anything casual and Jackson couldn't blame he.

On the car ride taking that horse to its new owners Jackson had decided to ask the man out on a legitimate date. He figured he liked Dakota enough that he wanted to spend more time with him. Now that he know some psychopath was after him he'd have to finesse his way into the man's life, which meant no flirting because Dakota didn't trust that.

Jackson stood up and when he did Andrew stopped talking. Jackson waved his hand at Andrew to keep going even as Jackson make his way around everyone in the living room and over to Dakota. For a tough cowboy Dakota seemed fragile in that moment, like he would shatter into a million pieces if someone took one false step. Maybe that's why no one was comforting him like he needed.

"Hey there," Jackson whispered and pulled on his arm gently, hoping Dakota would bridge the gap on his own. Jackson let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding when Dakota did and was surprised when Dakota hugged him tightly around his middle, his head buried in Jackson's chest. Dakota was several inches shorter than Jackson which meant Dakota fit perfectly against him.

Jackson rubbed a hand up and down Dakota's back, holding him as close as possible. "It's alright, baby. We've got you're back now."

Andrew talked about how Ron Fullman was dangerous and had raped in the past, although he didn't say who got hurt. By the way Dakota stiffened up his body, Jackson figured out really quick who it was.

"You want to lie down, Dakota?" Jackson whispered to him.

Dakota nodded against his chest but didn't let up his hold.

Jackson got Travis' attention and made a hand gesture to the upstairs, silently saying he was taking Dakota up there. Travis nodded and looked at Dakota with sympathy, before pulling Jaron closer to his side.

Jackson walked Dakota up the stairs and went into a room he usually used whenever he stayed overnight here. That seemed to be more and more frequent lately. Jackson led Dakota to the bed. He pulled back the blankets and then encouraged Dakota to lay down. Jackson sat on the side of the bed in front of him and ran the back of his finger down Dakota's cheek, feeling the stubble that was beginning to grow. Jackson had always found hair on a man attractive and Dakota's was no exception.

Jackson should not be thinking about sex right now. It's the last thing Dakota needed from him. At the moment, he just needed a friend and Jackson would give him that for as long as he needed it.

"Thanks," Dakota whispered. He had his eyes closed and Jackson could see his body visibly relax. "I don't know why I'm so emotional. I've been dealing with this for years now."

"You've been dealing with all this by yourself. Now, you're not."

Dakota's chin wobbled.

Want to see about the book I’m talking about in my WIP Post over on April’s blog click here