From #WIP 'Wren and Deverel' preview #teaser #MMromance #suspense

“Every P.I. needs a sidekick.” Beau Deverel’s handsome face took on a pleading expression.

“No they don’t. Investigating can involve confidential information, not meant to be shared, and if you were my sidekick, it would be.” Lucian Wren sat on the end of the desk and crossed his arms. “I know that look and it won’t change my mind.”

“Come on, Lucian, I can keep secrets. We’ve hung out together forever don’t shut me out of this. I promise I’ll never divulge anything to anybody, except you, naturally. You have my word. Have I ever broken that oath? Well, have I?”

A grin flashed across Lucian’s face. “You have not. I’ll keep you to that promise. Catch.”

Beau grabbed the card that Lucian tossed to him out of the air with a rapid swipe of his hand. He flipped it over to read it. “Wren and Deverel, Private Investigators—you were teasing, you already added me to the business. Card’s a little plain—could we add something—a picture of a revolver or an axe maybe?”

Lucian Wren smiled, affection flooding his eyes for his longtime friend. “No. The embossed border is enough embellishment. We need to appear ultra professional.”

Beau nodded and pushed the business card into the top pocket of his jean jacket.

“Agreed.”

Copyright Elodie Parkes 2016 

From #WIP #MMromance a #midweektease Nothing gave him more pleasure than watching Tom

#MWTease from WIP #MM romance

Love Unmasked

Scott Palmer stood on the tiny balcony of his apartment across the street from Tom’s place. The street was narrow and one way so he could easily see into some of Tom’s second floor rooms and made it a point to do so when he judged Tom was home. Nothing gave him more pleasure than watching Tom. He traced every contour of Tom’s body with a hungry gaze. He imagined sliding his hands around Tom’s handsome face and kissing him. The thought made his cock jerk.

Today he’d seen Tom arrive in the sexy black truck and waited for him to walk to the front of the building from the carports. Scott watched Tom go into the building and then just as he’d hoped, Tom walked through a room taking off his jacket. A sigh had escaped Scott as he glimpsed Tom’s broad shoulders in a white T-shirt. He’d leaned back onto his balcony door and wished that Tom would one day look around and see him watching. Maybe he’d wave then and they could acknowledge each other occasionally. That would be great, not as good as speaking to Tom, but better than just hanging out staring over at him.

Scott waited for Tom to appear again, but he didn’t, which probably meant he’d gone into his bedroom. Scott had gone to an open house inspection held in the ground floor apartment of Tom’s building the year before. He guessed each apartment had the same layout. It made sense for efficiency of plumbing and stuff. That was the first time he’d seen Tom and the experience still lived vivid in his memory. Tom had been in the communal hall as Scott left the open inspection. His dark blue eyes had met Scott’s and he’d smiled a greeting as he went on his way. Scott’s heart had leaped and continued to pound as he turned to see the hot as hell guy walk up the flight of stairs to the second floor. 

Copyright Elodie Parkes Encompass Ink 2016 releasing later this year

Breakfast in a sun-drenched marina anyone? #Teaser from #WIP #romanticsuspense

From An Unusual Vacation #WIP #romanticsuspense

The summer day dawned in a blaze of glorious sunshine. Dominic checked his packing and his email before he downed a glass of orange juice and took off on his vacation. He grinned as he drove over the bridge in minimal traffic and was on his way down the river road to the marina.

Dominic drove into the marina parking lot just before ten. He had an hour to kill before his dad’s caretaker showed up with the keys to the yacht. Dominic briefly thought of taking the short drive to the cottage where the caretaker lived in the grounds of his dad’s lodge, to pick up the key, but the delicious aroma of cooking bacon drifted to him on the breeze as the marina café doors were propped open by a server. Hungry now, Dominic walked over to one of the tables placed in the morning sun outside the café. He checked the little menu in its plastic stand, and a server arrived at his table. Dominic ordered bacon and fried tomato toasted sandwiches, and coffee.

The breeze had picked up a little since he’d arrived and the pennants strung from each lamppost along the quay flapped making a strange high-pitched hum. Dominic gazed around at the boats moored in the berths. The riot of color and white against the backdrop of bright blue sky and marine blue water brought a smile to his face. He relaxed into the canvas of the café chair and stretched his legs out under the table. This is a good start. I feel better already.

His order arrived and Dominic tucked into his food happily. The café interior filled up and two small groups of people took tables outside close to Dominic’s table. They nodded a greeting, a smile between strangers in the lovely morning. Dominic had paid his bill and was about to wander along to his dad’s yacht, when an SUV screeched into the parking lot kicking up the fine gravel into a cloud, and drawing everyone’s stare as the occupants piled out, and charged down one of the walkways to the boats moored there. Dominic watched as the three men and one young woman clutched at each other when one of them stumbled. There was just enough time for Dominic to register the slender figure, and long, light brown, hair of the young woman, before one of the men stepped behind her and the group disappeared. Must have got in a boat. Wonder what that’s about?

© Elodie Parkes 2015