Good morning!

Thanks to TRS for allowing us on today to chat about our latest releases.

My story for the Only That Night anthology is a contemporary interracial m/m called Unforgettable Valentine.

In this tale, Rhett Vorhees (muse pictured is model Michael Hudson) is looking for a Valentine’s Day date or better yet a VDay screw. Instead, while searching the net for his one night stand, he gets a lot more than he expected. 

I do love this story. The character, Rhett is a quirky IT guy who stays closeted because he’s afraid to come out and be chided by his peers while my opposite is a young man by the name of Darren McKissick, a young accountant whose waited his whole life to meet Rhett once again and now he might just have that chance at love he’s been looking for.

The full will most likely be called Unforgettable and yes the song by Nat King Cole is playing in my head right now. *smiles*

Unforgettable Valentine Blurb: Rhett Vorhees is looking for a date just to enjoy Valentine’s day with and instead gets a lot more than what he’s bargaining for.

Here’s an excerpt

“Seriously?” Rhett browsed the responses to his online ad about one time for Valentine and saw nothing that remotely interested him. “Geez, perhaps I should just…”

“Give it up, Rhett!” While he perused the listings further, his good friend, Matt threw a balled up piece of paper at him. “I don’t know why you continuously look through those online personals. You won’t find love that way.”

Rhett turned up his lips in disgust and groaned inwardly. He loved his best friend and roomie like a brother but hated he was such a know it all. “And how do you know? Just because you went the traditional route and met Mr. Wonderful at the gym, doesn’t mean anything. Besides I’m not looking for the perfect lover, just the perfect lay,” he laughed. “A date and a good sex partner for Valentine’s Day.”

“I get it and I still don’t understand why you waste your time doing it online. You might as well advertise it on the street corner wearing nothing but an overcoat. When a good looking man walks by, flash ‘em and show off your best assets.”

“Shaddup,” Rhett tossed a pencil at him and blew raspberries. “The internet is helpful when finding just about everything else. Why not this? I mean…” he propped his feet on top of the desk and leaned back in his chair. “Why shouldn’t I give it a shot? I’ve met nice guys online before…”

“And you’re still single…” Matt retorted, turning to face him from his Lazy Boy recliner.

“Because I want to be,” Rhett added with a smile. “I don’t wanna come out of the closet until I’m ready to settle down. For now, I’m happy with the random hookups. It’s easier to keep it hidden that way since I work at the firm.”

“Yeah, yeah… like they care about your orientation. I told you, I don’t know what you’re so worried about. You’re the IT guy, not the head of anything. You can get away with being gay. No one asks you anything other than how to fix their computer and get rid of viruses.”

“But what if the conversation turns into, who’s the person you’re seeing? Then I’m forced to answer questions. At least now, I only say, no one special which leaves it totally open. It means I’m available.”

“And they assume you’re straight, which you’re not.”

“That’s okay too because I never get into specifics with them. If I start acting all giddy and stuff, they’ll suspect something. I can’t have that, Matt. I just want a temporary date for the night, someone I can bring home, eat breakfast with, and kick out in the morning.”

“Makes for a lonely night, Rhett. Very lonely. Valentine’s Day should be for lovers and or people who are seeking that. You can do the hook ups any time of the month.”

“Yeah but… well heck I need something to do that night, okay? You’ll be out with your man, and I’ll be stuck here alone. I just want company that’s all.”

“I get it,” Matt sighed and shook his head as if he pitied Rhett’s situation. He got up and clicked his teeth while he grabbed his empty glass. “If you really ask me, I think you need a full time lover in your life. Deep down you want that relationship and perhaps you’re too scared or too lazy to look. Wanting a one-nighter is a cop out.”

“No it’s not, Matt. Like I said, I’m just not ready for the emotional hang-ups that come with a relationship. Putting my heart out there to get stepped on isn’t something I want to experience.”

Matt stopped a moment before walking out of the room. “Have you ever been in love, Rhett? I mean, we’ve only known one another since high school. Then you were such a nerd and cared little to nothing about boys or girls. You only wanted to sit at home, play video games, or work on your computer.”

Rhett sat up straight and looked away a moment while drawing up his lips. He bit the bottom one until it hurt.

Rhett wanted to answer Matt’s question but he knew it would sound really stupid. The first boy I ever saw, I fell in love with. Darren; that was his first name. The young boy’s last name escaped him but he recalled the taut body that looked good even in seventh grade. The boy was an athlete with exceptional skills in almost every sport, he was smart and fine. Caramel colored skin that resembled his favorite candy bar, Twix, light brown eyes, bushy black eyebrows, and a perfectly chiseled face that looked as if he should be a movie star. Mmph. Was it wrong to get horny just thinking about a preteen boy he knew almost 11 years ago?

“I’m waiting, Rhett!” Matt stood there, arms crossed and tapping his feet, patiently awaiting Rhett’s response.

“Um, uh. No…” He just couldn’t endure the ridicule from his best friend. He could hear it now. You fell in love with a boy in elementary school? Rhett knew it sounded silly too but his heart was crushed that day at the Valentine’s Day party.  Boldly, Rhett gave Darren a Valentine’s Day card and when Darren saw it, he chuckled and made fun of it. Rhett would never forget the look on his face and the way the other kids laughed and teased him about being gay. It was just one of the reasons he didn’t want to come out of the closet. Since then, he’d never taken teasing very well. “I… haven’t. Like I said, I’m afraid of getting hurt.”

“Well that’s just lame, you know? How the heck will you find somebody permanent without taking the risk? I mean, you did when you applied for college at MIT. You knew your grades weren’t exactly up to par.”

“I knew someone and plus, that was just college, not a lifetime commitment to be with somebody. Big difference.”

“Still it was a giant step and you did it. It turned out great too,” Matt smiled at him and walked in his direction. Matt caressed his shoulders then hugged him tightly from behind. “Listen, you have to take the chance one day. Mr. Right now could be on the internet but how will you find the real Mr. Right if you don’t get yourself out there and look for him? When we go to the clubs, you like being a wall flower, watching everyone else and not making a move. That has to stop.”

“I don’t want to meet anyone at a club,” Rhett answered quickly.

“So you have something against meeting people at a club but you see internet hook ups as fine? I mean, really Rhett? I don’t get you sometimes.” Matt shoved him forward and strutted away. “Please do yourself and me a favor and go out to meet someone in person. Sitting behind your desk, responding to messages, and scoping the personals won’t get you anything positive or long lasting.”

“You don’t know that,” Rhett countered, frowning, and balling his hand up into a fist. He hated that Matt made these assumptions.

Matt didn’t bother to answer. He just left Rhett there at the desk to wallow in his own thoughts. Good thing he was off work so he could spend it browsing and planning his next moves to get what he wanted.

Was Matt right? Did Rhett need to get out and meet someone even if it was for a short period of time? Perhaps it was, but he’d try that after Valentine’s Day. Right now, he just needed one date who was willing to screw all night long with no strings attached. The less complicated this person was, the better off Rhett knew he’d be.