Please welcome Lane Hayes!

by

Better Than Chance by Lane Hayes

Thank you for having me here today, Kim!  Better Than Chance was released almost a month ago and I’m over the moon with the response so far!  This is the second book in the Better Than series. Those who’ve read my first novel, Better Than Good will recognize Jay and Peter as Aaron’s best friend and his long-time partner.   Aaron makes a point of describing the couple as having a relationship he admires.  “In the land of gay, they are what I would wish for one day…. they just seem to get each other.”  But it wasn’t always so simple for Jay and Peter.

When Jay first meets Peter, he’s excited to be working with the guy he’s had a major office crush on for a couple of years.  However, the long hours, stress and pressure soon turn his infatuation upside down.  Peter is not only difficult to work for but Jay is sure he’s homophobic as well.  But then… he’s not so sure.  Jay is forced to concede he may have misread Peter all along, which makes it difficult to hide the fact he’s still wildly attracted to him.  When Peter admits he feels the same, things get fun but they also get complicated.  Jay and Peter are complete opposites.  Jay is easy going with an open friendly nature while Peter is intense, driven and extremely private.  He tells Jay he isn’t “boyfriend material” but Jay knows “friends with benefits” isn’t a title he’s going to be fine with for long.  Especially when he knows he’s falling for his gorgeous boss. 

How characters interact is what always interests the reader in me.  I want my Happy Ever After, but I also want to be a part of the action from the start.  I’m greedy that way!  The voyeur in me wants to know about the small ways we tend to overthink and assume we understand what we later have to admit may not be so clear.  At one point later in the story, Jay realizes he may never know or understand everything about Peter.  Some things are left to faith and to chance.

I hope you love Jay and Peter!  Their story is the second in the Better Than series, but not to worry… it is a standalone book.  So if you missed Better Than Good, don’t worry, you won’t be lost.  Hopefully you’ll be curious to go back and read about Aaron and Matt too!

Happy Reading!

 
Lane Hayes

 

 

Blurb Better Than Chance by Lane Hayes:
Jay Reynolds has a crush on his project leader at work, but an office romance with Peter Morgan isn’t likely to happen since Peter is straight. Worse, Jay soon fears Peter is homophobic, and his initial infatuation turns to loathing. But one fateful night, Jay is forced to acknowledge things aren’t quite as they seem with Peter. Suddenly, his crush is back and unbelievably, Peter is interested too.
They begin a “friends with benefits” arrangement, which becomes difficult for Jay when he starts falling for his sexy boss. Peter’s past issues keep him from committing, and Jay has to decide if he can be satisfied with friendship if Peter isn’t ready to take a chance on anything more.

 

Excerpt from Better Than Chance by Lane Hayes:
“Close the door, Reynolds.”  His tone was sharp and concise.  No argument was expected or welcomed.  I obeyed and waited for him to speak.

 He didn’t say a word.  He pointed to a chair and directed me to sit with a simple wave of his hand as he began a slow pace around the perimeter of the small round table.  It was like being stalked by a tiger.  There was an electric air of danger in this tiny space and I had set it in motion.  I clung to my anger.  I wasn’t wrong.  Was I?

Peter suddenly stopped.  He stood at the other end of the table with his arms crossed over his broad chest.  As usual he was impeccably dressed in a gorgeous dark suit tailored to perfection.  His dark wavy hair seemed a little longer.  I absently wondered if he was growing it out.  But his dark furrowed brow and intense stare told me to keep my ponderings to myself.  He wasn’t in the mood to chat about hair.  He looked pissed.

 “Explain yourself.”

 I blinked twice.   I was almost afraid of him, but I knew that was irrational.  I had a legitimate reason for my outburst.  I just wished I had been a bit more professional about it.
 
Fine.  I will.”  Professional, I cautioned myself.  Don’t get personal.  “You have given me rather baffling critiques, Mr. Morgan that I frankly find ridiculous and almost contrived in a way that suggests you want to point out the negative whether or not it has any bearing whatsoever to the project at hand.”  Good, well said, I thought.

 “What the fuck are you talking about?”  He looked genuinely perplexed.

“You know what I’m talking about!”  I exploded.  “Correct paragraph two, sentence one…. that’s one example!  What was today’s going to be?  Change the use of my pronoun from direct to indirect?  Or is it an adjective that you want me to reconsider?  Or…”

I had become so worked up that I didn’t register that he’d moved until he was three short feet away from me.  He wore the strangest expression.  It was a cross between tempered fury and frustration.  He held up his hand in that authoritative way of his, demanding that I stop.   Stop everything.  Don’t talk.  Don’t move.  I waited like a deer in headlights to see what he’d do.

 A fresh wave of adrenaline rushed through my veins as I found myself literally shoved up against the conference room wall with Peter’s large hand at my throat.  I swallowed hard and looked into his dark angry eyes, his face was two short inches away from mine.  His breath was warm against my cheek.  He pulled back and shook his head as though puzzled by his own actions before he tightened his hold at my neck and covered my mouth with his own. 

 I could barely breath.  There was nowhere to hide, no retreat possible so I gave in.  My mouth melted underneath his allowing the lip lock to become a kiss.  A fiery passionate joining.  Our tongues fought for dominance, licking and sucking.  Peter’s hands trapped my head as he plunged even further into my mouth taking every last bit of control away from me.  He ran his tongue over my lips before tracing a path along my jaw and biting my earlobes.  I nudged him back with my nose and heard his low groan as he once again fused his mouth over mine.

 I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his body close to mine.  My hands kneaded his perfect ass through the fine fabric of his pants as I sent my hips forward to meet his.  We gasped at the first feel of friction as our hardened cocks pressed together through our suits.  It was electrifying and wickedly carnal.  A mere glimpse into how intensely hot the real thing could be if we let ourselves go there.  Peter stopped abruptly, straightening his arms on either side of my head.  Our heavy breathing was the only sound in the room. 

 “I want you.”  He growled, resting his forehead against mine.

 Purchase Links:

Amazon:

 

Dreamspinner Press:

 

Barnes & Noble:

 

 

5 Star Reviews for Better Than Chance!:

Sinfully Sexy Books:

Sidlove Book Reviews:

http://sidlove.com/2014/01/22/release-day-review-better-than-chance-by-lane-hayes/

 

Author Bio:

 

Lane Hayes is a designer by trade, but is spending more time these days doing what she loves best. Writing! An avid reader from an early age, Lane has always been drawn to romance novels. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a fews ago and was instantly hooked. Her first novel was a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband, three teenage kids, and Rex, the coolest yellow lab ever.

 

Contact Info:

Twitter:  @LaneHayes3