(I got the WIP finished just in time to get this promo up everywhere today.)
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CIRCLE OF STEEL
Book IV in Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove series
Private investigator Ian Coulter
and his FBI partner Rick Mohr work hard and play harder. Making their
relationship a priority is a challenge they willingly embrace. Life is better
together, and when their cases overlap, it also gets pretty interesting.
An evening stroll turns deadly
when a sniper targets Rick. Needing to be with his lover, Ian has to trust
Rick’s team with the hunt for the shooter. As Rick heals tensions between the
men escalate and some uncomfortable truths are revealed.
Ian gets a break in the case but
the sniper proves to be elusive. With
the FBI conducting a manhunt in Amethyst Cove, Ian has to deal with his own
man. It’ll take patience and some tough love to heal recent fractures and
secure the future he wants with Rick.
EXCERPT:
My life with Rick was important to
me. I never expected to fall in love and I had. It didn’t matter it blindsided
me because it had Rick, too. Becoming “us” hadn’t been part of any original
plan but we had become “us” in ways I couldn’t imagine ending.
I picked up my cell phone. Rick
answered before the first ring ended.
“Ian. Darling, what’s really wrong?
Are you going to be okay?”
Was I? A tenuous connection opened
between us, powered by wireless magic.
“I’m better for hearing your voice.
I feel like a real ass saying this to you, Rick, but it’s been a rough couple
of weeks.”
“Believe me, I know. Please come
back so we can talk.”
I downed the remainder of the
bourbon in the glass.
“Can’t. I shouldn’t drive. I’ve had
more than a little to drink.”
I heard him take a deep breath.
“Okay. You’re right, of course. And
you’re right about the other things. Listen, Ian. We need to stop being stupid
with each other and I’ll start. I love you. I hurt bad enough I can’t rest, and
I’m miserable being off my feet. I’m taking it out on you, and that’s not fair.
I promise to stop being bitchy.”
My throat tightened. “Rick. I
almost lost you.” My voice broke. I couldn’t breathe. The city lights blurred
in my vision. His voice was soft in my ear.
“It’s okay, my darling. You’ve been
my rock, Ian. I forgot even diamonds crack under enough pressure.”
I managed a deep breath and swiped
my fingertips across my eyes. “We’re still gonna talk, big guy.”
“I know. I want to spend the rest
of my life with you, Ian, but I can’t promise it’s always going to be easy
living with me.”
“Well, I guess I can’t make that
promise, either. We just have to remember life is better when we’re together.”
“How about we have a safe word to
tell each other to back off?”
“What? Like ‘fuck you, Rick’?”
He chuckled softly. “No, babe.
That’s foreplay. I live to hear you say those words.”
I laughed in spite of myself.
“Yeah. I know what you mean. I need to go to bed. Get some sleep. I’ve got a
bunch of installations to finish tomorrow and God only knows how big a job
Sheldon’s going to sell next.”
“Can I call you?”
“Yeah. That would be great. I love
you, Rick. I guess maybe I’m a little afraid you’ll leave me.”
“Never, Ian. Not gonna happen. Are
we good?”
“We’re good. ‘Night, Rick.”
“Goodnight, Ian.”
The call disconnected and left me
staring at my phone, exhausted. Were we really good? Sometimes when something
cracked, it stayed that way,
And sometimes, when mended, it was
stronger than before.
I twisted the wide silver band on
my right ring finger around, then took it off and slipped it onto my left hand.
It glittered, a circle of steel reflecting the city lights.
CIRCLE OF STEEL
Book IV in Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove series
KC Kendricks
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