Today I am so pleased to welcome C.S. Poe to Joyfully Jay. C.S. has come to share the latest installment in a short story related to her latest release, The Mystery of the Curiosities. She has also brought along a giveaway to enjoy. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

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Hi, everyone! I’m C.S. Poe, and I’m continuing the blog tour for The Mystery of the Curiosities, here at Joyfully Jay! I come with the gift of a short story that has been broken into six parts, which you can follow at each stop.
By the end of Nevermore, it’s heavily implied that Sebastian and Calvin are getting together. Curiosities begins nearly two months after they met, and they’re already dating. So I decided to write about the exact day they made it ‘official’ in between Books One and Two. Don’t forget to check out the giveaway at the end!

Part 1 is available at The Novel Approach.

My front door shutting was what woke me up. My first thought was, Neil’s home. Great.

Then I had to think.

Self. How high on NyQuil are you, to have your first thought be Neil? Like, for real?

Old habits die hard, apparently.

Half awake, I raised my head and listened to the steps through the living room.

Slow and light.

Pop.

Kinda wished it had been Calvin, even though I’d tell him to leave so as to avoid coming down with anything. Still, to briefly see his gorgeous face… that would have made me feel better than any of my cold medicine did. Besides Pop,

Calvin also had a key to my place, but he’d not invited himself in with it as of yet.

Huh.

Now I was confused. Christmas with my dad suggested dating. Not using the key I’d insisted he keep after the Nevermore case said otherwise.

Wow, I had a fever. This wasn’t a good time to think serious thoughts.

“Kiddo?” Pop called, knocking on my bedroom door.

“Come in,” I said. “But put a hazmat suit on first.”

He opened the door, clucking his tongue. “Max called me.”

“That traitor.”

“He said something about you’d sooner simmer in your own juices than ask for help and I figured that sounded about right.”

“I’ve got a cold. I’m fine,” I murmured.

“You’re stubborn as all hell,” Pop corrected. He walked to the side of the bed and reached out, putting his hand against my forehead. “You’ve got a fever.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And you should take a shower, Sebastian.”

“Likely so,” I agreed.

“Come on.” He pulled back the comforter, the chilly air biting my bare feet and ankles.

“I’m a grown man, I don’t need you babying me, Pop,” I insisted as I slowly sat up, taking a moment to let some nausea pass.

“I know.” He touched my forehead again. “But you’ve got a terrible habit of not asking for help when you need it. I’m not sure why you think you’ve got to handle life all on your own.”

“I ask for help.” I didn’t need my glasses to know that Pop was giving me The Look. “I’ve no trouble calling the police,” I stated. “The pig’s heart, Mike—“ I started ticking points off on my fingers.

“When you went to deal with Beth’s break-in yourself? Or when you tried to deal with that madman, Duncan?” Pop continued for me.

I paused on the third finger, thought briefly, then said, “I may have made a mistake or two along the way.”

“Come on. You’ll feel better after a shower. I’ll change your bed.”

“Dad—“ I protested.

Sebastian Andrew Snow.”

I winced. Pretty sure that when a parental unit enacts the dreaded middle name at thirty-three years old, it’s far worse than when I was… say… seven.

“All right. No reason to bring Andrew into this.” I slowly stood and left the room.

I walked to the bathroom without my glasses, which despite a home full of rotating clutter, I knew where most of the piles were and how to avoid furniture legs with my toes. I shut the door behind me, stripped off my grubby pajamas, and got under a hot stream of water. The heat made my head swim a little, but it relaxed my muscles and I could breathe through my nose, if only briefly, so I dealt.

When I got out, I wiped condensation from the mirror and leaned in close to study my face. I figured I had that nice, sickly pale thing going on, or maybe that supposed green around the edges, but such a subtle change in complexion is basically impossible for me to see. Still. I did look like crap. And I had some serious whiskers coming in, which dear Christ, I did not have the face or sense of style to pull off.

Rugged?

More like homeless.

I grabbed my electric razor, did a half-ass job cleaning myself up, and left the bathroom with a towel around my waist. I was halfway through the living room when Pop looked out from the kitchen doorway.

“Don’t go back to bed just yet.”

“What cruel and unusual punishment.”

He probably rolled his eyes. “When did you last eat, kiddo?”

“Last night.”

“I’ll make you soup.”

I started to protest for what felt like the hundredth time, but there was no reason for it. At the end of the day, Pop was— well, Pop, and I was his kid, no matter how many years past eighteen I may have been. And if he wanted to brave being around me and heat up chicken noodle soup on my behalf… there’s a reason I say he’s Father of the Year.

“Thanks, dad.”

“What’s that on your chest?”

“Hmm?” I looked down, staring at a blotchy spot under my collarbone. I felt heat rise to my face and covered it with one hand. “A love bite.”

And with that, I turned and made an escape for the bedroom.

Part 3 will be available at Prism Book Alliance.

Schedule:
March 2: The Novel Approach
March 3: Joyfully Jay
March 6: Prism Book Alliance
March 7: Boy Meets Boy
March 8: Love Bytes
March 9: Sinfully Gay Romance

| DSP Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play | Goodreads |


Blurb

The Mystery of the CuriositiesLife has been pretty great for Sebastian Snow. The Emporium is thriving and his relationship with NYPD homicide detective, Calvin Winter, is everything he’s ever wanted. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Sebastian’s only cause for concern is whether Calvin should be taken on a romantic date. It’s only when an unknown assailant smashes the Emporium’s window and leaves a peculiar note behind, that all plans get pushed aside in favor of another mystery.

Sebastian is quickly swept up in a series of grisly yet seemingly unrelated murders. The only connection tying the deaths together are curiosities from the lost museum of P.T. Barnum. Despite Calvin’s attempts to keep Sebastian out of the investigation, someone is forcing his hand, and it becomes apparent that the entire charade exists for Sebastian to solve. With each clue that’ll bring him closer to the killer, he’s led deeper into Calvin’s official cases.

It’s more than just Sebastian’s livelihood and relationship on the line—it’s his very life.


Bio

C.S. PoeC.S. Poe is an author of gay mystery, romance, and paranormal books.

She is a reluctant mover and has called many places home in her lifetime. C.S. has lived in New York City, Key West, and Ibaraki, Japan, to name a few. She misses the cleanliness, convenience, and limited edition gachapon of Japan, but she was never very good at riding bikes to get around.

She has an affinity for all things cute and colorful, and a major weakness for toys. C.S. is an avid fan of coffee, reading, and cats. She’s rescued three cats, including one found in a drain pipe in Japan who flew back to the States with her. Zak, Milo, and Kasper do their best on a daily basis to sidetrack her from work.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Blog | Goodreads | Newsletter |


Giveaway

C.S. has brought an official NYPD coffee mug to give away to one lucky reader (U.S. only). Just follow the Rafflecopter below to enter. 

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