Dan’s hand squeezing his thigh and happy silence were an acceptable alternative.
Rain began to patter the windshield as they rounded the Northy, and it rained harder as they topped the rise that led to the station.
“Shit.” Karl threw on the wipers and scanned the area. There were dark, low clouds to the southwest.
“And a brassy green sky to the east,” Dan finished, reading Karl’s mind.
He shook his head. “Yup. Damn.”
Karl cut overland via rutted grassy tracks rather than waste time going the long way through Eider. They pulled into the station, and he backed into the little ramp, ate his sandwich in four bolted-down bites, and made ready to run out into the howling wind and freezing rain.
“Well. It won’t get any nicer out there. Goddammit.”
Dan snickered.
“What? What are you grinning about?”
“It’s just you’re so by-the-book as a Coastie, and you’re like, really thoughtful and conscientious, but you cuss like a merchant marine.” Dan’s eyes sparkled. “I love it.”
Karl had a retort on the tip of his tongue, but that last bit threw him.
Dan used his dismay to advantage and pulled him into a quick, hard kiss.
“Kinda like everything else.”
Karl swallowed. “No one’s ever called me conscientious before, except maybe on a performance evaluation.”
“Well, you are. And your performance is amazing.” Dan somehow managed to sound crude and sincere at the same time.
“Yeah, actually. True. I am.” Karl couldn’t argue it—looking out for others was integral to who he was and why he was so good at this job. He made a short, musing sound, and appreciated that in his rattletrap Jeep, outside the place he felt he’d found his calling and other half with the people he liked most in life, in the middle of a squalling gale was where they’d make their declarations. “I love you too.”
Dan’s eyes went wide. His hands convulsed on Karl’s shoulders, and his pupils blew and then contracted to fine, intense points. Then his expression softened, and he brushed a soft kiss over Karl’s mouth and withdrew.
Thunder shook the world, and lightning coated them in eerie yellow blue light.
“Hey, kid. You ready?”
Dan smiled, opened the door, and braved the storm. He walked around the Jeep and held out his hand. Karl took it, and together they faced the rain—cold, piercing, perfect—and ran inside.
ELLE BROWNLEE has always followed her creative, adventuring spirit.
Growing up she loved westerns and taking long hikes. On these explorations she’d craft miniature worlds with moss and rocks while making up stories about everything that happened there. This often included dashing cowboy heroes. As an adult, not a lot has changed. She still loves westerns, long hikes, and allowing her imagination to roam. She also loves spending time with family and friends, rooting for her baseball team, rainy days in autumn, and the perfect cup of tea (black, steeped extra strong, with milk—please!).
Her romances feature flawed but relatable characters in immersive settings, told with wit, tenderness, and a sly note of sarcasm. Though a cynic in many ways, Elle believes love can conquer all. Every story is a little bit naughty, a whole lot of nice, and will always end with happily ever after.
Elle currently lives in New York City, where she maintains her miniature worlds in terrariums and writing. She’s so thankful to be able to share her work with a growing audience, and especially grateful to have you reading along.
Website: www.ellebrownlee.com/index.html
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elle.brownlee
Twitter: twitter.com/ellebrownlee
Email: [email protected]
By Elle Brownlee
DREAMSPUN DESIRES
#34 – Two for Trust
#54 – Staggered Cove Station
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Coming in April 2018
Dreamspun Desires #55
Sweet Nothings by T. Nielson
Will a bitter bite from the past spoil a sweet romance?
Tristan Love, the youngest of seven brothers, is back in his hometown. He’s left the New York food scene and an abusive relationship behind him, but he holds his love of French pastries close to his heart and is determined to put his skills to use in a bakery of his own.
Returning to his childhood home means his meddlesome brother Simon will butt into his business, but before the bakery even opens its doors, Tristan’s delectable creations have the town’s mouths watering, and Jake, a cute mechanic, asks Tristan out. It all seems worthwhile….
That is, until the bakery burns down, Jake’s criminal past comes to light, and Tristan’s nasty ex rears his head where he is decidedly not wanted.
Dreamspun Desires #56
A Full Plate by Kim Fielding
Opposites come together for a spicy surprise.
Bradford “Tully” Tolliver has everything—money, a great car, a beautiful condo, and a promising career as one of Portland’s hottest young lawyers. Sure, he puts in long hours and has no social life to speak of, but who needs romance when corporations pay top dollar for his expertise? He hesitates when a colleague asks if her cousin can live with him, but the arrangement will last less than a year, and then the cousin—Sage Filling—will return to his tiny hometown.
But Sage is handsome and intriguing, and his cooking makes Tully swoon. Sage has obligations back home, though, and Tully has offers he might not refuse from a persistent—and very wealthy—ex. Since Tully and Sage each have a full plate, can they make room for a side of love?
Coming Soon to
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Staggered Cove Station
© 2018 Elle Brownlee.
Cover Art
© 2018 Bree Archer.
http://www.breearcher.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-495-1
Mass Market Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64108-042-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017917546
Digital published March 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
Staggered Cove Station Page 18