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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’ people in ood place to express my appreciation

Mr Lake, thanks for always being in my corner

Thank you once again to Shelly, Angi, Clarisse, Tamra, Elizabeth, Amanda, Robin, and Iveta for your feedback Than you to Andrea, Tanya, and Elizabeth for reviewing these short stories on short notice

Thank you to o ahead when I was ready to give up

Thank you tome this idea

Most of all, thank you tome every day

FOREWORD

If you’ve purchased Between E this, I’ll assume you’re more than just a casual fan of the series These short stories are for you Let me share with you hoeen Embers came to be

While ere in the process of editing White Heat, my editoron with the other guys and she wanted to knohat they were up to during the wedding Of course, in my head, I knew exactly what everyone was up to My secondary characters don’t know they’re secondary characters However, it was ih Rock and Hope’s point-of-views, or even Wrath and Trinity’s and it would have been extraneous in a book that was ready approach 125,000 words

But the idea wouldn’t go away!

I’d been planning to do another book of short stories like Three Kings, One Night for a while now I really love those stories—not everyone does because they’re “too short” (to which I always think which part of short stories was ive background on some of the characters who at the time when I published them, hadn’t been featured yet I have referred back to them on several occasions

Anyway, I’ve wanted to do another collection sis for a while and just haven’t been able to fit it inschedule My plan was to add Infatuated, the story featuring Z and Lilly that was included in the Pink: Hot & Sexy Anthology, since that is no longer available, one of Rock and Hope finally using their basement, and one other couple

Except, I’ve been so caught up in Murphy’s world, toiling away at More Than Miles (Lost Kings MC 6) and one or two other projects, that this was pushed aside

The dao away, though!

Then I caht—was a killer title “Between the Embers” (then I whittled it down to Between Embers so it had tords like White Heat, since it’s a co in a CR-RWA workshop (I get souys!) Once I figure out a title, I get so excited, I’m cos easy on me!

As is my process, I had bits and pieces of each story written out A few things that happen in Between Embers are critical (in my head) to future books, but this series isis critical

There it is Between Eo along with White Heat If you haven’t read it yet, these stories won’t make a lot of sense to you

If you’re still reading—thank you! I hope you enjoy these little “between the scenes” glis MC

TIMELINE

Between Embers contains chunks of time that were not seen in White Heat Each story covers the same time period Some events you did see in White Heat and you’ll now see theh a different character’s eyes

Teller’s story starts early the oes to bed Murphy’s story also starts early in theand ends after the reception Z’s story starts before the wedding and ends the following

The day hasn’t even started, and I’m exhausted I’m up at this hour so I can run ho to run into the bride in the kitchen

“Oh, Teller You startled me”

I run s, and down to her fluffy slippers “What are you doing in here?” My voice comes out harsher than I mean it to, so I force a smile

Hope sets a carton ofto eat breakfast, but I’m too nervous”

“As long as you’re not plannin’ a getaway” I was trying to be funny, but I just sound like an overbearing jerk

She ignor

estwo slices in the toaster “Do you want anything?”

“Coffee”

“You’re on your own there Every time I try to make coffee, it tastes like burned beans”

“Trinity’s the one who kno to make the coffee”

She chuckles softly “Yup”

“So, you happy you’ll be out of the clubhouse after tonight?” Again, I soundher rather than the respectful way I should talk to my president’s ol’ lady and I’m not sure why

“I don’t think the house is ready for us yet”

Prez said it would be ready tonight He also said it was a surprise I’ out It’s none of my business “No You knohat I mean”

“It will be nice to be alone with my husband” Her lips curve into a dreauys It’s impossible to be lonely here”

Her words sock ut, but I cover it up with a joke “Cos”

“Well, I’ve definitely seen s that can’t be unseen” She fake shivers and I can’t help laughing

“You’re so calm I re and yelling at everyone”

Her jaw drops and her cheeks redden

“Shit I’m sorry That was rude to—”

“It’s fine, Teller” She shrugs and tosses her hair back “It’s not like I don’t knoas married before”

She grabs her toast, s the knife in the sink “Youthen”

“Fifteen? Sixteen? I don’t really reotten used to going to Rock when things were shitty for us at home Once Carla married him, she made it clear ere not welcoht be competition

“Were you in the wedding?” she asks, dragging my head out of the past

“Fuck no She tried to discourage us fro around as much as possible”

“I’ er or pity Disbelief maybe “Well, you’re alelcome at our house”

Yeah right

“As soon as our kitchen’s sorted, Heidi’s supposed to come over to show me how to make applesauce You’ll have to come too”

The idea ofso simple pushes some ofto do stuff with Heidi after the wedding I guess I keep figuring at some point, Hope will drop the concerned mom bit she does with my sister You knohen she doesn’t need to impress Rock any more

“There you are,” Trinity yelps as she enters the kitchen My heart thuds at the sight of her Her razes her perfectly round ass As ass I should absolutely not be staring at She doesn’t even notice I’m in the room at first

They laugh and Trinity hipchecks Hope out of her way “Teller needs coffee,” Hope informs Trinity as she sits down across fro coffee”

Trinity whips her head around, a quick s Why are you up so early?”

“Need to go grab Heidi in a bit,” I answer, focusing my attention on thebehind Hope

“She could have joined our sluht,” Hope says

Trinity snorts, and no matter how much I don’t want to, I turn her way “Nah, he doesn’t want us corrupting his sister You should hear the pottyat Hope

“Whatever” Hope snickers

Tearing aze away from Trinity, I catch Hope’s eye “She said she had school work she wanted to get done last night so she didn’t have to worry about it over the weekend But it was probably an excuse for Axel to sneak over”

“I don’t know,” Hope says “She’s a pretty good student”

“I got your back, Teller,” Trinity assures ing lights Even if he did stop by, he would’ve been too exhausted to fool around”