{"id":15523,"date":"2016-07-21T08:00:03","date_gmt":"2016-07-21T13:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/?p=15523"},"modified":"2016-07-20T20:53:05","modified_gmt":"2016-07-21T01:53:05","slug":"excerptreveal-reapers-fire-by-joanna-wylde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/?p=15523","title":{"rendered":"#ExcerptReveal – Reaper’s Fire by Joanna Wylde"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"reaper's<\/a><\/p>\n

\"synopsis\"<\/a><\/p>\n

New York Times<\/span><\/i> bestselling author Joanna Wylde returns to the \u201cwild and raw\u201d* world of the Reapers MC with the story of Gage and Tinker\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

The club comes first. <\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve lived by those words my whole life\u2014assumed I\u2019d die by them, too, and I never had a problem with that. My Reaper brothers took my back and I took theirs and it was enough. Then I met her. Tinker Garrett. She\u2019s beautiful, she\u2019s loyal, and she works so damned hard it scares me sometimes . . . She deserves a good man\u2014one better than me. I can\u2019t take her yet because the club still needs me. There\u2019s another woman, another job, another fight just ahead. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now she\u2019ll learn I\u2019ve been lying to her all along. None of it\u2019s real. Not my name, not my job, not even the clothes I wear. She thinks I\u2019m nice. She pretends we\u2019re just friends, that I\u2019ve still got a soul . . . Mine\u2019s been dead for years. Now I\u2019m on fire for this woman, and a man can only burn for so long before he destroys everything around him.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m coming for you, Tinker. <\/span><\/p>\n

Soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"excerpt\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tinker<\/b><\/p>\n

It was almost seven that evening when I felt the AC kick back on. I\u2019d been lying on my back on the (relatively) cool tile floor behind the counter, staring up at the pressed-tin ceiling and trying to remember why I hadn\u2019t already moved back to Seattle.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Seattle it rained.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cool breezes blew off the bay and the lush greenery covered everything with its shaded canopy. People didn\u2019t really need air-conditioning, but if they happened to have it and it broke, there were lots of repair men available.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, Seattle also had Brandon. Not only that, my dad didn\u2019t want to move, and I\u2019d come to realize I couldn\u2019t leave him here alone. It wasn\u2019t safe for him, not since Mom died.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

At least the AC was working again, blowing down from the ceiling vent across my sweaty body, reminding me that while the world might not be crawling with perfect men, at least there were still a few useful ones running around. Cooper Romero was a keeper, and it had nothing to do with how sexy he was . . . although the fact that he was sex on a stick\u2014make that sex <\/span>with<\/span><\/i> a stick\u2014didn\u2019t exactly diminish his appeal.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I\u2019d dragged him up to the black tar roof to show him the ancient AC, I\u2019d expected him to make a run for it. Any sensible man would. Instead, he\u2019d spent the whole afternoon busting his ass to save my chocolates\u2014<\/span>Oh God, I wish that were code for something more exciting\u2014<\/span><\/i>officially qualifying him as a superhero in my book.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for me, there wasn\u2019t much I could do once I got all the sweets safely downstairs into the basement. There weren\u2019t any customers walking in off the street, and seeing as I couldn\u2019t make or ship candy in a 102-degree shop, I\u2019d alternated between attempting to read a book, looking over orders I couldn\u2019t fulfill on my laptop, and bringing Cooper glasses of iced tea. I\u2019d been nervous around him at first, but you can only stay nervous for so long when you\u2019re sweating like a pig\u2014there\u2019s a certain freedom in knowing you look like hell and there\u2019s no saving your hair. I\u2019d thrown my arm across my eyes in a pathetic attempt to block out reality toward the end.<\/span><\/p>\n

When cold air started flowing into the room, I could\u2019ve cried with relief. He\u2019d never had a chance to fill out the application form, and I\u2019d long since decided it didn\u2019t matter. Unless he was an ax murderer, I\u2019d give him the apartment and the job.<\/span><\/p>\n

Might give it to him even if he was, to be honest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s working again,\u201d Cooper announced, and I jerked, startled. Shit, had I fallen asleep? Opening my eyes, I looked up to find him standing over me. Dear God in heaven\u2014that was one hell of a bare chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Holy. Shit.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d taken note of his build when he first walked in the shop, but everything under his shirt had been theoretical. Now there was six-foot-plus of raw sex appeal right there, all sweaty and sculpted and . . . well, let\u2019s just say I\u2019d be stopping off on the way home to pick up some fresh batteries.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s when the situation hit me\u2014Cooper Romero was the hottest man I\u2019d met in forever, and he\u2019d just found me lying on the floor in my own sweat and filth like a dog. Typical luck. I scrambled to my feet, pretending I wasn\u2019t totally embarrassed (I was) and not in the least bit freaked out by how unspeakably attractive this guy was. Okay, \u201cattractive\u201d wasn\u2019t quite the right word, because it implied a certain level of polish and class that just didn\u2019t fit Cooper at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brandon was <\/span>attractive.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Cooper?<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d lick him all over and massage his butt if he asked. He stared down at me, his eyes carefully blank, making it very clear he wasn\u2019t asking. <\/span>Story of my fucking life. <\/span><\/i>Sitting up, I pushed myself to my feet without bothering to dust off. Lost cause at this point.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure how much life the AC has left,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cI managed to get it going, but fixing it right would cost more than it\u2019s worth and then some.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course it would.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just need to get through the summer,\u201d I told him, wiping a finger under my eye. My perfectly applied, vintage-style makeup had melted, leaving me with a clown face. Fortunately I\u2019d (mostly) given up on caring three hours ago, right around the time I\u2019d discovered the floor tiles were cooler than the rest of the room. \u201cAfter that, I\u2019ll worry about the furnace and by next summer I might not even be here anymore.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d he asked, cocking a brow. \u201cYou selling out?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure,\u201d I told him. \u201cI\u2019m not thinking that far ahead right now. Things are very iffy with my dad . . . I think he\u2019s got some\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

No. I couldn\u2019t say it. Saying it out loud made it too real, plus the last thing I needed were a bunch of rumors flying around town. So far we\u2019d kept dad\u2019s situation mostly to family and friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTinker?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shaking myself, I smiled at him. \u201cThank you so much for fixing that. I\u2019m not even sure what I would\u2019ve done\u2014I can\u2019t afford to miss a week\u2019s worth of orders. Not only would it put me behind, it would burn my customers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He nodded, studying me thoughtfully. God, he really was beautiful . . . Nothing like Brandon\u2019s polished sophistication. No, Cooper gave off more of a warrior-tossing-you-over-his-fearless-steed kind of vibe. Yeah, like that would end well, because my track record with men was so fucking perfect, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

Pull your head out of the gutter. He probably has a girlfriend.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

At least I could finally lock up this hellhole of a shop and get a shower.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you so much\u2014you have no idea how much I appreciate it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but the whole throwing yourself at my feet thing was a subtle hint,\u201d he said, and I realized he was teasing me. Was he flirting? I couldn\u2019t decide if that kicked ass or scared the shit out of me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway, it\u2019s getting late,\u201d I told him, feeling suddenly awkward. \u201cI\u2019m going to grab some dinner down the street, and then I could take you over and show you the apartment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A small, knowing smile crossed his face, and I realized he thought I was hitting on him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I said quickly, mortified. \u201cI wasn\u2019t asking you out. Omigod, this is weird.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, you aren\u2019t turned on by a man who smells like old socks?\u201d he asked lightly, raising his arm and giving a sniff. He was joking, but the sweat wasn\u2019t a turnoff. Nope. Not even a little bit. \u201cIf that\u2019s not enough for you, the roof tar on my ass should be a big attraction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Closing my eyes, I bit back a groan. He started laughing. Not in a cruel way, but companionably, which I guess made sense because both of us were disgusting as hell. Of course, now I wanted to check out his ass, but I managed to keep my eyes on target (mostly) when I answered him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s sexy but I\u2019ll manage to control myself somehow. I do want to grab dinner, though, and we need to figure out the apartment details.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take the place, doesn\u2019t matter what it is,\u201d he replied. \u201cI\u2019m in a hotel and it\u2019s getting old. I\u2019d love to move in on Sunday, but I can\u2019t go look at it right now\u2014gotta get my ass cleaned up. Meeting up with someone later.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course he was, because men who looked like Cooper didn\u2019t spend Friday nights alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSounds great,\u201d I told him, refusing to show any disappointment. \u201cJust text me when you\u2019re ready, and I\u2019ll get you the key.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He opened his mouth to say something, but a sudden pounding against the locked shop door caught us both off guard. I spun around to find Talia Jackson glaring at me through the glass. Talia and three of her skankier friends, including Sadie Baxter, a girl I used to babysit when I was in college.<\/span><\/p>\n

A girl who was now twenty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Damn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCooper!\u201d Talia shouted. \u201cWhat the fuck are you doing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I glanced at my new handyman, startled. Talia Jackson and her brother, Marsh, were two of the nastiest people I\u2019d ever met. Marsh was president of the local motorcycle gang, a group called the Nighthawk Raiders motorcycle club. The club had been around most of my life, but it was only in recent years that they\u2019d turned really bad. I mean, they were never the kinder, gentler sort of bikers, but I\u2019d never been actively afraid when I\u2019d heard a motorcycle, either.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now? Let\u2019s just say we\u2019d all gotten a little edgy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my girl,\u201d Cooper said, and something deep down inside of me died a little. Of course he\u2019d go for someone like Talia. She might have the heart of a deranged circus clown\u2014you know, the kind that survives by eating the souls of innocent children\u2014but she was hot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Really hot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only that, she was slutty, and while I wasn\u2019t into the whole slut-shaming thing (like I had room to judge after the bachelorette party debacle . . . ugh), I wasn\u2019t naive enough to think he was attracted to her personality. Cooper Romero might have a sweet smile, and he\u2019d fixed my AC, but now I had proof positive that he\u2019d never be into a girl like me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifically, a grown-up with curves.<\/span><\/p>\n

All righty, then. Probably for the best anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust a sec!\u201d I called to her, determined to take the high road, then I grabbed my keys so I could open the door. She pushed inside with her posse, and I do mean <\/span>pushed.<\/span><\/i> Little bitch shoved me so hard I nearly knocked over the display of antique Russian teacups my mother had lovingly collected. (So far as I knew, she\u2019d never sold a single one of them, but it\u2019d made her happy.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCareful,\u201d I warned, and Talia turned on me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you just say to me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBabe, let\u2019s talk,\u201d Cooper said, catching her arm and pulling her into his body. She squealed, going from aggressive to flirty in an instant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re all sweaty. It\u2019s <\/span>sooo<\/span><\/i> disgusting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I noted she wasn\u2019t trying to get away. Cooper smiled down at her, a hint of something feral in his eyes. Yeah, okay\u2014whatever smile he\u2019d been giving me, it hadn\u2019t held any of that kind of intensity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yours truly was officially chopped liver.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was just about to head out and grab a shower,\u201d he told her. \u201cWanna come with me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She pouted. \u201cI can\u2019t. The girls and I need to get fixed up. I\u2019ll see you at the bar, though, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked down at her, offering a sexy, indulgent smile. \u201cCan\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPerfect,\u201d she said, reaching around to grab his ass for a quick squeeze. Then she turned and strutted back out without a word to me, her gaggle of girls following like well-trained geese. Sadie gave a little finger wave on the way. The door closed behind them with a cheerful little jingle, and I wondered why the hell I even bothered with Hallies Falls.<\/span><\/p>\n

I missed Seattle.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what if it had Brandon? I could drown him in Lake Washington. Problem solved.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry about that\u2014Talia is a little high-strung,\u201d Cooper said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I know all about her,\u201d I replied, hoping I didn\u2019t sound as catty as I felt. Cooper didn\u2019t seem to notice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m new to town, but she\u2019s been showing me around,\u201d Cooper continued, stepping over to stand in front of me, hands shoved deep in his front pockets. \u201cI should get going.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course\u2014don\u2019t let me keep you. What time do you think you\u2019ll be in touch tomorrow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfternoon work?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem. Looking forward to hearing from you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He nodded and pushed through the door, walking down the street without a second look back. I locked up behind him, wondering why all the hottest guys were douchebags. Not that Cooper had acted like a douche, but he had to be my age or older\u2014late thirties\u2014and Talia was the same age as Sadie. She was also a raging bitch. There was only one reason a man like him would date a girl like that, and it had nothing to do with personality or character.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cooper Romero might be beautiful, but obviously he was shallow. Suppose it was too much to hope for a man who could fix an air conditioner and have a soul at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pity<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Buy<\/a><\/p>\n

Are you ready for Gage and Tinker\u2019s story? <\/span><\/p>\n

Reaper\u2019s Fire releases on August 9th! <\/span><\/p>\n

Amazon US: \u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/amzn.to\/1mD6Sma<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Amazon UK: <\/span>http:\/\/amzn.to\/1IOuRJI<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

iBooks:<\/span> http:\/\/apple.co\/1JUbzxl<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Nook: <\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/1mzrJaD<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Kobo:<\/span> http:\/\/bit.ly\/1Uu6bXu<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Google Play: \u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/1SxRDaQ<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"about<\/a><\/p>\n

Joanna Wylde is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Reapers Motorcycle Club series. She currently lives in Idaho.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stalk Her: <\/span>Website<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>Twitter<\/span><\/a> | \u00a0<\/span>Goodreads<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New York Times bestselling author Joanna Wylde returns to the \u201cwild and raw\u201d* world of the Reapers MC with the story of Gage and Tinker\u2026 The club comes first. I\u2019ve lived by those words my whole life\u2014assumed I\u2019d die by them, too, and I never had a problem with that. My Reaper brothers took my … Continue reading #ExcerptReveal – Reaper’s Fire by Joanna Wylde<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paSW8H-42n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15523"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15527,"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15523\/revisions\/15527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}