"4.5 Stars!...Four characters create an intricate dance and counter-dance of understandings and misunderstandings. The mutual attraction between Max, who is very out, and Quint, who is not out at all, is instant and hot...If you like a complex tale with strongly-drawn characters who don't always do exactly as they should (or as you expect), then you will love The Wolfe Proxy. I did."--Carole, Rainbow Reviews
"4 Nymphs!...A fun and sexy look at what happens after two men find love when they least expect it, and under very strange and unusual circumstances, which were a unique and creative twist. Max is out of the closet and has been for years. Quinton, on the other hand, isn’t and until he met Max, never planned to step out. These two men are as different as night and day…The well-written scenes when Max emotionally falls apart after a misunderstanding with Quint are expressively painful and heart wrenching...I liked these guys, and the overall plot was well done, with just enough complexity to keep the story flowing smoothly...All the components needed for an entertaining story that’s made for a rainy afternoon read."--Mystical Nymph, Literary Nymphs Reviews
"4 Stars!...I really liked The Wolfe Proxy...It's well constructed...the characters were quite likable. The heat between Max and Quint was evident and the sex between these flawed men was divine. I have given the story 4 stars because I think you will fall in love with everyone and Jenn, Max's sister, turns out to be one kickass businesswoman."--Wave, Reviews By Jessewave
"...A sweet and emotional story, with angst and upheaval followed by a nice ending."--Cassie, Joyfully Reviewed
"...T. D. McKinney and Terry Wylis have written a sensual and fanciful contemporary romance novel...Quinton and Max’s reactions to each other are immediate and intense. I don’t often find love at first sight believable but The Wolfe Proxy is a notable exception. I found the instant and passionate connection formed by the heroes to be very believable and very appealing."--Christina, Romance Junkies
...The huge industrial door slid open a generous and rather vigorous five feet. The far-too-pretty but amazingly annoying brother grinned at him, Texas-sky eyes even with Quint’s own. Lovely. Just the perfect addition to a day Quint would rather not repeat.
“Good evening, Mr. Bowman. I believe Jennifer is expecting me.” Clichéd but free of most triggers for hostility.
Max’s generous mouth curved into a smirk. “Uh, no. Actually she’s not. But I am. Come on in.”
Now what the hell is that supposed to mean? Quint glanced at his watch. “I’m not that late. Surely she wouldn’t have given up on her first taste of Dallas’s nightlife over a mere thirty minutes.”
Bowman’s smirk grew to something closer to a grin again. “Actually, she left an hour ago. See, you had to cancel your little date tonight. Business.” Oh, that was definitely a smirk big enough to qualify for Texas citizenship. “Or so I told her.”
Okay, big brother got points for sheer ruthlessness, if not sense. “And you have no problem lying to her because you expect she won’t believe me when I tell her the truth Monday morning. You have a warped sense of risk, Mr. Bowman.” And that quality shouldn’t be so damn attractive at the same time it annoyed the hell out of Quint.
“Oh, she’ll believe you. And she’ll rant at me for a good two hours before she winds down. But by then you and I will have had a chance for a little talk. See, you’re going to leave my sister alone.” Max slid the big door closed behind Quint. “I can, if I need to, pull out every nasty article and every titillating society column written about you for her to read.”
It took an effort to hold the urge to laugh out loud down to a snort. “And you think I give a damn about that? I’ve had more bad press than Vista and it doesn’t keep me from a plethora of female company.” Bowman wanted to play hardball, did he? Fine. Quint didn’t necessarily enjoy hardball, but he made sure he could play it better than anyone else. Best lay all the—okay, the least important cards on the table right now.
“Jennifer’s not a piece of arm candy. I can do better than her without breaking the seal on my Rolodex. What she is, Maxwell, is an unknown entity in my very stable financial house of cards. I need to know if she’s glue or a wind machine, and if trotting her around to the local hot-spots will get me that information, I’ll use it.”
Ah, pretty Max was even prettier with that splash of color across his cheeks. “I figured that’s what you were doing. I won’t let you hurt her just so you can make another twenty-five cents on your dividend check.” Anger really suited Max, Quint had to admit. It made his eyes glitter and a muscle in that solid jaw twitch. Quint wanted to lick that spot. “And if I have to, I’ll see she uses her shares in ways you won’t like. She’ll still give me half if I ask. And you can imagine what I’d do with them.”
Quint could imagine far too well. Max would use any proxy he had to see Quint never sat on the board of directors even though it would be best for WolfeCorp. And when that bit of petty revenge had been accomplished, the bastard would sell the shares, pocket the money, and go his no doubt substance-enhanced way not caring that he’d destroyed a business to which Quinton’s father and grandfather had devoted their lives. He wouldn’t care if Quint’s employees suffered or not.
Quint took a step closer to his newest nemesis. “Oh, I can imagine. And you imagine what I’ll do with your sister.”
Those blue eyes flashed fire. “You so much as look at my sister again, Wolfe, and I swear you’ll be on the wrong end of a welder’s rig.” That muscle in Max’s jaw jumped again. “You want her out of your office, fine. I’ll make sure she stays out. Just get the hell away from us.”
Neanderthal. Did he think physical threats would frighten Quint? Well, pretty Max was very wrong. They didn’t. Not the least bit. It only sent a new jolt of rage through Quint. So Max Bowman thought he could possibly come up to Quint’s speed? Hardly! Quint would show the insufferable caveman exactly how to play the game of fear, intimidation, and extortion. “Oh, I’ll stay away. For a price.”
“What price?” Max’s eyes narrowed and that solid body tensed. “I told you I’d keep her out of your way. That’s plenty.” The industrial door rattled open again. “So we have a deal and you can get your over-toned ass the hell off my property.”
“I don’t think so.” Hardball just went granite, boy. In a blink Quint had Max Bowman up against the wall next to the door, a hand to each side of the sculptor’s head. It took all Quint had not to kiss that acerbic mouth, but this was business. “You see, Mr. Bowman, I have no choice in the matter of guiding dear Jennifer through the finer points of corporate navigation. I have yet to learn what stipulations dear Great-aunt Elaine made if your sister fails to take an active part in WolfeCorp.” By God he’d know by Monday, though. A call to his lawyer on his way home would take care of that. “So you see, I can’t accept your offer. But I do have a counterproposal. It’s not negotiable. Either you agree to it or I will use every ploy at my disposal to protect my company, even if it means luring dear, sweet Jennifer into my bed and under my thumb.”
Quint let out his own smirk, recalling the two artists at the picnic and the very loud vibe he’d gotten. His counteroffer left his knees weak at the prospect. Too bad Bowman wouldn’t go for it in a million years...