Today I am so pleased to welcome Saxon James to Joyfully Jay. Saxon has come to talk to us about her latest release, Friendly Fire. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
Excerpt
Staring out my window, my gaze lands on the lone garden gnome standing sentry in the middle of my lawn.
Fucking Campbell.
With a groan, I head outside and scoop the ugly thing up. I round the fence line and approach his front door, but before I can give him the heads-up on how annoyed I am by knocking loudly, the door swings open.
“Rafael, what an honor.” His voice is like honey. Smooth and syrupy. It reminds me of what liquid gold might sound like.
It doesn’t make my mouth dry.
He crosses his arms and leans against the doorjamb.
“Cut the shit, Cam. Stop putting this thing in my yard.”
When I hold the gnome out to him, he eyes it with amusement. “Never seen it before.”
“You literally put it there last week.”
“That one? That exact gnome? Are you sure?”
“We’re not doing this again.”
“Then stop trying to force your garden castoffs on me.”
My … for fuck’s sake. I ignore the slight curl to his lips and the way he’s watching me steadily. Like he’s waiting for me to snap.
I shove the gnome at his chest and hold it there until he grabs it.
The only problem is, he curls his hands over mine, holding it in place. “Always good to see you, Rafe.”
He stares at me like he has no shame, and I stare right back.
I don’t understand it.
This pull to him.
It’s familiarity and nostalgia and warmth all at once.
He finally lets me go, and I stumble back.
“Keep your gnome off my lawn.” I hate how husky my voice sounds.
“I feel like there’s innuendo in there somewhere.”
“Goodbye, Campbell.”
“You can put your gnome in my lawn.” He laughs, and I refuse to acknowledge the thoughts that brings to mind. “Yep,” he says. “There it is.”
“As long as you think you’re funny.”
“You want to know what I think is funny?”
I don’t want to know. I really, really don’t. “What?” I ask against all better judgment.
“Every time you find Casagnoma, you insist on coming over here and knocking on my door to return him.”
“Casagnoma? Really?”
“Changing the subject? Really?”
“What are you trying to say, Cam?”
He eyes me in that unnerving way of his, and I try to hold up against the scrutiny. One side of his lips starts to pull up in a sexy smile.
Ignore, ignore, ignore.
I know exactly what he’s trying to say. It’s the same question I constantly ask myself. Why am I here? There’s no reason at all I can’t dump that thing in the bushes beside his fence. It would save me the walk. This conversation.
“Nothing,” he says. “Just … interesting.”
“Stop putting him there.”
“Stop giving me a reason to.”
Stupid, smug asshole. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Keep telling yourself that. I’ll see you at the festival this weekend.”
“When I kick your ass at the fundraising.”
“I’m sure that’s not all you’d like to do to my ass.”
There’s no way I’m going to give him a response to something so stupid. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Is that why you like to watch me from your window? Because I’m unbelievable? Or is it morbid curiosity?”
My gaze immediately darts to my bedroom window to confirm you really can’t see through the curtains. Which you can’t. So … how does he know?
“Surprising you fit through the door with a head that big,” I say, avoiding looking at him.
“Impressed? You should see the other one.”
Well, I walked right into that. I’m already getting flustered, and I’ve barely been talking to him for five minutes. Cam has always had the ability to make me second-guess what I’m saying and how I’m acting. He’s a pathological flirt, and I don’t know how to handle that.
Things between us used to be so easy.
Some days I wish they still could be.
Blurb
A Never Just Friends Novel, Book 4
Rafe
It started in high school.
We grew apart. Bit by bit, then all at once.
The friend who was my ride or die suddenly wanted nothing to do with me.
Now Cam’s back from college, living in the house next door, and pulling stupid pranks just to annoy me.
Between my intense family and my failing relationship, I’m struggling enough without his antics.
But Cam won’t go away. And I’m not so sure I want him to.
Cam
It started with a smile.
A touch.
A shared look of mischief.
Rafael Ortega stole my heart before I realised it was mine to give away.
We were best friends from the time we were in diapers right up until the unthinkable happened: he started dating.
I put distance between us to save myself, but now I’m back, willing to do anything for his attention again.
Because the only thing worse than Rafe breaking my heart…
Is him not getting a chance to.
Friendly Fire is the final book in the Never Just Friends series. It’s a low angst childhood-best-friends-to-lovers romance with skinny dipping, sex toys, and one final happily ever after.
Bio
Saxon James is an author from Aus who’s obsessed with writing queer characters.
She has a range of books from YA to adult and they all have one thing in common: swoony, sweet love.
When not writing, Saxon exists on a diet of coffee and chocolate while putting her KU subscription to the test.
Connect with Saxon:
- Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/saxonssweethearts/
- Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thesaxonjames/
- Newsletter: www.subscribepage.com/saxonjames
- Amazon: www.amazon.com/Saxon-James/e/B082TP7BR7
- Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/saxon-james
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/saxonjameswrites/
- Website: https://saxonjamesauthor.com
Giveaway
To celebrate the Release of Friendly Fire, Saxon is giving away a $20 Amazon Voucher! Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
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- Void where prohibited by law.
Welcome, Saxon, and congratulations on the publication of Friendly Fire! Thanks for sharing the excerpt; I like Casagnoma.