A warm welcome to author Annie Kaye joining us today to share an exclusive excerpt of her dreamspinner press release “Run”. Annie also brought along a wonderful giveaway!!
Welcome Annie 🙂

Run, by Annie Kaye

Amid the tumult of the Iowa Democratic primary, young but brilliant speechwriter Tom McAlindon meets Nathan Harris, the deputy campaign manager for an opposing candidate. Their acquaintance is strictly professional until an impetuous kiss on a cold winter night leads them into a secret romance. As their feelings deepen, both men struggle with the complications of keeping the relationship separate from their jobs and the inner workings of the campaigns.

But in the nation’s most high-stakes political game, no secret is truly safe. When an observer realizes their connection, Tom and Nate discover that striving for the best of both worlds has a much higher cost than they bargained for… and that love can’t survive while Nate is hiding the truth from Tom.

When Nate woke with a start some time later, it took him a moment to remember where he was. He sat up, trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes. His throat was parched. Not until after he’d drained the rest of the water from his bottle did he look around at the three or four other people sitting in the waiting area.

Two rows away from where he sat, an unmistakable head of messy golden-blond hair rested on a duffel bag. Tom McAlindon was slumped sideways in one of the seats, apparently sound asleep. Nate wondered when Tom had arrived. Obviously he, too, was flying back to DC and had encountered the same problem Nate had. Had he seen Nate asleep on the floor? Had he recognized him?

Tom’s jaw was slack and his lips parted slightly, giving him a look of relaxation that belied the less-than-ideal setting. Nate wondered if Tom was one of those people who could sleep pretty much anywhere, or if he had simply been unable to fight off his exhaustion after the day’s events. Before long, Nate’s brain began to fuzz again, and he stretched out his legs and let himself drift back to sleep.

The next time he woke, he knew exactly where he was. It was nearly 5:00 a.m.—close to when he usually began his day anyway—and his circadian rhythm told him it was time to get up and seek coffee. Slowly, stiffly, he picked himself up from the floor and stretched, stifling a groan. He wandered over to where the screens were displaying flight information. The flight he was booked on, scheduled to leave at five thirty, was showing as “Delayed.” He wouldn’t be going anywhere soon, that much was obvious. He headed back to his place on the floor. As he began folding his sweatshirt back into his duffel bag, movement from the seating area caught his eye. Nate looked up in time to see Tom McAlindon’s eyes turn away. Nate wondered how long Tom had been awake and watching him. Would they really sit so near each other, perhaps for hours, without acknowledging each other’s presence?

Nate made a quick decision. He zipped up his duffel, pocketed his iPhone, and made his way to stand in front of Tom. Tom looked up, and Nate didn’t give Tom a chance to ask the questions that filled his eyes.

“We could sit here and pretend we don’t know each other,” Nate said quietly, “or we could have a coffee and maybe chat for a while. We might have a long wait yet. Having someone to talk to would probably make the time pass more quickly.”

Tom’s silence and raised eyebrow expressed skepticism, not that Nate could blame him. “No ulterior motives, I promise,” he added, but he could see Tom still wasn’t convinced. Finally Nate realized there was something he’d skipped. He held out his hand, and with a tired but genuine smile, he said, “We haven’t been introduced. I’m Nathan Harris.”

Tom held Nate’s gaze for a long moment, clearly debating his options. Finally he capitulated, clasping Nate’s outstretched hand. “Tom McAlindon,” he replied, adding, “Nice to meet you, Nathan. Let’s have breakfast.”

Are you following the presidential primaries? What’s your favourite (or least favourite!) part of an election year? Respond in the comments below, before Monday, March 7, 2016 at 11:59 pm Eastern. One commenter will be selected to win a copy of any single-title Dreamspinner Press e-book, courtesy of Annie Kaye! To enter the draw, please include your email address in your post.

Purchase links:

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All Romance

Annie Kaye’s first ‘real’ job was a career in insurance. After fourteen years, the industry had wrung from her everything it could, leaving her desperate for a change that would allow her to flex her long-dormant creativity. She left her job and took several months off, planning to spend them on the couch in her yoga pants. Not six weeks had elapsed before she’d rediscovered a long-lost love: putting words to paper. Since 2009 she has written almost a million words of fiction, each piece bearing a common theme: love and relationships between gay men. Balancing family, work, creative efforts, and community involvement – and trying to hit the gym once in a while – are all near the top of Annie’s to-do list. At her home in the woods of rural Ontario, Canada, she endeavours to carve out her writing space from amid the joyful noise created by her husband, their two children, one dog, one cat, and the woodpeckers who sharpen their beaks on her windowsills.

Website: www.anniekaye.com Twitter: @anniekayefic Facebook: www.facebook.com/anniekayefiction