July 26, 2019

[Tour] [Excerpt] Tabloid






Romance with a splash of humor
Dirty Laundry #1
Date Published: 5/25/19

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1 gossip writer + 1 A-list movie star = 1 fake relationship…or does it?

After breaking a story that rocks Hollywood, Talia is the top gossip writer around. One night will put all of that into question. The writer becomes the story when she gets caught doing the walk of shame from A-lister Zee Jaxon’s home.

To save both of their reputations he suggests a fake relationship. Pretending should be easy. It shouldn’t mean the fake feelings become real. Accepting the real feelings means the lies they’ve told are even harder to hide.

When the truth comes out can their love survive or will everything just fade to black?



Excerpt


Excerpt 1

“I forgot to tell you something.”  Zeke said as they walked hand and hand to baggage claim. 
“What?”
“Please don’t hate me.”  He kissed their linked hands.
“What did you do?” 
As Zeke and Talia turned the corner to pick up their bags Talia saw a giant poster being held by a tall muscular guy wearing a too tight t-shirt and dirty jeans.  Scrawled on the poster were the words she was going to have etched on her brother’s grave. 
WELCOME HOME, TALLY!
SORRY PORN DIDN’T WORK OUT FOR YOU!
GLAD YOU GOT THE HELP YOU NEEDED IN REHAB FOR THE FIFTH TIME!
“You asked Rex to pick us up?” 
Zeke bit his lip trying not to laugh at the poster.  When Rex saw the poster had gotten their attention, and many others around them, he flipped it over. 
WELCOME HOME, ZEKE!
I GOT THAT MEDICATION FOR YOUR STD!
HOPEFULLY THE SORES ARE NO LONGER LEAKING!
“I’m seeing my mistake now.”  Zeke said.
“I bet you are.” 
Rex strode over to Zeke and Talia.  He dropped the poster and opened his arms wide.  Talia walked up to give him a hug, but landed a swift punch to his nuts.  Air whooshed out of his lungs.  Rex collapsed on the ground.  Fellow passengers walked around him.  The granny from the plane caught my eye and gave me a thumbs up.
“Hello, Rex.”  Talia stood with her hands on her hips watching her brother struggle.
“I’m….telling…mama.” 
“Go ahead.  Then I’m going to show her the poster you made.” 
“Fine.”  Rex managed to get off the ground. 
“Thanks for picking us up, ass wipe.”  Zeke said.
“No problem.  How could I strand my best friend and sister at the airport?  Especially when they are now seeing each other.”  Rex looked at them skeptically.
“What car did you bring?”  Talia changed the subject before questions could be asked. 
“The pick-up.” 
“What?  Why didn’t you bring mama’s SUV?” 
“Why would I?  My pick-up is fine.” 
“It’s a bench seat. “ 
Rex smirked at her.  “Yep.  We will be getting real close for the next hour.”
“Hour?  It takes close to an hour and a half to get to Grandin.  How fast do you plan on going?”  Talia stopped and looked to her brother. 
“You didn’t tell her?”  Rex asked. 
“I didn’t have a chance.  We had a bit of an issue on the plane.” 
“What happened?”
“Never mind that tell me what is going on.”  Talia stared at Zeke.
“We are going to go to my farm. It’s a half hour outside of Grandin.” 
Talia glared at both of the men in front of her.  Turning on her heel she grabbed her bag and marched off toward the short term parking.   She easily found his beat up truck.  Slinging her bag into the bed she stood next to the passenger door.
“In a hurry to get to your love nest, Tally?”  Rex asked.
Talia ground her jaw as she stared at her skeptical twin.  When Zeke’s arm wound around her waist, pulled her close and kissed her temple Rex groaned and wrenched the door open.

Excerpt 2

Talia woke on something soft and warm.  It was too lumpy for a bed.  Not to mention moving.  Her eyes snapped open.  Abs.  Pecks.  Nipples. She couldn’t quite comprehend what she was seeing.  Lifting her head, she saw Zeke.  Zeke was her bed. 
            Her eyes roamed over him.  His mouth was open as he slept. Blonde scruff grew along his jaw.  A soft snore escaped making her freeze in place.  His hands flexed around her.  A tingling sensation exploded inside her. 
            Zeke’s chest rose with every breath bringing her gaze to his well-defined pecks.  With her free hand she reached out to touch a muscle she’s only seen in magazines.  None of the men she’d previously been with had such a defined chest.  Some should have even had bras. 
            Her hand trailed down his chest to his abs.  A sensation of need took over her.  All she wanted to do was drag her tongue over each ridge of muscle.  The six pack abs with those defined hip bone things made her squirm.  She lightly caressed his happy trail.
“I wouldn’t go any further, baby.” Talia squeaked in surprise pulling her hand back. 
Zeke was awake and watching her.  In his eyes was a desire she was surprised to find. 
“Oh…um…uh.”  Talia tried to move off of him, but he clutched her tighter.
“You don’t have to stop.  I just wanted to warn you because if you went any further I don’t think I could help myself any longer.” 
A look of shock crossed her face.  She scrambled off Zeke only to grind against something very hard.  “Oh god.”  They both moaned.  In her clumsy attempt to climb off him she fell off the couch banging into the coffee table. 
“Ow!”  She moaned laying on the floor.
“Glad to see you two are awake.  Breakfast is ready.  Zeke you are needed in the barn.  Apparently, the storm did some damage.”  Addie looked at them. 
“Thank you, Addie.”  Zeke ground out. 
Addie smirked at the two then walked back to the kitchen.
“What time is it?”  Talia asked.
“Oh God!  Its after nine.  We are really late.” Zeke turned to see Talia crawling away from the table.  “I wish I had my camera right now.”  He laughed.
Using a side table, she heaved herself off the floor. Walking away, she gave him the finger over her head.  His laughing followed her upstairs. 
***
            Hours later covered in brown, either mud or horse shit, Talia washed up in the first-floor bathroom.  She scurried across the hall to the laundry room.  A pair of sweats and t-shirt sat folded on top of the dryer. She pulled on the sweats and oversized shirt. Taking a deep breath, she shuffled her way out to the kitchen.
“Alright, Addie.  I am ready to help.  What can I do to help with dinner?” 
Addie looked at Talia.  The wince she tried to conceal told Talia all she needed to know about how she looked.  “You don’t have to help me, hon.” 
“I’m not a freeloader around here.  Give me something to do.”  Talia felt her reserve dwindling, but she needed to help out. 
Reluctantly, Addie gave Talia the rolling pin.  “Roll out this dough.  When it’s about an inch thick cut out the biscuits and place them on the sheet.”
Talia could do that.  How hard could it be to roll out dough and cut it in circles?  The answer was near impossible with only a few hours of sleep.  Not to mention cleaning the horse stalls all day. 
“Oh dear.”  Addie stood next to Talia.  They looked at the misshapen dough.  Most were a ball or oval.  They weren’t an inch thick either. 
“Sorry, Addie.” 
“It’s alright, Tally.  Go sit in the living room while I put these in the oven.”  Talia nodded and slumped off to the living room.
A bone deep ache spread through her body.  She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worked that hard.  Talia now knew how Zeke got those defined muscles.  Those muscles she’d been touching, rubbing and ready to kiss.  What the hell was wrong with her? 
“What’s wrong with her?”  Zeke’s voice came out from the kitchen echoing her thoughts.
“She’s exhausted.”  Addie said.
“How long has she been sitting like that staring at the blank tv?”
“About 45 minutes.  Poor thing needs a good soak in the tub, dinner then straight to bed.” 
Footsteps sounded next to the couch.  Zeke squatted in front of her.  “Lia, you ok?”
“Yep.  Just catching my breath.”
“Uh huh.  Come on let’s get you upstairs.” 
“No, I’m fine.” 
“You have two choices.  Either you get your butt off the couch and up to your room or I pick you up off the couch and carry you to your room.  Easy way or hard way, Lia?”
Talia remained seated on the couch.  She was too exhausted to answer.
“Ok.  Hard way it is.”  Zeke picked her up as if she were light as a pillow. 
“What are you doing?” 
“I’m taking you to your room, getting a bath ready for you, then bringing you dinner.” 
“Ok.”  Talia was too tired to argue.  She knew she smelled of the manure/mud mixture, but she couldn’t help snuggling into Zeke’s arms.  His warmth and strength enveloped her.  He smelled like sweat, hay and fresh cut grass.  It was like a damn aphrodisiac.  Her lady V was standing at attention.
 

About the Author

Jackie is a single mom of a rambunctious boy and his dog, Cady.  She is an avid reader with a blog under the name of The Book Maven.  Reading has been a passion of hers from the time she could pick up a Sweet Valley High book.  Writing is a new adventure where she gets to curse, be clumsy and fall in love with every page.



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Twitter:@bookmaven623


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