by Lane Hayes
Her eyes lit with pleasure. “Oh my! Isn’t that sweet of you! What’s your name, dear boy?”
“Benny.” He touched her arm gently and then pointed toward the garden. “Would you like to have lunch with us?”
“I’d be delighted.” Miri turned to face me and cocked her head inquisitively. “I know you, don’t I?”
My heart beat double time. She hadn’t asked that question in months. I didn’t expect it. Especially after she asked Benny his name for the fiftieth time. I swallowed hard and nodded.
“Yes. You know me well. Um…. Mom, I have something to tell you.”
She didn’t move a muscle. Calling her mom was a risk. It had set her off a couple of times in the past when she was sure there was no possible way she could have mothered any children, let alone four. This time, she didn’t seem disturbed. I took a chance and moved closer.
“What is it?”
“Benny and I are getting married.” I reached out for my fiancé and laced my fingers through his. “I asked him a few days ago and… he said yes. I just—I wanted you to know.”
I couldn’t stop my goofy grin from taking over my entire face. I’d been nervous as hell the evening I got down on my knees in a quiet section of Central Park and asked Benny to marry me. He’d thought I was joking. It wasn’t unusual for me to throw my arms around him, nuzzle his neck, and tell him we ought to make this legal. We were practically married as it was. Benny had moved into my place in December. His studio apartment was now his workspace only. Everything else, including the crystal chandelier and candelabra were now in our home. It made for an eclectic vibe, but somehow it worked. Everyone agreed. Just as they agreed getting married was the right move for us.
Dad had been so happy, he’d cried. He wouldn’t stop hugging Benny and welcoming him into the family. I’d rolled my eyes, but it was only to keep myself from letting a tear or two loose. Gaia had the same reaction. She wanted to hold an engagement party for us at Johnny’s and already had big ideas about where the ceremony should be and how many people to invite. It was overwhelming. Frankly, I would have suggested eloping, but it was more important to me that Benny was happy.
I gazed at my beautiful man in wonder. A year ago, I’d been so sure he was the last man I’d ever fall for, but now I knew he was the only one. He was my rock, my anchor, my island of calm in a crazy, mixed-up world where justice didn’t always come and forgiveness was a virtue that should be granted without a price tag. He was my friend, my lover, and the one person I could count on to set me straight when my rigid attitude sometimes threatened common sense. I was an infinitely better man when I was with the boy with the blue hair. A more compassionate and patient one. Well, maybe not. I was a work in progress.
Miri covered her mouth and cast a confused look between us. “But you’re men. Is that okay?”
I laughed and impulsively squeezed her hand. “Yes, it’s legal now too.”
“I’m so happy for you, then. So very happy. He’s a beautiful man,” she commented in a hushed tone Benny could easily overhear. “I like the way you look at him. It’s a lovely look.”
“Thank you.” I glanced at Benny and grinned before signaling that we should gently remind her about the picnic.
He picked up the cue and escorted her outside, chatting about the weather, the food he’d brought, and the roses. She smiled and nodded, though I doubted she was listening closely now. She was simply happy in the moment. As I watched them move away arm in arm, I realized I was too.
Love wasn’t flowers or chocolate or songs in the moonlight. Those were simply small tokens of romantic affection. The real thing was a tangle of subtler emotion that came to life in a knowing glance, a familiar touch, or a soft sigh in the dark. I was learning love was a unique and sometimes frightening ride, but it was infinitely worthwhile. This wasn’t what I planned, but this was home now, and I was forever grateful for this man, this love… this kind of romance.
More from Lane Hayes
A Kind of Story
Rand O’Malley dreams of superstardom. He hopes to one day sing the blues like a rock god. Moving to New York City and hiring a new manager are steps to make his dreams a reality. But nothing moves as fast as Rand would like, and everyone has opinions, for example that he should keep certain pieces of himself quiet if he plans on making it in the Big Apple. Like his bisexuality.
Will Sanders is a gifted musician who dazzles Rand with his ability to coax gorgeous notes from an electric guitar one moment and play the piano like a professional the next. He’s a geek, but Rand isn’t concerned about Will’s pressed exterior clashing with his tattoos. His focus is music. Yet there’s something about Will that makes Rand think there’s much more to the quiet college student than he lets on. As Rand’s dreams begin to materialize, he’s forced to reconsider his priorities and find his own kind of truth. One that might include Will.
A Better Than Story
Matt Sullivan understands labels: law student, athlete, heterosexual. He has goals: graduate and begin his career in law. One fateful night, Matt tags along with his gay roommate to a dance club and everything changes. Matt finds himself attracted to the most beautiful man he’s ever seen. All labels go flying out the window.
Aaron Mendez doesn’t believe in labels, and he’s leery of straight curious men. He makes it clear that he’ll hide his fabulous light for no one. While Aaron can’t deny the attraction between him and Matt, he is reluctant to start anything with someone who is still dealing with what this new label means—especially when that someone has a girlfriend.
A Better Than Story
Jay Reynolds has a crush on his project leader at work, but an office romance with Peter Morgan isn’t likely to happen since Peter is straight. Worse, Jay soon fears Peter is homophobic, and his initial infatuation turns to loathing. But one fateful night, Jay is forced to acknowledge things aren’t quite as they seem with Peter. Suddenly, his crush is back and unbelievably, Peter is interested too.
They begin a friends with benefits arrangement, which becomes difficult for Jay when he starts falling for his sexy boss. Peter’s past issues keep him from committing, and Jay has to decide if he can be satisfied with friendship if Peter isn’t ready to take a chance on anything more.
A Right and Wrong Story
Escaping an abusive relationship left Luke Preston anxious and spouting panic-induced poetry. Desperate for a fresh start, Luke accepts a job remodeling a tired old beach house for a professional soccer player and his model girlfriend. While his passion is literature, not sports, focusing on the renovations eases his anxiety. Until the job he signed up for turns out to be more complicated than advertised.
Sidelined with a serious injury, soccer star Michael Martinez decides his beach house is the perfect place to recuperate. Remodeling might be the diversion he needs to keep his mind off his busted knee. Falling for the pretty designer with some quirky habits wasn’t on the drawing board. Unfortunately, Luke didn’t build a big enough closet for Michael to hide in. Having a star-powered sports career used to be all Michael lived for, but he’ll have to reevaluate his plans and find the right words if he wants to build more than a beach house with Luke.
A Right and Wrong Story
Successful owner of an upscale boutique in fabulous West Hollywood, Brandon Good swears by his personal edict to “live in the present.” After a bad breakup, he agrees to dog-sit to keep his mind off his ex. Never did he expect the dog to belong to a man from his past, the only man to ever truly break his heart.
When Jake Westley relocates to join the WeHo fire department, the last thing he anticipates is reuniting with his secret high school love. Thrilled with the prospect of reconnecting with Bran, Jake feels no guilt in using his charming old dog as an unwitting matchmaker. As he and Bran rekindle their friendship, it becomes clear the intense attraction they once felt is stronger than ever. But as hard as they try to leave the past behind, painful memories resurface. Bran will have to confront his fears and cons
ider the possibility that the man he swore was absolutely the wrong one might be perfect after all.
Readers love A Kind of Truth by Lane Hayes
A Kind of Truth
“Thank you, Ms. Hayes, for a lovely, exciting and profoundly moving book.”
—Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews
“This is a very (very!) sexy, well-written book with two remarkable & remarkably REAL MCs and a lovely HEA. I am so looking forward to more books in this series.”
—My Fiction Nook
“It’s got this raw honesty, with complex characters, yet still manages to carry a feel good vibe.”
—Gay Book Reviews
“…a well-written book set at a great pace with two guys who think all they have in common is the music but are a perfect match.”
—Joyfully Jay
“I am always a fan of Lane Hayes writing technique and this book did not disappoint. One of my favorites of 2016!”
—Alpha Book Club
LANE HAYES resides in sunny Southern California with her fabulous husband and a very old Lab in an almost empty nest. Armed with imagination and a strong adoration for romance novels, Lane began writing MM a few years ago and has never looked back. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Her debut novel, Better Than Good, was a 2013 Rainbow Awards finalist. Lane loves reading, writing, travel, chocolate, wine, and spending time with family and friends. And if any combination of these can be done together, all the better!
Contact information:
Website: lanehayes.wordpress.com
Twitter: @LaneHayes3
Facebook: LaneHayesauthor
E-mail: [email protected]
By Lane Hayes
BETTER THAN STORIES
Better Than Good
Better Than Chance
Better Than Friends
Better Than Safe
KIND OF STORIES
A Kind of Truth
A Kind of Romance
RIGHT AND WRONG STORIES
The Right Words
The Wrong Man
The Right Time
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.
A Kind of Romance
© 2016 Lane Hayes.
Cover Art
© 2016 Aaron Anderson.
[email protected]
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: 978-1-63477-322-5
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63477-323-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016902317
Published June 2016
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Blurb
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
More from Lane Hayes
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