A brand new story in Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series is out this week, and I have a little sneak peek for you.
Excerpt
When they finally reached the car and made their way home, it was late.
Once again, the kids were in bed.
“Thank God for Mary,” Angela murmured.
“She really is a blessing,” Jackson agreed. Inside, he made a point of telling her that and filling her in on what had been happening.
“I am so grateful you found the man. And as for the kids… no problem,” Mary told them. “I love them, you know that. And I love being useful.”
“Tomorrow will likely be another tough day,” Angela said.
“And the day before Halloween, too,” Mary said. “I just hope… well, I know you were planning a nice holiday event at headquarters for those in town. And you want to take the kids trick-or-treating. I mean, a party is no big deal, but I know how you love your children.”
“We have amazing kids, but, yes, we try to keep them out of cases as much as we can,” Jackson said. “Though we did meet and adopt Corby because of a strange case, and we’re damn lucky to have him as our son because of it. But, anyway. Mary—”
“No matter what, I will see that the children get to wear their costumes, get to their school and daycare parties, and go trick-or-treating. Though I hope you’re able to do it with them. Of course, you do employ many great agents. Still…” She paused, then looked at Angela. “This is your case.” She shook her head. “It’s remarkable that you found a man in a tree.”
“All of us accomplished a lot today,” Angela said.
“And while we all know that cases can take days, weeks, and even months,” Jackson said, “we’re grateful to be moving forward. And so grateful we have you.”
“We’re all lucky. I’m lucky, too,” Mary said.
She left them, and Jackson suddenly realized that he was starving. “Hm. Think we have anything to eat in the kitchen?” he asked Angela.
“I don’t know. What do possums eat?” she teased. “Or vampires. Yuck. Never mind. Let’s go back to possums.”
“Let’s go back to people,” he said.
“Right. Except I’m too tired to—”
“Peanut butter sandwiches?” Jackson said and enveloped her in a hug.
“Now there’s a plan.” She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
They had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and some chips. A meal quickly prepared, eaten even faster, and filling enough for the night.
“I wonder,” Angela said, glancing his way and pretending to be serious as she set one of their glasses in the dish drainer.
“Yes?”
“Are possums monogamous? Do they have loving relationships?”
Jackson raised a brow and shrugged. “I don’t really know. We’d have to look that one up. I’m surprised you don’t already know.” He winked. “I do know one thing, though. At least about vampires.”
“What’s that?”
“They love to bite necks.” He prowled her way. “I mean, I guess loving vampires bite necks gently, but…”
“No biting until the shower.” She started to back up.
He grinned and kept stalking toward her, picking up his pace.
“I’ll beat you in tonight.” She started toward their room.
He ran ahead, stripping as he went, but stopped quickly to lock up his weapon.
She was right behind him and caught hold of his waist, pushing him back and then hurrying ahead of him. He laughed, catching up as she shed the last of her clothing, secured her weapon, and stepped into the shower, turning the water on to a delightful downpour of muscle-soothing heat.
He hopped in behind her.
She turned to him, laughing.
“I won.”
“You cheated.”
“What?”
“Less clothing.”
“You’re just a sore loser.”
“You think? Just for that, I am going to bite your neck.”
She laughed and was quickly in his arms. He teasingly nipped at her neck, then half-bit and half-kissed her shoulder. Then their mouths were all but glued together as they stood beneath the hot spray, letting the heat and the water work out the tension of the day and the soreness in them, allowing them to forget. And to want nothing more than each other.
Jackson knew he was lucky.
He had intense days.
But he also had these times when love and the beauty of the night cleared the soul of the evil men could do.
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Krewe of Hunters - Recommended Reading Order
(standalone stories with interconnected characters)
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