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Xander and Tori in Vodka and Violets
Xander Jacobs, former military man with a heart of gold, has had a soft spot for the vivacious and talented Tori DuPont for as long as he can remember.
They’ve known each other since they were kids growing up in Napa. They might come from big name wine families, and be considered ‘wine-country royalty’, but neither of them was comfortable in that world.
Even though they’ve barely seen each other in decades, Xander made it his mission to keep Tori safe when danger crept into her world. And when her life in Nashville dissolves around her, he’s determined to stay by her side for whatever comes next – even if neither of them know what that might be.
A visit to Tori's mom in the charming town of Summer Lake opens up new possibilities – and offers an opportunity that might suit them both.
Tori can be unsure of herself at times, but she’s always had a heart full of dreams, and she’s always known that she can count on Xander to have her back.
She’ll just have to hope that he’ll have her back when she reclaims her childhood dreams. She used to dream about having her own wine bar – and she used to dream about being loved by Xander Jacobs.
As they find their feet in Summer Lake, every sunlit moment and moonlit dance brings them closer, and the laughter they share becomes the soundtrack to their blossoming future.
Get it at a discount from SJMcCoyBooks.com
or order from your preferred retailer:
Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon AUS
Google Play B&N Kobo Apple iBooks
Get it at a discount from SJMcCoyBooks.com
or order from your preferred retailer:
Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon AUS
Google Play B&N Kobo Apple iBooks
Xander and Tori in Vodka and Violets
Xander Jacobs, former military man with a heart of gold, has had a soft spot for the vivacious and talented Tori DuPont for as long as he can remember.
They’ve known each other since they were kids growing up in Napa. They might come from big name wine families, and be considered ‘wine-country royalty’, but neither of them was comfortable in that world.
Even though they’ve barely seen each other in decades, Xander made it his mission to keep Tori safe when danger crept into her world. And when her life in Nashville dissolves around her, he’s determined to stay by her side for whatever comes next – even if neither of them know what that might be.
A visit to Tori's mom in the charming town of Summer Lake opens up new possibilities – and offers an opportunity that might suit them both.
Tori can be unsure of herself at times, but she’s always had a heart full of dreams, and she’s always known that she can count on Xander to have her back.
She’ll just have to hope that he’ll have her back when she reclaims her childhood dreams. She used to dream about having her own wine bar – and she used to dream about being loved by Xander Jacobs.
As they find their feet in Summer Lake, every sunlit moment and moonlit dance brings them closer, and the laughter they share becomes the soundtrack to their blossoming future.
Get it at a discount from SJMcCoyBooks.com
or order from your preferred retailer:
Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon AUS
Google Play B&N Kobo Apple iBooks
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Sneak Peek
Xander folded his arms on the steering wheel and banged his forehead against them as he blew out a big sigh. He’d never been so frustrated in his life. He’d thought that when he assigned himself to protect Tori things would move quickly between them.
They’d known each other their whole lives. Yeah, she was younger than him by a few years, but not that many. He’d waited until she was well and truly grown up before he’d finally admitted to himself that what he felt for her was real. It wasn’t a childhood crush on his friend’s little sister. It wasn’t infatuation with someone who was completely different from him and yet also completely familiar.
Tori DuPont had always been part of the fabric of his life. Growing up in Napa as part of the circle considered to be ‘wine family royalty,’ he and his brother and sister, Jacob and Hannah, had been best friends with the DuPonts – Tori, and her brother and sister, Bentley and Willow.
Tori had fascinated him since she was a kid. There was an innocence about her that wasn’t simply because she was the youngest of their group. She was sweet, a little ditzy, always lost in her own little world. He’d read a book once, when he was a kid, that had all kinds of magical creatures in it – fairies, ogres, trolls, and pixies and the like. Tori reminded him of the sprites in that book. She was magical.
He forced himself to climb out of his SUV. She was still as elusive as ever. He was starting to think that she only saw him as a stand-in big brother. She’d always been friendly with him, but he’d thought that once the two of them could spend some together – away from Napa and all the family ties and influences that they couldn’t escape when they were there – she’d understand how he felt about her and maybe discover that she felt the same way.
He'd been in Nashville with her for weeks now, and none of that had happened. She was either keeping him at arm’s length deliberately, or she was genuinely oblivious. Either way, he wasn’t happy. He’d never had trouble with women before. Hell, he didn’t have trouble with women now. Only with Tori. Why did he have to want the one woman who didn’t seem to want him as anything more than a friend?
His heart started to pound when he saw her trotting down the front steps of the ranch house where they were staying. He quickly adjusted his pants. She had this effect on him every time he was around her – every time he saw her.
He felt like a fool. But he wasn’t ready to give up.
“Hi.” She came straight to him, and he couldn’t help it, he snaked his arm around her waist and drew her to him. As tempted as he was to kiss her, he managed to land his lips on the top of her head, instead of on her lips.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. “Thank you!”
She seemed genuinely pleased but also totally surprised whenever he lost the iron grip he usually managed to maintain on himself.
He didn’t want her thanks. He wanted her to return the affection. He forced himself to smile and step away.
“Where are you off to?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked guilty. “Nowhere.”
Shit. Maybe she was coming out to find one of the other guys. Kolby had four men on his team, all of whom were assigned to protecting Callie. Maybe Tori was getting friendly with one of them.
He gave her puppy dog eyes – they worked so well with most women. “Aww, and I thought you were coming looking for me. Thought that maybe you missed me.”
Her gaze slid away from his.
“Hey. It’s okay, sprite. I’m only pulling your leg. You can tell me if you’re looking for someone else.”
She lifted her chin. “I was looking for you. I …”
He didn’t get it, couldn’t figure her out. Sometimes, he’d swear that she felt the same way he did but was too embarrassed to admit it. But why would she be embarrassed?
“Well, you found me. What do you need?”
She searched his face. “I …”
She did that a lot, started to say something, and made him hope that she was about to confess her feelings. But every time she backed off, or chickened out, or … or maybe he was just imagining the whole thing.
He let the silence drag on until it became uncomfortable, then made a joke to let them both off the hook.
“You came looking for a hug, because even after all these years I’m still the world’s best hugger?”
Her cheeks turned pink, but she nodded. “Yeah, that was it.”
He held his arms out to her, and she stepped closer. They’d played this game ever since he arrived in Nashville to look out for her. They’d done it whenever they both saw each other back home in Napa over the last few years, too.
As he wrapped his arms around her and held her soft, sweet little body close to his chest – and away from his hips so that she wouldn’t feel the effect she had on him – it felt as though everything in his world slotted into its rightful place. This was where she belonged – with him. In his arms – and also in his bed, and his life.
~ ~ ~
Tori wrapped her arms around Xander’s waist and hung on tight. She pressed her cheek against his chest and breathed him in. She wasn’t a hundred percent sure, but she had a feeling that he gave her these awesome hugs as a consolation prize. Every time she almost managed to be brave enough to tell him how she felt, she ended up with his arms wrapped around her.
She closed her eyes. She’d loved him since she was five years old. Even then, he’d been tough but gentle, a protector with a heart of gold – and way out of her reach.
She was the ditzy one, he was the leader, the tough guy. She was a creative soul, a daydreamer. He was solid, and practical, popular with everyone, while she flitted around the edges, never quite feeling like she belonged.
Breathing in the reassuring, masculine scent of him, she felt as though she’d finally found her home. But that was crazy. He was just looking out for her because he was such a good guy. If she told him how she felt, he’d have to tell her that he didn’t feel the same way. He’d reject her, and that would spoil everything. She’d rather leave things as they were than risk losing the closeness that they shared.
At least this way, she got to hold him like this sometimes, got to feel his arms around her, and feel his heart beat under her cheek. She might want so much more with him, but she wouldn’t gamble with what they had. She didn’t think she’d survive if she lost this closeness.
One of his hands moved lower on her back, and hot desire trickled through her veins. She didn’t want to gamble, but sometimes she wondered if it might be worth it.
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Xander folded his arms on the steering wheel and banged his forehead against them as he blew out a big sigh. He’d never been so frustrated in his life. He’d thought that when he assigned himself to protect Tori things would move quickly between them.
They’d known each other their whole lives. Yeah, she was younger than him by a few years, but not that many. He’d waited until she was well and truly grown up before he’d finally admitted to himself that what he felt for her was real. It wasn’t a childhood crush on his friend’s little sister. It wasn’t infatuation with someone who was completely different from him and yet also completely familiar.
Tori DuPont had always been part of the fabric of his life. Growing up in Napa as part of the circle considered to be ‘wine family royalty,’ he and his brother and sister, Jacob and Hannah, had been best friends with the DuPonts – Tori, and her brother and sister, Bentley and Willow.
Tori had fascinated him since she was a kid. There was an innocence about her that wasn’t simply because she was the youngest of their group. She was sweet, a little ditzy, always lost in her own little world. He’d read a book once, when he was a kid, that had all kinds of magical creatures in it – fairies, ogres, trolls, and pixies and the like. Tori reminded him of the sprites in that book. She was magical.
He forced himself to climb out of his SUV. She was still as elusive as ever. He was starting to think that she only saw him as a stand-in big brother. She’d always been friendly with him, but he’d thought that once the two of them could spend some together – away from Napa and all the family ties and influences that they couldn’t escape when they were there – she’d understand how he felt about her and maybe discover that she felt the same way.
He'd been in Nashville with her for weeks now, and none of that had happened. She was either keeping him at arm’s length deliberately, or she was genuinely oblivious. Either way, he wasn’t happy. He’d never had trouble with women before. Hell, he didn’t have trouble with women now. Only with Tori. Why did he have to want the one woman who didn’t seem to want him as anything more than a friend?
His heart started to pound when he saw her trotting down the front steps of the ranch house where they were staying. He quickly adjusted his pants. She had this effect on him every time he was around her – every time he saw her.
He felt like a fool. But he wasn’t ready to give up.
“Hi.” She came straight to him, and he couldn’t help it, he snaked his arm around her waist and drew her to him. As tempted as he was to kiss her, he managed to land his lips on the top of her head, instead of on her lips.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. “Thank you!”
She seemed genuinely pleased but also totally surprised whenever he lost the iron grip he usually managed to maintain on himself.
He didn’t want her thanks. He wanted her to return the affection. He forced himself to smile and step away.
“Where are you off to?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked guilty. “Nowhere.”
Shit. Maybe she was coming out to find one of the other guys. Kolby had four men on his team, all of whom were assigned to protecting Callie. Maybe Tori was getting friendly with one of them.
He gave her puppy dog eyes – they worked so well with most women. “Aww, and I thought you were coming looking for me. Thought that maybe you missed me.”
Her gaze slid away from his.
“Hey. It’s okay, sprite. I’m only pulling your leg. You can tell me if you’re looking for someone else.”
She lifted her chin. “I was looking for you. I …”
He didn’t get it, couldn’t figure her out. Sometimes, he’d swear that she felt the same way he did but was too embarrassed to admit it. But why would she be embarrassed?
“Well, you found me. What do you need?”
She searched his face. “I …”
She did that a lot, started to say something, and made him hope that she was about to confess her feelings. But every time she backed off, or chickened out, or … or maybe he was just imagining the whole thing.
He let the silence drag on until it became uncomfortable, then made a joke to let them both off the hook.
“You came looking for a hug, because even after all these years I’m still the world’s best hugger?”
Her cheeks turned pink, but she nodded. “Yeah, that was it.”
He held his arms out to her, and she stepped closer. They’d played this game ever since he arrived in Nashville to look out for her. They’d done it whenever they both saw each other back home in Napa over the last few years, too.
As he wrapped his arms around her and held her soft, sweet little body close to his chest – and away from his hips so that she wouldn’t feel the effect she had on him – it felt as though everything in his world slotted into its rightful place. This was where she belonged – with him. In his arms – and also in his bed, and his life.
~ ~ ~
Tori wrapped her arms around Xander’s waist and hung on tight. She pressed her cheek against his chest and breathed him in. She wasn’t a hundred percent sure, but she had a feeling that he gave her these awesome hugs as a consolation prize. Every time she almost managed to be brave enough to tell him how she felt, she ended up with his arms wrapped around her.
She closed her eyes. She’d loved him since she was five years old. Even then, he’d been tough but gentle, a protector with a heart of gold – and way out of her reach.
She was the ditzy one, he was the leader, the tough guy. She was a creative soul, a daydreamer. He was solid, and practical, popular with everyone, while she flitted around the edges, never quite feeling like she belonged.
Breathing in the reassuring, masculine scent of him, she felt as though she’d finally found her home. But that was crazy. He was just looking out for her because he was such a good guy. If she told him how she felt, he’d have to tell her that he didn’t feel the same way. He’d reject her, and that would spoil everything. She’d rather leave things as they were than risk losing the closeness that they shared.
At least this way, she got to hold him like this sometimes, got to feel his arms around her, and feel his heart beat under her cheek. She might want so much more with him, but she wouldn’t gamble with what they had. She didn’t think she’d survive if she lost this closeness.
One of his hands moved lower on her back, and hot desire trickled through her veins. She didn’t want to gamble, but sometimes she wondered if it might be worth it.
Get it at a discount from SJMcCoyBooks.com
or order from your preferred retailer:
Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon AUS
Google Play B&N Kobo Apple iBooks