Sorry for the lack of posts the past two weeks. I’ve been sick in bed, but I’m slowly getting back on my feet. Stay tuned for more book posts in September 2023!
And to hold you over … check out these steamy romances (and a freebie!)
FREE READ š
Title: A Little More Hope
Series: Hot Property #2
Author: Pauley J. Ray
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 07/18/2023
Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 87900
Genre: Contemporary, Age-gap, Alpha Males, Businessmen, Physical Assault, Coming Out, Sexual Discovery, Hurt/Comfort, PTSD/Post-traumatic stress, Slow Burn
After a vicious assault leaves him a virtual recluse, businessman Mason Wilder escapes to his friendās beach house in the small seaside town of Melrose Bay to heal and come to terms with the shadow of the man he has become.
When Ashton Michaels, wanderer, surfer, loner, unexpectedly inherits a rundown shack of a house, he must decide: keep running from his disastrous past relationships or return to the place he loves, finally put down some roots, and learn to live life with all its consequences.
After a chance encounter with his elusive next-door neighbor, Ash can see Mason is hurting and it releases his protective, caring side and he knows heāll do anything he can to aid the handsome, broken man in such desperate need of help.
Mason initially resists the offer of help from Ash, but the guy is persistent and for reasons he canāt figure out, Mason feels drawn to him. When Ash decides to keep and renovate his new home, impulsively Mason joins him and in the process of rebuilding the house, Mason begins to rebuild his life and confront his fears.
He must also learn to come to terms with his unexpected attraction to a man for the first time in his life. Ash is a solid, comforting, and caring presence and offers Mason everything heās been searching for since his brutal attack.
Ash is falling hard for the quiet and troubled man heās spending all his time with but is worried the past will only repeat itself and Mason will leave him all alone like everyone else.
Can Mason finally put his demons to rest to move forward with his life and will Ash be able prevent his fear of being left behind from ruining his chance at love?
A Little More Hope
Pauley J. Ray Ā© 2023
All Rights Reserved
Safe.
A single word encompassing a whole world of images and feelings.
Cozy nights in front of the TV.
Being held in the arms of a loved one.
Safe. Something I recognized with bone-deep certainty Iād never feel ever again.
Rinsing the suds from my body along with my dark thoughts, I shut off the water and opened the shower door, cooler air filling the stall, setting off goose bumps along my skin. Grabbing the nearest towel and carefully drying myself off, I hissed at the tenderness in my muscles as I bent to rub my legs, the pain from my damaged ribs a constant ache in my side.
Shit, I was a mess.
After padding into the bedroom, I dressed carefully in clean sweatpants and a T-shirt, mindful of my injuries. I wasnāt trying to impress anyone, least of all Gabe, whoād already seen me at my worst. I wasnāt going out and hadnāt since the first day Iād gotten out of the hospital, so who cared what I wore?
Running my fingers through my damp hair to settle the too long strands in place, I emerged from the bedroom to see Gabe in the kitchen, his jacket now hanging on the barstool. Heād pulled a couple of plates from the cupboard and set them out on the countertop, ready for the food.
When I reentered the living area, Gabe pressed a couple of buttons on the microwave. āYou were in there awhile, so I decided to give them a reheat,ā he said by way of explanation. When the bell pinged, he retrieved the two sandwiches, and unwrapping them from their paper packaging, placed them on the plates.
āSorry,ā I mumbled, āI didnāt realize Iād taken so long.ā
He shrugged. āNo problem,ā and he gestured with his head as he picked up the plates. āGo sit.ā
I carefully sat down in my favorite black leather armchair as he handed me my sandwich before he settled on the sofa to my right.
We sat together in silence. He was waiting for me to speak, but I didnāt have much to say. To give myself thinking time, I picked up my food and took a large bite of my sandwich. The sweetness of the salt beef slid over my tastebuds before the bitter sauerkraut came after. After days of nothing, the simple meal tasted delicious.
āSo?ā Gabeās tone made me inwardly groan.
Putting down my sandwich I gave him a direct look. āIām fine. Okay?ā
He scoffed. āSo fine youāve not left your apartment in over a week?ā
I sighed. Iād been doing a lot of that lately.
āLook, Gabe.ā I stopped talking, as whatever I said next would be a lie. I wasnāt fine, but I wasnāt sure how to go about fixing my mess, or how to express my thoughts clearly enough to tell him so.
I wasnāt sure about anything anymore.
Sitting forward on the edge of the sofa, Gabe gave me a sympathetic smile. I fucking hated it. āLook, I know itās a struggle, and I get it.ā He held up his hands. āAnd Iām not trying to patronize you.ā
I gave a slight head tilt, in appreciation of him saying so.
āBut you canāt continue on this way. You do know that, right?ā
Deep down, I did, but any decisions about how to move forward with my life were all so muddled in my mind that I struggled to find a way out.
āI do,ā I replied. āBut itās hard. Thereās so much noise in my head, but I canāt work out how to make it stop.ā
āMaybe you should take a break for a while, get a change of scenery.ā
I frowned. āChange of scenery?ā
āYeah, get out of the city for a bit. Relax.ā
āRelax?ā I kept repeating him, but for some reason, his words werenāt registering.
āIs there an echo in here?ā he deadpanned. āYes, get away, relax.ā
Hmm, maybe. Iād not thought about leaving the city, preferring to barricade myself inside my apartment behind a solid closed door where no one could get to me. But leaving my sanctuary meant being exposed, being vulnerable, and I wasnāt comfortable with the concept at all.
Regardless, I mulled his comments over, and in theory, I agreed my current situation wasnāt healthy, and Iād reluctantly admit to going a little stir crazy, but venturing out into the city unnerved me. All the noise and the people, the narrow side streets and alleyways made me shudder inwardly. But going somewhere quiet, somewhere peaceful, away from everyone and everything currently reminding me of my assault?
āWhere would I go?ā I asked, unable to recall the last time Iād not worked in the office twelve or more hours a day, at least six days a week. Even if traveling to inspect a construction project in another city, Iād be on-site all day and ordering room service in the evening. Iād never had any time at all to relax and unwind.
Despite being the partner in charge of our luxury eco hotels and resorts, I didnāt have any clue where to go now.
āI have the perfect place,ā he replied, answering my unspoken thought.
āOh?ā I waited expectantly for him to elaborate.
āIāve a house a few hours up the coast in a small community, so not too many people to contend with. The place is perfect. On the edge of town and overlooking the sea, thereās even direct access to a beach only the locals tend to use.ā
I stared at the man on the sofa opposite me. Gabe, who thrived on excitement and adventure, who loved nothing more than immersing himself in all the activities a major city had to offer, and I mean all, had a second home, a beach house in a quiet coastal town?
āYou have a beach house?ā I sputtered, incredulity clear in my voice. āSomewhereā¦ quiet?ā
Gabe snickered, āGlad to know I can still surprise you, but yepāāhe held up his handsāāguilty as charged.ā
āSince when?ā
A dark shadow crossed his face, making me frown. When the penny dropped, I could have kicked myself. Of course, this was after his split with Karl and David.
āSorry, I should have thought.ā
He waved my apology off. āIt is, what it is,ā he stated far too blandly, making it obvious, despite being over two years since their split, the wounds remained painfully open. āI needed somewhere to regroup. To sort my head out. My assistant told me about the place. Apparently, her mom and dad love it, so I thought āwhat the hellā and went to check it out.ā
āIām guessing you liked what you saw?ā
A genuine smile crossed his face this time, one actually reaching his eyes. āI did, and when the house I rented came up for sale last year, I bought the place.ā
āWow.ā
Gabe stared at me squarely. āSo I do know something of what Iām talking about. Okay, the scenarioās not the same as yours, but I understand the need to get away and work through your trauma at your own pace, and with minimal distractions. To remove yourself from familiarity to regain some semblance of order and control over your life.ā
Heād hit the nail smack bang on the head, as thatās exactly how I felt.
āItās yours if you want it,ā he said, and I instantly wanted to grab this lifeline he offered and so badly needed. As if sensing my mood, he sat back and shoved his hand into his pants pocket, and pulling out a single key, he placed it on the coffee table between us. āI got an extra one cut,ā he explained. āIāll email you the directions this afternoon.ā
āYouāre so sure Iād go?ā I asked, picking up the paper.
āHell, no, but I like to be prepared.ā
āThank you.ā Some of the tension Iād carried around the last couple of weeks melted away. āReally, thank you.ā
āYouāre welcome,ā he replied simply as he pointed at the food on my plate. āNow eat. You look like a scrawny ass chicken for fuckās sake.ā
Pauley J Ray has been making up stories in his head for as long as he can remember, and now gets to write those stories down in his own gay romantic fiction, involving sexy, complicated, and flawed characters searching for their happily ever after.
When not writing, he loves meeting up with friends and canāt wait to get outdoors with his husband, hiking, camping and traveling to new and exciting places as often as they can.
He feels extremely lucky to be able to sit at his laptop, all day, every day, creating the heartfelt, angsty and passionate romance books he himself loves to read.
One lucky winner will receive a $50.00 NineStar Press Gift Code!
Gator Bait Series 7
Lani Lynn Vale
RELEASE: June 27, 2023
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3J8zSzn
Apple: https://apple.co/3oTtRzN
Nook: https://bit.ly/45ZhnHm
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3Cn7l5u
Add to your TBR: https://bit.ly/3X1vc3T
About the Book
Normally when you say, āI have a stalker,ā you think bad thoughts. That wasnāt the kind of stalker Folsom was when it came to Kobe Sano. Folsom liked to call herself a āguardian angel in disguise.ā
The first time he catches her attention, heās been assigned to hunt her down and throw away the key. All she did was steal someone elseās child. Well, embryo, that is. What Kobe doesnāt know, though, is the man that hired him is up to no good, and she has no other choice but to run without looking back.
From that moment on, she spends the rest of her spare time running away from him while also digging into every nook and cranny of his personal life, finding every weakness he has and utilizing it any way she needs to keep herself one step ahead of him.
Only one day, when she goes to do her usual snooping, she finds out that not only is her favorite person in trouble, but heās also in need of her help.
Too bad it takes her years to find that help.
Her next step is to break him out of the pokey prison-break style.
If she knew heād go without question, she very well might have.
***
It didnāt take a genius to know when someone was stalking you. The signs were all there, and they eventually pointed right at Folsom.
When he figures it out, he plans to confront her and maybe address the silent sexual tension thatās been brewing between them for the last few years.
However, right when heās ready to admit to himself that she might be the oneādaughter who intimidates the hell out of him or notāshe up and disappears for a year.
In that year, he spends every waking moment searching for her.
And eventually he finds her, confronts her, and is hit in the face with the secrets sheās kept from him for years.
One of which is a big one.
The daughter that she protects with everything she hasāthe one that heās come to love with all his heart, just like her momāis the very abducted child from his one and only unsolved case.
Book Review – 5 stars
Kobe and Folsom are my new favorite couple!
This one has everythingā¦ action, suspense, heat, and a precocious child you canāt help but love. As with most of Ms. Valeās stories, at least one character has a unique health issue ā or in this case two of them do. I love that part of these books. It was also amazing to see how much Kobe overcame by the end of the book.
As always, Ms. Vale didnāt disappoint. Hands down an amazing book! She offers an intriguing story, fascinating and well developed characters, and a happy ending that will leave you smiling. Whatās not to love?
Disclaimer: I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. The review above is only my opinion.
BEGINNING OF FOREVER
DāAngeloās, Book 3
Release Date: June 27, 2023
Gio and Emma.
Reluctant heroine meets a player on a sexual sabbatical.
He wants to get married, she wants nothing to do with that.
The last DāAngelo finds his forever.
Amazon | B&N | BAM | Book Depository
āWhat are the chances of that?ā he asked.
āThree hundred and sixty-five to one.ā
He handed her back her license. āNo. Itās much greater than that. Two people from the same part of the world, meet in a different part of the world, who both had birthday gifts that put them in the same place at the same time. Some might call that a sign.ā He knew she was listening.
āWhat kind of sign?ā
āThat we were meant to meet.ā He leaned forward, stared into her eyes.
She paused. āYouāre suggesting romantically.ā
āI didnāt say that . . . but now that you mention it.ā He liked that her mind went there right along with his.
āDid you forget about the part where youāre looking for āthe oneā and Iām not looking at all?ā
Gio couldnāt help it. He looked at her lips and wondered briefly how she would taste. āMinor crossroads, bella,ā he said.
She shook her head. āYouāre one hell of a flirt.ā
āSays the woman who asked me if her butt looked good in her pants.ā
She giggled. āTouchĆ©.ā
āItās okay. Iām a patient man.ā He wasnāt, actually . . . but the white lie sounded good to his ears.
āIs that your way of saying youāre going to wear down my defenses?ā Emma asked.
āIām sure as hell going to try.ā
Her cheeks lit up, her smile didnāt falter. āMen never talk to me like you do.ā
āIām not like other men.ā
āAnd if I tell you that youāre wasting your time?ā she asked.
āItās my time to waste.ā
She blinked several times. āIt was the bathing suit, wasnāt it?ā
It was his turn to laugh. āA vision that will come up every time I close my eyes.ā
āI wasnāt looking for a compliment.ā
āYes, you were. But no, cara, the swimsuit, while a bonus, is not what is prompting me to try.ā She intrigued him on every level.
āDonāt say I didnāt warn you.ā
āDuly noted.ā
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total she has written thirty-nine beloved books that have collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. Learn more about Catherine and her books at www.catherinebybee.com
Contemporary Romance
Date Published: April 2023
In the heart of San Francisco, an extraordinary journey begins when a young
woman steps into the realm of a charismatic billionaire, unearthing the
depths of his soul and discovering her own untapped desiresā¦
Enter a world of wealth, power, and unpredictable desireā¦ When
Stephanie, a driven and determined young woman, accepts the position as
billionaire Henry’s new assistant, she becomes an integral part of his
high-stakes world. Drawn to his charisma and success, she discovers that
there is much more to Henry than meets the eye.
As Stephanie delves deeper into her role, she witnesses Henry’s enigmatic
personality firsthand. The allure of his riches and handsomeness is
countered by moments of harshness and indifference, leaving Stephanie torn
between attraction and resentment. Yet, fate has plans in store for them
both.
When an unexpected business conference takes them to the vibrant city of
San Diego, Stephanie finds herself drawn into a world where secrets unravel
and hearts collide. In the midst of shared experiences, forgiveness takes
root, and Stephanie must confront her hidden feelings for Henry. But when
she discovers she carries a life-altering secret, the stakes are raised, and
their entangled lives are forever changed.
Will Stephanie and Henry’s journey lead them to embrace their undeniable
connection, or will the secrets they carry drive them apart?
Lose yourself in this captivating tale of a billionaire’s assistant,
ambition, and the secrets that bind themā¦
About the Author
Marie Ribarik, author of Falling In Love With An Obnoxious
Billionaire
My debut novel, āFalling in Love with an Obnoxious
Billionaire,ā is a captivating read that has received high praise from
readers. Drawing inspiration from my love of reading, my contemporary
romance novels transport readers to new worlds filled with unforgettable
characters and unforgettable love stories.
With over 25 years of living in California and working as an Oncology
Registered Nurse, I now reside in the Palm Beach area with my family and
want to pursue my secondary dream which is to become a writer. I have always
been a passionate novelist, poet, and writer who believes that the
power to change oneās life lies in their thoughts and words.
Since I have more time available to me now, I decided to write. It is like
trading syringes for pens, paper, and a computer. Thanks to Amazonās
KDP platform, I have self-published my work with less anxiety, allowing me
to focus on what I love most ā writing. If you are looking for a
romance author who will take you on an unforgettable journey of love and
self-discovery, look no further than my Marie Ribarik. My next novel
is right around the corner.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
Contemporary Romance (BDSM, kink)
Date Published: 06-21-2023
Heatherās soul soars when sheās hang-gliding, skydiving,
kayaking, or piloting a helicopter during search and rescue missions.
Sheās taken the term adrenaline junkie to a whole new level. However,
sheās never enjoyed sex and never had an orgasm.
Instead of giving up on her, Kyle, a long-time friend who convinces her to
be more, brings an experienced Dom in to help. Marcus explains she only
enjoys extreme sports, so she needs to try extreme sex since the normal kind
hasnāt worked. Marcus is all Dom, and helps Kyle bring Heather alive
sexually.
Just when Heather thinks she has everything figured out, she learns the
details of how it worked when the two men shared a girlfriend for years
while they were in college.
About the Author
Candace Blevins writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, contemporary BDSM
romance, and two kick-ass motorcycle club series. With more than sixty
published novels, Candace continues to create stories with strong women, and
she pulls from her vast knowledge of mythologies, ancient religions, and
history to create a paranormal world that fits neatly into our real
one.
She lives with her husband of twenty-five years and their youngest
daughter. Their oldest daughter has flown the nest, but frequently comes
home for visits. The familyās beloved, goofy, retired racing
greyhounds are usually at her side as she writes, quietly keeping her
company. Or sometimes not so quietly.
You can visit Candace on the web at candaceblevins.com and feel free to
friend her on Facebook at facebook.com/candacesblevins, TikTok at
tiktok.com/@candaceblevins, and Goodreads at goodreads.com/CandaceBlevins.
You can also join facebook.com/groups/CandacesKinksters to get sneak peeks
into what sheās writing now, images that inspire her, and the
occasional juicy teaser.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
A Plague of Mercies
Adam Pelzman
Publication date: June 7th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Poetry, Romance
A lethal plague sweeps the globe. Millions have died. Survivors are confined to their homes.
Gabriel passes his time in a small New York apartment on the cityās Upper West Side. During the plodding solitude of the lockdown, he observes several strangers in their nearby apartments. As he watches them struggle to survive a world at risk of extinction, he wonders about their livesāwhere theyāre from, what they value, how theyāre coping with a deadly contagion. All alone, he develops a vague yet important connection to these people, an affection for those who are struggling to survive isolation, fear and looming death.
Told in powerful, spellbinding free verse, Gabrielās observations grow deeper and more elaborate as the endless days pass. But when he and a woman from across the street begin to watch each other from afar, his imagination begins to collide with the bleak reality of the times.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
ā
EXCERPT:
There is a woman who lives in a building in New York City,
on the Upper West Side.
A man just a few years older lives in a building across the street.
These two people live at the same elevation,
the same height,
one hundred feet above the pavement,
above the crust of the earth.
They can see into each otherās apartments.
Every night before the woman gets into bed
she puts on a threadbare gray shirt.
The shirt is long and sleeveless and extends down to her knees.
She turns off the ceiling light
and then turns on a nightlight near her bed.
The light casts an amber glow reminiscent of a campfire.
The man in the other apartment wonders if the nightlight
is the womanās response to a fear of the dark,
to a threat real or imagined,
an antidote of sorts.
After she turns on the nightlight
she looks briefly through her window.
Perhaps she is reflecting on another day passed.
Perhaps she is considering the quality of her life,
or the quantity that remains.
Perhaps she is scanning the dark street for signs of life,
for hope in any of its many forms.
Author Bio:
Adam Pelzman was born in Seattle, raised in northern New Jersey, and has spent most of his life in New York City. He studied Russian literature at the University of Pennsylvania and went to law school at UCLA. His first novel, Troika, was published by Penguin (Amy Einhorn Books) and later republished by Jackson Heights Press as A Cuban Russian American Love Story. He is also the author of The Papaya King (which Kirkus Reviews described as “entrancing” and “deeply memorable”) and The Boy and the Lake (which is set in New Jersey during the late 1960s). His newest novel is A Plague of Mercies.
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ā
Do you like your heroes to be a little more… anti-hero?
From MCās to assassins, mafia bosses to mercenaries, and everything in between, we all love a dark hero. Dive into stories from your favorite authors as they create the villains you love to hate, the truly evil madmen, and the bad boy with the tough shell but a soft heart for those they care about.
Whether you prefer reading about captives or heroines who fight back, each story will take you on a wild ride of passion, danger, and heart-stopping romance. So get ready to indulge your wildest fantasies and fall in love with the bad boys who will steal your heart and leave you breathless.
Donāt miss your chance to own this exclusive, limited edition set.
We canāt wait to corrupt youā¦
Including Stories from:
Winter Travers – Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author
Stephanie Morris – USA Today bestselling author
Cassie Verano – USA Today bestselling author
Siren Allen – USA Today bestselling author
Lara Norman
Harley Wylde
Charmaine Louise Shelton
Jordana Pearce
Sue Brown
Marteeka Karland
TL Reeve / Michele Ryan
Angel Vane
Sabine Barclay
Brooklyn Cross
JC Jaye
Anne Roman
Nicole Cypher
Manda Mellett
Melverna McFarlane
T.L. Hodel
B. Lybaek / Sarah JD
Ashley Kay
Cori Zahara
Tara Lee
Linda Marie Pankow
PREORDER FOR DECEMBER 2023
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/corruptintentions
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C56STYMB
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/corrupt-intentions-a-limited-edition-collection-of/id6449155314
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/corrupt-intentions-a-limited-edition-collection-of-bad-boy-romance
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/corrupt-intentions-siren-allen/1143546979?ean=2940160837406
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=pK–EAAAQBAJ
ALONG CAME CHARLIE
S.L. Scott
Release Date: May 15
FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author S.L. Scott brings the charm and romance,
smiles and laughs to Along Came Charlie. This friends-to-more novel is packed with heartfelt
emotion reminiscent of the best of chick lit of the past with a modern twist for todayās
readers.
Iāll be your date, and youāll be mine.
Who says a funeral canāt be romantic?
Okay, everyone. Including myself.
That doesnāt stop the rumor mill from turning when I show up with a beautiful redhead on my
arm.
That redhead also just happens to be a stranger, relatively speaking. Charlotte Barrow and I
have run into each other a few timesāon the subway, at a bar, and now on our way to
separate funerals. Instead of the prodigal son who let his parents down showing up alone, I
traded favors and brought a date. The deal made sense at the time.
You be my date, and Iāll be yours.
Who knew bringing a date to your ex-fiancĆ©ās funeral would cause such a stir?
Technically, I did.
I invited him anyway for moral support. It didnāt hurt that he was handsome.
The cold-hearted stares that greeted us didnāt matter. We found comfort in each other and
formed a friendship from there. Charles Adams was nothing like my ex. The pressure wasnāt
there to be anyone other than who I was. He also loved my cupcakes as much as I enjoyed his
company.
I always dreamed of finding my soul mate, and then along came Charlie. My perfect match was
right here all along. Did I realize it too late?
Grab Your Copy!
ā” Amazon & Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/CharlieAm
Audible: https://geni.us/CharlieAudible
Paperback: https://geni.us/CharliePaperback
Meet S.L. Scott:
Scott writes character driven, heart-racing, and swoony romances to suspense that will leave you glued to the page. Her stories are regarded as emotion-filled and soulful. With stories ranging from light and witty beach reads to heart wrenching and heart healing, Scott has a story for all readers. Her books are more than escapes for the voracious readers of today. They are journeys of the heart that always come with a happily ever after reward at the end.
Keep up with S.L. Scott and subscribe to her newsletter https://www.slscottauthor.com/thescoop/
To learn more about S.L. Scott & her books, visit here!
Connect with S.L. Scott:
https://www.slscottauthor.com/contact
Hosted By:
Title: Diversion Plan
Series: Rooms For Romance, Book Two
Author: Tag Gregory
Publisher: Tag Gregory
Release Date: 4/21/23
Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 330
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ, MM Romance, Gay Romance
Brent Riddick has been up to his armpits in work ever since he started his job as the Truman Schoolās manager. He admits he probably qualifies as a workaholic, although he doesnāt really care. Heās simply more comfortable standing in front of a board meeting than sitting in a cocktail lounge and has no desire to examine his lack of a social life. So it isnāt a big deal to him that he sorta forgets itās his birthday.
Unfortunately his staff, led by the hotelās sexiest troublemaker, Guthrie, remembers the occasion and Brent is begrudgingly forced to allow his co-workers to take him out for drinks. However, when all those birthday drinks go to Brentās head and he ends up going home with an equally drunken Guthrie, things get a little more complicated.
Guthrie Walker is the kind of guy who always knows where the next party is happening. He also has a Plan B Party and a Plan C Party if his original party plans fall through. Heās still young and figures thereāll be plenty of time later to get serious about life. Drinking and dancing with his friends is definitely more fun than dealing with his messed up finances or dwelling on the festering rift with his family. So what if he occasionally drinks a little too much, does a few club drugs, comes in late to work a time or two, and suffers from an almost perpetual hangover? Everyone does it, right? Too bad the judge overseeing his case after Guthrie is arrested for drug possession doesnāt see things that way.
As if things werenāt messy enough, the court-ordered Diversion Plan requires Guthrie to enlist the help of his supervisor at work – who also happens to be one of Guthrieās many one-night stands – if he wants to stay out of jail, retain his serverās license, and not lose his job. The hotel is already short-staffed and Brent is too much of a softie to say no to his desperate subordinate. Which is how Brent ends up vouching for Guthrie and agreeing to monitor his compliance with the courtās mandates. Now Brent just has to come up with a way to divert the party boyās attention away from his club-scene past and himself away from lusting after his hot mess employee.
Chapter 1 ā Brent
Itās not my fault that Iām so busy I sorta forget my own birthday.
The past six months, ever since I was hired as the manager of the Truman School, have been wild. Iāve been so busy that I rarely even remember what day of the week it is, let alone the actual date. Unless, of course, thereās some critically important work event I need to know the date of; those dates I remember because Iām paid well not to forget them. Personal stuff, though . . . Not so much.
The first three months leading up to the Grand Opening of the hotel were filled with hiring staff, overseeing the remodeling of the building, and working with the PR team to plan the opening. Most of that time I was working fourteen hour days, six or seven days a week. Things only slowed down incrementally following the opening. Being the manager, I end up being the one expected to handle all the problems and, for some reason, those problems always happen at the least opportune times. Primarily weekends and the middle of the night, it seems. I donāt think Iāve really taken a relaxed breath since starting this job.
Not that I really mind. I guess I probably qualify as a āwork-a-holicā but thatās fine with me. Iād rather be too busy than not busy enough. Work is good. Iām good at what I do. I like knowing that Iām appreciated. I like hearing the accolades from my bosses at McNallyās. I really like that Iāve already received one merit-based promotion despite being with the company less than a year. Plus, when Iām up to my armpits in work shit, I donāt have time to worry about anything else. So, generally speaking, I donāt complain about being too busy. Life is easier when youāve got a purpose and, since I donāt have much of a life outside of work right now, thatās really my only purpose.
However, this weekend is proving especially hectic, what with it being Labor Day. The last official weekend of Summer is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year in the hospitality industry and, happily, the hotel is booked to capacity. It doesnāt help matters that our chef up and quit on me last week and the replacement, Easton, is not one hundred percent up to speed yet. Or that Iām immersed in marketing meetings with Ryan Zellers and the McNallyās PR team most of the weekend. Or that Ryan and his boyfriend – our ex-artist, Jayce – invited most of the staff to join them for dinner on Friday night. Or that the plumbing in the north wing backed up on Saturday afternoon. Or that any of the hundreds of other things that Iāve had to worry about this weekend have been taking up any spare brain capacity I might have left over.
Anyway, itās no wonder Iām far too preoccupied with the daily crises of managing a full hotel to notice that this year September sixth – my birthday – falls on the first Monday of the month. Iām not sure whether itās a good thing or a bad thing that Logan, my assistant manager, remembers the occasion. Iām afraid that I probably look a little confused, though, when my team surprises me with an impromptu celebration just as soon as I give the okay to the restaurant staff to close up the Courtyard kitchen at nine-thirty that Monday evening.
āFor heās a jolly good fellow . . .ā They all sing as Malia emerges from the kitchen with a Jaciva chocolate cake festooned with three largish candles.
The fact that they arenāt singing the traditional birthday song adds to my confusion. āWhatās this for?ā I ask as the group circles round the table where the cake has been placed and Iām pushed down into a chair facing the confection. āAre you folks angling for promotions or something?ā
āI told you heād forget.ā Logan gives a conspiratorial laugh. āHappy birthday, Brent!ā
āHappy birthday, Boss!ā the crowd echos.
I look around and see the faces of pretty much the entire hotel staff staring at me: Logan, Guthrie, Easton, Wyatt, Keshawn, Perry, Tasha, and all the rest. I note that even Mark has come by this evening, despite working out of corporate headquarters most of the time. I smile around at them lamely and try to look happy at being ambushed, even though I hate being made the center of attention like this. Iāve never been overly comfortable in social situations, especially when I havenāt had time to prepare something to say or figure out how Iām supposed to act. Itās different when Iām standing in a boardroom or in front of a staff meeting. Those I can handle. But random surprise parties where Iām the guest of honor are a whole ānother thing.
I can feel my skin heating up and I try to fight back the blush I feel creeping up from under the collar of my shirt. Being a redhead, I canāt control the fact that my ruddy skin usually gives me away any time Iām feeling embarrassed or put on the spot. I try not to let myself get caught out like this too often. Iām the fucking manager after all; I canāt be going around blushing like a school-girl in front of my staff. Apparently my body doesnāt understand the need to maintain a professional demeanor, though, and that stupid blush takes over, no doubt turning my cheeks almost as red as my beard. But I try to smile anyway as I laugh at myself along with the rest.
āThank you. But you didnāt have to do this.ā I gesture at the cake and try to bat away the hands attempting to pull the elastic strap of a paper birthday hat under my chin. āReally. You shouldnāt have . . .ā
āOf course we should,ā Logan insists, pulling out the chair across from me and smiling in an officious manner as they seat themselves. āCelebrating staff birthdays together is part of the fun of working here – or so it says in the McNallyās Team Policy Manual – but I knew you wouldnāt take the time to celebrate on your own, so I made the executive decision to ensure you at least sat down long enough to eat a piece of cake. And, after the ridiculously busy weekend we all just had, everyone deserves a party. Including you. Now, be a good boss and pretend to enjoy yourself.ā
I know theyāre only teasing so I try to play along. āWho has time for birthdays?ā I respond, causing several of the party to chuckle.
āCāmon, Boss. Youād think someone born on āLabor Dayā would at least remember when to celebrate!ā Someone in the back – I think itās probably that smart-ass, Guthrie – calls out.
And, yes, Iām aware of the irony of the fact that the celebration of my birth is happening on āLabor Dayā this year. My poor mother, going into labor on āLabor Dayā thirty years ago, no doubt also thought it hilarious at the time. However, since my birthday and the holiday coincide about every six or seven years, Iāve definitely heard that joke more than a few times. It wasnāt funny the first four times I heard it, and Iām not really that amused now either. But I canāt be ungracious when theyāre all trying to be nice by throwing me this party so I offer an awkward smile and fake a chuckle.
Did I mention how much I hate uncomfortable social situations?
Then another voice from the crowd – Guthrie again, I assume, because nobody else would dare to be that flippant with the boss – urges me to, āmake a wish and blow already!ā which, of course, leads to more teasing and joking.
What else can I do? I canāt just walk out of my own birthday party, so I play along, blowing out the candles and accepting a piece of cake. Malia pours beers for everyone whoās already off the clock, and maybe a few who are supposed to still be on the clock, but I turn a blind eye to that minor policy infraction since theyāre ostensibly only doing it in my honor. The party carries on from there.
Iām not sure exactly when the party gets so out of control.
One minute weāre sitting around in the empty dining room, drinking beer and eating cake, chatting and laughing about work stuff and the crazy weekend weād just lived through, and the next minute someone suggests we take the party on the road. I hear Guthrie, the eternal party boy, proposing we all go to Scandals. Several other voices concur. I try to demur, using the pile of administrative paperwork waiting on my desk as an excuse to get out of this little field trip, but Iām shouted down. After all, itās my party, right? Iām the guest of honor. They all want to buy me more drinks. I might still have backed out, though, if Guthrie wasnāt teasing me so relentlessly.
āCome on, Boss!ā The tall, bold blond waggles his eyebrows at me from behind those hipster horned-rimmed glasses of his. āPull the stick out of your ass and live a little for once!ā
I want to tell him to fuck off, and maybe even write him up for talking to his superior in such an improper manner, but that would make me look like an ungrateful jerk. This whole celebration is supposedly for my benefit, right? Iām expected to play along. Which is exactly why I hate social interaction. I feel so awkward; I never know how Iām supposed to react when put on the spot like this. So, despite feeling completely out of my element, I allow myself to be talked into relocating the party to one of Portlandās more well-known gay bars. What the hell, right? I suppose I can allow the diversion this once.
The debauchery progresses rapidly from that point.
I suppose itās obvious fairly early on that I donāt routinely drink very heavily. Iād had a couple beers back at the Truman School, so Iām already feeling a bit loose when we arrive at Scandals. The team immediately insists that I drink something called a āBirthday Cake Shotā to celebrate my special day. Thatās followed up by a Jagerbomb. After that I completely lose track of the seemingly endless rounds of drinks that follow as everyone and their brother offers to buy the Birthday Boy a drink.
Although Scandals isnāt a dance club, per se, at some point during the night the entire Truman team ends up in the middle of the floor, jumping, twisting, gyrating, and dancing together in a big group. Surprisingly, Iām right in the middle of the roiling mess of them and, for once, Iām having a pretty good time, despite my introvert tendencies. The bartender cranks up the tunes. The music is decent and quite danceable. None of us are feeling any pain and the party moves into high gear.
Iām more than halfway sloshed by this point. I will readily admit that all the toasts Iāve been the recipient of have me flying pretty high. Iāve had enough to drink that my inhibitions are pretty nonexistent and Iām relaxed enough not to care how I look anymore. I even give up trying to remove the stupid party hat that my staff insists I keep wearing. Iām having a great time dancing, to be honest – something I usually avoid out of fear of looking like a juvenile red-headed moose having a seizure – which is, unfortunately, my go-to dance move. But Iām just tipsy enough tonight to not give a damn and it feels good to let go for a change.
So, when Guthrie comes up behind me at some point and starts grinding against me from behind I donāt sweat it. I merely laugh and wiggle my ass a little provocatively. Then I toss back the rest of the glowing, fruity blue drink that is currently in my hand and twirl around like some kind of drunken ballerina.
āOh, so he can dance,ā Guthrie says, taking advantage of the smooth tempo of the music to pull me back against him even closer.
I can feel his tall, lanky body pressed up against me from behind and then his hips do this swivel thing that causes his crotch to grind into the crack of my ass. I donāt even bother trying to stifle the groan that escapes from my lips at that move. Itās been a hella long time since I had anyone grinding up against me and Iām not about to waste the experience. Especially not when itās a hot blond like Guthrie.
TAG has been living in Portland, Oregon, so long that itās almost like being a native. They donāt even mind the rain that much anymore. TAG loves the city and the state with a passion. TAG has been writing for almost a decade, starting out with a hesitant toe in the realm of fanfiction before venturing into the scarier world of self-publishing original works. With an eclectic background as an attorney, microbiologist, all-around nerd, and adventurer, TAG brings to all their writing an off-kilter sense of humor, unbounded curiosity, a love of historical and contemporary details, and astonishing powers of research. If you are looking for a gripping story, with compelling characters that deal with real world issues, then you’re in the right place.