BLOG TOUR - The Hardest Play by A.S. Teague

The Hardest Play by A.S. Teague

Synopsis

It’s easy to convince the world that you have it all.
I was Quinn Miller: record-breaking running back, professional football’s favorite rags-to-riches story, all-around good guy.
What’s not so easy? Repairing your reputation after mistakes both on and off the field leave you labeled as a disgrace to the league.
With only one team willing to give me a chance, I had no time for a relationship.
But, after one night with Georgia Reed, the hopeless romantic with fiery red hair and an attitude to match, I was hooked.
With Georgia cheering me on, it didn’t feel like the world was against me anymore.
That was, until her father stepped into the locker room as my new head coach.
Finding the woman of my dreams was the easy part; it was keeping her that would be the hardest play of all.

Review

On the whole, I really enjoyed reading all of the books in this series up to now though I always needed some time to get into them. This one wasn't different, I started reading several times till I finally was hooked by the story.

Even though I loved Quinn and Georgia together and I liked that they didn't play games but knew what they wanted. Things were still rough due to their circumstances though I was frustrated that Quinn had so many problems that could have been solved if he had just mentioned one thing. He didn't though and I must admit that I had a hard time accepting his explanation considering the fact that his whole career was on the line and his team suffered because of all this secrecy.

There was a lot of drama and I loved how the two of them dealt with it, together and in the end, the book drew me in but still, somehow it left me a bit wanting. I thought of their interactions and their love for each other and loved it and then I'd think of those things that Quinn didn't share with his team and his coach and I was upset once again. 

🏉🏉🏉🏉  

Audiobook - The Perfect First (Fulton U #1) by Maya Hughes

NOW AVAILABLE ON AUDIO!

The Perfect First (Fulton U #1) by Maya Hughes

Audiobook,

narrated by Jason Clarke and Emma Wilder 

SYNOPSIS

"How long do you last in bed?" Those were her first words to me, swiftly followed up with, "And how big would you say you are?"
Cue the record scratching, what?
Persephone Alexander. Math genius. Lover of blazers. The only girl I know who can make Heidi braids look sexy as hell. And she's on a mission. Lose her virginity by the end of the semester.
I walked in on her interview session for potential candidates (who even does that?) and saw straight through her brave front. She's got a list of firsts to accomplish like she's only got months to live.
I've decided to be her guide for all her firsts, except one. Someone's got to keep her out of trouble. I have one rule, no sex. We even shook on it.
I'll help her find the right guy for the job. Someone like her doesn't need someone like me and my massive...baggage for her first time.★★★★★ 
Drinking at a bar. Check.
Partying all night. Double check.
Skinny dipping. Triple check.
She's unlike anyone I've ever met. The walls I'd put up around my heart are slowly crumbling with each touch that sets fire to my soul.
I'm the first to bend the rules. One electrifying kiss changes everything, and suddenly, I don't want to be her first, I want to be her only. But her plan was written before I came onto the scene, and now, I'm determined to get her to rewrite her future with me.

 REVIEW

This audiobook is once again a definite proof that a good narration can make a really good book even better. I loved and enjoyed The Perfect First when I first read it but I enjoyed it, even more, when I was listening to this amazing narration. This is one of those narrations that I will definitely listen to again and again.

I loved to see Persephone blossom and learn to live life the way she wants to live it. To see her claim her life and fall in love with Reece, one "first" after the other. And Reece, well, I think he wasn't really prepared for someone like Seph but who could resist such a charming introduction?

This was a story that drew me in right from the start. The characters are wonderful, they are very authentic and likable and the whole story was very warm and sweet. I also loved the secondary characters a lot who were also well developed and authentic. Some of them we will meet again in the next books of this series that I have also read and really enjoyed. Interesting stories with a unique twist and a lot of charm and humor. I can't wait to listen to the next books in audio as well!

★★★★★ 

BLOG TOUR - Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills #DearAva

Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills

"Dear Ava is heartwarming and angsty and don't get me started on Knox. Read this book! You will love Ava's fight and Knox's alpha."

--Tijan, New York Times bestselling author

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a gripping enemies-to-lovers, secret admirer, high school romance with Dear Ava, available now!

SYNOPSIS

The rich and popular Sharks rule at prestigious, ivy-covered Camden Prep. Once upon a time, I wanted to be part of their world--until they destroyed me.

The last thing I expected was an anonymous love letter from one of them.

Please. I hate every one of those rich jerks for what they did to me. The question is, which Shark is my secret admirer?

Knox, the scarred quarterback.

Dane, his twin brother.

Or Chance, the ex who dumped me. . .

Dear Ava,

Your eyes are the color of the Caribbean Sea.

Wait. That's stupid.

What I really mean is, you look at me and I feel something REAL.

It's been ten months since you were here, but I can't forget you.

I've missed seeing you walk down the hall.

I've missed you cheering at my football games.

I've missed the smell of your hair.

And then everything fell apart the night of the kegger.

Don't hate me because I'm a Shark.

I just want to make you mine.

Still.

Download your copy today or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/37T4EYl

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DearAva

Add DEAR AVA to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Z2jwQx

Excerpt

 “What do you want?” Knox says with as sneer as I ease in the football locker room. Cold eyes flick over my cheer skirt then move up and land on the hollow of my throat. It’s not cool enough at night for our sweater uniform so tonight my top is the red and white V-cut vest with CP embroidered on my chest.

“Where’s Chance?”

He whips off his sweat-covered jersey along with the pads underneath. “I don’t keep tabs on my best friend for you. Get out—before I scare you.”

He’s scaring me already.

But I can’t stop looking at him.

His shoulders are broad and wide, his chest lightly dusted with sparse golden hair, tan from the sun, rippling with powerful muscles, leading down to a tapered and trim waist. He has a visible six-pack, and my gaze lingers briefly on a small tattoo on his hip, but I can’t tell what it is. He isn’t brawny or beefy-looking like one might expect from a guy blessed with his athletic prowess, but sculpted and molded and—

Dropping my gaze, I stare at the floor. I shouldn’t be ogling him. Chance is my maybe-boyfriend.

I hear male laughter from one of the rooms that branch off from the locker room, maybe the showers, and I deflate, guessing that’s where Chance is.

Glancing up, I intend to ask him to tell Chance I came by to congratulate him on his two touchdowns, but my voice is frozen. Knox has unlaced his grass-stained pants and is shucking them off. His legs are heavily muscled and taut, unlike the leaner build of Chance. His underwear are white and tight, cupping his hard ass, the outline of his crotch—

“Like what you see, charity case? You can look, but you can’t touch.”

Anger soars, replacing my embarrassment. I know I'm just the scholarship girl at Camden, but why does he have to constantly remind me?

“Don't worry about me touching anything. I don’t like ugly.” The words tumble out before I can stop them. I meant his superior attitude, not his face, but I see the moment when he freezes and takes it the wrong way.

He touches his face, tracing his scar while his jaw pops. “Get the hell out. Only players allowed in here.”

I pivot and go for the door, forcing myself not to run. “Asshole,” I mutter.

His laughter follows me.

About Ilsa Madden-Mills

Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.

Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.

A Favor for a Favor (All In, #2) by Helena Hunting

  A Favor for a Favor  by Helena Hunting  

From the New York Times bestselling author of Pucked and A Lie for a Lie, a new stand-alone romance about trading favors, battling wills, and winning love.

When I joined Seattle’s NHL expansion team, I thought it was the start of something great. But nothing ever goes the way you expect. Take my introduction to my new neighbor. She came rolling in on the hot mess express at midnight, making a racket while she tried to get into my team captain’s apartment. Did I mention that he’s married to a woman who definitely was not her?

Imagine my surprise when I end up with an injury that has me out of the game for weeks, and she’s the one to offer to help me. I should probably add that she’s not the captain’s mistress. She’s his sexy, pastel-haired younger sister.

So we come up with an arrangement: she rehabs me so that I can get back on the ice sooner, and she can add a professional athlete that isn’t her brother to her client list. Seems simple enough. As long as I can keep my hands to myself and my hormones in check.

Oh, my goodness, this book was simply amazing! I loved that even though we meet some of the characters from A Lie for a Lie again, this book is completely different! Bishop and  Stevie are great together and I loved their chemistry and the way they actually cared for each other. An interesting and captivating story and great characters all wrapped up in one brilliantly written bundle - this is definitely a story that I'll reread more than once.

I must add that I read the ebook and listened to the audiobook as well. The audiobook was also really well done with great narrators and overall an absolute pleasure to listen to. No matter which way you want to enjoy this book, reading or listening to it, you can't go wrong!

★★★★★

 

COVER REVEAL - The Third Best Thing (Fulton U #3) by Maya Hughes #TheThirdBestThing

The Third Best Thing (Fulton U #3) by Maya Hughes

 The Third Best Thing by Maya Hughes, the third book in her amazing Fulton U series, 

will go live on January 30th! 

Look at this gorgeous cover by Najla Qamber:

BLURB

Dear Letter Girl, I need to see you. When can we meet?

Her response never came. My secret pen pal with a dirty mind has ghosted me. I've roped Jules, my sweet as pie next-door neighbor, to help me track her down.

There's only one problem—I'm falling for her. The tortoiseshell glasses, out of this world curves and delicious treats are making the search for The Letter Girl even harder.

My notes were supposed to be a one-time thing. A little too much wine and naughty thoughts on a winter's night. I never thought Berk would write back. I wanted to tell him it was me, but the fear of rejection kept my lips sealed.

Now he’s enlisted my help to track down The Letter Girl and our search has him hot on my, ahem, her trail.

She's the girl next door.

He's my secret pen pal.

Truth is on a collision course with their hearts and it’s only a matter of time before one of them gets wrecked...

EXCERPT

How can you lose someone you’ve never met? The Letter Girl had careened into my life like a damn smash and grab pro and wormed her way into my heart before I knew what happened.
She was everything I’d ever wanted in a girl. Hot as hell. Smart and caring. The slow slide of the notes from X-rated to something more caught me off guard, but she became someone I could talk to. Someone I could share parts of myself that I didn’t share with other people. Even if she didn’t know everything about my past, she knew more than most.
No one wanted to be sexy pen pals with a former foster kid with almost no one in the whole world. Nah, that was for the college senior, soon to be pro athlete.

Don’t ever let anyone see things bother you; I learned that in foster home number four. If everything’s a joke, there’s nothing they can do to hurt you, but losing TLG when I thought I’d finally found someone who knew me for me and actually gave a shit? That hurt. It was an unexpected squeeze on my heart every so often that made it hard to breathe.
Jules slid her hand closer, herky-jerky like she was in a stop motion animation movie before it finally landed on top of mine with a gentle pat. “Is it really that important for you to find her?”
I shrugged. “Maybe not. She probably got tired of trying to figure out my fucking chicken scratch.” I forced out a laugh through the tightness in my chest.
“Once the season starts things will be crazy for you, right?”
“You’re right. I guess I’m fixating because not much else is going on.” No, this would always be a question I needed answered. Who is TLG and did all the things we’d written about mean as much to her as they meant to me?

If you want to start right there where it began....check out the other books in this series, starting with...

#1 The Perfect First

US: https://amzn.to/2GsWvNM
UK: https://amzn.to/2vfiBht
CA: https://amzn.to/2PonNJm
AU: https://amzn.to/2GAVh4k 

Free in Kindle Unlimited

and...

#2 The Second We Met

US: https://amzn.to/36IBqei
UK: https://amzn.to/2Ni2adY
CA: https://amzn.to/2NbgapG
AU: https://amzn.to/30f1QSn 

which also free in Kindle Unlimited

 I really freaking loved these books and can't wait for The Third Best Thing to hit my kindle! This story will be amazing! Check them out, you'll love them!

Release Blitz - Blindsided by Amy Daws #Blindsided

NOW LIVE!

Blindsided by Amy Daws

 
What happens when an almost thirty-year-old virgin agrees to let her Scottish footballer best friend give her some lessons in seduction?

Lots of banter, awkwardness, jealousy, and heat.

Midfielder Maclay “Mac” Logan is a loud-mouthed, tattooed ginger content with focusing on football. But when an adorably-freckled seamstress comes barreling into his life, he finds Netflix-And-Bickering with her to be his new favorite pastime.

Freya Cook is used to being the invisible woman with a needle and thread, offering cheeky punchlines as she helps dress London’s finest. She’s plus-sized in body and spirit, and other than her friendship with Mac, talking to the opposite sex is one skill she never mastered.

However, after one innocent game of Never Have I Ever, Mac offers to play Love Coach for Freya.

What neither of them see coming are the feelings that develop when the clothes come off.

Now they’re both about to learn the biggest lesson of all: Don't fall in love with your best friend.

Blindsided is a full length (97,000 words) contemporary rom-com standalone with a sports theme.


On the whole, this book was once again a book that I thoroughly enjoyed even though it took me some time to get into it. I loved Freya from the start and, well, you can't not love Mac, of course, but at first, it felt a bit slow and I kept putting the book down only to try again a bit later - till I couldn't put it down anymore but got sucked into it till the end.

The chemistry (and the witty banter) between the two was great and of course, it is a friends-to-lovers story so it was destined to make me mad at times when the two ...participants at this game... are just too dense to realize what or rather who they need and instead suffer needlessly. And, I mean - who did ever believe that it is possible to throw some sex in the mix and just stay friends? Who really believes that that won't change anything? Yep. The kind of person who is in denial.

With everything going on in Mac's life, I could understand why he ...nope. Actually, I couldn't understand his decisions. Sure, in his situation it is kind of understandable but he. should. have. known. better. I may have cried a bit and I may have been frustrated a...lot... and I may have waited impatiently for him to finally wake up.

Freya...oh my.... sweet and cute Freya and their witty banter who never saw it coming because she was so hung up on her curves that she never expected someone like Mac falling for her. I loved that her curves and her insecurities about them, were a topic but never dominated the discussion. It was not about body shaming or the pounds you got but about her feeling good in her skin and knowing that she is beautiful no matter what her size. Well, guess what? If she expected her curves to act as a security blanket to prevent both of them from falling in love, welllllllllll... No chance there.

Mac never expected to fall in love and it took him some time to realize what had happened to him.

 “You blindsided me, Freya. You blindsided me with everything I never knew I wanted.”  

I really enjoyed reading this book. If you have read the other books in this series - great, you'll love this sequel as well! If you haven't? Don't worry. You will. Right after you have finished this book.
And I will be waiting impatiently now for the next book because I may have an idea whose book will be next. There was this scene with ...oh, I guess I'll see if a certain lawyer gets his chance at love...

★★★★

EXCERPT

“Christ, woman,” he snaps, his eyes dropping down my body like he’s seeing me in a new light.
“You’re a fucking virgin, and you never told me? I’m your best mate! Why wouldn’t you share that
information with me?”
“We don’t talk about The Sex!” I exclaim defensively.
“I know, but this seems like something you should have mentioned to me at some point.” He
stands up and begins pacing in front of me, shaking his head like he’s just been told the world is
round for the first time and he can’t fully wrap his mind around it. “Christ, a virgin?”
“Would you stop saying it like it’s that big of a deal?” I snap, my entire body folding in on itself
with embarrassment.
“It is a big deal,” he replies, stopping his pacing to glower down at me with his hands on his
hips.
“It’s not a big deal to me!” I exclaim and stand up to meet him eye to eye. Well, more like eye to
chest. “I’m not saving myself or something. It’s not some religious thing, and it’s not for lack of
trying. I’ve put myself out there in the past, in all my awkward glory, and it just never happened for
some reason,” I huff, angry that I have to explain how romantically unlucky I’ve been. “Then I just
got tired of trying so hard, so I took a break and focused on my career. A long break, I suppose. But
I’m done with all that now. I’m eager to get shot of my maiden tag as soon as possible, which is why

I thought going out on a date with Santino would be a good idea. Especially if he’s experienced like
you say.”
Mac’s face contorts. “What the actual fuck is a maiden tag?”
I flush, not realising I said that bit out loud. Shrugging, I reply, “It’s what my gran called my
virginity.” I cross my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling very exposed under the London night
sky.
Mac visibly tremors. “You’re not giving your maiden tag to that fucking arsehole,” he seethes,
finally realising what my last comment meant.
“Well, not now obviously,” I reply with agitation. “You basically ruined that chance for me.”

Want to read more?

EXCERPT

I wake the next morning to a rough tongue touching my nipple. A smile spreads across my face
as I open my eyes and expect to find Freya. My face falls when I see it’s her fucking demon of a cat
laving at my pec like it’s going to produce milk at any moment.
“Fuck off, you wee bastard!” I bellow and shove the animal off my chest.
Hercules takes off down the hallway, and a snort echoes in the room. I turn my gaze to find
Freya perched on a chair in the corner of her bedroom. She’s dressed in a long nightshirt, her red
hair a wild mess of curls, and her makeup smudged like she was properly fucked last night. And she
looks positively entertained.
“Did you just sit there and watch your cat violate me?” I croak, sitting up and rubbing my
tender nipple.
She giggles and steadies herself so as not to spill the two cups of coffee in her hands. “I came in
to bring you a coffee, but Hercules looked like he was warming up to you, so I just sat down here to
not interrupt. I had no idea he was going to lick your tit.” She bursts out laughing all over again.
“You and I are in a fight then,” I reply gruffly, propping myself up on the headboard of her
bed. “That was disturbing.”
She nods, her face still tormented with poorly concealed laughter. “For us all.”

Cover Reveal - Blindsided by Amy Daws #Blindsided

Blindsided by Amy Daws releases November 21!

⚽️⚽️⚽️

Preorder: https://geni.us/Blindsided

Add to your TBR: http://bit.ly/BlindsidedGR

BLURB

What happens when an almost thirty-year-old virgin agrees to let her Scottish footballer best friend give her some lessons in seduction?

Lots of banter, awkwardness, jealousy, and heat.

Midfielder Maclay “Mac” Logan is a loud-mouthed, tattooed ginger content with focusing on football. But when an adorably-freckled seamstress comes barreling into his life, he finds Netflix-And-Bickering with her to be his new favorite pastime.

Freya Cook is used to being the invisible woman with a needle and thread, offering cheeky punchlines as she helps dress London’s finest. She’s plus-sized in body and spirit, and other than her friendship with Mac, talking to the opposite sex is one skill she never mastered.

However, after one innocent game of Never Have I Ever, Mac offers to play Love Coach for Freya.

What neither of them see coming are the feelings that develop when the clothes come off.

BLOG TOUR - Holding on to Forever by Siobhan Davis and S.B. Alexander #HoldingOnToForever

Okay, this post was supposed to be a bit longer and it was supposed to be really nice looking and all that  and...it should have been online yesterday but...well, my internet didn't play nice and I couldn't get anything posted for a couple of days or make it nice or...yup. It's a bit better now but...

BLOG TOUR 

Holding on to Forever 

by 

Siobhan Davis and S.B. Alexander

Secretly dating Coach Parker’s daughter was never part of the plan. Neither was becoming her dealer…

ADAM
Returning to my drug-dealing past wasn’t on the agenda when I accepted the full ride to play ball at Cypress U. But Mom lost her job. And my sister’s medical bills are mounting. So, I’ve no choice but to change the playbook.

When Emily walks into my life, like a fallen goddess with the ultimate power to destroy me, I know I’m screwed. I should steer clear, but I’m the one supplying her poison of choice. Falling for her is a complication I don’t need, but the more she’s around, the harder it gets to walk away. She needs me, and I crave her more than the sport I love.

Now, it’s all on the line. Including the NFL career that’s tantalizingly close.

The stakes are high, but family means everything, so I’ll take my chances.

EMILY
It’s only a problem if it’s out of control. And I have it in hand.

Except a certain a-hole discovers I’m using again, and he threatens to rat me out to my folks. Mom’s president of Cypress U, and Dad’s the illustrious football coach. Appearances mean everything to them, and I’m a continuous disappointment. They told me I’d be out on my ass if I fell off the wagon, so keeping it a secret is my number one priority.

Until the super-hot all-star QB takes more than a passing interest in me. Adam gets me, in a way no guy ever has, filling my head with ideas of forever—and now, I want more.

Dating my dealer is a recipe for disaster, especially when it’s forbidden, but I can’t help myself.

Because I’ve fallen too deep.

And the hole is too large to crawl out of.

I must admit that I was a bit upset at the beginning of the book because I hated to see Adam become a dealer. I totally got why he didn't have a chance to do the right thing but I hated to see him trapped. Emily and I needed a bit more time but the more I read the better I understood her reasons for using drugs. Sure, there are definitely better ways to deal with problems even and if I'd meet her, I'd try to get her to talk to someone about it and to get help but even though her life seems to be much easier from the outside than Adam's, it's her who struggles and who will always have to fight. Somehow though, these two become each others safe place, the one who supports and who helps and against all odds, Emily seems to get her s*it together and become clean. Does she?

Even though I loved the hero and the heroine and some of the minor characters a lot, I felt a bit lost at times. Well, lost might not be the right word, don't get me wrong, the book is captivating and I kept reading and reading and....but looking back, it feels as if there were problems piling up left and right, many topics were introduced, many, many things happened and at times I felt a bit breathless trying to keep up with the events. So many problems, so little time...or, why did it have to deal with so many different problems at once. I know, I know, life is a b....witch and even in real life far too many things happen at once and leave who struggling and fighting but in this case, it just felt as if it was a bit too much. One topic chasing the other and in the end, things were a bit rushed and maybe there was a bit too muc of unicorns, rainbows and sugar sprinkles but even though, I loved this book and will definitely read it again.

 

 ★★★★

 

Watch the Trailer:

 https://smarturl.it/HoldingOntoForeverTR

Excerpt

I’m half-tempted to call Donnie to make sure he gave me the correct address when headlights brighten the narrow alleyway.

The SUV is crawling toward me, and my nerves are jacked. I shouldn’t be doing this. I should find a decent part-time job to pay for my sister’s medical expenses, but I see no other way. We have to get her vest fixed or buy a new one. Selling drugs is the only way to make some quick cash. Besides, I’m good at it. I sold dope and pills for years, and I’d never been arrested. I always had my pulse on the neighborhoods, and I knew where cops loitered at night.

You’ve been out too long. Things might have changed, and you’re in a new state.

I push my inner thoughts aside. None of that matters. I’m always alert. I always know what’s around me, and as Mom tells me, I’m perceptive as hell. I have to be. Taking care of Mom and Phoebe—especially Phoebe—I have to be alert to her sounds, her breathing, and her emotions.

Thinking of my sister sends pain slicing through my chest. I can’t let anything happen to her. She spent two days in the hospital, where the doctor pumped her with antibiotics, until she started feeling better.

The SUV pulls to a stop, and a short stocky guy gets out of the front passenger seat brandishing a gun. The driver, a taller man than his compadre, follows.

I lift my hands as if a cop is arresting me. “I’m unarmed.”

Aiming the gun at my head, he stalks toward me. His dark eyes are hard, his mission resolute. “Move and you’re dead.” His deep voice is lethal.

An all too familiar wave washes over me, and I’m tempted to back out of this stupid idea to sell drugs and run before he pulls the trigger. I’m not any good dead to Mom and Phoebe. But I know his words are just a scare tactic while he frisks me.

I stand statue-still while the second dude, sporting a thin beard and no mustache, pats my sides, my lower back, down my legs, and straight down to my ankles. He sticks one finger in the air. “All clear.”

The stocky dude lowers his gun, and, inwardly, I grin. The goon didn’t find the blade in my boot. I’m not about to use it though. But I don’t walk into situations like these unarmed. Still, I make a mental note of the type of men I’m dealing with.

A tall man climbs out of the back seat. He’s sporting baggy jeans and a New York Yankees ball cap, and the gold bling around his neck probably weighs ten pounds as it glints off the dim light on the side of the car repair shop.

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. Donnie doesn’t show off like this dude. Donnie’s motto is blend in with the crowd. Standing out only draws attention.

“You must be Wrangler. I’m Ray Diaz.” Ray struts over to the metal garage door. “You understand I have to be careful.” He punches a code in on the keypad tacked to the frame of the door. Within a second, it opens.

I tuck my hands in my jean pockets. “I’m well aware of the industry.”

A deep chuckle erupts from Ray. “I heard. Donnie told me you were a cocky punk too.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “When I need to be.”