Under Wraps

by Louisa Keller

  “I give up, what did you get?”

  He pulled a piece of paper out from behind his back and brandished it at me. “This, Ainsley Stapleton, is a contract with Bridge Engineering International. They signed on for my project, it’s officially a go!”

  “Oh my god,” I cried, leaping out of my chair and running over to sweep him into a bone-crushing hug. “Are you serious? This is amazing!”

  “Yep, your boyfriend is going to help inspection-failing bridges around the world get the help they need before they collapse! We did it, Ainsley!”

  “No,” I said seriously, “you did it.”

  He waved my words away, blushing. “Pshh, I never could’ve done it without the Foundation’s money. It was a team effort.”

  “I am so proud of you,” I sighed, running my hands through his hair.

  “I can’t believe this happened,” he said, looking up at me from beneath his eyelashes. “This is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing, Ainsley. Working with my delectable boyfriend to save people around the world, seeing you at work during the day and at night in our home…this is the dream. I can’t imagine how my life could possibly get any better.”

  My mind flicked to the top righthand door of my desk, where a thin silver ring was sitting in a velvet box. It had been there for months, a constant reminder that someday soon I would ask Carson for that last bit of commitment. Watching him smiling and blushing, bubbling with joy and success and strength, I could not imagine a better time to open that drawer and pull out that box.

  “I know what could make it better,” I said, my voice achingly fond.

  Carson perked up, cocking his head to the side and blinking at me expectantly. I strode over to my desk and located the ring. Careful not to let him see, I slid it behind my back and walked back to stand before him.

  “What are you hiding behind your back?” he asked, craning his neck to try to see around me.

  “Well, it’s not an invitation to tea with the queen, and it’s certainly not a puppy,” I told him as casually as possible.

  “Dude, no offense, but you’re not going to be able to beat the contract,” he said, laughing.

  “I agree,” I said with an emphatic nod. “That contract represents so much, Carson. I can’t put into words how proud it makes me that you made that happen. Your parents and sister would be proud too.”

  His smile went all soft and nostalgic. These days, he was able to think of his family with a gentle, steady happiness in addition to the twinge of pain. He was an inspiration.

  “I know they would,” he agreed.

  “Carson, I’m about to give you the second-best thing you’ve received all day. Unless I’m miscalculating and then this will be a bit of an awkward disaster.”

  I saw the exact moment when he caught on. His mouth dropped open into a wide O, and his hands came up to cover it. With wide, excited eyes, he nodded.

  “Yes.”

  “I haven’t even asked you a question yet, Carson.”

  “Doesn’t matter, the answer’s yes. Give me the ring, Ainsley.”

  I tipped my head back, laughing heartily, and brought the ring out. “Carson Powell, you make my happier than I ever realized a person could be. You have given me love, dedication, and a family—in more ways than one. You also introduced me to the joys of gay sex.” He let out a tearful little giggle. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my husband?”

  “Oh my god, yes. Yes, yes, yes, of course I’ll marry you. Put this on my finger right this second,” he squealed, holding out his left hand. I slid the ring home, feeling contentment settle in my chest as it found its forever home.

  “You know this means you’re stuck with me for good, right?” I teased.

  “Oh, whatever, that’s been true for two years,” he scoffed.

  “You know, you’re right about that,” I said thoughtfully. “There hasn’t been a moment since I met you that I didn’t know this was coming.”

  “I know, it was instant.”

  “So,” I murmured, pulling him into my arms, “how do you want to celebrate our engagement?”

  He wrapped his arms around me, hugging my tightly. “Can we start with sex on your desk?”

  “Carson, that’s where I do my work,” I said, slightly scandalized.

  “But it’s a special occasion,” he wheedled. “Besides, I work here too. This sex could be written off on our taxes, it’s work.”

  “Oh, fine,” I sighed. “If it’ll make you happy.”

  “You make me happy, Ainsley.”

  “You make me happy, too.”

  The End

  Fragile Ground

  Released November 2017

  “Sorry, do I know you?”

  The last thing Olivier Sauveterre remembers, he was a closeted college senior, balancing furtive hookups with writing his thesis. But when a nasty car accident robs him of two years of memories, he finds himself thousands of miles from home, covered in tattoos, living with a man he doesn’t recognize. Gorgeous and enigmatic, Auriel is just Olivier’s type—but it’s clear there’s a big secret his supposed “housemate” isn’t telling him.

  “We’re not just roommates; you’re the love of my life.”

  Auriel Floros loves everything about his life: his job, his overgrown garden, and most all, his boyfriend Olivier. Quick-witted and fiercely passionate, Olivier is the perfect partner…up until he forgets who Auriel is. Suddenly, their happily ever after shatters before Auriel’s eyes. But medical professionals warn Auriel to keep Olivier’s stress level at a minimum, and Auriel makes the heart-breaking decision to pretend he and Olivier were friends and housemates—nothing more.

  “You still know how to love me…I’ll remind you.”

  Auriel misses his boyfriend desperately, longing for the easy intimacy and scorching sex they shared before the accident. Olivier can’t help gravitating toward Auriel, charmed by his patience and the elaborate home-cooked meals he prepares for Olivier each night. Over bowls of chili and late night talks, Olivier finds himself unable to resist digging into their shared history and trying to find out what makes Auriel seem so mysterious and sad. It’s hard to keep a secret when you’re living in the same house, and heartbreak seems inevitable as tension builds between them. Ultimately they have to work together to rebuild Olivier’s life, and in the process they find themselves on fragile ground.

  Fragile Ground is a contemporary MM romance with plenty of heat, hurt/comfort and second chance themes, and a guaranteed happy ending.

  Get Fragile Ground on Amazon!

  The Limelight (The Travel Boys Book 1)

  Released April 2018

  “This one goes out to the ridiculously good-looking guy who swooped in at the last minute to save the tour.”

  Porter:

  I was perfectly happy with my quiet, predictable life in Seattle—until Levi Montgomery showed up for open mic night at the bar where I worked and completely stole my heart. The front man of a pop-punk trio on the verge of super-stardom, he was bold, outgoing, and enigmatic—everything I was not. Before I knew it, I was driving his tour bus across the country, getting an up-close look at the rock’n’roll lifestyle. I found all the things I didn’t even know I was looking for: hole-in-the-wall restaurants all over the country, a newfound passion for watching shows from the mosh pit, and a fiery redhead on top of me at the end of the night. That is, until somebody took pictures of us getting hot and heavy at a popular nightclub. The intense media scrutiny is more than I can handle… but if I walk away from the band, I’ll have to walk away from Levi, too.

  “I love you so much…but I don’t know if I can do this.”

  Levi:

  Porter never asked to have his face splashed across tabloids. A life-long battle with anxiety had left him guarded and cautious, and it was my fault that he left the safety of Seattle. Thoughtful, kind, and breathtakingly beautiful, he had me captivated from the moment he mixed me his signature neon blue cocktail. As my fame skyrocketed,
Porter put all his energy into supporting me—while still managing to sneak off for some steamy private moments backstage. But just when I think we’re past the worst of it, my manager drops some news that changes the game entirely. Can Porter and I survive having our relationship thrust into the limelight?

  The Limelight is a contemporary m/m rock star romance featuring a hidden relationship, an epic road trip, and an HEA!

  Get The Limelight on Amazon!

  Passing Stranger

  Released June 2018

  “These bags aren’t going to unpack themselves.”

  Bryce:

  Working at an upscale hotel isn’t my first choice, but putting up with my skeezy boss, crazy hours, and demanding guests means I can pay my bills. When Riker Cavanaugh—cruel, demanding, and filthy rich—checks in, it’s easy to write him off as just another obnoxious guest. And even though he never seems happy with my performance, he keeps specifically requesting me. What’s with that?

  But as I spend more time with this breathtakingly beautiful man, I’m finding Riker is much more than his gruff exterior and his expensive taste. Over late-night lobster and impromptu frozen yogurt, I begin to see a man who is deeply wounded and fiercely loyal. I’ve spent my whole life dreaming of a Prince Charming to come sweep me off my feet, but what life could a billionaire and a concierge really build together?

  “I want to get to know you. If you’ll let me.”

  Riker:

  As the CEO of an international investment business, I have no interest in playing nice with the lowest level staff at the hotel I’m staying at as I close the most important business deal of my career. I didn’t get this rich by playing nice. Between my long hours and my failed marriage, romance is about as appealing to me as flying economy. And sure, Bryce Harrison is gorgeous, funny, and unbelievably compassionate, but that doesn’t mean I care about him.

  Something about Bryce gets under my skin, and for the first time in my life, someone sees right past all those walls I’ve carefully built. Bright-eyed, virginal, and nearly two decades younger than me, he is the worst possible match for a grumpy, work-addicted billionaire…but I can’t deny that, when I’m around him, I feel more alive than I have in years. My past still haunts me, but Bryce makes me believe that someone as jaded as me can find happiness. We come from two different worlds, though—will one of us have to give everything up?

  Passing Stranger is a contemporary billionaire romance with enemies-to-lovers, first time, May/December, and hurt/comfort themes, plus a very happy ending!

  Get Passing Stranger on Amazon!

  Playing Along (The Travel Boys Book 2)

  Released July 2018

  “It looks like we’ve been mistaken for the happy couple…what an unfortunate mix-up.”

  Dom:

  I was beyond excited when my job as a video blogger landed me at a huge conference in Paris. I had barely stepped foot in the hotel when I noticed another blogger being harassed by a fan—and I was more than happy to step in and pretend to be his boyfriend so that he could get out of a sticky situation. What I wasn’t expecting? Smith Morgenstern to take me on a whirlwind romantic adventure through Paris. Between scoring the honeymoon suite after being mistaken as a French couple and sharing croissants at a charming little café, it was pretty much the most amazing night of my life…and that was before we even got around to the scorching hot sex.

  Imagine my surprise the next morning when my dreamboat one-night stand turns out to be the guy I’m supposed to collaborate with on my next big video. Smith is everything I didn’t know I wanted—impulsive, snarky, and bold. But his entire career is built on making videos about the joys of sleeping around. Could someone who thrives on being unattached ever want to settle down with me?

  “I’m not a romantic guy…so why does your smile make me go weak at the knees?”

  Smith:

  I didn’t go to Paris expecting to fall hard for Dom Baker, but something about him shook me to the core. Smart, level-headed, and impossibly kind, Dom awoke emotions in me that I had never known I could feel. When we both headed home to our respective cities, I knew that I couldn’t let him go. Long late-night phone calls led to planning a visit, and before I knew it I was head-over-heels for him.

  It felt like it took an eon to realize that I wanted more than just a fling with Dom—I wanted a lifetime with him. But just when I was making up my mind that I wanted to give a real relationship a chance, Dom stopped answering my calls. I was so sure that my feelings were reciprocated…but maybe I waited too long. Did I miss out on my chance at a life with Dom? Or is something else terribly wrong?

  Playing Along is the second book in the Travel Boys series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. It’s a steamy contemporary m/m romance featuring fake relationship, fling-to-lovers, hurt/comfort, and long-distance themes, plus a very happy ending!

  Get Playing Along on Amazon!

  Guarded Hearts

  Released October 2018

  “Nobody has ever made me feel like this.”

  Blaise: I only took a summer job lifeguarding because I wanted something to do in the last few months before heading off to college. Cue Forest Ethridge—my prickly, defensive coworker. I’m drawn to him right off the bat…despite the fact that he seems to find me more of a nuisance than anything else.

  I fall hard and fast, despite his warnings that I should guard my heart carefully. Just as he’s opening his own heart to me, Forest disappears without a trace, leaving me wondering what exactly went wrong. Ten years later I’m still grappling with the repercussions of my first devastating love…and that’s when he shows up again. Can I look past my own pain long enough to find out what happened? Or is it better to move on with my life?

  “I have one rule: don’t let anybody in.”

  Forest: As a teenager, I learned the hard way that nobody except my sister Faye can be trusted. Still reeling from our parents’ abandonment, we’ve figured out how to fly beneath the radar. For years I never let anybody in…until I met Blaise Lancaster. He’s kind and funny and full of hope. Making out with him is a mistake, and promising to take his virginity is an even bigger one. But before I can make good on my promise, Faye and I are thrust into chaos once more. It’s time to leave my hometown once and for all—and there’s no time for goodbyes.

  A decade later I’m still wary and defensive. My solace at the end of each day is listening to Blaise’s award-winning podcast. When I find out that he’ll be visiting a local bookstore on a promotional tour, I decide to go and skulk in the back of the room. Then our eyes meet, and I realize that my feelings for Blaise have never truly flickered out. Is it too late to rekindle my first love? And will Blaise be able to forgive me?

  Guarded Hearts is a standalone enemies-to-lovers gay romance featuring a whole lot of mutual pining, a second chance at love, and an HEA.

  Get Guarded Hearts on Amazon!

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  About the Author

  Louisa Keller is a queer adventuress who has spent most of her life living in New England and the Pacific Northwest. While her academic background revolves mainly around French Studies and Philosophy, she has strayed from these considerably in her professional pursuits. Over the years Louisa has been a tutor, goat farmer, concierge, and freelance copywriter. She has also hiked hundreds of miles across northern Spain, volunteered at a medical clinic in Honduras, and spent many a summer living in small cabins and platform tents. When she’s not off gallivanting, Louisa can be found with a whiskey-ginger ale in one hand and a Philip Pullman book in the other.

  author@louisakeller.com

  www.louisakeller.com

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  Louisa Keller, Under Wraps