Knave of Broken Hearts
(Love in Laguna Series, Bk #2)
by Tara Lain
Blurb:
Jim Carney has a full-time job—running from himself. Since he walked out on his wealthy family at sixteen because he’d wrecked his best friend’s life over some yaoi graphic novels, Jim has lived a macho, blue-collar existence of too much booze and too little responsibility. Then Billy Ballew, the man Jim most admires, gives Jim a chance to come through as his construction supervisor. For once, Jim is determined to make someone proud. Then Jim goes in for a physical for his new job and his yaoi dream comes to life in the form of cardiologist Ken Tanaka. Jim discovers he has two heart problems—a wonky mitral valve and a serious attraction to his doctor. But Ken is a major player, and Jim might be just a notch on the doc’s stethoscope. To Ken, Jim is unforgettable—but the living embodiment of his traditional family’s worst nightmares.
How come the minute Jim decides to be responsible, he finds himself taking care of his kid brother, getting a proposal from a wealthy woman, making a deal with the devil, and winding up in the hospital—when all he really wants is the Knave of Broken Hearts?
Release Date:
August 3, 2015
Pre-order available at
Paperback from Dreamspinner
Excerpt
The line for the
bars had shortened as people gathered to dance with the grooms, so Jim made it
to the bartender pretty quick. He popped a couple of bucks into the tip jar and
carried one soda bottle and two beers toward the table. Somebody cat-called,
and he glanced up in time to see Shaz spin and dip some blond guy. He laughed
along with most of the spectators.
bars had shortened as people gathered to dance with the grooms, so Jim made it
to the bartender pretty quick. He popped a couple of bucks into the tip jar and
carried one soda bottle and two beers toward the table. Somebody cat-called,
and he glanced up in time to see Shaz spin and dip some blond guy. He laughed
along with most of the spectators.
Jim took one more
step. His foot caught on the edge of the wood dance floor, the slippery shoe
slid, and—whoa! He stumbled forward,
his arms flailing. Beer sloshed in a big gold arc. Shit, the tux! He raised the bottles high in front of him to keep
the beer away, slid into a half circle, and timbered toward the floor
face-first. “Damn!”
step. His foot caught on the edge of the wood dance floor, the slippery shoe
slid, and—whoa! He stumbled forward,
his arms flailing. Beer sloshed in a big gold arc. Shit, the tux! He raised the bottles high in front of him to keep
the beer away, slid into a half circle, and timbered toward the floor
face-first. “Damn!”
Strong hands
grabbed him from behind and he twirled into a tight, warm embrace, his feet
tangling but his body upright. “Got you.”
grabbed him from behind and he twirled into a tight, warm embrace, his feet
tangling but his body upright. “Got you.”
“What? Jesus!” He
tried to twist his feet back and lurched again, but the hands held. Finally Jim
planted himself steadily and looked up into eyes so shiny black they
practically reflected his face. Wide and almond-shaped. Yaoi man. Hellfire. About 100 percent more
beautiful up close than from a distance. Skin like beige marble, hair like
midnight. Eyes straight from his fantasy.
tried to twist his feet back and lurched again, but the hands held. Finally Jim
planted himself steadily and looked up into eyes so shiny black they
practically reflected his face. Wide and almond-shaped. Yaoi man. Hellfire. About 100 percent more
beautiful up close than from a distance. Skin like beige marble, hair like
midnight. Eyes straight from his fantasy.
The guy smiled.
“How fortuitous. I was just coming to ask you to dance.”
“How fortuitous. I was just coming to ask you to dance.”
“What?”
Dimples popped
out in places where lean hollows had been. “I’d love to dance with you.” Shit
if he didn’t just start dancing, holding Jim’s hands, which in turn held the
bottles. Dance or fall? That was his position, so he moved his feet. Jesus. He couldn’t resist without
spilling the beer down the guy’s expensively dressed back, but every movement
rubbed him in places that really needed rubbing and were getting a very
embarrassing reaction.
out in places where lean hollows had been. “I’d love to dance with you.” Shit
if he didn’t just start dancing, holding Jim’s hands, which in turn held the
bottles. Dance or fall? That was his position, so he moved his feet. Jesus. He couldn’t resist without
spilling the beer down the guy’s expensively dressed back, but every movement
rubbed him in places that really needed rubbing and were getting a very
embarrassing reaction.
Wake up. “Uh, sorry. I’m, uh, I mean, I
don’t normally dance with guys.”
don’t normally dance with guys.”
Gorgeous smiled
again, and it made Jim want to smile back. “You’re doing fine.”
again, and it made Jim want to smile back. “You’re doing fine.”
Sweet Jesus, the
guy smelled like something spicy. Grapefruit and cinnamon. Real subtle but
sneaky. It kind of tiptoed in Jim’s nose and attacked—lower. “What?”
guy smelled like something spicy. Grapefruit and cinnamon. Real subtle but
sneaky. It kind of tiptoed in Jim’s nose and attacked—lower. “What?”
“The dancing.
You’re doing fine.” He spun, holding Jim in his arms gracefully, and for a
weird second Jim felt almost graceful too. That didn’t happen often. Between
the smell and feel, Jim’s head spun and his heart hammered. His eyes closed on
their own. He was floating like some gently moving leaf. Could move this way
forever.
You’re doing fine.” He spun, holding Jim in his arms gracefully, and for a
weird second Jim felt almost graceful too. That didn’t happen often. Between
the smell and feel, Jim’s head spun and his heart hammered. His eyes closed on
their own. He was floating like some gently moving leaf. Could move this way
forever.
The silky voice
whispered, “Want to deliver the beer to your friends and be hands free?”
whispered, “Want to deliver the beer to your friends and be hands free?”
Friends. He dragged his eyes from the
man and looked toward the table. Charlie and Raoul stared, full-on, no smiles,
amazement written all over their faces. Behind them in line, the women stared
too, but they were laughing. Except for Peggy. She looked half pissed. Hell, it
was okay for her to dance with gay guys, but not him? What the hell am I thinking? He stopped moving and tried to take a
step back out of this person’s arms. Every inch away felt cold.
man and looked toward the table. Charlie and Raoul stared, full-on, no smiles,
amazement written all over their faces. Behind them in line, the women stared
too, but they were laughing. Except for Peggy. She looked half pissed. Hell, it
was okay for her to dance with gay guys, but not him? What the hell am I thinking? He stopped moving and tried to take a
step back out of this person’s arms. Every inch away felt cold.
Mr. Beautiful
cocked his head and dimpled again. “Oh dear, he’s come to his senses. Why do
all the gorgeous ones have to be straight?”
cocked his head and dimpled again. “Oh dear, he’s come to his senses. Why do
all the gorgeous ones have to be straight?”
Gorgeous? “Man, you’ve got some
seriously bad taste.”
seriously bad taste.”
His face sobered
just a little. “Quite the contrary. I’m known for my exceptional discernment.”
just a little. “Quite the contrary. I’m known for my exceptional discernment.”
What the hell
could he say to that? “Thanks for catching me.”
could he say to that? “Thanks for catching me.”
“Any time, dear.
Any time.” Yaoi man turned and walked like some jungle cat back onto the dance
floor, grabbing a handsome guy from the line as he went. By the time Jim’s
heart started beating again, the guy was dancing and laughing with someone
else.
Any time.” Yaoi man turned and walked like some jungle cat back onto the dance
floor, grabbing a handsome guy from the line as he went. By the time Jim’s
heart started beating again, the guy was dancing and laughing with someone
else.
Charlie and Raoul
both rushed up. Charlie waved a hand toward the beautiful one. “What was that
all about?”
both rushed up. Charlie waved a hand toward the beautiful one. “What was that
all about?”
Jim frowned. “The
guy caught me when I nearly fell flat on my face.” He shoved the beer bottles
at Charlie. “Here, take these.”
guy caught me when I nearly fell flat on my face.” He shoved the beer bottles
at Charlie. “Here, take these.”
Raoul grabbed one
of the beers. “Looked more like a tango to me, man.”
of the beers. “Looked more like a tango to me, man.”
“Cut me a break.
The guy was just joking around.”
The guy was just joking around.”
Peggy’s voice
came from behind him. “Oh, I don’t know. That dude is prettier than me.”
came from behind him. “Oh, I don’t know. That dude is prettier than me.”
Jim turned and
slipped his arm around her. Don’t force
me to agree.
slipped his arm around her. Don’t force
me to agree.
Charlie stared
out at the dance floor, where pretty-face rested his head against a handsome
blond’s shoulder. “Looks like you don’t have to worry, Peg. That dude’s got a
guy for every night.”
out at the dance floor, where pretty-face rested his head against a handsome
blond’s shoulder. “Looks like you don’t have to worry, Peg. That dude’s got a
guy for every night.”
True, and Jim
fucking wished he didn't feel jealous.
fucking wished he didn't feel jealous.
About the Author
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her bestselling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.
She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!
You can find Tara at
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