Vicky Locey Takes Her Characters to Lunch!

I have a wonderful new author friend to introduce you to.  Vicky Locey, one of the insightful authors at Secret Cravings Press with me, has agreed to share something really cool.....a sit-down with her protags!  It's a great concept, one I am keen on recreating.  So join me in welcoming Vicky and her brain children, Alain and Vivian!

            

Lunch with Lovers by Author Vicky Locey

            Thank you Sam for having me here!

            There are few things more enjoyable than sitting down with friends. I got to do just that recently with the stars of my erotic sports romance, Pink Pucks & Power Plays, the first book in the To Love a Wildcat series. Given that Alain has a rather severe dislike of the press and/or interviews, I wasn`t sure he would agree, but my gal Viv finagled the handsome young D-man into meeting me.

            We arranged for the interview to take place at The Black Boar Bar & Grill, a popular eatery and sports bar a few blocks from The Houseman Arena where the Philadelphia Wildcats play. Alain is one of several `Cats who own a share of the trendy meeting place. I picked the table by the small stage in the large dining area. Rumor has it Philly sports stars perform here on occasion, but I`ve yet to see it. Maybe someday I`ll catch a performance by a Wildcat or two.

             The hot spot was rather quiet, as it was after the lunch crush. There were televisions filling every available inch of wall space that wasn`t covered with sports memorabilia. As a friendly young waiter dressed as a referee delivered my decaf, I saw the couple arriving.

            "Alain!" the few lingering patrons shouted as if we were at Cheers. Lessard smiled at his fans, slapping backs as well as shaking hands as he followed Viviana to the table. I smiled at the woman. She was, as she always is, vibrant. Her clothes were sexy, colorful and playful, accenting her legs and her breasts, for she knows how much her lover admires them. Viv and I bussed cheeks. We`re the same height and possess the same curvy form so seem to feel an affinity for each other. Alain enveloped me in a brotherly hug. My eyes grew wide. I peeked at Viviana. She smiled. Alain released me to pull the chair out for his lady love.

            "Thank you for doing this, Alain," I said as he hurried to push my chair in for me.

            "It is my pleasure," the Quebecer said as he dropped his well made frame into his seat. I could easily see what Viv saw in Alain. Six foot two, one hundred and ninety pounds, black curly hair, hazel eyes, athletic build, and a mouth that begs to be kissed. I`d be drawn like a moth to a flame as well! "This is not like a regular interview."

            "See, not all interviews are bad," the sassy brunette said as she ran her eyes over the menu. Alain rolled those pretty hazel eyes playfully. His hand rested on the back of Viviana`s chair possessively. "Let`s get a fish dinner then split it." Viviana looked at me with eyes the color of white grapes. Her eyes always amaze me. I nodded at the suggestion. After the order was placed and Viv and Alain`s drinks were brought out, we started chatting.

            "So, how does it feel to be the stars of your own book?" I asked the couple.

            "I`m tickled to be the first of the Wildcats women`s story that you told," Viviana said then sipped at her raspberry flavored water.

            "It is very nice," Alain answered tactfully.

            "He`s not always so tight-fisted with his words," Viviana pointed out as our appetizers arrived.

            "Oh, I`m well aware of how he can talk once he`s comfortable," I replied with a wink for the hockey star. His mouth curled into a shy smile. "Although you do seem to have the lion`s share of the dialog in the book, Viv."

            "Yes, see, chaton, I don`t talk much because you are doing all the talking for us both," Alain joked. "I cannot fit the words in edge like."

            "Oh pooh on both of you." Viviana dipped a mozzarella stick into some red sauce then offered the first bite to Alain, her left hand cupped under the dripping stick. "It`s hot," she warned. Probably so he didn`t burn those lips of his she is so keen on kissing.

            "Speaking of sex," I said as I dipped my own stick. Both my characters eyes widened with surprise. "Were you two pleased with the amount of it in your book?"

            "Is there such a thing as too much sex?" Viviana asked with a impish gleam in her eye.

            "It was very nice," Alain responded. I suspected that was his stock reply whenever he felt the matter was too personal to discuss. It was better than being told it was none of my business.

            "The sex was wonderful," Viv interjected as she fed Alain the rest of the cheese stick. "I do love a juicy read, and this story certainly is that!"

            "But there was more than the sex, no?" Alain said after dabbing sauce off his mouth with his napkin."The sex, it was great, but the lesson my Viviana learned, that was big importance too, was it not?"

            I looked pointedly at the woman trying to decide which mozzarella stick to chose for herself. "Was it, Viviana?" I asked directly. Her eyes flicked to me then returned to the basket holding our appetizers. The patrons hooted at an old replay of a Stanley Cup game on one of the TV sets.

            "Can we talk about the sex instead?" Viv inquired.

            "No, we are talking about all the book, not just the steamy sex scenes," Alain hurried to say. I leaned back into my seat, nibbling the scalding hot stick carefully, my napkin held under my chin. "So, did you learn a lesson, Viviana?"

            "Yes, I learned a lesson! Does that make you both happy?! For goodness sake, one would think I was Dr. Doom or something!" she huffed as she made a grab for a stick in the bright red plastic basket. Alain grabbed her hand, raised it to his lips and then laid it on the table beside Viviana`s plate. Then he chose a stick to feed her. I shifted around in my chair, suddenly quite uncomfortable. It felt as if I were watching the lovers in their bedroom. I smiled at a man eating his lunch behind us.

            "What did you learn?" I asked when the sensual stick feeding was over with. "And for the record, we all adore you Viviana," I added, for it was the truth. Sure, Viv could be rather brusque at times, but her heart was most generally in the right place.

            "I learned that we should talk about one of the other ladies in the series. Let`s chat about the rest of the books! I`m sure your readers would like to know a bit about those instead of hearing more about the poor choices silly old me has made."

            I let her have that victory. She was far too clever to wrangle into such a private confession. She had been a reporter after all. Viviana Land had lots of pride, and chutzpah. I didn`t wish to push either her or Alain too far.

            "Alright, let me see. The next book will be A Most Unlikely Countess."

            "Look at that dreamy look," Alain teased. I felt the heat creeping into my face. "Ah poor V. L., she does so love goalies."

            "Okay, yes, I do have a thing for goalies. Everyone knows that." I hurried to grab my coffee to hide behind. Viviana patted my arm while laughing at my discomfort.

            "It`s fine, " Viv assured me. "A woman would have to be dead and buried not to be swept off her feet by Veikko Aho. He is perhaps one of the most classically handsome men I have ever laid eyes on."

            "Ahem!" We both looked at Alain with his arms now folded over a tee that read 'Old Time Hockey' and featured the Hanson Brothers from the movie, Slapshot.

            "Aside from you of course, darling." Viviana patted his muscular bicep.

            I hurried to carry on lest more male ego was trampled. "After A Most Unlikely Countess will be O Captain! My Captain!, Reality Check, and Language of Love. I`m also toying with a few ideas for other Wildcat books, but we`ll see how things hatch with the planned five before I count chickens."

            "I for one hope they do well. If women knew just how sexy hockey players are, they`d flock to grab those books." Viviana leaned back to give the server room to place her half a fish dinner. My mouth watered when my plate of flaky flounder, thick steak fries, and a side of coleslaw was set in front of me. Alain was eating rare steak with a fat baked potato that was topped with sour cream and chives. I guess the players get tired of chicken.

            "I can`t argue that point," I said then waggled an eyebrow. Alain smiled self-consciously.

            "He does humble well," Viviana whispered as she passed the ketchup bottle to me. The meal progressed pleasantly. We chatted about small things. Alain seemed to relax completely by the time dessert was brought out. We each had a small dish of ice cream. Mine was vanilla, Alain`s fudge ripple, and Viviana`s black raspberry.

            "So, can I ask a question?" Alain said as we enjoyed our frozen treats. I nodded. "How do the Wildcats do in our quest for Lord Stanley`s cup?"

            "Oh no you don`t!" I shook my spoon at the charmer, "You`re not wheedling that information out of me. No way and no how!"

            "I could send a certain goalie over to persuade that information out of you," he teased, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. I stared at him over the table. Viviana slapped his arm.

            "Would you stop tormenting the poor woman so! If you wish to know if the `Cats win it all, or if any of our friends find love, buy the books."

            "But Viviana, how do I find time to read when I am working to keep you happy?" Alain asked with utmost sincerity.

            "Oh, he`s good," I muttered under my breath.

            "Yes he is," Viviana purred, leaning over to steal a kiss from her Wildcat. It didn`t take the couple long to finish their ice cream, snap up the check, and wave goodbye. I sat back with a contented smile. One Wildcat happy ever after, four more to go!

*~*~*

Blurb:

Viviana Land just can`t seem to say no to her younger sister. Somehow, the curvaceous society page reporter gets lassoed into serving as her niece`s Busy Bee scout leader. One overheated engine later, Viviana and her girls find themselves in the Green Hills Ice Rink. Enter Alain Lessard, the charmingly handsome defenseman for the Philadelphia Wildcats, who is donating his summer to coaching the youth league.

When our intrepid reporter is given the opportunity to write the break-out story of her career, Viviana leaps at the chance. Thinking it would be easy to flirt and tease some juicy tidbits out of Alain, Viviana soon finds herself falling for the sensual, younger, kind-hearted man. Will she put aside her virtual pen for a chance to stay at her new paramour`s side? Or will Viviana finally get away from those mundane bakery opening articles by using the man she may possibly be in love with? 

You can find Pink Pucks & Power Plays at the Secret Cravings Store as well as all other major retailers:

Secret Cravings Publishing

Amazon

All Romance eBooks

B&N

            V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, belly laughs, anything romantic, Greek mythology, New York Rangers hockey,  comic books and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a steer named after a famous N.H.L. goalie, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.

            V.L. is a self-published and conventionally published author. She is a proud Torquere Press and Secret Cravings Publishing author. When not writing romantic tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand, writing, or cheering on her beloved New York Rangers. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads.

I love to meet new friends and fans! You can find me at-

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452

Twitter- https://twitter.com/vllocey

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey

My blog- http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/