by Andrew Grey
“All right. Let’s go. Though I doubt there’s anything to do. Between Harriet and Roberts, they’ll have everything marshalled and set to go, I’m sure.” Dante checked himself in the mirror, and Beau did the same. “You do look amazing.” Dante stood behind him and leaned in close. “Though I can’t wait to get you out of these clothes and into those sheets over there. That’s where you always look best.”
“Dante,” Beau whispered, blushing hard, but pressed closer to Dante anyway. Sometimes he still found it hard to believe how Dante saw him, but Dante showed him all the time. Hell, he even sent him flowers he wasn’t allergic to, and most days Beau worked from Dante’s office because of the limited space in the Center’s temporary location. But a flower delivery truck would show up anyway, just because Dante wanted him to feel special.
“Let’s get downstairs now or we aren’t going to leave this room.” Dante hugged him closer, and Beau chuckled, knowing Dante was right. He stepped away and opened the bedroom door. Beau took Dante’s hand, and they descended the stairs.
In preparation for the benefit, Beau had had the woodwork in the hall cleaned and the marble floors polished. They reached the main floor and went into the living room. Everything had been cleaned, polished, and buffed to within an inch of its life. Paintings had been cleaned and rehung, the chandeliers lowered and polished. The large dining room sparkled and glittered, set with canapes and small bite-sized morsels that Harriet had outdone herself with. The solarium was being readied as well, with a burst of greenery, indoor floral color of every variety, and fairy lights, and was serving as the bar for the evening.
The biggest change was in the ballroom, and as Beau stepped inside, he couldn’t stifle his gasp. The chandeliers had been uncovered, as had the furniture. The Cabernet curtains, which had been taken down, cleaned, and rehung, were pulled back to show off the yard with fairy lights hanging in the trees. A platform had been set up at one end of the room, where the small orchestra would be performing.
“It’s like the house has come back to life.”
Dante squeezed his hand. “It has. You brought it back, just like you did for me.”
“Is everything satisfactory?” Roberts asked, and Beau turned to him with a grin.
“This is stunning.” He couldn’t help trailing his gaze to the ceiling, with its mural and intricate plaster moldings. “Thank you for doing all this.”
“It was my pleasure.” Roberts hurried over to where the musicians were setting up, and Beau took Dante’s hand once again to lead him toward the living room to sit until the guests arrived.
TWO HOURS later, the house was filled with guests talking and laughing, music flowing in from the ballroom to every other space, wrapping itself around Beau as he drank the last of his sparkling wine.
“Don’t be nervous,” Dante told him.
“I’m fine.” Beau squeezed Dante’s hand and stepped onto the small raised stage as the music faded, and he was handed a microphone by the leader. “Thank you all so much for coming.”
The room burst into applause as Beau smiled, looking out at the sea of happy faces.
“As you know, we’re in the process of rebuilding the Community Center, but I want to take a moment to thank the St. Giles Community Church for donating the use of their amazing facilities for us until we can move into our finished building.”
There was applause again, and Beau waited for it to die down.
“Thank you. Tonight I have the privilege of unveiling the final interior plans for our new center.” He looked at Dante and smiled, watching him as Roberts brought up the covered easel. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my delight to give you the first look at the Allison Bartholomew Community Mental Health Center.” Beau pulled back the covering so everyone could see the drawing of the front elevation for the new building. Applause filled the room, and Beau grinned, meeting Dante’s dancing eyes. “Please, everyone, have a wonderful evening, and thank you for your support. It means so much to Dante and myself, as well as the entire community.” He stepped off the dais and right into Dante’s arms. Beau turned, and the orchestra started playing. “I need to check on—”
“Roberts has everything under control.” Dante took Beau’s hands, staring deeply into his eyes. “You’ve filled my life with happiness and love, and I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t met you.”
Beau blinked away the threatening tears of joy. “You make me happy too, and damn it all, I love you with everything I have.”
The music died away, and Beau realized he and Dante were in the middle of the dance floor, the room growing quiet.
Dante met his gaze and then slowly lowered himself onto one knee. “Beau,” Dante began as Beau’s mouth went completely dry, “every Beast has to have his Beauty, and I’d like to ask you to be mine for the rest of our lives.” Dante reached into his pocket and pulled out a jewelry box. Soft gasps rippled through the room, but Beau barely heard them. All his attention was on Dante and the way his eyes sparkled and his lips curled into a smile warm enough to melt the polar ice caps. “Will you marry me and be my husband, partner, lover, and best friend?”
Beau opened his mouth, but nothing came out at first. Then he nodded deliberately. “Yes.”
Dante slid a platinum and diamond ring onto Beau’s finger and stood to tug him into a kiss that threatened to deepen by the millisecond. Thankfully Dante pulled away, and Beau blinked a few times. “God, I love you.” Dante signaled, and the music started up. “Waltz with me.”
Beau smiled, and he and Dante took their first steps in the dance and in the rest of their lives together.
More from Andrew Grey
As a stunningly attractive man and the owner of a successful chain of auto repair garages, Trevor is used to attention, adoration, and getting what he wants. What he wants tends to be passionate, no-strings-attached flings with men he meets in clubs. He doesn’t expect anything different when he sets his sights on James. Imagine his surprise when the charm that normally brings men to their knees fails to impress. Trevor will need to drop the routine and connect with James on a meaningful level. He starts by offering to take James home instead of James riding home with his intoxicated friend.
For James, losing his sight at a young age meant limited opportunities for social interaction. Spending most of his time working at a school for the blind has left him unfamiliar with Trevor’s world, but James has fought hard for his independence, and he knows what he wants. Right now, that means stepping outside his comfort zone and into Trevor’s heart.
Trevor is also open to exploring real love and commitment for a change, but before he can be the man James needs him to be, he’ll have to deal with the pain of his past.
Forever Yours: Book One
Justin Hawthorne worked hard to realize his silver-screen dreams, making his way from small-town Pennsylvania to Hollywood and success. But it hasn’t come without sacrifice. When Justin’s father kicked him out for being gay, George Miller’s family offered to take him in, but circumstances prevented it. Now Justin is back in town and has come face to face with George, the man he left without so much as a good-bye… and the man he’s never stopped loving.
Justin’s disappearance hit George hard, but he’s made a life for himself as a home nurse and finds fulfillment in helping others. When he sees Justin again, George realizes the hole in his heart never mended, and he isn’t the only one in need of healing. Justin needs time out of the public eye to find himself again, and George and his mother cannot turn him away. As they stay together in George’s home, old feelings are rekindled. Is a second chance possible when everything George cares about is in Pennsylvania and Justin must return to his career in California? First they’ll have to deal with the reason for Justin’s abrupt departure all those years ago.
Sequel to Can’t Live Without You
Forever Yours: Book Two
Friends since they met in school, Ashton and Brighton soon become much more. Ash and his aunt are Brighton’s
haven away from his mess of a family, and when Ash enlists in the Army, Brighton learns to endure his long absences and eagerly awaits his return from missions.
Until one day Ash doesn’t come back, and Brighton thinks his greatest fear has come true.
Months pass and Brighton grieves for Ash, not knowing that a terrible misunderstanding sent Ash running, unable to cope when he thought Brighton had betrayed him. Even after an emotional reunion, their relationship isn’t the same—Brighton is now responsible for his young niece, and he’s having a hard time rediscovering the trust he once had in Ash. Ash must still tend to his mental health, but before he can, he’ll have to deal with a past secret that puts all their lives at risk. With so many forces determined to tear them apart, can Brighton and Ash hold on to each other and never let go?
Love’s Charter: Book One
It could be the catch of a lifetime.
William Westmoreland escapes his unfulfilling Rhode Island existence by traveling to Florida twice a year and chartering Mike Jansen’s fishing boat to take him out on the Gulf. The crystal-blue water and tropical scenery isn’t the only view William enjoys, but he’s never made his move. A vacation romance just isn’t on his horizon.
Mike started his Apalachicola charter fishing service as a way to care for his daughter and mother, putting their safety and security ahead of the needs of his own heart. Denying his attraction becomes harder with each of William’s visits.
William and Mike’s latest fishing excursion starts with a beautiful day, but a hurricane’s erratic course changes everything, stranding William. As the wind and rain rage outside, the passion the two men have been trying to resist for years crashes over them. In the storm’s wake, it leaves both men yearning to prolong what they have found. But real life pulls William back to his obligations. Can they find a way to reduce the distance between them and discover a place where their souls can meet? The journey will require rough sailing, but the bright future at the end might be worth the choppy seas.
Sequel to Setting the Hook
Love’s Charter: Book Two
To achieve happiness, they’ll have to find the courage to be their own men.
As first mate on a charter fishing boat, Billy Ray meets a lot of people, but not one of them has made him as uncomfortable as Skippy—because he’s drawn to Skippy as surely as the moon pulls the tides, and he’s almost as powerless to resist. Billy Ray has spent his life denying who he is to avoid the wrath of his religious father, and he can’t allow anyone to see through his carefully built façade.
Skippy is only in town on business and will have to return to Boston once he’s through. After all, his father has certain expectations, and him staying in Florida is not one of them. But he doesn’t count on Billy Ray capturing his attention and touching his heart.
Billy Ray doesn’t realize just how much he and Skippy have in common, though. They’re both living to please their fathers instead of following their own dreams—a fact that becomes painfully obvious when they get to know each other and realize how much joy they’ve denied themselves. While they can’t change the past, they can begin a future together and make up for lost time—as long as they’re willing to face the consequences of charting their own course.
Readers love Andrew Grey
Fire and Fog
“Andrew Grey really knows how to give his target audience what they want. Everything about this book works for me.”
—Love Bytes
“It’s getting harder to pick a favorite from the Carlisle Cops series. With this sixth installment, Andrew Grey combines suspense, investigative skills, and a good mix of characters.”
—The Novel Approach
Growing His Dream
“Once again Mr. Grey does an amazing job of bringing the reader into the lives of the people he is writing about.”
—Paranormal Romance Guild
“Andrew Grey works his magic to bring a smile to my face and a warm and fuzzy feeling to my heart.”
—Hearts on Fire Reviews
Setting the Hook
“Andrew Grey’s books are a must-read in the m/m romance genre. He simply knows how to write, and gives the reader stories about everyday people living everyday lives.”
—Two Chicks Obsessed
“This is a romance that is sweet, with a little bit of angst and family interference, but it is one you will enjoy tremendously. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Enjoy!”
—Happy Ever After, USA Today
ANDREW GREY grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived all over the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and now works full-time on his writing. Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving husband. Andrew currently lives in beautiful historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.andrewgreybooks.com
By Andrew Grey
Accompanied by a Waltz
Between Loathing and Love
Chasing the Dream
Crossing Divides
Dominant Chord
Dutch Treat
Eastern Cowboy
Heart Unseen
In Search of a Story
Noble Intentions
North to the Future
One Good Deed
Path Not Taken
The Playmaker
Saving Faithless Creek
Shared Revelations
Taming the Beast
Three Fates (Multiple Author Anthology)
To Have, Hold, and Let Go
Turning the Page
Whipped Cream
ART
Legal Artistry • Artistic Appeal • Artistic Pursuits • Legal Tender
BOTTLED UP
The Best Revenge • Bottled Up • Uncorked • An Unexpected Vintage
BRONCO’S BOYS
Inside Out • Upside Down • Backward • Round and Round
THE BULLRIDERS
A Wild Ride • A Daring Ride • A Courageous Ride
BY FIRE
Redemption by Fire • Strengthened by Fire
Burnished by Fire • Heat Under Fire
CARLISLE COPS
Fire and Water • Fire and Ice • Fire and Rain
Fire and Snow • Fire and Hail • Fire and Fog
CHEMISTRY
Organic Chemistry • Biochemistry • Electrochemistry
Chemistry (Print Only Anthology)
DREAMSPUN DESIRES
#4 – The Lone Rancher
#28 – Poppy’s Secret
EYES OF LOVE
Eyes Only for Me • Eyes Only for You
FOREVER YOURS
Can’t Live Without You • Never Let You Go
GOOD FIGHT
The Good Fight • The Fight Within
The Fight for Identity • Takoda and Horse
HOLIDAY STORIES
Copping a Sweetest Day Feel • Cruise for Christmas • A Lion in Tails
Mariah the Christmas Moose • A Present in Swaddling Clothes
Simple Gifts • Snowbound in Nowhere • Stardust
LAS VEGAS ESCORTS
The Price • The Gift
LOVE MEANS…
Love Means… No Shame • Love Means… Courage
Love Means… No Boundaries • Love Means… Freedom
Love Means … No Fear • Love Means… Healing
Love Means… Family • Love Means… Renewal
Love Means… No Limits • Love Means… Patience
Love Means… Endurance
LOVE’S CHARTER
Setting the Hook • Ebb and Flow
PLANTING DREAMS
Planting His Dream • Growing His Dream
REKINDLED FLAME
Rekindled Flame • Cleansing Flame
SENSES
Love Comes Silently • Love Comes in Darkness • Love Comes Home
Love Comes Around • Love Comes Unheard • Love Comes to Light
SEVEN DAYS
Seven Days • Unconditional Love
STORIES FROM THE RANGE
A Shared Range • A Troubled Range • An Unsettled Range
A Foreign Range • An Isolated Range
A Volatile Range • A Chaotic Range
STRANDED
Stranded • Taken
TALES FROM KANSAS
Dumped in Oz • Stuck in Oz • Trapped in Oz
TASTE OF LOVE
A Taste of Love • A Serving of Love
A Helping of Love • A Slice of Love
WITHOUT BORDERS
A Heart Without Borders • A Spirit Without Borders
WORK OUT
Spot Me • Pump Me Up • Core Training • Crunch Time
Positive Resistance • Personal Training • Cardio Conditioning
Work Me Out (Print Only Anthology)
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com