Lane Hayes’ The Right Time

I love having Lane Hayes join me on my blog. She stops by today to give us a bonus scene for her latest release, The Right Time. It’s the third book in her Right and Wrong series. I loved the first two books and can’t wait for time to read this one. After you read Lane’s wonderful scene, read all about the book and an excerpt that is filled with tension of the best kind. At the very bottom, enter for a chance to win a gift card and a copy of the book.

Friday afternoon was never a good time to travel anywhere in LA. I didn’t know what I’d been thinking. When the real estate agent suggested showing us a couple houses in Santa Monica, I figured I’d leave work after my last appointment downtown, meet Alex and get an early start on my weekend. I’d just completed an enormous project and figured I deserved the break. This wasn’t my idea of a good time, though. Why had I agreed to look at houses?

Alex. He had the uncanny ability to talk me into things. No doubt there’d been a blow job involved, I mused as I parked my Range Rover behind Sherri’s shiny black BMW. I motioned to her that I was stuck on a phone call while I waited for Alex to pick up his cell.

“Hi honey.”

“Are you on your way?” I asked sharply.

Alex laughed at my flustered tone. “I’m sitting at a traffic light on San Vicente. I’ll be there in five minutes. Hang on.”

“Just hurry. She’s very… flirty.” I held the phone away from my ear as my boyfriend cackled gleefully. “How is this funny?”

“Poor Nate. I’ll come save you, baby. Don’t worry.”

“You can’t see, but I’m rolling my eyes. Just… get here.”

I ended the call and glanced up at the beautiful blonde waiting for me on the sidewalk. Sherri was in her late twenties and had an aura of ambition she tempered with exaggerated friendliness. She’d made a point of being in physical contact with me as she showed off a residence’s “breathtaking features”. A hand on my elbow or a sly brush of arms. I had to guess her boss, who was the realtor Alex had worked with in the past, hadn’t mentioned we were together. Or maybe he had and she didn’t care.

“You will love this bungalow, Nate. There’s a studio in the backyard and the grounds are truly spectacular! Plus it’s a half block away from the sand. Perfect!”

I responded to Sherri’s ear-to-ear grin with a somewhat tepid smile and took one last longing look up the street before following her up the sidewalk.

“Alex should be here soon and—”

“Excellent. Have him call you when he gets here. As you can see, the house is sheltered from the street view by…”

Oh boy.

I was prepared to hate it. My patience was close to shot. I’d spent too much time in my car after a long week and dodging a flirtatious woman who wanted to sell me a multi-million dollar property I wasn’t sure I wanted to purchase in the first place wasn’t my idea of fun. Alex was right though. A house with a yard, walking distance to the beach was a good future investment. I’d moved into Alex’s condo six months ago and while it was spacious enough for the two of us, it still had the feel of a bachelor pad. Not a family home. We claimed we were thinking of visiting nieces and nephews, but we both knew we were thinking of our own future.

The house was gorgeous. It was mid-century modern meets twenty-first century style. I loved it. I was admiring the large great room’s high ceilings and sleek lines when I heard the front door open. Sherri either didn’t hear or ignored the sound of someone approaching as she leaned into my space, pointing out the contemporary lighting.

“Hi there! Sorry to be so late. Traffic was a nightmare!” Alex announced as he joined us near the kitchen island. God, he looked good. His dark wavy hair was slightly damp as though he’d showered after training his client. He was dressed in designer jeans and a blue checked collared shirt that accentuated his muscular form in all the right ways.

“It’s no problem at all,” Sherri insisted petting my arm affectionately before stepping aside. “I was just showing your partner the living area. We can head upstairs if you’d like.”

“Sounds great.” Alex grinned mischievously as he made his way to my side. “Hi partner,” he said, snaking his arms around my neck and pulled me down to kiss my mouth.

I don’t know why I was surprised. Alex wasn’t given to public displays of affection though he was very affectionate. Maybe it was because he was obviously staking a claim. I chuckled as I held him close to me for a moment, breathing in his scent before I squeezed his hand and turned back to a surprised-looking Sherri. She recovered quickly and gave me a sheepish smile.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were busin— I mean I—”

“No worries. We’re a little more than business partners,” Alex said with a devilish glint. “And we’re looking for a big family house, so show us…”

I held back my laughter as my man charmed the ardent agent with his signature brand of self-deprecating humor, joie de vivre and a grace all his own. It was moments like this I was grateful he was mine.

Blurb:
Workaholic Nate Erickson is a successful real estate developer who thrives on long hours and stress. When a Los Angeles project prompts him to relocate to Santa Monica, he welcomes the change of scenery. Nate has always considered romantic entanglements trouble, but his sexy next-door neighbor isn’t easy to ignore. Which makes no sense, because Nate is straight… or so he’s always thought.

Alex Reyes is a retired professional soccer player turned West Hollywood business owner with an insatiable lust for life. He loves his family, friends, and work. But there’s one life challenge left to accomplish: coming out publically. Respect for traditional Latino values has kept him in the closet, but Alex begins to think he and his new neighbor might help one another combat their fears. As Alex and Nate forge a strong friendship, they soon realize facing their personal demons will take more courage than either man bargained. The reward is immeasurable… if the timing is right.

Excerpt:
I hadn’t worked out with a professional in years, and it felt foreign to wait for someone else’s direction.

“Any issues with your shoulders or arms? Any injuries I should know about?” he asked, handing me the weights.

“No, I’m good.”

“Great. Start with your palms facing your thighs, lift them both over your chest, then lower the left. Good. And now the right.”

He stood over me diligently, making slight corrections when needed. My supine position gave me an interesting perspective. When I looked up, I noted how his strong brow offset his twinkling eyes. I swallowed uncomfortably and turned my head, only to find myself staring at his crotch. His dark shorts seemed to hint they were covering a generous package.

Holy fuck.

“You doing okay?”

“Uh yeah. Hey, weren’t you going to tell me about your Friday night?” I needed him to talk. I didn’t trust my thoughts anymore, and I was stuck in my current position crazily aware of a man in a way I hadn’t been in over fifteen fucking years. Diversion in any form was welcome.

Alex snorted. “I already told you. I went dancing, and oh yeah, I did get lucky.”

He added the last part with a hearty chuckle, no doubt catching my wide-eyed expression. I hadn’t expected that.

“Oh.”

“You asked.”

“Right.” I did? The strong flash of jealousy took me by surprise, but I pressed on. “Did you go back to the beach to get those girls’ numbers last weekend?”

He looked confused for a second, but a slow cocky grin soon spread across his handsome features as he crouched so his face was close to mine.

“No, I told you they weren’t my type.”

I gulped and watched his eyes lower to my throat. He licked his top lip and reached out to adjust my wrist.

“Lift ’em both at the same time, Nate. That’s it. Push it. Harder.”

I sent up a quick prayer I wasn’t sporting a tent in my shorts. Alex’s voice, touch, and yeah, the unintentional innuendos were making me nuts. And horny. I felt terribly out of my element. I wasn’t sure what we were talking about anymore, but the potent silence made me more uncomfortable than speech. Keep talking, I thought.

“So a dance partner?”

“What? Oh. Yeah, I think so. I can’t remember. It was just one of those things, you know? Sit up. Let’s give your arms a break.”

“Just one of those things?”

“Yeah. One night. No numbers exchanged. No hassle, no fuss.”

I had no words. Literally.

Alex chuckled gleefully as he led the way to a leg machine. He gave instructions and stood back to observe me for a moment.

“It’s not necessarily my favorite kind of sex, but hey….” He shrugged his shoulders with his hands outstretched as if to say “what’s a guy to do?”

I recognized this cue. It was my opportunity to commiserate about the trials and tribulations of being a single man with a healthy sexual appetite. Now was my chance to admit it was nice every once in a while to have sex of the nonsolo variety with someone who knew the score. But I was tongue-tied and equally aware of a completely different undercurrent. One I wasn’t brave enough to explore.

“You can stop having fun at my expense any time.”

Alex squeezed my shoulder and smirked playfully. “You’re easily rattled.”

“How so?”

“You seem like someone who has a place for everything and likes everything in its place. You have a routine, and you don’t appreciate any deviation. I should be flattered you came to the gym with me at the spur of the moment.” He paused, running his tongue over his plump bottom lip. “If you’re not careful, I’m gonna think you like me.”

The air between us crackled. Alex leaned forward so his handsome face was mere inches from mine. His proximity alone seemed to issue a challenge. Daring me to confess I was more than I appeared to be. I doubt he expected any revelations, but his intent was certainly to… how had he put it, rattle me. And damn, it was working.

About Lane:
Lane Hayes is finally doing what she loves best. Writing! An avid reader from an early age, Lane has always been drawn to romance novels. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a fews ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel, Better Than Good, was a 2013 Rainbow Awards finalist. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and their very old dog in an almost empty nest.
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7125719.Lane_Hayes

Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6462
Dreamspinner Press Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6463
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Right-Time-Wrong-Stories-ebook/dp/B0100Q3LX6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1436064239&sr=1-1&keywords=lane+hayes+the+right+time

Tour Stops:
30-Jun: Prism Book Alliance, Love Bytes, Carly’s Book Reviews
2-Jul: Bike Book Reviews, Hearts on Fire, Joyfully Jay, BFD Book Blog
7-Jul: Cathy Brockman Romances, Mikky’s World of Books, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wake Up Your Wild Side
9-Jul: Bayou Book Junkie, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark
14-Jul: My Fiction Nook, Molly Lolly
16-Jul: Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Inked Rainbow Reads, Emotion in Motion
21-Jul: Cate Ashwood, Divine Magazine, Amanda C. Stone
23-Jul: Rainbow Gold Reviews, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, MM Good Book Reviews
24-Jul: Velvet Panic
25-Jul: Multitasking Mommas

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