by Tara Lain
“Nope. Well, kind of, but we explained that you’d been going through a few—” Bobby made air quotes. “—readjustments lately, and seeing Uncle Harold overloaded your circuits.”
“That’s a classic understatement. I was so unfair to him.”
Micah shook his head seriously. “No, you weren’t. That was an unfair burden to put on a little kid.”
Bobby really glowered. “And he had to have figured out in his drunken mind that you, being who you are, would shoulder that responsibility without complaint.”
Paolo smoothed Robin’s hair. “Still, it’s good to understand how he interpreted the experience—as positive.”
Paolo’s soothing lemony scent filled Robin’s head. “I always thought I had to go because I was bad. That somehow my mother knew what he was doing and thought I needed punishment.”
“It’s often the case that parents know when a child is being abused, but they refuse to accept it,” Micah said. “But in this case, I honestly believe your mom thought her brother was the best person on the planet. He hid his alcoholism from her.”
“So she thought she was giving you a gift.” Bobby smiled and petted Robin’s arm.
“I actually see that. He’s very likable.” Robin let his breath out slowly. “It’s a new way of thinking about—everything, but especially myself.”
Paolo nuzzled his ear. “As very likable too?”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” He laughed and it felt good.
Bobby stood, and Micah got up beside him. “We have to meet up with Micah’s mom and sister this morning. We called them from the car. Want to come? I bet we can go someplace with eggs Florentine.”
Did he? “Thanks, dear, but as much as I’d love to meet your mom, Micah, and see Xaviera, I think I need today to recover. Maybe plan a little.”
Bobby glanced at Paolo, then grinned at Robin. “Have a great day.” He winked, and he and Micah left Robin’s bedroom holding hands. A couple of minutes later, Robin heard the front door close.
Chapter Thirty
ROBIN LAID his head on Paolo’s shoulder. “Shall we just stay here and doze all day?”
“We could, but I was thinking brunch and a trip to the house.”
“Really? Oh, I’d love that.” He beamed and bounded out from under the covers, stark naked. That, in turn, attracted some serious attention from Paolo, and it took a little extra time to get out of the shower and into jeans and a cotton shirt. The September weather in SoCal was often the hottest of the year, and that day wasn’t kidding around.
They didn’t get eggs Florentine, but huevos rancheros at Coyote was at least as good. After Robin stuffed his face, Paolo asked, “Ready?”
Paolo’s plate still looked half-full. “You didn’t eat much. Not your fave?”
“No, it was great. I’m just not as hungry since I snacked as I drove last night.”
“You should have wakened me. You and Micah did almost all the driving. You must be exhausted.”
“No, I’m fine. Happy to be here with you.” He kissed Robin’s hand, which sent waves of joy floating through him.
Funny. Paolo seemed a little misty-eyed. “We can take a quick look at the house and then go back to the apartment and take a nap.”
“Maybe so.”
They took Robin’s Ferrari—he still couldn’t get used to the idea he had that car—though Paolo drove, and they cruised south on the PCH with top down and hair blowing. As they came to the turnoff, Paolo glanced at Robin. He seemed anxious.
Robin frowned a little. “Is everything okay? Is there something about the house you’re not telling me?”
Paolo turned onto their street with its row of ocean-view homes. He gave another nervous gaze. “Uh, yeah. Kind of.”
“What?” Robin grabbed a hold of the console. “Dammit, Paolo, I’m trying to plan my life here and you’re—”
Paolo pulled into the side driveway of the house—the house behind the perfect dryscaped yard, now complete with a large pepper tree and a poplar that set off the entry. Neither had been there before. That was also true for the fresh paint in the green and gray Robin had chosen, the slate walkway, the stone veneer, and the brand-new roof.
Robin slid a hand over his mouth but still said, “Oh my God.”
Paolo bounded out of the car and came around to let Robin out. “I love it. You’re too surprised to reach for the door handle.”
“It’s so beautiful.”
“You chose it.” Paolo was practically skipping. He escorted Robin up the walkway, inserted the key, and held open the door. Inside was amazing! No furniture or decorations yet, but the polished hardwood floors gleamed, the interior atrium had been planted with lush tropicals, and the huge windows opened across a gorgeous new slate patio to the ocean view that took his breath away.
Paolo opened the bifold doors and melded the inside to the outside, then led Robin onto the expanse of stone.
Robin pressed his hands to his heart. He could imagine the comfy furniture and standing out here painting until his whole being filled with the perfection of blue sky and blue water. “I know it’s how we planned it, but it’s so much more beautiful than I could even imagine.”
“Then I’m totally happy—almost.” Paolo held Robin’s hand tightly.
Robin felt the crease pop between his eyes. “Oh? Aside from the furniture, is there something you want to change?”
“Yes.”
“What? Tell me.”
Paolo turned and faced Robin, a serious expression on the beautiful face. “You and me.”
Robin’s heart gave a huge slam against his ribs, he sucked air—and then he narrowed his eyes. No, Paolo wasn’t backing out. He loves me. I trust him. “What about you and me do you want to change?” A smile tugged at his lips.
“I think we need to alter our single condition.” He dropped to one knee and pulled a blue velvet box from his pocket. “I propose that we furnish the house in time to have a wedding right here on this spot.”
Robin slapped a hand over his mouth.
“And I propose it be a double wedding with you and Bobby.”
The swallow actually hurt as he tried to hold back tears.
“And I suggest you say yes fast since my mother and your mother are planning the damned wedding as we speak.”
“Oh my God.”
“What do you say, Mr. McMillan. Will you marry me?” He opened the box on an architectural sweep of gold and platinum wound together into a band, cradling a tiny galaxy of diamonds.
“This is fast.” He could barely talk, his breath came so fast.
“Shit, no. It’s taken months.” Paolo grinned.
“You really want to be stuck with me?”
“Only forever.”
He stared at the ring, and his vision clouded. “Did you get two of those?”
“As a matter of fact I did, but you have to say yes first.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Robin bounced in a positively Bobby-like way as Paolo slid the ring onto his finger, and then he threw his newly adorned hand around Paolo’s neck and hauled him down for a kiss to rock to the core of his balls—and the center of his heart.
When he pulled back, he gazed into Paolo’s deep eyes. “You made it happen. Without you, I’d still be the bad twin who deserved to get the shit and the vomit.”
“Hey, without you, I’d still be evaluating people based on what they could give my business—and I’d never have known my mom.”
“Are your mom and my mom really planning the wedding together?”
“Yep. I think from here on we’ll have to call them Double Trouble.”
Paolo wrapped his arm around Robin, and they drove back to the apartment to snuggle until Monday.
More from Tara Lain
A Balls to the Wall Romance
A “pumped up” version of the Volley Balls story, twice as long as the original.
A double dose of alpha male might be better than one.
Despite just getting out of an
abusive relationship with an asshole alpha, David Underwood’s wandering glance lands on two hot members of the Australian volleyball team on Laguna Beach and gets him harassed again. Still, when the delicious Gareth Marshall proves his interest by coming out to his team, David succumbs to his attraction. But Gareth’s volleyball partner, Edge, who’s equally hot, makes the lovers’ lives miserable.
For Gareth, a lifetime of hiding his orientation—and his attraction—from his best friend, Edge, as well as everyone else around him, adds up to hurt and frustration. David’s the first man to ever compete with Edge for Gareth’s passion. But Edge has secrets of his own, and David’s ex-lover will never be happy without David under his fist. With everything stacked against him, can a gay Laguna man find happiness with an alpha male–or two?
A Balls to the Wall Romance
Renowned artist Rodney Mansfield stands five foot six, has pink hair, six earrings, a black belt in karate—and a desperate yearning for firefighter Hunter Fallon. But Rod, the Runtback of Notre Dame, knows he’ll never land the beautiful “straight gay” guy, so Rod musters his altruism and helps his more masculine friend Jerry attract Hunter. As if a broken heart wasn’t enough, Rod saves Hunter from a firehouse homophobe—humiliating Hunter in front of his dad!
Hunter lives a dream life—his father’s dream. While he’d like to teach literature in college, read poetry in the sun, and find a strong guy to top him, he fights fires for his dad. Hunter hates flamboyant guys like Rodney. So why can’t he resist him? Maybe it’s time to admit this is one flame he has no desire to put out.
A Balls to the Wall Romance
Adam James is so far in the closet he could find Narnia. As an attorney for the homophobic WMA Development, he can’t come out without risking the million-dollar paycheck waiting for him once they push their big land development deal through the city council—money that will finally allow Adam to live according to his own terms. Then, on an early morning scuba dive, Adam meets a tall, lean rebreather diver named Sky who makes him want to hug a tree.
Sky Sea Mickeljohn stands for the environment, world peace, and being openly gay. He won’t compromise his principles for anyone—even the damned lying developer lawyer he can’t help lusting after. True, the WMA land development deal could put thousands of people at risk, but Sky still wants to risk his heart. In the fight between freedom and integrity, is there a place for love?
Sequel to Fire Balls
A Balls to the Wall Romance
Can two men with skewed self-images see their true reflections in each other’s eyes?
Jerry Wallender—firefighter, surfer, and occasional nude model—knows he’s no rocket scientist. So why does he keep choosing intellectual guys who make him feel dumber? He worked his buns off to overcome his reading disability and pass the firefighter’s test, and he loves everything about the job. Well, except for Mick Cassidy, the big, blond, hunky homophobe who harasses Jerry for being gay. But Jerry is smart enough to realize it’s not hate driving Mick, but the pain of a very unhappy upbringing.
Mick Cassidy, Firefighter Assist and Search Team, fights fires, but he can’t fight his attraction to the kindest, most generous—and sexiest—guy he’s ever met. Does that make him gay? If it does, he just might get himself killed by his gay-hating preacher father—and take Jerry down with him.
A Balls to the Wall Romance
Though only twenty-six, single father Theodore Walters lives with his head in the clouds and his feet firmly planted in reality. At the center of his life is Andy, his seven-year-old son, with whom he shares no DNA, though nobody—including his religious-fanatic in-laws—knows that, and Theodore will do anything to keep them from finding out. Theodore works hard to get his PhD and the tenure and salary that might follow to make a better life for Andy—but the head of his department thinks his dissertation on Jane Austen and romance novels is frivolous.
Theodore’s carefully planned life goes off the rails when he walks into a popular Laguna Beach bar and meets the bartender, “Snake” Erasmo, a pierced and tattooed biker who sends Theodore’s imagination—and libido—soaring. Snake has even more secrets than Theodore and couldn’t be a less “appropriate” match, but he might be the only guy with the skills to show Theodore that happily ever after is for real.
Readers love the Balls to the Wall series by Tara Lain
Volley Balls
“I very much enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend this book to others.”
—Gay Book Reviews
Fire Balls
“It was just so warm and fuzzy and ooey and gooey that I would gladly read and reread this story over and over just to get my romance fix. This one is going on the top of my comfort read pile.”
—Prism Book Alliance
Beach Balls
“Ms. Lain pens a thoughtful and sensual tale and I look forward to reading more in the series.”
—Night Owl Reviews
FAST Balls
“…thank you, Tara Lain, for another great book.”
—OptimuMM
High Balls
“An intriguing storyline, a dose of mystery, and some family-time bonding all makes for a wonderful novel from Tara Lain.”
—Top 2 Bottom Reviews
TARA LAIN writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Erotic Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, and Best Gay Characters, among others. Readers often call her books “sweet,” even with all that hawt sex, because Tara believes in love and her books deliver on happily-ever-after. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. Her love of creating book titles comes from years of manifesting ad headlines for everything from analytical instruments to semiconductors. She does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog (who’s a little jealous of all those cat pictures Tara posts on FB) in Laguna Niguel, California, near the seaside towns where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says that on her tombstone, it will say “Yes!”
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.taralain.com
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By Tara Lain
Return of the Chauffeur’s Son
ALOYSIUS TALES
Spell Cat
Brush with Catastrophe
Cataclysmic Shift
BALLS TO THE WALL
Volley Balls
Fire Balls
Beach Balls
FAST Balls
High Balls
Snow Balls
Bleu Balls
COWBOYS DON’T
Cowboys Don’t Come Out
Cowboys Don’t Ride Unicorns
DREAMSPUN DESIRES
#5 – Taylor Maid
LONG PASS CHRONICLES
Outing the Quarterback
Canning the Center
Tackling the Tight End
LOVE IN LAGUNA
Knight of Ocean Avenue
Knave of Broken Hearts
Prince of the Playhouse
Lord of a Thousand Steps
Fool of Main Beach
PENNYMAKER TALES
Sinders and Ash
Driven Snow
Beauty, Inc.
Never
TALES OF THE HARKER PACK
The Pack or the Panther
Wolf in Gucci Loafers
Winter’s Wolf
PRINT ANTHOLOGIES
Balls to the Wall – Volley
Balls and Fire Balls
Balls to the Wall – Beach Balls and FAST Balls
The Pack or the Panther &Wolf in Gucci Loafers
Sinders and Ash and Beauty, Inc.
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.
Bleu Balls
© 2018 Tara Lain.
Cover Art
© 2018 Reese Dante.
http://www.reesedante.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.