Bone to Pick

Months have passed since Mikayla “Mike” Mitchel came to Daisy, TX, searching for clues about what really happened to her brother. But while her case has gone cold, her relationship with her high-handed heroic hunk, Ryder Ruiz, is heating up. He’s decided they should buy a home together. But she’s damn certain she still hates shopping, even for real estate.

After touring another hell-no house, they encounter an orphaned dog, whose owner appears to have been the victim of a hit-and-run. Mike is instantly half in love with the furball and adds a fenced yard to their list of must-haves. Ryder’s worried the pup may have ties to the military, preventing her adoption. Luckily this latest body has nothing to do with Mike or her brother.

Or does it?

When secrets are exposed, it’s obvious Daisy has bigger problems than bad drivers and who’s cooking the holiday turkey. Mike’s dead-end investigation could really be a blind corner, and Ryder might not be able to help her navigate the turn.

Tropes

Bonkers small town with a delightfully diverse cast, spicy romance, amateur detective mystery, rom com

Excerpt

There was something intrusive about walking through the home of a stranger—their intimate spaces—and trying to imagine being naked in them. Mike wrinkled her nose at the smell of the bathroom—foreign cologne and bleach.

Headline: “Old, Spicy Split-level Sits Empty.”

It was especially awkward imagining living there with Ryder and all the wicked things he’d want to do to her. 

Speak of the devil… He gripped the doorframe and leaned into the “full” bath. His muscular arms, stretched out like that, made his cut abs even more prominent under the thin, long-sleeved shirt. Dark hair hit his collarbones, and he lifted an eyebrow to ask the unspoken question. Mike tried not to drool and instead shrugged in answer to his silent query. “It’s not bad, I guess. But I can’t see the water. And it’s kind of a drive into town.”

“So’s my shop.” Ryder tugged her into the bedroom that looked like it had been decorated in the late nineties by a bachelor, with its concrete gray accent wall and black metal built-in shelves. “I don’t have a view of the water either.”

“Your shop is a lot closer to town, and we’re supposed to be improving the situation.” She tugged away from him and went to the one closet in the room. It was big, with plenty of room for both of them, especially since she wasn’t much for clothes. She glanced at her chest, confirming which t-shirt she’d thrown on this morning: We don’t lick people. (Another lie adults tell children.)

“How’s everything going in here?” The hopeful tone of their agent drew Mike from the closet.

“This place has a basement?” Ryder made the question more of a statement. 

Mike shivered.

“It does. The owner has it locked, along with the garage. I’m sure he’s using it for storage until he can finish his move. But I have the dimensions.” She tapped on her phone and scrolled.

Mike sidled past her and went to the next bedroom. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t like this house. Maybe it was the lack of photos or the lonely bachelor vibe. Maybe it was the tired, last-century style that wasn’t old enough to be interesting and wasn’t new enough to be exciting.

“Ready?” Ryder asked.

Mike turned and followed him down the stairs, except she missed the last one and went flying. Before she landed on her knees, Ryder grabbed her. “Careful, M.”

His gravel voice and tight grip made her insides melt. They’d been living together since her apartment burned down over a month ago, but she still reacted to him like the first time they met. “Thanks.”

After a quick squeeze, he released her but clasped her hand. Her heart fluttered at his concern. And then her stomach growled.

Ryder laughed. “Hey Crystal. I think we’re done looking at this place since I can’t see the spaces I need.”

“Okay, how about some lunch?”

Mike held back a groan. They were at the point where Crystal would suggest making an offer and Mike would have to refuse. But there was the promise of food, and she was starving.

“Friend of mine has the barbecue place just down the road from here.”

Mike gave a happy squeal. She’d only been to Junk’s in the Trunk a couple of times. “The food there is to die for.”