by Ari McKay
But Jack didn’t seem to notice. “Paul,” he said, still staring. “You’re looking well.”
And it was true. Thanks to spending more time outside, Paul was more tanned than he had been on the cruise, and he was wearing nothing but a pair of board shorts, which showed off his lean build and the sculpted arms he was gaining since he’d gone back to the gym.
Paul ignored the compliment and moved to stand beside Devin, sliding his arm around Devin’s waist. “This is Devin Walker,” he said. “My partner. As you can see, we’ve been surfing.”
Devin knew Paul well enough to pick up on how Paul wanted to play the encounter, so he relaxed into the embrace and pressed against Paul’s side. He schooled his features into a smile as he nuzzled Paul’s cheek. “You’ve been surfing. I’ve been falling,” he said lightly, then glanced at Jack, letting his expression become a smirk.
“It’s your first day,” Paul said, his features relaxing into a smile that was for Devin alone. “You’ll get the hang of it.”
Jack cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly. “I suppose I don’t need to ask how you’re doing.”
“Not really.” Paul turned a cool gaze on Jack. “As you can see, things are better than the last time you saw me. Much better,” he added, giving Devin a blatant squeeze.
Devin made a show of patting Paul’s ass. If Paul wanted to rub it in, he was more than willing to help. “I do try. Good thing I’m young and have a lot of stamina to keep up with you—both in bed and out of it.”
“Definitely,” Paul said, chuckling, and Devin could tell he was genuinely amused.
“Okay, well, I guess I’ll be going,” Jack said. He paused, and there was a flash of wistfulness in his eyes. “Nice meeting you, Devin. It was good to see you, Paul.”
“Sure,” Paul said, and then he steered Devin back toward the water in a blatant dismissal of his ex.
Devin glanced back, keeping his hand on Paul’s ass in a possessive gesture. Sure enough, Jack was watching. “Well played,” Devin murmured. “He looks like you smacked him hard.”
“Just karma doing her good work,” Paul said, sliding both arms around Devin and kissing him lightly. “I’m not angry with him anymore. In fact, I’m grateful. If he hadn’t dumped me, I wouldn’t have been free when I met you, and I definitely traded up.”
Devin hugged Paul tightly. “And I got the man of my dreams,” he replied. “He looks like he’s got nothing.”
Running into Jack had shown Devin just how much Paul had healed from the emotional damage that had resulted from his accident. He felt good about his own part in helping the process, especially since Paul had access to the best therapists money could buy.
It had taken Devin some time to adjust to the knowledge that Paul was extremely wealthy. Devin had boggled at the value of Paul’s house, and even though it had been left to him by his grandparents and wasn’t as big as the house where Paul’s parents lived, visiting the house was overwhelming for Devin at first, given it was filled with heirloom antiques that wouldn’t have been out of place in a museum. He hadn’t been far off the mark when he said Paul could have bought the entire town of Buffalo Lick, but Paul wasn’t pretentious and lived far more simply than he could have. When Paul suggested living together, he’d even offered to move into a new place to make Devin more comfortable. Devin had melted over knowing Paul was willing to do that for him, but he’d gradually gotten used to the house, and now that he’d lived there for several months, he was glad to be close enough to the restaurant that he could walk home.
Paul was an investor in the Aegean, but Devin had insisted on it being a loan, and he intended to pay Paul back every dime. Paul said he wanted to use his connections to help the restaurant succeed, silencing Devin’s protests with the argument that as an investor, it was in Paul’s best interests to make sure the restaurant was a success. Devin hadn’t been able to come up with a logical argument against it, but he fully intended to make sure the restaurant earned a solid reputation on its own by having a unique menu and serving excellent food. Yet he had the feeling it was Paul’s influence, rather than the advertisements Devin had run, that had resulted in the restaurant being completely booked for its opening dinner service.
“Everything looks perfect.”
A voice interrupted Devin’s reverie, and he turned to see Paul approaching. Paul was wearing a navy-blue tailored suit with a paisley vest, looking like the responsible investor—and proud partner—that he was.
Devin felt his heartbeat quicken as it always did when he saw Paul, and he moved to meet Paul and draw him into a hug. “You made it! I’m so glad you’re here, because I can hardly believe this is happening.”
“I wouldn’t miss your big night,” Paul said, sliding his arms around Devin’s waist. “I’m serious. This place looks perfect, and I’m proud of you.”
The praise made Devin flush with pleasure. “Thanks. I want you to be proud of me. But I couldn’t have done it without you. Not just your help with money and networking either. Your encouragement this past year to follow my dream made all the difference.”
“I’m glad I could help,” Paul said, leaning in to nuzzle a kiss against Devin’s cheek. “I want you to be happy and fulfilled.”
Devin leaned in and tightened his arms around Paul. “I am happy and fulfilled, thanks to you.” He pulled back to look into Paul’s eyes. “Loving you makes me happier than anything else. The restaurant is just the icing on the cake.”
Paul clasped Devin’s biceps, then stepped back so he could slide his hands down the length of Devin’s arms to curl his fingers around Devin’s. “I’m glad you feel that way, because I’ve been thinking,” he said, searching Devin’s face with what looked like a hint of nervousness or anxiety.
Devin squeezed Paul’s hands, smiling at him in encouragement. “What about?”
“The future,” Paul said. “I know you’ve still got a lot to do to launch the Aegean, but the planning and development stage is over, so I thought maybe you’d have time to think about planning something else.”
Devin raised one eyebrow. “More plans? Not the catering business, I hope! Or Liam’s pitch for expanding the Overlook with a ‘Mountains and Oceans’ package?”
“No, I’m happy to look at Liam’s proposal, but I was thinking of something more personal.” Paul tightened his grip on Devin’s fingers. “Like a wedding.”
Devin almost asked “Whose?” But then he saw the look in Paul’s eyes and realized what Paul meant. He drew in a breath, his heart feeling as though it might burst from happiness. He was grinning like an idiot, but he didn’t care. “I think I could fit that into my busy schedule. In fact, since it’s you, I’ll cancel everything else I have planned and put myself at your disposal.”
A slow smile curved Paul’s lips, and his eyes sparkled with happiness and relief as he drew Devin into a lingering kiss. “I thought maybe we could take our time and plan something special. If we set the date a year or so from today, it would give you time to establish the Aegean, and maybe by then you could take some time off for our honeymoon. Say… two weeks for a long cruise.”
Devin nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, yes, yes! That’s perfect!” He hugged Paul tightly. “I can’t believe how lucky I am. I love you so much, Paul. I’ll marry you in a year, or tomorrow, or whenever you want.”
Paul held Devin close and murmured in his ear, “I love you too, and I’m ready to plan our future together.”
“So am I,” Devin agreed fervently. He ran his hands over Paul’s back, for the first time wishing it wasn’t opening night. Chuckling, he nuzzled Paul’s neck. “Is it too late to call off the opening so I can take you home and show you just how happy you’ve made me?”
“Yes, but you could give me an appetizer,” Paul said, brushing his lips against the corner of Devin’s mouth while he moved his hands down to cup Devin’s ass.
Devin pressed closer, burying his hands in Paul’s hair. “Anything you want,” he murmured, then claimed Pau
l’s lips, not holding back anything as he kissed Paul.
Paul matched Devin’s passion as he returned the kiss, a soft moan escaping him. Time slipped away as kiss flowed into kiss. Devin felt as though he were floating, until the sound of clapping and whistling impinged on his awareness, and Devin laughed as he broke the kiss, not caring they’d given the restaurant staff a bit of a show.
“To be continued,” he promised Paul, wriggling against Paul’s hands.
Paul gave his ass one last appreciative squeeze before releasing him and stepping back. “Damned right it is.”
Devin grinned, then turned to look at his employees. “I swear, people, can’t a man kiss his fiancé without being interrupted?”
This announcement was greeted with a moment of stunned silence, and then some of the staff were clapping again while others—led by Lavelle—stepped forward to offer their congratulations. Devin slid his arm around Paul’s waist, feeling so happy and proud he thought he might burst as he they acknowledged the well-wishes of the staff.
Now, they had the opening of the restaurant to get through, the structured chaos of the kitchen and customers. Later, he and Paul would tell their families and start planning their wedding, but only after a personal celebration for just the two of them, and Devin would do his best to show Paul how much he was loved and desired.
No matter what joys and challenges awaited them in the future, they would face them the best way of all—together.
ARI MCKAY is the professional pseudonym for Arionrhod and McKay, who have been writing together for over a decade. Their collaborations encompass a wide variety of romance genres, including contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, gothic, and action/adventure. Their work includes the Blood Bathory series of paranormal novels, the Herc’s Mercs series, as well as two historical Westerns: Heart of Stone and Finding Forgiveness. When not writing, they can often be found scheming over costume designs or binge watching TV shows together.
Arionrhod is a systems engineer by day who is eagerly looking forward to (hopefully) becoming a full-time writer in the not-too-distant future. Now that she is an empty-nester, she has turned her attentions to finding the perfect piece of land to build a fortress in preparation for the zombie apocalypse, and baking (and eating) far too many cakes.
McKay is an English teacher who has been writing for one reason or another most of her life. She also enjoys knitting, reading, cooking, and playing video games. She has been known to knit in public. Given she has the survival skills of a gnat, she’s relying on Arionrhod to help her survive the zombie apocalypse.
Visit Ari on:
Website: arimckay.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Ari-Mckay/266185570179748
Twitter: @AriMcKay1
By Ari McKay
DREAMSPUN BEYOND
ASHEVILLE ARCANA
#1 – Out of the Ashes
#19 – Forged in Fire
#32 – Quenched in Blood
DREAMSPUN DESIRES
THE WALKER BOYS
#24 – Striking Sparks
#35 – Breaking Bonds
#69 – Seeking Solace
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Now Available
Striking Sparks
By Ari McKay
The Walker Boys
The stakes are high and the heat is on.
Beau Walker, owner of the Barbecue Shack, needs the help of Jake Parnell, his one-time rival and secret crush, in a televised barbecue competition. Beau is a proud man, but the stakes are high, and smart, sexy Jake is his only hope, even if being around Jake reawakens the attraction he’s fought for years.
Jake left his hometown, determined to build a life somewhere his sexuality wouldn’t hurt his family’s restaurant business—and far away from hunky, obstinate Beau Walker. Then his twin, Josh, is killed, and Jake returns to support his brother’s wife and children. Despite his reservations, he agrees to go head-to-head against Beau on national television. Between stress and grief, as well as pride and determination, only one thing is certain—the heat between Beau and Jake extends well beyond the kitchen.
Now Available
Breaking Bonds
By Ari McKay
The Walker Boys
From the frying pan into the fire.
After a critic’s review attacks both Chef Liam Walker’s culinary skills and his personal life, Liam can no longer take the heat of the cutthroat New York City restaurant scene. He needs to get out of the kitchen—at least long enough to cool down and regroup.
At the Overlook Resort in North Carolina, Liam meets owner Carter Galloway. Carter has a passion for the hospitality business to rival Liam’s own, and it’s not hard to see where their shared interests—and attraction—could lead. But Carter has no interest in a fling, and Liam has no intention of walking away from the career he fought so hard for. If they want a taste of happiness together, they’ll have to find the courage to break the bonds threatening to pull them apart.
Coming in December 2018
Dreamspun Desires #71
Romancing the Undercover Millionaire by Clare London
Romancing The...
Can poverty and privilege find a loving compromise?
Alexandre Bonfils, a rich and spoiled second son, is tired of being ignored and decides to help when the family’s exclusive wine business is in trouble. Going undercover in the warehouse, he loves the adventure—and the chance to be close to the sassy and sexy manager, Tate Somerton.
Tate is hardworking and financially struggling, bringing up his siblings on his own. A suspected saboteur at work is his latest challenge, but now he also has a clueless, though very attractive, new intern. There’s an immediate spark between the ill-matched couple, until a shocking accident cuts short Alex’s amateur sleuthing.
While recovering in the generous care of Tate and his family, will Alex realize what belonging really means? Passion and pride come together to fight for the company they’re both committed to preserving, but can a personal bond remain when the dust settles?
Dreamspun Desires #72
The CEO's Christmas Manny by Angela McCallister
Anything but business as usual.
Billionaire CEO Nic Price lives for his job. When his overly critical parents threaten it, the last thing Nic needs is distraction from the new manny—who puts up ridiculous Christmas decorations, hijacks the kids from school, ruins plans with a huge potential client… and makes him feel things he’s never allowed himself to feel—especially for an employee.
Sweet, outgoing Sasha Lindsey takes care of everyone around him but is terrified of relying on others after being treated like a burden by his cheating ex and by his irresponsible parents. His attraction to Nic is the worst idea ever, given that a workplace relationship ended his last job.
This time, a disastrous turn at Nic’s business could cost Sasha his fresh start and leave him alone for the holidays.
Coming Soon to
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Don’t Miss Dreamspun Desires!
Love Always Finds a Way
Dreamspun Desires Subscription Service
Love eBooks?
Our monthly subscription service gives you two eBooks per month for one low price. Each month’s titles will be automatically delivered to your Dreamspinner Bookshelf on their release dates.
Prefer print?
Receive two paperbacks per month! Both books ship on the 1st of the month, giving you exclusive early access! As a bonus, you’ll receive both eBooks on their release dates!
Visit
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
for more info or to sign up now!
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 i
magination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Seeking Solace
© 2018 Ari McKay.
Cover Art
© 2018 Alexandria Corza.
http://www.seeingstatic.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.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-523-1
Mass Market Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64108-057-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018931586
Digital published November 2018