Texas_Heat- (15 page)

Riley stood at the end of Sean's bed. At least the cuffs had been removed and he was lying peacefully, oblivious to the shit storm that he had incited.

When he knew that they were following you?"
"They weren't. Following me, that is." Eden crossed
to sit in the chair next to Sean's bed and folded one of his
hands in hers. "I was just an added bonus, but they took
their photos and then went to the bar. When Sean went to
the restroom… Look, I don't know what happened, but one
of them must have said or done something, because when I watched him walk back I saw him stop and turn to one of them. They could have said something about me, I don't know, but Sean was shouting and it was more about
soldiers and dying. I told all this to the police."
"Go on." Riley wanted to hear it all and this was as
good a time to hear it.
"He hasn't been the same since he came back from
his last research trip to Afghanistan. He's due to fly out the
day after tomorrow for his final visit, but the closer it came
the tenser he was getting. His eyes…" She stopped and
bowed her head.
Riley could hear tears in her voice and it broke his
heart.
"What about his eyes, Eden?" he asked gently. "They were sometimes so haunted. He wouldn't talk
about what he had seen, just spoke of the friends he had
made and the things that he thought would make me smile.
I know he didn't tell me everything but I didn't push. Some
nights he would not be able to sleep and I would wake at
three and he would be sitting with his laptop, getting his
words on paper. Not the fluid tap of keys but an almost
aggressive writing—I can't explain. He would shut the
laptop and smile at me. But his eyes never smiled." "I'm sorry, Eden."
Eden shuffled the chair a little closer and rested her
face against Sean's chest, being careful to avoid the cannula
and tube that was connected to a drip. The entire left side of
his face from eye to chin was bandaged. Eden had said
there was a lot of blood and she couldn't see the damage
but Riley had heard the doctor talk to her. Words like blind,
and loss of sight, and nerve damage were thrown about like
they meant nothing.
"Do you need anything?" he asked.
Eden looked up at him. "No. Thank you." Sean had protected Eden when she had come to see
what was happening. A mirror had smashed and was half
hanging on the wall. When one of the photographers had
moved and she was pushed toward it, something had made
Sean twist and shield her as the mirror fell and it had sliced
into his face. The horror of it made Riley sick. Whatever
started the fight, whoever was to blame, Sean had protected
Eden to the end. For that Riley would forever be grateful.
Now they just needed to know what the hell had caused it
all.

Riley shifted and lifted the covers when Jack came back to bed. It was the way things were between them. The rhythm of Jack's breathing and the reassurance of him being in bed were the only two things Riley depended on. They were what he needed so badly tonight and he couldn't sleep without them.

"Horses okay?" he asked as Jack slipped off his clothes and climbed into bed. In seconds they were in each other's arms, in the perfect position, with Jack resting his face on Riley's chest.

They lay in silence for a while and Riley's thoughts played havoc with his breathing. Sean was awake but groggy. It appeared that the photographers had made some comment about the war and Sean had seen just enough to want to make a stand.

Sean had lost a friend that day. A corporal that had been assigned as his guide had been killed by a roadside bomb. That was why the argument started. No one, it seemed, was pressing charges—not one photographer in the group of four came forward and admitted to what had been said, despite witnesses close by telling it exactly as it had been. Christ knows what would happen down the road though.

There was no way about it, Sean had lost his sight in one eye. The optic nerve was severed, the damage too severe. It didn't matter how much money Eden or Riley could throw at the situation, Sean was not going to heal. The scarring on his face could be dealt with, according to the plastic surgeon who had attended him today. Riley was there when Sean just closed his good eye and shook his head. Eden looked at Riley helplessly. Sean would need help to get his head around all of this but at least he wasn't pushing Eden away. Yet.

"Did Stafford talk to you after I left the hospital?" Jack asked.
The detective had been waiting at reception when Jack left and had cornered Riley.
"He didn't say much. Just explained that Sean was free to go when he was well."
Jack settled under the covers and pulled Riley in close.
"Are you still thinking about the bid?"
Riley would be lying if he said he wasn't thinking about the fact CH had won the bid, but in the grand scheme of things it was less important than what his sister was going through.
"I'm pleased… and surprised."
"Bet Josiah is spitting nails."
"Dad thinks they will file to say our new syndicate isn't stable."
"Do they have a case?"
Riley sighed. He wished he had an answer. After what happened with Eden's almost slip-up about the memories of Jeff and Gerald, Riley realized he wasn't anxious about Josiah or anything that would come of this. He had bigger things that should be occupying his thoughts. Eden had been close to losing her control in hospital, and saying what she said could have been heard. Secrets nearly spilled and he couldn't sleep even after Jack was breathing rhythmically. Deliberately he turned his thoughts from the black pit of his family history to his friend Eli and the growing relationship between him and Robbie.
When they got home after dinner Eli was with Robbie, Hayley, and the horses. Eli said the shoot had gone well and that Hayley had been his assistant. Eli had been Hayley's babysitter and judging by the elaborate hair twist up on her head, he was clearly better than Riley with women's hair. Either that or the stylist for the models had been involved. Eli was settled here. The natural progression went from thinking about Eli and how Robbie was a good man and in particular one of the best things to happen to Eli ever. Riley imagined converting some of the older buildings some distance from the main house into a more permanent place for Robbie if he stayed. Family was important.
"Jack? You asleep?"
"Mnnh." Jack was very clearly in sleep zone.
"Do you think Hayley would like a sister or brother?"
Silence. Complete and absolute silence. Riley could have kicked himself. Jack would probably think this was a stupid idea. Hell, he'd taken Hayley on like his own but that didn't mean he wanted a whole ranch of rug rats. Who was he kidding anyway? They were two gay men with careers. What did they know about having another child? Maybe a baby? Who knew what to do with a baby?
"A baby. you mean?" Jack said finally.
"I don't know. Not necessarily. Never mind. We can talk later." Riley wanted the conversation finished. Last thing he needed was to be pressuring Jack into things they didn't need.
"I want to talk now," Jack said.
He didn't sound pissed. Thoughtful and considering maybe, but not angry.
"Okay?" Riley said carefully. He wondered what Jack was going to say.
"I've been thinking on this a lot."
"You have?"
So have I.
"How would you feel if we tried for surrogacy first? With me as the donor?" Jack sounded hesitant.
Riley shrugged free of Jack and leaned over to turn on the light until the low wattage filled the room. Jack was blinking in the light and appeared as uncertain as his voice had indicated. Riley couldn't get his words out fast enough.
"A boy with your blue eyes and your ornery stubbornness or a girl who could become the best barrel racer ever seen? Do you mean this for real?" Suddenly the world seemed brighter, like Riley could take on everything and come out winning.
Jack half smiled. "I do."
Riley whooped his approval and clambered to straddle Jack, pushing him flat on the bed.
"Fuck, Jack, I love you."
Jack grinned up at him. "Het-boy? You know what?"
"What?"
"I love you too."

RJ Scott lives just outside London. She has been writing since age six, when she was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and was told to write a story. Two sides of A4 about a trapped princess later, a

lover of writing was born. She loves reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror; however, her first real love will always be the world of romance. Her goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and more than a hint of happily ever after.

Oracle
Moments
The Christmas Throwaway
"Valentine 2525" in
Never Say Never All the King's Men
Back Home
Deefur Dog
Jesse's Christmas
The Gallows Tree
The Art of Words
with Meredith Russell
A Better Man
with Jaime Reese "Child of the Storm" in
Hearts of England Silver Shorts 2012, Week 6 Silver Shorts 2012, Week 7 Silver Shorts 2012, Week 15

TEXAS
The Heart of Texas Texas Winter Texas Heat

THE FIRE TRILOGY
Kian
Darach
Eoin

THE FITZWARREN INHERITANCE
The Psychic's Tale
, by Chris Quinton
The Soldier's Tale
, by RJ Scott
The Lord's Tale
, by Sue Brown
The Fitzwarren Inheritance
(Print)

SANCTUARY
Guarding Morgan The Only Easy Day Face Value Still Waters Full Circle

SHADOW OF THE WOLF with Diane Adams
Shattered Secrets
Broken Memories

Available at
Love Lane Books – for young adults
:
Love Is In The Hallways
Love Is In The Title
Love is in the Message
The Decisions We Make

Oracle
Best Gay Paranormal / Horror 2010
: Honorable Mention (5
^th
)
Elisa Rolle's Rainbow Awards

Oracle
Best Cover 2010
: Second Place
Elisa Rolle's Rainbow Awards

Oracle
Best Cover 2010
: Runner Up
Love Romance Café

The Christmas Throwaway
Top 10 Bestselling Books of 2010
Are (All Romance ebooks)

5/5 for
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott has created a beautiful and inspirational story that grabs hold of the heart and doesn't let go, even after its final words are read. It is a sweetly sentimental book that cultivates an emotional response and inspires belief that love can prevail under the most improbable of circumstances. The characters are well developed and engaging, and the attraction between Zach and Ben was entirely credible. To use a trite but true cliché, The Christmas Throwaway is simply a feel-good story, a touching and romantic read that embodies the meaning of new beginnings and happy endings.

Book Wenches
give 4.5 to
Moments
Although I began reading it looking for a Hollywood train wreck, this novel is much more than that. It is a well-told story of love, personal growth and redemption that I found to be touching and quite involving. It features welldeveloped and arresting characters, heartfelt emotion, and a romance that is both intriguing and affecting… I will definitely be seeking out more of Ms. Scott's work in the future.

Readers Roundtable
gives 5/5 to
Oracle
Oracle by RJ Scott is in one word beautiful. You have to take the journey with Alex to find that beauty but it's there and it will bring a smile, and a few tears, to your face.

Hearts on Fire Reviews
gives 5/5 to
The Art of Words
"Anyone who likes vulnerable male characters (as I do) should like this book. Blu is a fascinating character. You just want to give him a reassuring hug, ruffle his hair, and take him to McDonald's (ok…just kidding about Micky D's. He isn't that childlike. He doesn't need

McNuggets….just some confidence, served in abundance, please!!) He really doesn't believe in himself. He's a neurotic bundle of nerves in the beginning but by the end of the story the reader will be smiling with him. The writers actually had me teary eyed at one point. And when a book hits me on an emotional level like that I usually rate high. They deserve it. The writing was crisp, clean, and realistic. The story wasn't bogged down with a lot of conflict, which I appreciate since it was a relatively short read. Blu's problem with self-esteem and his shameful secret was enough to keep the story flowing. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes m/m romance.
And I definitely would read another book by this writing pair."

MM Good Book Reviews
gives 4.5/5 to
Still Waters
"R.J. Scott has provided us with a wonderful story of lovers torn apart by betrayal, a bit of action, a bit of danger, some passionate sex, twists and a really well written storyline that flows smoothly. So, really I have to recommend that you give it a read."

Dark Divas Reviews
gives 5/5 to
The Art of Words
Ms. Scott and Ms. Russell show the depth of both Blu and Tom's insecurities without emasculating either character. Both Tom and Blu have inner strengths that can at times hinder each other but also help each other, thus allowing each of them to grow. It is this balance that they must find in order to make both the professional and more importantly, the personal relationship work. This reviewer believes that the balance is there and a HEA is most definitely in order. The reader will not be disappointed when reading
The Art of Words.