From the Blurb:
Jett is accustomed to
people thinking he’s an intimidating, aloof loner. He doesn’t really
mind, even though finding a special connection to someone would be nice.
Opening his own tattoo shop on Cravenwood Block is a dream come true,
but he isn’t prepared for the determined little ray of sunshine who
walks through his door and turns his entire world upside down.
Leighton
knows better than to let himself get involved with a straight guy
again—been there, done that, got the t-shirt and some stylish baggage
he’s been lugging around ever since. However, the moment he lays eyes on
the new tattoo artist on the block, he can’t help the instant pull
toward the man.
Meeting Leighton throws Jett for a curve. He’s
forced to recognize he’s got a lot to learn about himself, and he
quickly realizes he actually likes the man he’s uncovering. Leighton
knows it’s dangerous to let his heart hold onto hope, but he can’t shake
the feeling something good is just around the corner.
Jett &
Leighton: On Cravenwood Block is a steamy, opposites-attract,
bisexual-awakening, roommates-to-lovers M/M romance featuring a
sexy-as-sin tattoo artist and a fresh, flashy barista with a smile that
lights up the room.
Excerpt:
“Hey, sweet cheeks,” he said as he sashayed his way to the counter in my new tattoo shop. “Brought you a coffee.” His smile lit up the front foyer space of Cravin’ Ink Designs and his gray eyes twinkled as he handed me the travel cup.
Leighton had been coming into my tattoo shop every day since I’d hung my open sign. For two weeks, the flashy blond had shown up, spewing ridiculous pet names and bringing coffee concoctions sweet enough to rot my teeth.
He’d pop in, flirt and drop off coffee, chit chat about tattoos he’d like to get, and then wave goodbye.
From his artfully-styled, purposely-floppy blond hair to his ever-changing eye-catching earrings to his colorful nails, Leighton was a tiny hurricane blowing through my life every single day.
Disruptive and inconvenient, for sure.
Left me a bit discombobulated after he whirled away.
But also kinda refreshing in a weird way—like he blew away the debris in my life.
Despite my attempts to remain my usual closed-off, disconnected, aloof self, I discovered I actually began to anticipate his daily arrival. Leighton’s visits almost had a grounding effect on me.
Like a visit from a good friend.
Which was insane.
I didn’t really do the whole friend thing. Never had.
Not that I didn’t want friends, I just didn’t really connect with people that well.
Sure, in high school, I’d had a group of people I sometimes hung out with. Mostly parties here and there, the occasional study group, maybe grabbing a bite to eat if our schedules happened to be the same.
But I didn’t consider them friends.
Girlfriends had come and gone back then. Sex was decent, but they always moved on when they finally got tired of me never opening up.
What was wrong with someone keeping to themselves? Why did I need to spill my guts to strangers?
If you let people in a bit more, they wouldn’t be strangers, would they?
Whatever.
Letting people in made me anxious.
I had exactly one close relationship in my life and that was with Grandpa Nelson.
It wasn’t like I purposely avoided making friends, I just didn’t know how to have them while still keeping them at arm’s length. So, I allowed people to think I was intimidating—dark hair, dark eyes, a bit of brooding, and a shit ton of tattoos made that part easy—went about my solo life, and didn’t let myself think about what it might be like to have a big group of friends.
Which was why Leighton’s sudden and now-seemingly-constant presence in my life was throwing me for a loop.
It should have irritated me.
It should have made me itchy and had me doing my best to avoid him or push him away.
But it didn’t.
And that was weird.
I didn’t hate it.
I didn’t understand it.
But I wasn’t sure I wanted to question it too much.
Leighton would likely get tired of me being a bit stand-offish and find someone chattier and more sociable soon.
“Stop calling me those stupid names,” I groused, taking the coffee cup from him, and tossing the toothpick from between my teeth into the trashcan—I’d stopped smoking years ago, and the toothpick helped ease the need I still got from time-to-time. “Thanks.” I knew refusing the drink would end up with him just leaving it on the counter. Taking a sip, I winced.
“What?” Leighton asked.
“If you’re going to insist on coming in here with coffee every damn day, could you at least bring the real stuff and not this syrupy crap?” I’d given up on thinking he’d just stop coming in because I wanted him to. Leighton was the quintessential dog with a bone and for some reason he’d chosen me to fixate on.
Flipping his silky blond hair from his even prettier eyes, Leighton bit the corner of his lip and grinned mischievously. “So, you’re saying you like me coming here every day?”
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. It felt good. I didn’t laugh a lot.
Don’t get me wrong. I was content with my life. My art was at its best yet. My new tattoo shop—thanks to Grandpa’s generous gift—was up and running. Maybe not making bank yet, but I had to be patient.
I’d escaped my overbearing, never-satisfied, constantly-demanding-more parents when I moved out at eighteen. Living with Grandpa had been a nice reprieve, and I knew he’d let me stay for as long as I needed, but getting a place closer to my shop was the plan. Eventually.
“What part of bring me decent coffee sounded like I like you coming here every day?” I asked, unable to control the smirk fighting to play at my lips.
“Sweetheart, you’re new here. Just consider me the friendly Cravenwood boy.” Leighton spoke the words innocently enough, but the innuendo was clear.
I snorted. “The Cravenwood boy, huh?”
“Obviously,” Leighton said with a wink. “Aren’t we all cravin’ wood?”Jett & Leighton: On Cravenwood Block is currently available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
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