Saturday, January 19, 2013

Welcome to the Happy Endngs Hop!


Welcome Hoppers!
I am Jaxx Steele author of gay romance. All of my books have happy endings thus you are in the right place! Today I would like to share my first love story, And then there was Anthony.


This is not my first romance of course, but it is my first real love story. 

Love story...Romance...aren't they the same thing?

I’m glad you asked the question, wonderful follower of the Happy Endings Hop. I don’t know if there is a standard text book difference between the two or anything, but here is Jaxx Steele’s idea of what the difference is.

Love Story:
Has the intenseness of the chase with seduction and romance galore. Throughout the story the relationship builds in crescendo until it is culminated by the couple getting together in a serious stress relieving love making scene thus ending the soy on a high note.

 Erotic Romance:
The ‘story’ is about them overcoming said disaster so that they can be together in the end. The book has the intenseness of the chase with the seduction and romance, too, but the aggressor catches his intended lover. All is well for a time and then some catastrophe comes to try to break them up.
Now, like I said, I don’t know if that is how it is commonly done, but that is the definition that I use when I write. Anthony, of course fits under the love story umbrella. I really liked doing it. I loved how Luke came to the realization that he didn’t have to be alone. Anthony won his trust and then got the man he wanted. A happy ending is always a good thing. I love them and I do them.
Here is a peek at And then there was Anthony. 
 

 After the death of his lover, Luke Finley took dating off his list of things to do. When he met Anthony Dixon, Luke found it difficult to keep the handsome man safely on the friend list. Will Luke to let the ghosts from his past prevent him from having love in his future?
 
Excerpt:
Twisting the last ball of dough into a braided donut, he shoved the tray into the oven and turned the timer. Stepping on the pedal at the sink, he washed his hands and left the kitchen. Luke sat heavily in the chair in his office and picked up the phone.
“This is Luke Finley. How can I help you?” he asked tucking the receiver between his shoulder and ear.
“Luke, what the hell! Where are you?”
Luke recognized the panic stricken voice of his friend immediately. He chuckled pulling the towel from his other shoulder and dried his hands.
“What do you mean where am I? Duh! I’m at the store. You just called me, Nick.”
Nick sputtered. “I know that, man, but you’re not supposed to be at the bakery you’re supposed to be here with me at Dixon Web Designs,” he said in an urgent whisper.
Luke’s brows scrunched in confusion. “What? Why?”
Nick groaned in his ear. “Dude, tell me you didn’t forget.”
“Uhh…”
“Luke…the meeting.”
Luke’s confusion kept him silent.
“The meeting, man…with Anthony Dixon, the computer guy.”
More silence.
“For the website!”
“Oh!” Luke exclaimed as comprehension dawned. “Yeah, I remember that, but why are you there now? That meeting isn’t until the twenty-second.”
“Today is the twenty-second, Luke. You were supposed to be here an hour ago.”
Luke’s eyes widened. He swiveled in his chair to face the calendar on the wall. There were scribbles in the twenty-second’s box. On closer inspection he saw it was his handwriting reminding him of said appointment. The event clearly had slipped his mind. He couldn’t even remember the last time he looked at the calendar.
“Shit! Is he still there? I can come right now.”
“Yeah, man, you’re good, just get your butt down here.”
“All right. Stall for me. I’ll be there soon as I can.”
Luke hung the phone up and jerked from the chair. “Sandy, I need a sunrise basket quick,” he ordered rushing pass her. “I’ll be back for it.”
“Okay,” came her reply.
Luke was never so glad to live so close to his store. He had walked on many occasions when the weather permitted. It took him mere minutes to drive home. Rushing through his door he snatched a burgundy button down from his closet and tossed it into the dryer then changed from his jeans into a pair of khaki’s. Luke was changed, back at the store and heading down the block in just over half an hour.
Dixon Web Designs was located in a strip mall about five miles down the road from his establishment. Luke spotted his friend sitting at a table in the back of the small office with another man who had his back to the door. Nick saw him at the door and waved him over. Luke smiled, smoothed his shirt, took a deep breath and approached.
The man sitting with Nick turned around and Luke stopped in his tracks. He managed to keep his mouth from dropping opening but could not swallow the gasp that escaped. The computer guy had the brightest, most sparkling brown eyes Luke had ever seen. It was like looking into a cup of freshly poured Coca Cola sitting in the sunlight. The man landed a deliberate gaze on him. It felt like a physical touch gliding over Luke’s skin.
He and Nick stood to greet him. Looking at the stranger’s masculine features, everything around Luke seemed to fade. There was no hair on his strong looking, square jaw or around his fill lips. It made the dimple in his chin prominent when he smiled. Most men were taller than Luke’s five foot six inches, but this Anthony Dixon was massive. Nick stood six foot two and even he had to look up to the man. His broad shoulders and muscular stature could not be hidden beneath the expensive looking suit he wore. The jet black material over the beige shirt fitted him too well to be off the rack and complimented his caramel skin tone beautifully. Luke swallowed to wet his suddenly dry mouth then attempted to gather his wits before he continued across the room.  
“Luke, I’m glad you made it, man,” Nick greeted patting him on the shoulder. “Luke Finley, this is Anthony Dixon, owner of Dixon Web Designs” he added extending his hand to the stranger.
Luke took the stranger’s out stretched hand. Anthony’s grip was warm and firm. The skin on skin contact sent tingles up Luke’s arm as Anthony jerked it up and down.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Luke.”
Anthony’s voice was smooth and baritone. It vibrated over Luke’s skin sending an erotic pulse to his groin and lightening strikes of pleasure to his nipples. The realization of that surprised him. No one’s voice had ever turned him on before.
“I– I apologize for the delay. Thank you for waiting for me, Mr. Dixon.”
“It was no problem and please, call me Anthony. I think that’s okay if we’re going to be working together,” Anthony mentioned offering him a seat. “Any friend of Nick’s is a friend of mine.”
The three men sat down and Luke put the basket in the center of the table.
“I brought a peace offering. Is it alright that we eat as we talk?” 
“Of course. This doesn’t have to be a formal meeting if you’re not comfortable with that kind of scene. I want to make this as easy for you as possible.”
“Thanks. I must admit that I’m very techy at all that’s why I asked Nick to find me someone to help. He knows all about that kind of stuff.”
Anthony crooned his head looking into the basket. “Are these from Morning Glory down on Eighth Street?” he asked removing a danish.
“Yes, that’s my shop.”
Anthony’s face lit up. His eyes danced happily and an exuberant grin spread across his face. Luke’s heart fluttered at the sight.
“Really? I love that place. Making a website for you will be easier than I thought,” he muttered opening his laptop.
“Nick didn’t tell you I owned Morning Glory?” Luke asked turning an accusing eye to his friend.
“When I set up the meeting I just gave Anthony the basics. I had a friend that wanted a website for his business and that you were in the food industry,” Nick supplied with a shrug.
Luke nodded then turned back to Anthony. He held the cheese danish between his lips as he typed. Taking a bite he used one hand to finish what he was doing.
“Mmm, these are so good, my favorite actually. I used to stop by your place on the way to work to get one every morning.”
Luke’s eyes widened. “Really? When was that? I never saw you. I wouldn’t have missed someone like you in my store.”
Anthony’s eyes shifted toward him. A rush of heat quickly filled Luke’s cheeks. He made the attempt to fumble out a retraction.
“No!” he said shaking his hand. “I just mean I wouldn’t have missed a man as big you.” 
An amused smile touched Anthony’s lips as he turned to fully face Luke.
“Wait! That’s not what I wanted to say,” Luke rushed out. “I’m just trying to say that I usually notice when good looking men come into my store,” he expressed more slowly.
Luke gasped then pressed his lips together and groaned. His eyes closed as he sighed.
Just shoot me.

Jaxx Steele has left the building!