ManLoveMonday: JL Langley Guest Hostess!

First off: Congrats to NoseInABook friend of the blog J.L.Langley for wining:

2008 #1 Readers Choice Award The Englor Affair

2008 also saw the Tin Star as the number one seller at a Different Light in SF. (I got the above info from my pal TPig. He keeps me in the know.)


JL offered to post an exclusive for today's ManLoveMonday. YAY~!

So here's the deal with JL Langley, in case you don't know:

JL always goes the distance. She takes risks. She's an old school romance reader and it's clear in her books that she understands how to develop good, old fashion tension. (Merow) From shape shifters to spaceship captains, from cowboys to Indians, JL writes m/m stories that take your breath away and leave you tapping your toes, waiting for more. She explores a variety of sexual dynamics in the relationships she creates, her characters are regular joe's or kings and princes, and they always exhibit depth of character. Fraility. Resolve. Just. Ok. Gush.


MORE MORE MORE.

::ahem::


So today JL Langley has given us some deleted scenes from The Broken H


This scene was cut from the poker party, where Shane and Gray go to The Tin Star:

They were the first ones to arrive at the Tin Star. When they got to the back porch of the ranch house, the back door was open just a bit. Through the small space Gray could see Jamie’s back. He was in a black T-shirt and jeans and on the ass of his jeans was a tanned hand…Ethan. Gray glanced back up. Yep, Ethan’s other hand was in the middle of Jamie’s back. They were kissing. Gray hated to intrude, but the two cases of beer where getting heavy. “Uh, knock, knock.”

Jamie spun around, pot holder on one hand, spatula in the other, grin on his face. “Oh hey, y’all. Come on in.”

Gray nudged the door the rest of the way open with his boot. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Ethan stepped around Jamie smiling. His hair was damp, like he’d just gotten out of the shower and he was in denim shorts and a pull over shirt. “Nope, don’t apologize. If you hadn’t interrupted, Jamie would’ve burnt the cookie.”

“Oh shit! The cookies!” Jamie ran to the oven.

Ethan shook his head, chuckling and took a case of beer from Gray.

They all exchanged pleasantries and somehow or another Gray ended up helping Jamie in the kitchen, while Shane helped Ethan set up the card table in the den.

Gray was shuffling around things in the refrigerator so that he could fit all the beer in it and Jamie was transferring the cookies to a plate.

“Hey, Gray?” Jamie’s voice was so quiet he almost didn’t hear him.


He put the last of the longnecks in the fridge and closed the door. “Yeah?” He walked over to the counter where Jamie was standing and stole a cookie and took a bite. Damn, the man could cook! “Mmm… these are good.”

“Thanks. They’re just plain ole chocolate chip.”

“Plain ole nothing. They’re delicious.”

“Thanks.” Jamie smiled and leaned in, pretty blue eyes, just twinkling. “So, what’s the deal with you and Shane? You never did say, last week. Have y’all always had a…you know a…thing?”

Gray chuckled. “A thing?”

Jamie groaned and rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. And no, it’s a new thing. But it’s kinda like you and Ethan, I’ve had a crush on him for years.”

“In that case, I wish you the best of luck and hope that your thing turns out like my thing did.” Jamie started shaking his head, a huge smile on his face. “Oh, God that sounds terrible.”

He patted Jamie on the shoulder. “That’s okay, I have a thing for things.”

Jamie groaned. “Oh, now that was bad! Trust me when I tell you, that you make a better sheriff than a comedian.”

The back door opened. “I am here! Let the party begin!” John, Jamie’s older brother, stepped into the kitchen arms wide.

Jamie snorted.

Gray took another bite of cookie and waved.

Royal McCabe, John’s foreman, stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He tipped his head slightly in greeting. “Hey Gray, Hey Jamie.” He held out a case of beer. “Where do you want these?”

“Just put them on the table and I’ll put them up. Ya’ll go on in the den. I’m just getting the chips, salsa and cookies ready to take in there.”

“And beer!” Ethan shouted from the den.

Jamie grinned. “And beer.

This scene was originally right before Katlyn Hunter brings the boys lemonade white they are moving Gray’s things into Shane’s place:

Gray took a drink of his own water, then nodded. He cocked his head to the side, staring at McCabe’s shoulder. “I didn’t know you had a tattoo.”

McCabe looked over his shoulder and shrugged. “Got it when I was a kid.”

Shane leaned back to see. McCabe was wearing a gray tank top, the top of a wing or something sticking out. “What is it?”

“It’s sort of a memorial for an old friend.” McCabe reached behind him and pulled his tank top off, showing them the tattoo. It was an angel with the name “Leslie” written underneath it.

Jamie came around to see. “Cool.”

McCabe shrugged and put his shirt back on. “No big deal.” There was an awkward silence. It was obvious that everyone wanted to know who Leslie was and equally obvious by McCabe’s reaction, that Leslie was someone important.

Gray, bless him broke the awkward silence by grinning over at Shane. “Maybe I should get one.”

Shane grinned back. “Why?”

“Just a thought.” Gray shrugged.

Stepping back, Jamie took his water back from Ethan. “I have one.”

John scoffed. “You do not!”

“Yes, I do!”

“Since when?” John countered.

The younger man rolled his eyes. “Since about three years ago.”

Shane bit back a chuckle, half expecting Jamie to stick his tongue out at his brother.


“Where?” Gray asked.
“Er…” Blushing, Jamie looked at Ethan, then back to his brother. “On my butt.”

John smiled, a gleam in his eye as he stared at his younger brother. “Prove it.”

Ethan groaned. “Oh brother! Here we go.”

Shane chuckled. He knew exactly what Ethan meant. He’d known John and Jamie for years. The brother’s were close but the two of them like to pick at the other…John in particular.

Turning around, Jamie pulled his shorts down, revealing one muscled butt cheek and a tattoo on his hip. It was the Tin Star Brand, with “Property of Ethan Whitehall,” underneath.

Wow, that was sexy. Maybe Gray getting a tattoo wasn’t a bad idea. Shane looked over McCabe’s head to Gray. “You could always get the Broken H brand on your ass with ‘Property of Shane Cortez’ underneath. I could go for that.”

Gray chuckled. “What’s wrong with you getting property of Gray Hunter?”

Pulling his pants up, Jamie turned his bright red face back to John. “Ha! Told you!”

“Nice Ass.” McCabe said.

Shane’s mouth dropped open and he looked at McCabe. The man had sounded totally serious.

Growling, Ethan stepped closer to Jamie.

“Uh, thanks?” Jamie’s face got even redder.

John looked like someone had slapped him. Staring at McCabe just like Shane had been seconds earlier, John frowned. “I'm feeling like the odd man out all of a sudden.”

“Here let me help you with that.” Turning towards John, McCabe grabbed him by the back of the head and planted a kiss right on his mouth, tongue an all from the looks of it.

John blinked, looking shocked as hell, but he didn’t pull away immediately.

After several seconds John shoved back, practically landing in Gray’s lap.

Gray yelled, “Holy shit!” and caught John.

Shane moved back, just in case John came to his senses and decked McCabe.

Jamie gasped, his hand flying to his mouth.

Ethan let out a long whistle, meeting Shane’s eyes. “Damn, this is getting to be quite a show. Who would have thought moving could be so entertaining?”

This scene was deleted from the campaign party, before Shane gets the call from his sister:

Ethan groaned. “Oh god! We aren’t back to that are we?”

“Back to what? I agree with Jamie, it is weird.” Gray glanced over at John who was conversing with Gray’s parents.

Jamie’s eyes widened, staring up at his partner as if to say, I told you so. “See! I’m not the only one who’s freaked out about it! Can’t believe you aren’t. John’s not gay.” Jamie hissed.

Ethan rolled his eyes. “I never said he was. But he’s not exactly homophobic either. The man is and always has been…”

Oooh this was getting good. Gray arched a brow. “What?”

Ethan shrugged. “Open minded?” He grabbed a cookie off of Jamie’s plate and popped it into his mouth. “Stop being melodramatic.”

Jamie groaned. “Open minded is one thing, kissing strange men is another.”

“I thought you liked McCabe?” Gray frowned at Jamie. Ethan was right, he was being rather melodramatic.

“I do, he’s a nice guy. But…dang it! That’s my brother. He’s not gay!”

Gray smiled and caught Ethan’s gaze. “He’s sort of hung up on the “not gay” thing, huh?”

Ethan shook his head and grinned. “Don’t try to understand it. It’s a weird Jamie thing, that is totally unexplainable.” He winked at Jamie.

Jamie snorted. “I’m going to go talk to Melissa Hatcher.”

Gray chuckled and watched Jamie stride off towards the pretty blonde holding court near the door. Gray leaned closer to Ethan. “So whata ya think?”

Ethan shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I like McCabe. I think he might actually be a good match for John. God knows John needs someone to take him in hand. I know for a fact John has,” he shrugged, “shall we say dabbled with the same sex back in college.” Ethan shrugged again, “Do not tell Jamie that, he’ll freak.”

YAY! Thanks Jen!!!


On a final note, I have it on good authority that JL will post a Valentine treat for everyone very soon. She's writing something special for me Fiction with Friction and, while I'm not going to give any specifics...HOLY MOLY I'M REALLY WANTING TO READ IT. HINT. HINT.

mmmmmm........

Happy Monday and Congrats to our friend, Jen. Mwah.