As of today, our good friend Scarlett Parrish is officially a published novelist! Her novel, Long Time Coming (and honey, she assures me that is a euphemism) is now available from Carnal Passions. Despite the fact that Scarlett has done the unthinkable and written a naughty book containing a woman, we’re terribly excited for her and wanted to see what we could do to help promote her book.  I thought certainly she and Marie would take care of it on their own, but then Marie told me I’d be doing an interview here of some chap named Leo.  Well, I suppose I can’t say no to my two favorite women (Scarlett darling, I know what you’re thinking, and I can still say no to that, although I’m flattered, really).

So here I am to do an interview.  I’m like Barbara Walters, only way more fun!

Well, first thing’s first.  Let’s give you some info on this book we’re going on about, shall we?

*****

Piper Holt’s only after one thing: a man who’s only after one thing. Previous lovers demanded either subservience or her heart, neither of which are up for negotiation, so Leo Carson’s attitude makes him her ideal match. Handsome, shameless and equally impulsive, he appears to want nothing more than a white-hot overnight liaison.

‘Overnight’ somehow develops into the entire weekend but come Monday morning, pride keeps her back turned and Piper walks away. Denying her own feelings doesn’t mean that Leo has none though, and if she’s going to atone for hurting him she’ll have to admit the ‘one thing’ she now wants is the man she’s in danger of losing forever.

*****

Hello, hello! Well, I must admit, when Marie told me I’d be doing an interview for her blog, I was a little put out. She didn’t tell me the man I was interviewing was drop-dead gorgeous!

What? Uh…that’s a bit full-on, dontcha think? I’m only supposed to be here to talk about the book—

Really? What a shame! Well, thanks for taking time out to visit us, love.

Yeah. T’anks and all that. I’m just here ‘cause Scarlett told me to come, and she’s quite fond of you, so. She made sure I get laid a lot in that book so I kinda owe her. She says hi, by the way. And thanks for the bottle of wine you sent her.

She’s so welcome! Now, it is true that you get laid a lot in this book, but let’s face it, Piper sees some action too, doesn’t she?

What? Well… [At this point Leo shrugs and looks uncomfortable.] I guess. But that’s all before she meets me, then…boom, fireworks. You ever get that with someone?

Of course, darling. Marie even wrote about one incident with—

Well, it’s in The Letter Z. You should read it, you know. It’ll be out next week. And honey, it is hot!

Um…yeah. I’m more into…like…a bit of soft, you know? Like with Piper. I just see her and think, what I wouldn’t do to have a piece of that. I even put down my drink to go find her. And it was Guinness.

(shudder) Dear lord, you don’t actually drink that swill, do you? You know honey, I could turn you on to a nice bottle of Pinot Noir—

You must be fuckin’ jokin’. I’m not drinking that shite. Piper tries to get me to go to a wine bar and… Look…just get on with it, will you? I’ve got a business to run.

Marie says I’m supposed to ask what you do for a living. I’ll never understand why people are so obsessed with occupations, but since I’m supposed to ask….

Property development. I came over here – the British mainland, I mean – from Ireland ‘cause this is where the money is. You have a few houses yourself, don’t you?

Five, if you count a condo in Vail.

Any of them in the UK?

No.

Listen… [Leo leans in close.] …Maybe we could put some business each other’s way. You like houses – I like selling them. We— hey!  Get yer feckin’ hand off my knee, you gobshite!

Such a killjoy, aren’t you love? So, when you’re not selling houses or shooting down perfectly reasonable advances, what are you doing?

Piper, mostly.

(shudder) You know love, I could show you a whole new world of pleasure.

Listen, pal. I’m flattered and all that, and I’m sure when Scarlett reads this shower of nonsense she’ll die laughing, but…hey, did she set me up here? It’s just the sort of thing she’d do for a cheap laugh.

There’s nothing cheap about me love, I assure you.

Look. You’re a top bloke, I’m sure—

I’m not, actually. Bottom only for me, love.

Jaysus, man! I really didn’t need to hear that. Christ. I am not slipping any bloke a length! You’re definitely not my type, you get me? I prefer the curves on Piper—

Are you honestly telling me you’ve never even considered it, love? Not even once?

No I have not. I’ve nothing against that sorta thing, but I like women too much. Well, one of them. Have you seen the legs on her? They go all the way down to the ground. The things that woman can do with her ankles behind your back would make your nose bleed!

Good lord, do stop before I lose my lunch! Marie didn’t tell me you would be so crude. And so…. straight!

What do you expect? My first words in the book are “Feck off!” Then I turn around and start eyeing Piper up, so…it’s in me blood.

Is it safe to assume you do more in this book than talk like a sailor and nail everything female you see?

Hey – I’ll have you know throughout this book I’m a one-woman man. And no, it’s not all about swearing and drinking. I get to play the hero a bit. After I appear on the page giving it the ‘feck off’, I help Piper out of a…situation. Yeah, it happens in a pub which is clichéd for an Irishman, but still… being the charmer I am, I use it to get her number out of her, and…well, I don’t want to say too much. It’s a pretty cool story, and I’d really rather leave people to find out for themselves.

Piper’s no angel though, is she?

Watch it, Davenport.

I prefer Fenton actually, if you don’t mind.

Oh, just get on with it. And mind what you say about Pipes.

So hostile, aren’t you love? You remind me of someone I know: angry, swears a lot. And isn’t your full first name Italian?

What are you trying to say? I’m not feckin’ angry!

Hmmm. The similarity really is startling. Anyway, moving on: can we talk about the fact that Piper treats you terribly? I mean, there’s a lot of conflict in this book, right love?

Well…we’ve all got faults.

Yours being that you’re depressingly heterosexual?

Well, Piper’s great in bed, so I’m not missing out. You can rest assured of that. Look, is this gonna take much longer? I didn’t expect to be here so long and I’m waiting on a phone call about one of my properties.

Are you sure you can’t stay overnight? You really are awfully cute when you’re uncomfortable. And quite the gentleman, really, aren’t you?

Sometimes.

And you’re absolutely certain there’s no chance of—

Don’t even think about it.

Such a shame. Well, I’m leaving for the Hamptons soon anyway. I have a gardener there who will rock your world, honey. Or, mine, that is.

Listen, say hello to Scarlett for me, won’t you love? But tell her next time she sends a lovely man my way to make sure he’s playing for the right team. I swear, it’s almost like that woman doesn’t know me at all.

For those of you who would like to see more of Leo – and heaven knows I’d love to see more of him, but it appears his toast is buttered on quite the wrong side – you can buy Long Time Coming here.  And be sure to check back next week when The Letter Z is released.  I hear Scarlett and Marie have another fun interview lined up. Trust me when I say, you really don’t want to miss it!

Last chance, Leo.  Is there anything you’d like to get into the end?  And that is an innuendo…

What?  Are you saying what I think you’re—

You might even call it a full-fledged offer.

Ah, look, I’m outta here. I need a stiff one.

Really?  Well, that’s more like it, love.

I mean a pint of Guinness, ye dorty fecker!

Well, you can’t blame a guy for trying.