Hi, this is MJ O’Shea here:) When I started my first Rock Bay novel, Coming Home, back in the fall of 2010, I never imagined I’d be spending so much time in a small town that only existed in my head, or that I’d fall in love with the place so much! It’s been a great journey, and the characters have started to feel like real people to me. I’m going to miss them!!

This was my very first completed paperback series and it was satisfying, and a little sad, to hold all three in my hand a few weeks ago. It felt a little bit like I’d imagine dropping your kids off to college feels. Like goodbye…

So for my final blog post for the Rock Bay series, I’d like to do a bit out of each one — as a farewell to Rock Bay.

Book One: Coming Home

Tallis Carrington ruled Rock Bay with his gang of jocks and an iron fist-until a scandal destroyed his family’s name. Ten years later Tallis is dead broke, newly homeless, and on the walk of shame to end all walks of shame. He needs money and needs it fast, and Rock Bay is the only home he knows. But the people of Rock Bay haven’t forgotten him-or the spoiled brat he used to be. The only person in town willing to overlook his past is Lex, the new coffee shop owner, who offers Tally a job even though he appears to despise Tally based on his reputation alone. When Tally discovers his gorgeous boss is the kid he tortured back in high school, Lex’s hot and cold routine finally makes sense. Now Tally has to pull out all the stops to prove he was never really the jerk he seemed to be. After all, if he can win Lex’s heart, the rest of the town should be a piece of coffee cake.

It’s Tallis’ Carrington’s first day on the job, and his new boss Lex is having problems getting used to a new employee. Especially him.

* * * *

It was pitch black outside when Lex’s alarm started blaring the next morning. Except in the lightest parts of the summer it usually was. He reached over with a groggy slow-moving hand and slapped ineffectually at the snooze button on his alarm until the god awful thing was finally silenced. Groaning, he flipped his legs over the side of the bed until his feet were resting on the small Persian replica he had there for chilly mornings just like that one. Sometimes, Lex wondered what on earth had made him choose a business that required him to be up before the crack of dawn. He’d never been a huge fan of early mornings and most of the time when he got up it still felt like night. Too late to rethink that now.
Too late to rethink hiring Tallis Carrington as well. Lex halfway thought that perhaps Amy was right. Maybe it was a bad idea to hire his old nemesis and misguided crush. He shrugged it off and stepped into the shower, hoping that the steam would wake him up. He really had needed the help. It didn’t mean he had to like the person who was helping him.

His back hurt like hell from the heavy box of new cups he’d put down the wrong way the day before. Damn, I’m getting old. He could almost feel his mother smacking him on the arm with a rolled up newspaper and saying ‘if you’re old, what on earth does that make me?’ Lex grinned to himself. Twenty eight wasn’t so bad anyway. It would be nicer if he wasn’t alone, he imagined, but there was no way he was going to give Amy the satisfaction of knowing that thought had even crossed his mind.
Lex got out of the shower and ran a towel cursorily over his skin, missing a few drops here and there but in too much of a rush to care. As usual, he’d lain in bed till the last possible moment and there was so much to do in the mornings before he could open. He pulled a pair of jeans from his dresser and shoved his legs into them before grabbing a shirt from the closet. Dressed and as awake as he could possibly be, Lex closed and locked the door to his upstairs apartment and walked down the staircase that ended up in the hallway behind the coffee shop where his office and the storage room were. Some days he wished his home were more removed from work but usually in the morning, when he could barely drag himself up; he loved the fact that he was already where he needed to go.

He was almost surprised to see Tallis waiting for him outside the glass door of the shop. Almost. There had been a desperation in Carrington’s eyes the day before that Lex definitely didn’t remember. It seemed that things hadn’t been so easy for him after…well everything that had happened. So perhaps life had changed Tallis Carrington just a touch. Didn’t mean Lex could trust him. “Carrington. You’re on time,” He said as he opened the door. Snapped was more like it. He was annoyed with himself for thinking that the guy looked amazing in his well worn designer jeans. “You need some new jeans. Work on that.” God why did I say that? What a jerk.
“Well, yeah, you told me not to be late. Here’s my paperwork.”
Lex grunted noncommittally as he took the stack of papers with a less than gentle swipe.
“Um, Lex?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you please not call me Carrington? I’m not a huge fan of my last name anymore. Tally is fine.”
“Yeah. Whatever.”
“And I’ll get some new jeans after a paycheck or two. It hasn’t been an easy few months.”
Lex wanted to tell Tally not to worry about it but he stopped himself. This guy isn’t unassuming Tally. He’s still Tallis Carrington no matter how far he’s fallen. Give him one rung to pull himself up on and he’ll squash you on his way back to the top. Instead Lex opened a bottom shelf and got out an extra apron.
“Here. Put this on. Today is little stuff; cleaning, garbage, we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Cleaning? Garbage? I’m not fifteen. Tally bit his lip. Gorgeous Lex’s expression couldn’t have said asshole any more clearly than it did. Too bad because it kind of ruined that perfect face. Tally plastered a smile on his own face ready to take whatever was dealt out. He needed the job too much to be picky. He started by windexing the counters and the glass in front of the display shelves. He could only imagine that’s what Lex Luthor had in mind when he’d thrust the cleaner and a towel into his hands with a taciturn grunt. Tally had to stop himself from chuckling at the spontaneous nickname. Lex Luthor it was. Gorgeous and a dick—but his employer none the same.
“Hey, I’m done with counters and the glass. Hit all of the tables too. What’s next?”
He watched his boss look around the nearly pristine shop. There was nothing left to clean and they both knew it. Tally could almost see the mental wheels spinning.
“The store’s going to open in about fifteen minutes. You know how to work a cash register?”
What happened to cleaning and garbage? If nothing else, maybe cash register experience would save him from a day of busboy duties.
“Yeah, I’ve been using them for years.”
“And I’m assuming you are pretty good with taking orders down, restaurant history and all.” Tally flinched. Somehow, Lex had somehow made the words ‘restaurant history’ sound like ‘rap sheet’. “Yes. I’m good at taking orders down.”
“Good. Here’s the menu. The food’s pretty self-explanatory as far as pricing, but the coffee is a bit more involved. The prices listed here are for one flavor twelve, sixteen, and twenty-four ounce drinks. It’s another fifty cents per flavor and another dollar on top of that for anything special like breve or specialty milks like soy or rice. If they want the powdered white chocolate flavor, it’s seventy-five cents extra because it’s more expensive than the syrup to buy. Oh, and our special this week is the butter pecan. That’s two dollars flat if it’s a sixteen, regular price for any other size. Every week it’ll be a different flavor but the same rules apply.”
Is he fucking kidding? Tally knew what Lex was doing could only be new employee homicide. Tally really wanted to call him on it, but he was fairly sure that Lex knew exactly what he was up to and would never even consider doing it to anyone else. The jerk wants me to quit. Screw that. The little surge of his old competitive spirit felt better than anything had in years. He used to hate losing but he’d spent so long doing nothing but losing that it’d become second nature. Not this time. He was sure this whole town would delight in seeing him fail, new guy obviously included. Hell if he’d give them the pleasure.
“You got a pen and a blank piece of paper? I’ll need to have a cheat sheet for a few days until I get the coffee pricing down.” “I said I didn’t want to tell you anything twice.”
Tally took a deep breath. “I’m not asking you to tell me again, I just want to write it down. Is that okay?” Patience. You need this job.
Lex seemed to relax a little, like he’d caught himself being a prick and didn’t know quite how to get out of it. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll get you a sheet out of my printer.”
It was going to be a trial by fire for sure. More like a trial by hot steaming espresso…and a possible tarring and feathering by his old fellow townspeople. Honestly that worried Tally a whole hell of a lot more than any complicated price list. Lex wordlessly handed him a blank sheet of printer paper. Writing the pricing rules helped him to start memorizing them. It also helped him to relax a little, in what he supposed was the calm before the coming tempest. Lex waited, in an unexpected show of patience, for him to finish writing his list before speaking again.

“So you take orders, call the drinks and sandwiches to me, and ring them through. If you have extra time, you can also bag any pastries that are ordered. You think you can handle that?” Lex’s face said that he assumed the answer was no. “I think so,” Tally answered. He didn’t want to be too cocky, but he wanted to show confidence, despite the general non-existence of any form of training. It was a balancing act, trying not to piss the new boss off.
Lex only nodded, then walked to the front of the shop to unlock the front door.
“It’s show time.”

* * * *

Book Two: Letting Go

Drew McAuliffe has lived in the small town of Rock Bay most of his adult life. He’d like to be happy, but not at the cost of having his private life under his nosy neighbors’ microscope, so he keeps his bisexuality under wraps.

After a messy breakup that caused him to pack up and move to Astoria, on the Oregon coast, Mason Anderson decides to avoid drama of the romantic kind. All he wants is to start over—alone.

But Drew and Mason were meant to meet. The long looks and awkward half hellos chance offered were never going to be enough. But when they do finally come together on the worst night possible, misconceptions and problems from their pasts get in the way. Until Mason learns to trust again—and until Drew learns to let go of who he thinks he is—a real connection is nothing but a pipe dream.

“What do you mean, the date sucked? You guys were hitting it off so well.”
“I know.” Drew picked at his enchilada, which really was awesome, he just wasn’t in the mood. “I mean, we were so great on the phone, talking, flirting, all that innuendo. Then in person, he was kinda weird at first and after a little bit he totally shut down and turned into an asshole. I have no idea what I did wrong. It sucks.”
“Do you think you should call him and try again? I mean, I know he likes you. He told me like a million times how much he liked you. One bad date doesn’t mean the end of the world.”
Drew coughed out a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah? Sure felt like the end of the world when I dropped him off.” Worse. It hurt. Really bad. “Jesus, I wish I knew what I was doing with guys. Chicks are hard enough, but this might be worse.”
Lex smiled at Tally. “Yeah, I think it’s hard no matter what. Especially if you care. You really care about this one, don’t you?” “I have no idea why, but yes. A lot. We barely know each other, but those nights on the phone were awesome. He’s so smart and funny.” And mean, and bitchy, and snappy. Drew still couldn’t reconcile the man he’d taken bowling with the sweet funny guy he’d been talking to. It just didn’t make any damn sense.
“Is there something you’re not telling us?” Lex asked.
“Mason’s your friend, Lex. It feels really weird doing this whole talk about the boy thing with friends of his.” Lex shrugged. “We’re your friends too, D. This is part of what happens when you know both of the people in the relationship.” “I’d hardly call it a relationship. A few phone calls and one godawful date.”
Lex rolled his eyes. “Flirtation then. We know both people in the flirtation. Now will you tell me what happened?”
“It was just….” Drew hesitated. He didn’t know how to explain what had happened. “It was like that sweet, awesome guy I’ve been talking to on the phone stayed home and he sent his bitchy, defensive twin out on the date with me. Everything I did was wrong, even when I thought I was being nice. I just… I couldn’t do anything right. I mean, he went off because I went and brought us snacks. Like I should’ve consulted him before I got nachos and mozzarella sticks or something.”
Lex made a perplexed face. “You’re right. That doesn’t sound like Mason. Wonder what was up with him on Saturday? Do you want me to call him and talk to him about it?”
“No!” Drew nearly choked on the tortilla chip that he’d just loaded with sour cream and shoved in his mouth. “Please don’t, it would just be even more awkward and then….”
“You’re afraid you wouldn’t have another chance with him.”
“I’m pretty sure I don’t already. It was so awful, guys.”
“No. That wasn’t Mason and he really likes you too.” Lex shook his head. “I don’t think this is over.”
“You’re not ready to give him up,” Tally added. “I can see it in your face. Call him when you get home. Even if he’s asleep or at work, leave a message.”
“I think I can do that… yeah. I can do that.”
“Good.”
He couldn’t, though. He’d given the big brave face to his friends when they saw right through him about how much he still cared for Mason, weird behavior or not. But he couldn’t call. And he sure as hell didn’t expect to hear from Mason either. Which was why when his cell rang at nearly ten, Drew was startled out of a half doze on the couch. He turned his TV off and nearly fell to the floor before he managed to answer his phone without accidentally hanging up on… he looked at the display. Mason. Mason? Oh. Drew’s reaction times weren’t the fastest when he was half asleep.
“Mason?” Oh, God. Groggy voice. I sound like a frog.
“Hey.” Mason sounded adorably unsure, and so much like the guy he’d been talking to that the other night was already nearly forgotten.
“Hi.” And we’re back to that stage. Damn.
“So, I wanted to apologize for the other night. I’m really not psychotic, I promise.”
Drew snorted on a laugh. “I know you’re not psychotic.” He paused. “I’m sorry too, by the way. I didn’t have to react.”
There was another long awkward pause. “This is really hard for me. I just didn’t want it to end like that, with you thinking I’m a total jerk.”
Drew’s stomach dropped. “End?” Sure, the other night didn’t go so well, or well at all, but he didn’t want it to be over. “We’re not going to….” He choked on the last part. Sounding like a desperate fool wasn’t Drew’s ideal situation either.
“Well, I don’t want it to end, but I figured after Saturday it would.”
“Can you at least tell me what happened?” Drew was almost afraid to know. Too much information would ruin his perfect fantasy of what life could be like with Mason. Of course, fantasy and life didn’t really go in the same sentence. If there was ever a chance of them starting something, reality was necessary. Even if it wasn’t something Drew wanted to hear.
“Oh,” Mason began,“I just had a really weird run-in with my ex on Saturday. I’d been all excited about our date and he waltzed in, put me in a bad mood and on the defensive, and everything kind of crumbled from there. I probably should’ve postponed, but I really wanted to see you.”
“I wanted to see you too. I still do. I mean, maybe if we just hang out and don’t make it so date-like, things will be fine?” Mason laughed softly. “I can’t believe you’re being so nice about this. I was ready for you to bite my head off and hang up. I just wanted to apologize and here we are talking about going on another date?”
“I’m willing to try if you are.” Drew realized just then that he was grinning like a fool. All was not lost with Mason.
“Very willing. Listen, why don’t you come down here one night this week? I’ll make it up to you by cooking you dinner. I’m a pretty good cook.”
“Yeah?” The idea of a cozy dinner in Mason’s apartment made Drew’s chest tighten with a fierce combination of nerves and happiness. “I can do dinner.”
Drew was pretty sure he heard Mason sigh with relief. “Okay, how ’bout tomorrow at eight? I’ll make pasta, I promise I’ll be my normal-ish self and not a psycho, and we can hang out for a little while and just make everything nice and casual.”
“I think we can do that.

Book Three: Finding Shelter

Justin Foster has nineteen years of nothing but trouble behind him. After escaping his abusive father, he finds himself in Rock Bay, Washington, with his cousin Travis. Justin is bruised and has a hard time trusting, but with the help of his family and the small town, he might be able to heal.

Logan O’Brien is also new in town, hoping he can finally get away from his past and the memories of the girlfriend who shattered his heart. It doesn’t take him long to realize Rock Bay can be more than safe harbor: it can also be home. And for the first time in his life, he finds himself captivated by a man—by Justin.

Justin is attracted to Logan too, but he’s also wary. Physically, Logan reminds him a bit too much of the closeted jerks who used to beat him up after school. But after one awkwardly amazing kiss, he’s smitten, despite how his past and insecurities continue to haunt him. Logan’s love, faith, and stubbornness are just what Justin needs to believe their love is worth fighting for.

THAT laugh.…
It hit Logan low in the gut, in a place that he’d never known existed because he surely had never felt it before. The laugh was sweet and real and pretty, but somehow still very masculine. There wasn’t a chance in the world that low, throaty tone belonged to a girl. Male or not, the sound bubbled up through his belly and made his knees turn to liquid. Logan gulped and nearly dropped the container of sandwiches he’d been carrying to the display case. As it was, the container slid down his legs to land unceremoniously on the floor, and he had to slump against the wall in hopes that it might just possibly hold him up.
All from a damn laugh?
It wasn’t like him. He wasn’t a pubescent girl, after all, drooling over the latest pretty boy-band member. But his heart crashed in his chest, and he felt the oddest giddy urge to laugh himself. He stopped just in time. No. I’m not an idiot. Pick up the sandwiches and go out there. Logan stooped to grab the plastic bin and forced himself to walk around the corner to the shop. And there was the owner of the laugh, leaning against the counter, grinning at his cousin. Justin. It had to be Justin. He was thin, nearly painfully so, and small, with dark hair that fell in a shining curtain past his jaw, pale, pale skin and those eyes. They were clear sea-glass green, so light they almost looked gray, and surrounded by the most ridiculously long black eyelashes. He was pretty, like a girl. But he wasn’t a girl. Not at all. He was just… beautiful.
“Hey, Loogie,” Travis said, bounding around the counter. Logan wanted to sink into the ground. First he’d stared like an idiot; then Travis just had to call him Loogie. “This is my cousin, Justin. He works here now.”
“Um, hey,” Logan muttered. His voice was stuck in his throat. He hated how dumb he sounded. He put his crate of sandwiches down and held out his hand to shake, ’cause that was what he was supposed to do, right? But truthfully he was almost afraid to touch Justin, almost afraid because… damn.
Because of that. Looked like he’d been right to worry.
The moment Justin’s slender, smooth hand slipped into his, Logan felt it all the way to his bones, to his stomach, which had turned to quicksand and butterflies, to his knees, which barely held him up. From one touch, one small shake of his hand, he was gone. Logan cleared his throat and looked at the floor, the ceiling, anywhere but at the guy who he all of a sudden wanted to kiss until neither of them could breathe.
“It was, um, really nice to meet you, Justin, but I’d better get these sandwiches in the fridge, and then Tally needs me to prep some desserts for the luncheon tomorrow, and, yeah. I’ll see you later, Trav.”
He wanted to die.
Travis flipped him a look, like, “Have you gone nuts-o, dude?” and he snickered under his breath. Logan did a full one-eighty, and without saying another word, he escaped into the hallway that led to Tally’s new prep kitchen and the storage closet. He was all the way back there, breathing deep and relieved to have escaped his own stupidity, when he realized the container of sandwiches he’d used as an excuse to leave was still sitting on the counter in front, right where he’d left it. Logan hoped Travis would stick them in the display case.
As it was, Logan decided he’d rather remake every single one and take all of the materials out of his check than go out there again and face his embarrassment.
Maybe it’s time to quit and move back to Seattle. Like right now. It would only take me a few minutes to pack, right? He’d never acted like such a moron in his life.

* * * *

Thanks for having me stop by:) I hope to be back soon!

< 3 MJ

Here’s where you can find me:

On Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_467
On LooseId Publishing’s site: http://www.loose-id.com/authors/l-p/mj-o-she.html
http://www.loose-id.com/authors/l-p/m-j-o-shea-piper-vaughn.html
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