Everyone has secrets

Here's the first secret today: Leave a comment and you might win an ebook from my backlist.

Who doesn't have secrets. We got through life keeping them, some small, some very big. We hide little portions of our life that we think no one needs to know, harmless little tidbits that we hug to ourselves like precious jewels. Then there are big secrets, life-changing secrets that wee hesitate to share. What if someone gets hurt? What if someone hates us? What if it causes someone pain.

IN DARK SECRETS, my newest release from Decadent Publishing, there are so many secrets it's hard to keep track of them. Hawk Blackwater, the new sheriff in tiny Freewill, Wyoming, has many secrets-a failed marriage, a tough past as a Phoenix cop, a struggle with his Yavapai heritage. He sees an opportunity for a fresh start in the small town in the foothills of the Laramie Mountains.

The  mountains themselves have secrets, the mysterious lights that appear and reappear, puzzling the residents. Are strangers invading the mountains for some unknown purpose? Are they the fires of long-dead Native Americans, a paranormal aspect that no one buys?

There's a killer with secrets, whoever shot the previous sheriff and left his body on a trail in the mountains and no clue as to his identity.

And finally Riley Scott has a dark secret. She's hiding from a mana who is not only physically abusive but is involved in so many illegal things they make her head spin. She's in Freewill trying to remain anonymous and try to figure out who to give her information to.

The sudden electric explosion between her and Hawk isn't helping either of them, especially when the hot sex addles their minds.

Excerpt:

“Interesting, “ Hawk commented, watching the woman leave the restaurant. “Wonder what her secret is?”

Brady lifted an eyebrow. “Secret? How do you even know she’s got one?”

“Instinct. Half lawman, half Yavapai. All the signs are there. If I didn’t know better I’d think she might have something to do with John Foster’s death. Or even the lights in  the Laramies that come and go.”

“How do you know she’s not?” Brady asked.

“If she’d killed Foster or been a party to it, she’d be long gone, not hanging around here. Besides, she showed up months after the murder. But I wonder if she has something to do with these strange lights that are driving me crazy.”

Brady frowned. “What makes you think that?”

Hawk shrugged. “The lights didn’t show up until a couple of weeks after she got here. And she sure acts like she’s got something to hide. ”

“Maybe she’s running away from something,” Brady suggested. “Or someone. Don’t you think that’s more likely? She lands here in a place that’s not exactly a destination spot for people. Unless they’re going to the Misbegotten Gaines Ranch.  She doesn’t exactly reach out to people. Just keeps to herself. As far as I know the only places she goes besides work are the bookstore, Wyoming Eats and the grocery.”

“She’s not on any Wanted list. Could be she just likes her own company.”

“If you’re so curious you could always drop in at Books and More and the two of you could have a reading hour together.” Brady grinned. “You do read, don’t you, Hawk?”

Hawk made a face. “Very funny. But I might just drop by Darnell’s place. I’m out of feed for the horses and few other things.”

“You could always call in your order.” Brady laugh. “Save yourself a trip.”

Hawk just shook his head shoved his hands in his ranch jacket and walked towards the feed store.

Leave it alone. You have other things more important to focus on.

But he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. He didn’t know why she was bugging him. She certainly wasn’t any of his business, but his curiosity was on full alert. As was another part of his body.  Deliberately he tamped down the feelings surging through him. He had no business letting himself get involved with anyone. Especially someone who was obviously carrying a pound of trouble.

Go back to your office. Haven’t you got enough going on without piling on more?

But his feet kept moving in the direction of Freewill Feed and Supplies, trying to remind himself he had more important things than scoping out a woman doing her best to blend into the background. One of these days his curiosity was going to get him into real trouble.

DARK SECRETS IS AVAILABLE AT AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER ONLINE BOOKSTORES.