Joshua Hansen doesn’t believe in anything, except maybe the romance novels he reads about gorgeous men falling deeply in love. So when his small town’s interfaith council approaches him to ask if they can hold a weeks-long bake sale outside his convenience store for a fundraiser, Joshua isn’t sure what to say. Feeling his apprehension, the council offers him a bribe: they’ll bring him free baked goods, and pray in a wide variety of ways to get him a guy like the one on the covers of his books.
Although Joshua isn’t one to believe in miracles, and has no interest in carbs, he does want to help those in need in his town, so he accepts their offer. Still, he’s not holding his breath for them finding his Mr. Right in this small Virginia town. After all, he’s spent years looking for the right guy. What are the chances the council can find him a man in less than a month?
On a snowy Christmas Eve, when he has just about given up all hope, Joshua might need to eat his words, and some rather amazing pasta. When Giorgio Vincenni storms into the store, Joshua wonders if maybe the council’s prayers have been heard. Abrasive, well-dressed, and full of attitude, Giorgio looks just like one of those gorgeous mafia men on the cover of the books he loves. Joshua soon finds himself in a confrontation with Giorgio that holds so much sexual tension, they find it leads to something else. Now looking closely at Giorgio, Joshua must ask himself, is this really the type of guy he wants?
The man looked up at Joshua, and Joshua was surprised by what he saw in this man’s eyes. Was it desperation? Tenderness? A loneliness that maybe showed up in his own eyes sometimes? Whatever it was, it wasn’t what he had expected from the loudmouth who had walked into his store a few minutes ago. Joshua was even more surprised as those eyes moved closer to his own and suddenly he felt the man’s lips on his, and this stranger’s hands on his cheekbones, pulling him into a warm and passionate kiss.
The thought of this going any further than a joke had never crossed Joshua’s mind, so the kiss threw him off in a way he had not expected. Joshua felt the warmth of the man’s mouth on his own, and then the man’s tongue as it introduced itself. Joshua moved his body closer to the man. He wrapped his arms around the stranger and pulled him close, liking the way the smaller man felt in his arms.
“My name is Giorgio,” the man said, pulling away from Joshua for just a second.
“Joshua.”
“I know,” the man said.
“How would you?” Joshua asked.
The man hesitated, and then nodded to the name tag on Joshua’s shirt.
Joshua laughed, but his laugh was stopped as Giorgio hungrily kissed him again.
Joshua felt Giorgio’s fingers move into his hair, traveling about in a manner both possessive and playful. Joshua pushed into the man, feeling himself harden as Giorgio’s tongue eagerly explored inside his mouth. Joshua shoved his hands under Giorgio’s coat, moving up onto his shoulder blades. Giorgio was as wiry and strong as he looked, and Joshua loved the way his muscles felt. He moved his hands over Giorgio’s lower back, and even through the shirt, he could tell there wasn’t an ounce of fat. His hands reached down to Giorgio’s ass. It was tiny and firm through the clothes, and Joshua wondered what it felt like when it wasn’t covered in fancy dress trousers. He squeezed Giorgio’s ass cheeks, moving his fingers into the middle of the smaller man’s rump, trying to feel as much as he could through Giorgio’s slacks.
“Wait,” Giorgio said, pulling back. “Is this how you want it? Don’t get me wrong, I’m gonna do it. I mean, if it’s what you want, but do we really want it like this? You know, on the ground like animals. Maybe, we could have dinner first or something?”
Joshua looked down at Giorgio. The question was as big a surprise as the kiss. Was he asking for something more romantic? Something intimate and sweet? This guy was full of surprises. But then so was Joshua. Was Giorgio just doing this because he felt he had to? Just how desperate was he for gas, and was Joshua exploiting him?
“Look, you don’t have do anything you don’t want to do,” Joshua said. “You can have as much gas as you need. On the house.”
“You don’t want me anymore?” Giorgio asked, putting his hand on Joshua’s face.
“Yeah, I want you,” Joshua said. “I just want to make sure that you ...”
“Oh, now who’s swallowing his words?” Giorgio asked. “I want to do this with you. I just want to get to know you a little better first. I would like to have a nice dinner with you.”
Joshua laughed. “Good luck with that. If you think gas is hard to find around here, wait until you try looking for open restaurants this late. The closest all night drive-thru is almost fifty miles away.”
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