Hi! I’m Kris T. Bethke, and let me give a great big thanks for hosting me today on my blog tour! I’ve stopped in to bring you an excerpt from Ghost of a Chance, which releases tomorrow. This book is not only part of the Dreamspun Beyond line, but it’s also the first in my new Requiem Inc series.
Requiem Inc. employs ghostwalkers—people who have the ability to temporarily die and, while they are on the spirit plane, help reluctant spirts cross ove. In order to do their jobs, ghostwalkers need anchors. Blake is a ghostwalker. Derek is his new anchor. And neither man anticipates what happens between them.
I hope you’ll check it out.
Excerpt:
“Hey, B? How spicy do you like the carne asada?”
Blake sat up fast, and his head appeared over the back of the couch. He’d been lying down, reading a book while Derek puttered in the kitchen. He peered at Derek with a skeptical look on his face.
“You’re making….” Blake shook his head. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
Derek chuckled, pleased down to his core that he’d impressed Blake yet again. Derek was showing off, and he liked that Blake noticed. He’d always taken care of people, but very few of those people had actually appreciated his gestures. In fact there were quite a few who had just taken it for granted. Blake seemed more than appreciative now that they’d gotten past their initial stumbling blocks.
And Derek really liked watching the man enjoy food.
He shrugged. “You mentioned you liked Mexican, so I dug around in the cupboards, and this is what I could make.”
Blake stared wide-eyed for a long moment and then squinted. “I mentioned I liked Mexican once. In passing. In the middle of a very long, very involved story about my brother’s ill-advised tattoo.”
“I pay attention.” Derek winked.
With a smile playing at the edges of his mouth, Blake shook his head. “And we just happened to have steak in the cupboards, hmm?”
Derek shrugged. “Well. I might have asked the kitchen to send some up. I had all the rest. They keep this place pretty well stocked. And I thought, since it’s our last night holed up away from the world together, I’d make something nice. The rice is the instant kind, though. Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about the rice.” Blake pulled himself up so he was kneeling on the seat. He propped his elbows up on the back and rested his chin in his hands. “Do you need any help?”
Derek loved that he offered, and he could tell Blake was more than willing to help, but he was just about done. “I got this. All I need is for you to tell me how you want it. On a scale of ‘what spice?’ to ‘oh my God I just burned all my taste buds and I’ll never be the same again.’”
Blake threw his head back and laughed. The sound went straight to Derek’s gut, and that pleasant feeling grew. He loved that he’d gotten such a positive reaction from Blake. They were enjoying each other’s company. It was a win.
“Medium.” Blake pressed a hand to his chest as he regained his breath. “Just enough to give it a little kick, to be able to really taste it.”
“You got it.” Derek gave him a salute. Then he felt ridiculous and laughed at himself. He added chipotle and chili powder to his marinade and whisked the whole thing until it was well combined. He poured it into a plastic bag with the flank steak, sealed it, and set it on the bottom shelf of the fridge.
When he turned, Blake was leaning against the counter. His arms were crossed over his chest and so were his legs at the ankles. He cocked his head to the side, and he looked curious, not defensive. Rather than ask Blake what was on his mind, Derek mimicked his pose against the fridge.
“Sweet or salty?” Blake’s voice was low—bordering on sultry—and Derek was suddenly glad his jeans were just tight enough to keep his body’s reaction from being too obvious.
“Depends on my mood. But if I had to choose? Salty.”
Blake’s blue eyes darkened to midnight. “Yeah. Me too.”
Only love makes life worth living—over and over again.
Ghostwalker Blake Jones dies every day. It’s his job and how he helps trapped souls cross over. But to return to life, he needs an anchor. His new partner, Derek Scott, is a surprise. Not only is he male, but his appearance belies a caring and gentle heart underneath. Despite attraction and a strengthening relationship, they know they shouldn’t take things further.
But there’s a big difference between knowing and doing.
Their growing love presents a problem, though not the one they expect. Blake and Derek have to decide if they should take their relationship to the most permanent level—an unbreakable metaphysical bond. Doing so offers both risk and unimaginable reward. Can Blake let go of his fears and put his complete trust in Derek in order to have the happily ever after he’s always craved?
Buy:
Dreamspinner
Author Bio:
Kris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project. Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time. A classic muscle car will always turn her head, and naps on the weekend are one of her greatest guilty pleasures. She lives in a converted attic with a way too fluffy cat and the voices in her head. She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal. Kris believes that love is love, no matter the gender of people involved, and that all love deserves to be celebrated.
Find her on her site https://kristbethke.com
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