BLIND Releases Next Week!

I know what you’re thinking: FINALLY!!!

But before we dwell on the next Nicki Sosebee book, I just want to tell you I am thankful. Yes, I know we all reflect on what we’re grateful for on Thanksgiving Day, and we should, but we don’t always thank those whom we should. So this is my chance to thank YOU. I may not have ever “talked” to you through email or on Facebook or Twitter, but you’ve read my words and let me become a part of your life, even if in a small way. I am more thankful for that than you know.

So…on to Blind. I have had so many fans ask, “When’s it gonna be released?” And I know that’s because I promised it for Halloween. Well, if you’ve followed me at all, you know I’ve confessed that this damn story has become a lot bigger than I’d thought. Not quite Innocent Bystander size, but certainly a lot bigger than other Nicki books. So it took me longer to get it on paper. However, that’s done now and I have officially moved into the revision/editing phase, which is considerably shorter and also lets me make an announcement of when it will be published, and I can say it with confidence. Look for Blind to appear on Amazon and Barnes & Noble sometime next week, the week of 11/25/12.

As my way of apologizing (and getting you excited as hell for the book!!!), please accept this excerpt from Blind. Oh, and please let me know what you think. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and try not to get too stuffed!

“Sean, I know it’s the last thing you want to do, but I’m at a dead end. This is important information.”

His voice was dangerously low. “And you think, just because you sucked this guy’s c*ck one time, that he’ll just volunteer any information you want to know? Are you out of your f***ing mind?”

She glared at him. “Who said I sucked his c*ck and what the f**k does it matter? That’s not what I’m thinking about right now. I’m thinking I need to ask him some questions.”

Sean dropped the wrench he was holding on the bench. “It’s the idea, Nicki. You call him, you know what he’s going to think?” She folded her arms across her chest, digging in her heels. “And then I’m gonna have to beat the s**t out of him.”

“Come on, Sean. Be real. I call him; I tell him what I want to talk to him about. You come with me as usual so you know there won’t be any funny business.”

“Yeah, and I bet he’ll be really conversational if I’m there.”

“That’s a chance I’m willing to take to make you happy.”

He stood still, just staring at her, his hands balled into fists so tight his knuckles were white. His jaw was clenched too, and Nicki could tell he was fighting to remain civil. He let out a breath and shook his head. “I won’t do it.”

She was ready to explode with anger. Why couldn’t he understand how important this was and that his possessiveness was now reaching too far? “I’ll get the information somewhere else if you won’t give it to me.”

He raised his eyebrows. He was silent for the longest time and they were at a draw. But his voice was still low when he said, “Are you out of your f**king mind?”

He’d asked her that just moments ago, like he really thought she was crazy. No, he was crazy, crazy with a jealousy she’d never seen before, not from any man she’d ever been with. That had to be why he was being so stubborn about the whole thing. And she didn’t think her usual feminine tactics would work. Otherwise, she’d cozy up to him and baby talk until he melted and gave in. So she felt like an old-time gunfighter at a showdown, and both she and Sean had their hands to their sides, ready to whip out their pistols.

And that’s when Jesse walked in. Sean saw him but said to Nicki, his voice low, “Don’t do it.” He was shaking his head slowly.

Jesse had that weird look on his face he’d been getting ever since he and Nicki broke up. He looked like a sad puppy, but one who was trying to look like everything was cool. It wasn’t as bad as it had been when they’d first broken up, but Nicki could still see it. As he got closer to where Sean and Nicki stood, his brows furrowed. Nicki wondered if he could tell what was going on. He said, “Do you need me to come back later?”

The way he asked it assured Nicki that he didn’t know, but if she didn’t back away now, he’s start to suspect–she was sure of that much. Sean wanted to tell Jesse personally when he was ready, so she was glad Jesse hadn’t figured it out. She gave Sean a look and said, “No, I was just leaving.” She knew that would p*ss him off, but she wasn’t too happy either. Dating or not, Sean had no right to tell her what she could and couldn’t do.

Her closing remark didn’t set well with him either, but he couldn’t exactly say much about it without showing Jesse his hand. He clenched his jaw, sending a ripple through the flesh there. Holy f**k, was he pissed. Nicki lowered her eyelids at him, trying to send a message that she could be just as angry. But then she turned to Jesse and infused her voice with honey. “Good to see you, Jesse. You’re lookin’ good.”

S**t. That might not have been a good idea either, but she didn’t care at this point. Sean had pushed the wrong button. And she hadn’t been lying. Jesse was looking good. For a month or two, he had seemed to stop caring about his appearance, and every time Nicki saw him, she felt guilty as hell and blamed herself for that. But she could tell Jesse gave a s**t again. His hair was a little longish and a little messy, but Nicki could tell it was artfully so. And if she wasn’t mistaken, he’d been working out. Something was different about him, and that was her guess. She smiled at him, turned on her heel, and walked back to Sean’s office where she grabbed her purse and coat. As she walked to the door that led outside, she said, “Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you. I’m a regular reporter for the Tribune now.”

And she shut the door, making a beeline for her car.

Happy Thanksgiving and be on the lookout for Blind next week! 🙂