We'll keep it simple today. One randomly selected commenter will win a copy of Icecapade to keep or to have gifted to a friend.
On the eve of the new millennium,
diamond thief Noel Snow seduced FBI special agent Robert Cuffe, then fled into
the dawn. Now a successful novelist, Noel uses his capers as fodder for his
books, and has modeled his hero's nemesis (and potential love interest) on
Cuffe. Though he leaves Robert a drunken phone message every New Year's Eve,
Noel hasn't seen or heard from him in a decade.
So he's thrilled when his former
lover shows up at his upstate farm one Christmas Eve. Elation quickly turns to
alarm when Robert accuses Noel of being responsible for a recent rash of
diamond heists. Robert is all business and as cold as ice: it seems his only
interest in Noel is to put him behind bars.
Innocent of the crimes, and still as
attracted as ever to the oh-so-serious lawman, Noel plans a second
seduction—providing he can stay out of jail long enough!
EXCERPT:
When
he finished tying a neat mountain climber’s knot, he started to move away.
Robert hooked a hand beneath his arm. “Hold it.”
He
reached for Noel’s waist and double-checked the knot.
“It’s
not Everest you know.”
“I
know. It’s at least twenty feet down and there’s loose rock and ice.”
Noel
nodded. “If this keeps up, I’m going to start thinking you care.”
“Always
the wiseass. Just watch what you’re doing.”
“Piece
of cake.”
“Please
be careful,” Francis said as Noel squatted on the ledge.
“It’s
okay, Francis.” Noel swung a leg over the edge. He kept his gaze trained on the
tree the rope was tied to.
Mind
over matter. You know what you’re doing. You’ve done it hundreds of times.
He
ignored that sickening shift, the conviction that his equilibrium was sliding
out from under him. His gaze dropped to his gloved hands gripping tightly to
the outthrust rock. Snow dusted the black wool and he could see every sparkling
crystal blazing like diamonds in the sunlight.
Slowly,
cautiously, he felt with his right foot for a toe hold. There was another
disorienting slide, but he knew—logic told him—that regardless of the message
his body was sending, he was perfectly all right. He was not moving. The
hillside was not moving.
A
hand clamped down on his wrist.
Noel
looked up.
Robert
was leaning down, his head blotting out the sun, throwing his face in shadow.
Even so, Noel could make out the predatory gleam of his eyes.
“What’s
going on?”
“Huh?”
Noel was confused. “Nothing’s going on.”
“Bullshit.”
Robert leaned closer as though trying to read his face. “There’s something
wrong with you. There’s a problem with your equilibrium, isn’t there?”
Talk
about lousy timing. “It’s no big deal. All I have to d—”
“Get
up. Get out of there.” The hand locked around Noel’s wrist, tightened. He
couldn’t free himself without struggling and no way could he afford any fast
moves balanced as he was.
“What
is it? What’s happening?” Francis asked, looking worriedly from Noel to Robert.
Daisy trotted up and down the opening, whining, Even the llamas were gargling
at him. In another time and place it might have been funny.
Or…not.
“Change
of plan,” Robert said, brisk and businesslike. “I’m climbing down and Noel will
hang onto the rope.”
“The
hell.” Noel’s normal pragmatism gave way to affronted male ego.
Infuriatingly
though, the rope looped around Robert’s large gloved mitt was already being
retracted. He held his other hand out. His own balance apparently unshakable.
“Come on, Noel. Let’s not waste any more time. You trying to climb down there
is a very bad idea and you know it.”
Noel.
It sounded natural coming from Robert. It sounded…nice. Which didn’t change the
fact that he was totally incensed at being treated like he was helpless.
“No
way. I can handle this. I just have to go slow. I’ve still got more experience
than you have.”
“You
have no idea of my experience. Now get up here.”
“You
won’t fit through this opening.”
Robert
laughed. “Now you’re being rude because you’re pissed off.”
Partly.
Not entirely. Robert was going to be a tight fit. If he was in the least
claustrophobic, it would be a no go.
“Oh
for—” Noel slapped his gloved hand into Robert’s and let himself be drawn the
rest of the way up. That change in angle and speed of movement sent his stomach
plummeting and his balance skittering away. He had to close his eyes for a
second, and that—as always—made it worse.
He
stumbled up over the edge as Robert rose. Noel reeled into Robert’s solid
chest. A hard supportive arm fastened around him and for a moment he leaned
there while the world went spinning away. He could feel Robert’s heart pounding
against his own through the canvas of his field jacket and the leather of
Robert’s coat.
After
a few seconds he became aware of Robert’s lips moving almost soundlessly
against his ear. “If you think the earth moved just now, imagine what’ll happen
when I fuck you.”
Noel’s
head snapped up. He stared in wide-eyed disbelief. Had Robert…had he really
whispered that or was Noel dreaming? Maybe Noel had slipped and knocked himself
out because there was absolutely nothing to read on Robert’s face. Nothing but
that funny glitter in his eyes.
Maybe
Noel was finally losing it.
Or
maybe Robert really had made the most astonishing statement Noel had
ever heard.
I love this story! I love that line! All of your holiday stories are so good, but I think I have a special place in my heart for this one.
ReplyDeleteSurprise dirty talk when no one else can hear it, is always hot and sexy. It needs to happen more often.
ReplyDeleteI loved this story - and I just used my gift code to get it on audio.
ReplyDelete:)
-Andy Slayde
i agree with previous commenters. i love this story as well. the description of robert as craggy faced made me think of a ’70s movie cop in a turtleneck.
ReplyDeleteDamnit! *chucks another book on the re-read list*
ReplyDeleteIcecapade! *swoons* my absolute favorite comfort read ever! :-)
ReplyDeleteReread this, your codas, and your I Spy series this wknd....
ReplyDeleteI do think this is one of the more cozy stories. And I love their coda.
DeleteI'm such a big fan of your Christmas stories and each time I read or listen to one I tell myself 'this one is my favorite.' I love the element of whimsy in each of them - an ocelot, llama, reindeer, assassin - that sets them apart from other holiday offerings. Plus it's the journey you take us on, along with the main characters, that make us the better for having come along.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Steve. :-)
DeleteNow is the time for shameless begging:
ReplyDeletePlease, please, please....I'll do anything, and I do mean anything. Up to and including painting your house. I also do windows. And bake brownies.
Ok, time for the big guns.
I will make TACOS.
Have a very nice day, thank you for the excerpt. I have not read that one, yet. :-)
Well, gosh! It is hard to resist shameless begging! :-D
DeleteDo you like tacos?
ReplyDeleteYou do not even want to know how much I love tacos. Probably my most favorite food ever. You know why? A zillion variations on the theme, and almost every single one of them a winner. Who could resist that?
DeleteWhen I first read this story, I can't tell you how much I loved Noel. I identified with him...well, maybe not the diamond thief part, ;) but I deal with ongoing positional vertigo. I loved that I had a 'connection.' It is one on my favorite holiday stories. One of those that always made me want to visit them again, years later to see how they were doing, which is one of the reasons I loved their coda. That, and the excellent writing. :)
ReplyDeleteCome on, Karan. We all know you were a diamond thief in your previous life. I don't know why you try to deny this! ;-D
DeleteHaldis not fair to bring in the heavy hitter with TACOS. Hey I'll make CLAM DIP!!! Nyah!! Anyway How amazing is this??
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know exactly where to hit him. Although I don't know what the tacos will look like after sending them through the post. :-)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love this story!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteHi Josh,
ReplyDeleteIt goes without saying I love the story. Noel and Robbie are so good for each other. But what I wanted to add is this: before the cover of Carina's Stranger on the Shore became my current all-time favorite, that place of honor used to be held by their cover of His for the Holidays. Still beautiful and so romantic. They definitely do well by you when it comes to covers. :)
Aw! Thank you. I think Carina Press has done well by me with my covers. And that is no small thing!
Deletewhat a beautiful story! I love Icecapade. It's one of my comfort reads.
ReplyDeleteI love this story!! (I already own it, of course.)
ReplyDeleteHola soy una lectora tuya pero..... en español¡¡¡. Me encanta sobre todo la serie "Los misterios de Adrien", los protagonistas son muy buenos, la ironia de Adrien es refrescante. En español sĂłlo hay traducidos los dos primeros libros, espero tener el placer de poder leer más de ellos. Gracias y Feliz Navidad.
ReplyDeleteFeliz Navidad!
DeleteI'd love to win a copy!!!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites! You had me at Noel's annual drunk dialing.
ReplyDeleteI really loved this story. I am a big fan of second chances and love that survives the test of time :).
ReplyDeleteGoge
Another annual holiday read, I love this story
ReplyDeleteOur winner here is Haldis! It is hard to resist that kind of enthusiasm. :-D
ReplyDeleteYou know where to reach me...
OMG. Thank you. Your tacos should be arriving by USPS sometime next week.
Deletehah awesome, you know someone cares when they arbitrarily take over the one chore that frightens your sense of equilibrium.
ReplyDelete