Title: Starting From Scratch
Series: Starting From, #2
Author: Lane Hayes
Publisher: Lane Hayes
Release Date: October 17, 2019
Length: 80k
Genre: Romance, Bisexual, Enemies to lovers, Rock and roll, Hurt-comfort, Opposites attract
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Synopsis
Charlie Rourke is an ultra fabulous human whirlwind on a mission to launch the next biggest band in the world. However, he might have taken on more than he could handle when he signed on to manage Zero. Promoting a rock band and finding gigs shouldn’t be hard. They’re a talented group with a ton of star power. If Charlie can find the right record label, he’s sure he can help them get to the next level. The only problem is the skater boy slash bassist with a quirky sense of humor. He’s annoying and silly, and he’s exactly Charlie’s type. Except he’s straight.
Ky Baldwin isn’t afraid to switch things up. He loves a challenge as much as anyone, but Charlie doesn’t make things easy. Zero’s manager is a force of nature with a razor sharp tongue, a quick wit, and a no-nonsense attitude. Ky can’t stop thinking about him. Winning over Charlie becomes Ky’s pet project. But when the ice between them thaws, neither is prepared for the intensity of going from enemies to lovers. They’ll have to decide if they’re willing to start from scratch and take a chance on the unexpected.
Exclusive Excerpt from Starting From Scratch by Lane Hayes
“You’re a weirdo,” Ky said affectionately. “Are you saying you never wanted to do what all the other kids in school were doing? Join the football team, ask the prettiest girl out?”
“Sure. It just never went according to plan. I was too short and skinny to play football, but I tried out to do the kick in junior high school ’cause I had a crazy crush on Andy Foster. He was the quarter person.”
“Huh? You mean you were the kicker and he was the quarterback?”
I waved dismissively. “Maybe. But I didn’t get the part. Turns out the kicker guy has to practically do the fucking splits to get the ball to the other side of the park. Do you have any idea how far that is?”
“Yeah, it’s a hundred yards,” he replied matter-of-factly. “And it’s called a field, not a park.”
“Well, that’s ridiculous. I told them so too. And I’m pretty sure Andy suggested I try out for the cheer squad instead. So I did. I had a big problem with the costumes and the cheers, though. And I was also extremely jealous of Chelsea Mulder. She was tall and pretty with long blonde hair. All the boys liked her, including Andy. I thought if I got her to notice me, maybe he’d notice me too. But I didn’t know how to flirt with a girl. To this day, I can’t figure it out. I complimented her braids and told her they’d be prettier if she tightened them. Next thing you know, I’m doing Chelsea’s hair at recess and giving her fashion tips. I couldn’t seduce my way out of a wet paper bag. Not a woman anyway. Men are a whole other story,” I said, waggling my eyebrows lasciviously.
Ky snickered. “How so?”
“I just know what to do and what to say.”
“Oh, yeah? Give me an example. Seduce me.”
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously and held his gaze, but when he didn’t blink or back down, I decided to play along. I straightened from the wall and stood in front of him.
“Okay. Pretend we don’t know each other. Ready?” I waited for him to nod; then I bit my bottom lip and stepped closer. “What’s your name?”
“Ky.”
“Ky,” I repeated slowly, somehow expanding the two letters into a sentence. “What do you do for fun?”
“I play bass in a band and um…I skateboard and hang out with friends.”
“Why the bass?”
“Uh…well, I thought it was an easy instrument to fake play when I wanted to join a band in high school. Turned out I was wrong. You can’t fake the bass. It’s arguably the most important instrument and—what are you doing?”
I stepped between his open legs and brushed a strand of hair behind his ear. “Nothing. I’m listening to your story. Go on. I’m fascinated,” I purred.
Ky caught my wrist and furrowed his brow. “So you just pretend to be interested and then…what?”
I smiled. “I move in for the kill. See, guys love to talk about themselves. And they love unexpected questions.”
“ ‘What’s your name’ and ‘what do you for fun’ are the precursor to ‘what’s your sign,’ ” he commented idly.
“Yes, but you have to start with the lame ones before you get to the good stuff.”
Ky brought my hand to my side, then pushed away from the wall and linked his fingers in mine. “What’s the good stuff?”
“Uh, well…you smell good. What kind of cologne are you wearing?”
“Is that a real question or a pickup line?” he asked, rubbing his scruffy jaw along mine.
I shivered at the contact and nodded before hooking my thumb in one of his belt loops. “Both.”
“Hmm. I can’t remember if I’m wearing cologne, and that’s a bad line anyway.”
“That’s the idea. It’s okay to be slightly cheesy as long as you don’t overdo it. But…how can you not know if you put cologne on?” I asked incredulously. “That’s like forgetting to brush your teeth.”
Ky chuckled as he tipped my chin. “I don’t think so. Keep talking. What comes next?”
“Um…you get closer and compliment him. The color of his eyes, his shirt, his shoes, whatever seems to fit the moment,” I replied in a breathy voice. “Sometimes you need to back off. So he doesn’t get nervous. But then you start over…with a slight touch, eye contact, and—”
“Let me try.” Ky set his hand on my hip and stared at my mouth before meeting my gaze. “What’s your sign?”
When I busted up laughing, he stepped back and joined in for a second, then set his hands on the wall above my head and brushed his nose against mine.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t know, but I think we should do something crazy.”
“Like what?” I whispered.
Ky went still for a moment as if waiting for permission before gently pressing his lips to mine.
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Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and won First Prize in the 2016 and 2017 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.
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