by Jodi Payne
“Congratulations, Reese!” Reese turned to see William coming up on his left.
Reese raised an eyebrow. “On?”
“Sammy tells me you’re getting married.” William looked at him expectantly.
“Wha—” Reese’s eyes widened and then narrowed again. “Nice try.”
William laughed. “Well you can hardly blame us. Look at you! So well-adjusted and happy. I almost miss my perpetually tortured and tragically single author friend.”
“Ha ha.”
William patted him on the back. “Almost. But not quite.”
“We’re just so happy for you, Reese.” Sammy popped up in front of him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Can I borrow Owen before our next dinner party? He says he cooks.”
“Yes. For cooking only.”
Joe laughed and Reese winked, sticking his friend in the ribs with his elbow.
“Aw, when did you become such a bore? Oh!” Sammy looked gleeful. “Did you get my package?”
“I did, and I cannot wait to put it up in our living room.” It was such a great surprise when the piece arrived at their apartment. Reese knew just where it was going to go too, assuming Owen agreed. “I pinned a check to the corkboard in the kitchen for you.”
“Oh, Reese. I meant you to have denouement as a gift.”
“Sammy, the gift is that you’ve allowed me to buy it. Don’t argue with me. Artists can’t afford to give away their work, even to their friends. I want to be supportive.”
“Tsk. Reese.” Sammy gave him a sour look.
“Well, my mortgage account thanks you, anyway.” William gave Reese a knowing look.
“Excuse us, just cutting through. Need more wine.”
Reese and William stepped back to let a sturdy-looking man pass through. He had dark hair and a full beard, and his blue eyes were shaded by heavy eyebrows. He was wearing a sports coat.
“Hold on, Shelton, honey. I’m coming,” Chad called out and followed the burly man through the center of the gathering. “Coming through. Pardon me. Thank you.”
Reese grinned broadly and let them both pass. Far be it from him to ever stand in Chad’s way.
“I’m so glad Chad was available on such short notice.” William smiled at Reese. “When Shelton came into town this morning for a last-minute job interview, I didn’t know what I was going to do with him.”
“Chad is always up for a party.” Chad was always up for a man with a beard too. Reese was more than happy to invite him.
Owen caught Reese’s eye. Reese raised his glass to him, and Owen got up and made his way over.
“You,” Owen purred.
“You,” Reese whispered back and kissed Owen lightly.
“Will, please put the wine out on the table? Dinner is almost ready, everyone!” Sammy called out as he headed back into the kitchen. “Go sit so the Bourguignon won’t get cold.”
“Oh, you used my wine?” Reese couldn’t wait to try it.
“I told you I would, sweetie.” Sammy waved his hand. “Go on and have a seat.”
Owen hooked his arm through Reese’s as they headed for the dining room. “I’m looking forward to dinner. I’ve never had beef Bourguignon. It sounds amazing.”
“No doubt. I don’t think there’s anything Sammy can’t do.”
Owen leaned in close and whispered in Reese’s ear. “Oh, he can’t fuck me like you do, lover.”
“Mm.” Reese agreed, nodding. He was definitely hungry.
JODI PAYNE spent too many years in New York and San Francisco stage managing classical plays, edgy fringe work, and the occasional musical. She therefore is overdramatic, takes herself way too seriously, and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her men are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likeable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after.
For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec and tequila however you pour it. She’s also obsessed with Shakespeare and Broadway musicals. She can be found wearing sock monkey gloves while typing when it’s cold, and on the beach enjoying the sun and the ocean when it’s hot. When she’s not writing and/or vacuuming sand out of her laptop, Jodi mentors queer youth and will drop everything for live music.
Jodi lives near New York City with her beautiful wife, and together they are mothers of dragons (cleverly disguised as children) and slaves to an enormous polydactyl cat.
Website: www.jodipayne.net
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/payne.jodi
FB Author Group: www.facebook.com/groups/jodisgents
Twitter: @JodiPayne
Instagram: @jodipayne1800
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/267617.Jodi_Payne
By Jodi Payne
Creative Process
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Creative Process
© 2017 Jodi Payne.
Cover Art
© 2017 Tiferet Design.
http://www.tiferetdesign.com/
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
ISBN: 978-1-63533-840-9
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63533-841-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017906669
Published September 2017
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America