Cover: JM Snyder
Publisher: JMS Books
Length: 61,269 words
Blurb
During a golf tournament in Virginia, American golfer Reggie Weston meets Russell Lee, the British former world champion in the sport. The two men hit it off when Russell takes Reggie under his wing, teaching him the tricks of the game.
As their friendship deepens, Reggie finds himself falling in love with the Englishman, though he knows Russell doesnⴠfeel the same. HeⳠpainfully aware of the fact that Russell isnⴠgay.
But thereⳠmore to Russell than meets the eye. HeⳠa troubled soul, plagued by monsters in his head telling him who he should be. HeⳠspent most of his life hiding his sexuality from the world so he wonⴠdisappoint his homophobic mother.
Is seven days enough time for Russell to break through the years of hurt and accept the new direction fate has in store for him and Reggie?
Excerpt
The Englishman beat him at pool, winning both matches. Reggie wasnⴠupset, though, as every moment of their evening together was delicious. Everything apart from the beers Russell drank one after another, until he got so drunk, Reggie decided it was time to return to the resort.
㔯morrow you have a tournament to win,䠒eggie reminded him, pulling him out of the bar with difficulty. The silvery rays of the smiling moon lit the boardwalk, giving it a magical atmosphere.
㉠wonⴠwin any tournament tomorrow,䠴he Englishman murmured, gritting his teeth as he stopped in the middle of the road.
Reggie pushed him across the same moment a car zoomed by, blaring music.
㉦ you donⴠrest a little, you wonⴠwin anything,䠨e admonished, like a brother. Then he nervously massaged his cheek. He wasnⴠaccustomed to feeling it covered with hair.
㙯u canⴠwait to shave?䠒ussell asked.
㎯, no. ItⳠjust that剒m not used to it. But do I look good, at least?䠨e wanted to know.
The Englishman chuckled. ㉠already told you I wonⴠanswer until tomorrow.䠼br />
A second later Reggie found himself holding car keys. のd these?䠨e asked, giving them an interrogative look.
㙯u drive, if you want us both to play tomorrow,䠴he Englishman said.
㏨寫ay,䠒eggie stuttered, as if it was the first time he saw a car key in his life.
Russell fell into the passenger side seat and completely opened the window, putting his elbow out, then resting his head on it. He remained in that position until they reached the resort.
From time to time, the notes of the Nickelback rock song ㈯w You Remind Me䠣radling them both, Reggie gave him admiring looks. His long hair, now free, danced in the wind. The way he sat made the veins in his neck tense like cords, and Reggie stared at his strong profile, his long, light eyelashes堼br />
God, what he would do to lay his lips on that face and give it little kisses?
They stopped at a traffic light just before reaching the resort. Reggie kept his eyes fixed on the red light, because they had already strayed too much to RussellⳠface.
㗨at was your parents⠲eaction when you told them?䠼br />
Reggie turned, surprised. Russell had spoken without moving a muscle, apart from his lips.
㔯ld them what?䠓That youⲥ gay.䠼br />
Oh, that堼br />
㎯t much,䠒eggie explained with a chuckle. ㍹ father pretended to be upset for less than ten minutes and then he hugged me. Mom told me she was a little sorry because she wouldnⴠhave any grandchild to take care of, but she could accept it if I didnⴠbring home too many buff guys.䠉t was clear that binge drinking was making Russell ask strange questions堼br />
Sitting back, Russell started, 㗨en Daniel, the friend I told you about, came out唠
They entered the tree-lined resort path and Reggie hung on every word, waiting for Russell to finish his sentence.
ㅭy mother ordered me not to go out with him anymore. She told me she thanked God I wasnⴠlike him, or I could never return home.䠼br />
Reggie stopped the car in surprise. 㓨it, Russell,䠰opped out of his mouth.
The Englishman gave him an inscrutable look.
㉠mean,䠒eggie continued, lightning his tone, ㉠donⴠwant to seem rude, but itⳠjust that工ll, it seems your mother is a little, well唠
㈡rsh?䠒ussell asked ironically.
㌥tⳠsay that,䠨e agreed, driving again.
He⤠have liked to add a thousand other things and ask more, but he felt scared. Russell had just given up a part of himself, a little window into his past that maybe not everybody knew, and Reggie felt intimidated. He wanted to know more, but at the same time, he feared reopening old wounds that needed to heal.
㉒m sorry,䠷as all he said. ㍥, too.䠼br />
They parked behind the cabana and Reggie helped Russell get out of the car.
㉒m fine,䠒ussell murmured. ㎯,䠒eggie said, 㹯uⲥ drunk.䠼br />
Russell tried walking on his own but stumbled on the sidewalk as soon as he stepped onto it.
㏫ay, maybe itⳠbetter if you help me, Weston.䠓upporting Russell, Reggie slid an arm around his side.
His body was warm against Reggieⳬ and he hugged Russell in a sort of leaning embrace. It was a delicious sensation, and for a moment, Reggie dreamed of what it would feel like to Russell him again and again, maybe on a frigid winter afternoon in front of a fireplace, or on a hot summer night on the beach.
They passed in front of the tiki bar without caring what others might think. From the speakers around the pool blared EminemⳠhit song, 㔨e Monster.伢r />
At the door to RussellⳠcabana, he searched his pockets to find his keycard. When he tried to insert it, he missed. He tried again, but he was too drunk. Finally he gave up and handed the keycard to Reggie without looking over. Reggie followed the silent order, like a good little soldier.
The cabana greeted them with silent darkness, lit only by the rays of the setting sun that shown through the open door.
Again, there was no trace of Danielle, not even her perfume lingering in the air.
Russell threw himself on the bed and toed off his shoes. ㄯ you hear this music, Reggie?䠨e whispered, rolling onto his back.
Reggie had remained by the door, not sure what to do. Go or stay? His mind suggested he leave, but his heart wanted to stay.
㙥ah, itⳠEminem,䠨e answered, putting his hands in his pockets.
㏰en the window a little, please. I want to hear the words.䠒eggie obeyed, closing the door and opening the window.
A light breeze roused him, adding melancholy to melancholy.
At the window, Reggie studied the bar and swimming pool, because looking at Russell, drunk and lying in bed, was unbearable.
Unbearable and wonderful.
Author Bio
She made her debut writing fanfictions and, now, her new wish would be writing love Male-to-Male stories for the rest of her life and living on a beach in Hawaii.
Maybe dreams will come true again, sooner or later...
Blog https://cristinabruniauthorblog.wordpress.com/
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