by Tara Lain
Everyone applauded. Tom squeezed Merle’s hand. Arwen English, the previous year’s Best Actress winner, walked onto the stage. Merle’s whole body froze and electrified at the same time. His brain started chanting Don’t get your hopes up. Don’t get your hopes up.
As Arwen read the list of nominees, a who’s who of international talent, Tom kissed the top of Merle’s head. “You’re the best, Merle. The very best.”
Merle’s heart exploded in a million pieces of joy. He had Tom. He had happiness. When Arwen said his name, it was almost an anticlimax.
People started patting him on the back, and Laila grabbed him in a hug.
Tom leaped up, grabbed Merle, and swung him to his feet. “You won, Merle. You won.”
Merle looked up into those blue, blue eyes. “You’re right. I did.” He kissed Tom and ran up the steps to the stage, his heart hammering. Award winners always said the acceptance went by so fast they hardly remembered it. Seize the moment.
He took the heavy gold statue from Arwen, then walked to the mic. “I can’t tell you what this means to me, but it pales next to the opportunity to work with talent like Laila and Aaron and the indescribably great René Montrose. There are so many people to thank, including my folks, who surprised me tonight by arriving from New York.” He took a deep breath. “But instead of thanking all those wonderful people, I’d like to answer a question asked by Andy Caliber as I walked in tonight. He said after a year like this, what am I going to do for an encore?” Merle’s eyes gazed at the first row. “What I’d like to do—is get married.” The whole place went nuts, and Merle held up a hand. “The night before I agreed to make Truth Bites, I met the most wonderful, honest, loving man in the world. He saved my life on the beach—and he’s been saving it ever since. Tom, will you marry me?”
As people whistled, stomped, and yelled, Merle knew the cameras were all focused on Tom’s sweet face, and the whole world got to see the tears running down his cheeks as he nodded yes.
Merle walked off the stage with his award—maybe floated was a better description. When he settled back in his seat, Tom kissed him lightly. “Mist and the boys will sure be happy.”
Moments later, Laila accepted her award, accusing Merle of setting a precedent she couldn’t top—unless she became queen. Then Merle got to go on stage with the whole cast and crew as Truth Bites won for Best Picture, but the highlight of the evening was already past.
René had reserved several tables at Two Doves for all of them and graciously included Merle’s parents and Ru and Gray. A lot of champagne flowed and they didn’t care since they’d hired a limousine for the night. They toasted the film, every person who made it from the actors to the catering people, and laughed a lot while they did it.
Suddenly Merle’s mom stood up with her glass. “I’d like to propose a toast to my son, Merle Justinian Justice, and his lovely husband-to-be, Tom Henry. Our family has always prided itself on our intellectual pursuits. I realize a young actor may not have felt quite appreciated.” She smiled at him softly. “But Merle has proved not only his genetic brilliance—” She placed a hand on her chest and gave a little bow, which made everyone laugh. “—but also his gift for choosing happiness.” She raised her glass. “To the smartest man in the room.”
Tom leaned over and kissed the tears on Merle’s face.
MERLE SPIT toothpaste in the sink and rinsed his mouth. The sound of yapping dogs came from the bedroom, and he smiled—the background music for his life. Yes, it was almost 2:00 a.m., but he was full of champagne and happiness.
“Merle,” Tom called from the bedroom.
“Yes, dear.”
“Are you tired?”
Excitement still vibrated just below his skin. “I could be.”
“When will you know?”
The laugh burst out of Merle’s mouth, and he trotted into the bedroom. Lying on the huge bed, dressed in a pink puffer coat—and nothing else—was the man who had changed it all.
Merle grinned, grabbed his Oscar from the top of the dresser, pulled a small box from the drawer, and sauntered toward Tom.
As he crawled toward him, Tom said, “We’ll have to be quiet so we don’t wake your folks.”
“We can do that, but first—” Merle placed the statue on Tom’s muscled chest. “I want to present you with the award for husband of the year.”
Tom laughed. “We’re not married yet.”
Merle opened the velvet box and showed Tom the platinum bands with the inset sapphires. “We can be soon.”
“Oh man, those are the prettiest things I ever saw.” He sat up. “When can we get married, Merle? I want to call you my husband instead of my boyfriend.”
“Well, we could have a small ceremony with friends while my folks are still here.”
“I’d love that.”
“We’ll start planning tomorrow.” He pushed Tom back on the bed, crawled on top of him so their skin sizzled and soothed, and kissed him full on the lips.
“Where shall we get married, Merle?”
Merle kissed his nose. “Maybe Main Beach. It was the first place you saved me.”
More from Tara Lain
A Love in Laguna Novel
How can you be twenty-five and not know you’re gay? Billy Ballew runs from that question. A high school dropout, barely able to read until he taught himself, Billy’s life is driven by his need to help support his parents as a construction worker, put his sisters through college, coach his Little League team, and not think about being a three-time loser in the engagement department. Being terrified of taking tests keeps Billy from getting the contractor’s license he so desires, and fear of his mother’s judgment blinds Billy to what could make him truly happy.
Then, in preparation for his sister’s big wedding, Billy meets Shaz—Chase Phillips—a rising-star celebrity stylist who defines the word gay. To Shaz, Billy embodies everything he’s ever wanted—stalwart, honest, brave—but even if Billy turns out to be gay, he could never endure the censure he’d get for being with a queen like Shaz. How can two men with so little in common find a way to be together? Can the Stylist of the Year end up with the Knight of Ocean Avenue?
A Love in Laguna Novel
Jim Carney has a full time job—running from himself. Since he walked out on his wealthy family at sixteen because he’d wrecked his best friend’s life over some yaoi graphic novels, Jim has lived a macho, blue-collar existence of too much booze and too little responsibility. Then Billy Ballew, the man Jim most admires, gives Jim a chance to come through as his construction supervisor. For once, Jim is determined to make someone proud. Then Jim goes in for a physical for his new job, and his yaoi dream comes to life in the form of cardiologist Ken Tanaka. Jim discovers he has two heart problems—a wonky mitral valve and a serious attraction to his doctor. But Ken is a major player, and Jim might be just a notch on the doc’s stethoscope. To Ken, Jim is unforgettable—but the living embodiment of his traditional family’s worst nightmares. How come the minute Jim decides to be responsible, he finds himself taking care of his kid brother, getting a proposal from a wealthy woman, making a deal with the devil, and winding up in the hospital—when all he really wants is the Knave of Broken Hearts?
A Love in Laguna Novel
Driven by his desire to become a successful fashion designer and concerned with hiding his questionable past, Ru Maitland has let obsession with action movie star Gray Anson on the big screen replace his social life. Then obsession and reality collide when Ru is asked to design fashion costumes for a special performance of Hamlet at the Playhouse in Laguna starring none other than Gray Anson. Gray turns out to be a compelling mix of shy and brash and, despite a high profile engagement to a female socialite, the signals Gray sends Ru have his libido doing the salsa.
Gray Anson has what most people only dream of—great wealth, huge fame, a job he loves. For that, he’s given up any semblance of privacy and the right to say no to the thousands of people who depend on him and the millions who
love him. He sees everything he’s ever wanted just outside the bubble of his life, but how can he make the compromises needed to embrace it? When Ru’s shady past crashes into Gray’s paparazzi-haunted present, both men have to learn that sometimes the only acceptable compromise is the truth.
A Love in Laguna Novel
To architecture student Ian Carney, family means everything. Taken in by his brother, Jim, when his father threw him out at eighteen for being gay, Ian yearns to create his own family with his boyfriend, Rico. But Rico’s in Mexico caring for a sick father, Ian hasn’t had sex in a month and a half, and his gorgeous boss, Braden Lord, CEO of the architectural firm Ian interns for, is looking better and better.
Braden’s life is chaos. Just out of the closet and going through an ugly divorce from his wife of fifteen years who’s trying to take custody of his two children, he desperately resolves not to succumb to a completely inappropriate attraction to Ian—even though his kids adore both the man and his crazy cat.
When Rico proves to be a snake in the grass and Ian exercises his powers of seduction, what starts as a “friends with benefits” fling turns into real life real fast. Can Ian give up his romantic dreams for an “old guy” who didn’t come out until he carried a mountain of baggage? It’ll only take a thousand steps.
Luca McGrath may be returning to Napa Valley, California, as a promising chef with dreams of starting his own restaurant and winery, but his heart still lives with the bad-boy son of a billionaire, James Armstrong. Luca spent his childhood playing games with the golden boy of California society, so blinded by James he barely noticed the dark, quiet lure of his conservative older brother, Dylan Armstrong.
But now Luca’s home, and his own powers of attraction are enough to make James question his dedicated heterosexuality and his promised marriage to a wealthy and powerful businesswoman. The obvious attraction between Luca and James spurs Dylan into action—but he’s fighting a huge secret. While Luca dreamed of James, Dylan dreamed of Luca. When Luca gets caught in the struggle between the brothers and gets accused of culinary espionage he’s ready to chuck the fairy tale—unable to even imagine Dylan’s power to make his dreams come true.
Readers love the Love in Laguna novels by Tara Lain
Knight of Ocean Avenue
“This book turned out to be so much more than I expected and I really connected with the storyline and the characters. I read this from start to finish without putting it down…”
—Prism Book Alliance
Knave of Broken Hearts
“My word this book had me crying like a baby!”
—Diverse Reader
Prince of the Playhouse
“If you enjoy romances, and you are all for diverse characters, Prince of the Playhouse should definitely be a part of your collection—I’ve found a new favorite!”
—(un)Conventional Book Views
Lord of a Thousand Steps
“Another wonderful story from this author that had me rooting for Ian and Braden from their first flirtation.”
—The Novel Approach
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, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. 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
Blog: www.taralain.com/blog
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Twitter: @taralain
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Amazon: www.amazon.com/Tara-Lain/e/B004U1W5QC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
By Tara Lain
Return of the Chauffeur’s Son
ALOYSIUS TALES
Spell Cat
Brush with Catastrophe
BALLS TO THE WALL
Volley Balls
Fire Balls
Beach Balls
FAST Balls
Balls to the Wall – Volley Balls and Fire Balls (Print Only Anthology)
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.
Sinders and Ash and Beauty, Inc. (Print Only Anthology)
TALES OF THE HARKER PACK
The Pack or the Panther
Wolf in Gucci Loafers
Winter’s Wolf
The Pack or the Panther &Wolf in Gucci Loafers (Print Only Anthology)
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.
Fool of Main Beach
© 2017 Tara Lain.
Cover Art
© 2017 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.
ISBN: 978-1-63533-965-9
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63533-966-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017910270
Published August 2017
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
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