Help Kris T. Bethke celebrate the release of the third book in her Requiem Inc. series, Somebody to Die For. Find out more about this paranormal romance from the Dreamspun Beyond line and read an excerpt too!
Be sure to check out our 4 ❤ review here.
Hi! I’m Kris T. Bethke, and I’m here to bring you an exclusive excerpt from my newest release, Somebody to Die For. The latest book in the Requiem Inc. series, it’s Avery Wagner and Jameson Parker’s story. I hope you get a chance to check it out!
Excerpt:
“You need to stop giving me cheesecake.”
Jameson shook his head, set the dessert down, and took a seat. For the third day in a row, he’d found Avery sitting by himself in the corner of the cafeteria at lunch and made a point of picking up the cheesecake to bring to him.
“No. You like it. And watching you eat it is one of life’s great pleasures.”
Avery blinked, and his expression became neutral. He took a breath and pushed the cheesecake away just a little as he fixed Jameson with an intense stare.
“Listen, Jameson, I don’t know what—”
Jameson held up a hand, knowing what Avery was about to say and not wanting to hear it. Yes, he felt something for Avery. But he knew Avery wasn’t in any sort of place to reciprocate, which was fine.
“Friends, Avery. Just friends.” It was a total lie, because Jameson wanted to be much more than just friends. But he knew better than to hope for more, and he’d take what he could get.
Avery eyed him suspiciously. But when he picked up the cheesecake and took a bite, Jameson knew he’d won.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Avery said between one bite and the next.
Jameson squinted. “Is it because of our age difference?”
Avery almost choked on his bite, but he managed to swallow and then took a drink from his water bottle. “What?”
Jameson shrugged. “Some people think eighteen years is a lot.”
Avery narrowed his eyes. “I might be forty-one, but I look twenty-five. I’m going to live for a hundred and twenty years at least. What do I care about eighteen years?” He reached for his coffee and lifted the mug to his lips, but his gaze turned into a glare. “How do you know my age?”
Jameson flushed and stabbed at his lettuce. He’d been trying for healthy today, and the Cobb salad looked good. He stuffed a forkful into his mouth and then tucked the bite into his cheek and muttered, “You’re in the database.”
“You looked me up.”
It wasn’t a question, but Jameson thought he should respond. “Uh, sorta.”
“Sorta?” Avery repeated incredulously. Jameson sat up straight at the way Avery’s tone went cold.
“I just, you know, peeked. Which was completely wrong of me, and I closed out as soon as I pulled up your file, but I did notice your birthday.” Jameson knew it was wrong, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself. He wanted to know more about Avery, and Avery himself wasn’t that forthcoming.
Avery put down his half-finished cheesecake. He didn’t say anything as he started to pile his garbage on the tray. Crap.
“Avery, I apologize. It was a shitty thing to do, and I take full responsibility. If you don’t want to be friends with me, I’ll understand and accept it. I’ll stop pushing.” Jameson took a breath and went for broke. “I wanted to know more about you, but I should have asked instead of snooping. I swear, as soon as I pulled you up, I closed it down.”
Avery squeezed his eyes shut and still didn’t speak. But he was no longer trying to leave. Jameson didn’t let hope take root. He’d gone too far, and he knew it.
“That was a very hurtful thing to do.” Avery opened his eyes, and Jameson saw the disappointment in them. “It’s public knowledge, yes. Anyone can look at the files. But you went behind my back.”
“I’m sorry.” Jameson didn’t know what else he could say.
“I know.” Avery stood and picked up his tray. “And I believe you are. But Jameson, you say you’re sorry a lot. Maybe it’s time you start thinking before you act.” Avery took two steps away but then turned back. “Thank you for telling me what you did. I appreciate the honesty. But you need to stop doing things you end up apologizing for.”
Jameson nodded. He didn’t know what he could do to fix this between them, other than actually grow up a little and do as Avery suggested. Acting without thinking had always been his downfall. It was time to adjust his actions.
“Look,” Avery said, his gaze fixed on his tray. “We all mess up. We’re human. And it takes strength and character to apologize when we do something wrong. But the next step is to correct the action and not repeat it. Right?”
“Yes.”
“And now I sound like I’m lecturing you, which wasn’t really my intent.” Avery sighed and then finally looked Jameson in the eye. “I just want more for you. I think when you have your own partner, things are… I… I’m going to go before I dig myself deeper. I’ll see you later.”
Jameson watched Avery walk away, and his heart cracked a little. He hadn’t meant for it to go so wrong, but he had to accept the consequences. He’d use the lesson to better himself. Jameson knew he needed to work on things, and he added that to the list. Avery was right. When he got a partner, he couldn’t make that kind of hurtful mistake. Determined to show Avery he was learning and growing, he got up and headed to the afternoon session.
He would do better.
Dying is easy. New love is terrifying.
Avery Wagner quit ghostwalking when he lost his beloved anchor to cancer. Now teaching others who have the ability, he’s beginning to live again—but he’s not looking for another lover, not now, maybe not ever.
But then he meets Jameson… younger, talented, dedicated, almost perfect, even though his mouth sometimes opens ahead of his brain. And Jameson wants Avery desperately, though he’ll settle for friendship if he can’t have more.
When an emergency demands they work together in the field, Avery discovers just how perfect Jameson is. But he had a perfect love once before, and he’s scared to even consider that he might have a chance at another. Can he trust Jameson with his newly healing heart?
Buy links:
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Amazon
Author Bio:
Kris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project. Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time. A classic muscle car will always turn her head, and naps on the weekend are one of her greatest guilty pleasures. She lives in a converted attic with a way too fluffy cat and the voices in her head. She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal. Kris believes that love is love, no matter the gender of people involved, and that all love deserves to be celebrated.
Find her on:
Her site
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