Cover Reveal and Snippet: Alpha's Gamble (Haven City Series # 7)

Long time, no blog, my lovelies! I've been busy working on Alpha's Gamble, and I'm actually ahead of my schedule for once. I know. Crazier things have happened. I've only got two more editing sessions and it's done. But the release is still slated for March 2, 2015. *cue the frowny faces*

However, this also gives me a chance to get further ahead. I'm starting the new Lost Wolves book this week, and I'm going to start posting snippets from Alpha's Gamble for MS Monday. Hooray! Everyone wins! 

Now check out this cool cover. 

Snippet from Alpha's Gamble. Ken and Davis reunite after ten long years: 

Davis shrugged and leaned against the counter. As Ken chewed, he noticed Davis’s hands weren’t the only thing about him to change. But then, how could they? It’d been fifteen years since Davis left Haven, and nearly ten since they’d last seen each other.

The Davis he remembered best was still slightly gawky – too tall and growing into his build. Davis grew well enough. His shoulders were broad and strong. A fitted T-shirt stretched over his muscular chest, tucked into his jeans. His brown leather jacket had seen better days, but it suited him.

Ken’s mouth dried out, and he took another swig of wine.

“So. Nice pajamas,” Davis said and brushed the crumbs from his lips.

Ken scowled. “Talk or I kick you out. I thought you said you could never come back. Now here you are! What the fuck?”

Davis opened his mouth and closed it twice. Then he yanked a glass out of the cupboard, filled it with water, and drank the whole damn thing before he answered. “Well, it turns out I can come back, so I did.”

Ken narrowed his eyes. “Just like that. Fifteen fucking years of running away and now you can come back? Lucky us!”

Davis shrugged. “Look. I told you I didn’t want you to get involved. But the trouble I was in got cleaned up. You know that gang war that went down last summer? Well, that took care of my problem. So, here I am. I thought you’d be happy to see me. You said you wanted me to come back, then you practically leave me on the street. Hungry. Alone. Is that what friends do?”

Ken reached for the final swallow of wine, but Davis lifted the bottle from the counter before he had the chance. Then, that bastard alpha, slipped his mouth over the edge, and he drank it. A drop landed on Davis’s bottom lip, and he swept it away with the enticing tip of his tongue.

Shit.

Ken wiped his sweaty palms on his pajama pants. “That was years ago. But you’re right. I don’t want to know what the trouble was. I don’t want anything to do with your messed up life, because you left me here to deal with one fucked up member of the Harrison household and that’s enough for me, thanks.”

The words stung, and he didn’t really mean them. Not entirely. Tyler was like a brother to him more than anything else. And Davis was, well, Davis.

“Yeah. I—how is he?” Davis asked and set the wine bottle down with a clink that sounded louder than it should have.

“Fine. He was arrested for shoplifting again. No biggie,” Ken said.

Davis’s jaw clenched, and he nodded. “Look. I’ll talk to him. Okay? That’s all I can do. I can’t promise he’ll listen to me.”

Ken laughed. Short and bitter. “Oh, he won’t! But he’s better. Clean for two years. You know things were bad after your dad died, but when your mom went it just got worse. He needed you.”

Davis pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah. I know. Is this going to turn into a lecture because I don’t need another one of those. If you don’t want me here, I’ll go. It’s just. . . I get back into Haven and you’re the first person I wanted to see. Don’t tell Ty. I want to see him too, but I thought you’d be glad I was back.”

Ken squeezed his eyes shut and let out a slow breath through his nose. Davis Harrison everyone. Guilt tripper extraordinaire. And, shit! It worked. Ken’s stomach did a stupid juvenile backflip at those words. If Davis told Ken that in high school, he’d have convinced himself it was true love. That they really were mates and years of a fruitless crush finally meant something. Now, Ken shoved the sensation aside. “I – I’m just tired. It was a long day, and I have work tomorrow. You surprised me. I wish you called.”

“Maybe I wanted to surprise you,” Davis said with a smile.

Ken shook his head and glanced at the duffle bag next to the front door. It was as beat up as Davis’s jacket. “Do you have someplace to stay?”

“Nope. Is this a two bedroom? It’s really nice. But I always thought you’d want a house in the suburbs.”

“Well, maybe you don’t know me as well as you think. It’s a one bedroom, but you can take the couch. Let me get you a blanket,” Ken said, voice as sharp as he could make it.

Davis flinched, and it should’ve felt more satisfying than it did.

Ken flitted through his cupboards, gathered a few things and set the bundle on the couch. “Put the sheet down before you sleep. I don’t want your musk ruining the leather. Here’s a towel if you want to shower. Bathroom is down the hall. There’s an extra toothbrush, brand new, in the cupboard. Please use that.”

Davis nodded. “Thanks.”

Then, as Ken turned to leave, a strong hand snagged his shoulder. He tensed under the grip. It’d been so long. And the last time – oh fuck! The last time he made such a fool of himself. He took a breath through his nose. “Tell me one thing. Are you staying for good or not?”

“I’m not leaving this time. I promise,” Davis said, his voice gruff and rich. It seeped into Ken’s skin, and he felt like he could drink it.

Ken nodded tightly and slipped out of Davis’s grasp. He stepped into his room and shut the door, leaned against it, and balled his hands into fists so tight his nails bit into his palms. He wanted to believe Davis, but everything that happened Ken knew the painful truth.

That alpha abandoned the wolves who were supposed to be his pack. His promises meant nothing.

Ken trudged to the bed and climbed under the covers. His mouth tasted like salami and wine, but he wouldn’t have gone back out there for anything. Well, maybe Davis naked in his bed – no!

He shook that thought away, and put a pillow over his head as the shower burst to life. Which meant Davis was naked and wet.

Damn.

Ken squeezed his eyes shut and tried to sleep.

Don’t think about Davis Harrison?

Now it really was impossible.