Kindle Countdown: Impacted!

 

Bay Area Professionals!

Polo Series Special!

Looking for a good read for only 99 cents each? My Polo Series is the featured special this weekend. Click on the links to read the blurb for each book. Now's your chance to catch up on the entire series at a great price.  

Fire Horse: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/fire-horse-by-mickie-b-ashling-5157-b

Ride-Off: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/ride-off-by-mickie-b-ashling-598-b

Sixth Chukker: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/the-sixth-chukker-by-mickie-b-ashling-5418-b

The Sixth Chukker, Exclusives Blog Tour: Day Six

The blog tour continues today at Love Bytes Reviews. Check out the latest exclusive excerpt from The Sixth Chukker, book three in the polo series.

http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/04/12/blog-tour-exclusive-excerpt-giveaway-mickie-b-ashling-the-sixth-chukker/

Friday Countdown-Ride-Off

Happy Friday! It's also the final day to avail of the 25% off sale going on at the Dreamspinner Press Store (no April Fool's joke-I promise).

Today, I'm posting another excerpt from Ride-Off, the second book in the Polo Series. In this scene, Ned Temple, Preston's best friend, is pondering his relationship with Bandi, Konrad's son, who is twenty-four years younger.

NED closed the book he’d been pretending to read and tossed it off to the side with a weary sigh. There was no point in checking the time again. He knew it hadn’t advanced much since the last time he’d glanced obsessively at his Rolex. He usually called Bandi between midnight and one in the morning, UK time, and that was still an hour away. Reluctantly, he reached over to the decanter Thomas had left on the side table and poured another finger of whiskey. He’d vowed to curtail his drinking, which had escalated since his return from America, but found it impossible to take his mind off the current state of his love affair without the numbing effect of Lagavulin, the sixteen-year-old single malt whiskey he’d become quite fond of years ago.
     Not for the first time, he asked himself why he’d consented to this separation. The altruistic reasons he’d enumerated when Preston had insisted on answers made absolutely no sense when faced with an empty spot on the sofa previously occupied by the love of his life.
A self-deprecating laugh got past the tight band around his throat and he went to stand in front of the fireplace to stare into the blistering pile of logs in search of answers. Why had he let him go? Did he honestly think that Bandi would be back when the most important weapon in Ned’s arsenal had been rejected time and again?
     Over the last two years, Ned had discovered that his young lover was nowhere as shallow as the string of forgettable men he’d dallied with in the past. Before this awareness, he’d fallen back on old habits, trying to compensate for the age gap with piles of gifts. Bandi had accepted the cards and flowers, because he thought they were romantic, but he balked the first time Ned had suggested a shopping spree in London.
     “I don’t need any clothes,” the younger man had declared, looking a little affronted when Ned made a comment on sprucing up his wardrobe. “Are you ashamed to be seen with a gypsy?”
     “Don’t be silly, darling. I just thought you’d enjoy having a couple of shirts by Tom Ford. You so admired the green shirt I wore the other day. That was a Ford.”
     “I admired it on you,” Bandi said calmly. “I don’t want or need anything that fancy.”
     “What about another of pair of boots?” Ned had suggested. “There’s a marvelous shop in Knightsbridge I discovered a few years back. They stock handmade boots from Spain and Italy that feel broken in―they’re so comfortable. Wouldn’t you like another pair?”
     “No.”
     Several months later Bandi had refused to accept the Aston Martin Ned had purchased after a particularly memorable session of lovemaking. He’d been horrified at the prospect of tooling around in a vehicle he hadn’t paid for. When Ned explained it meant nothing to him but a shiny toy, Bandi had stalked off in a fit of anger, but not before hurling the keys at Ned’s chest. That incident had led to their first serious fight. He’d given Ned the cold shoulder for days until the Englishman had sworn off gift buying unless there was a legitimate reason like a birthday or Christmas. Bandi had also set spending limits. Ned wasn’t allowed to purchase anything over a certain amount or it would be summarily returned. He was so relieved to be back in Bandi’s good graces he had promised to be more circumspect when it came to gifts.
     Not one of the pretty boys he’d bedded in the last twenty years had ever turned down a present, and he found himself at a loss when confronted with a man who didn’t give a jot for material goods. It was a novelty and made Ned suspicious for weeks. By the time he’d accepted the truth that such a thing existed, an honorable man, he was deeply in love.
     The possibility of losing Bandi had resurrected painful memories of a time long ago when he and Preston were teenagers. He’d been fascinated with his American friend for years, but he could never compete with the phantom lover who was the center of Pres’s universe. Although they’dshared several firsts, Ned had always felt like a detour on his best friend’s road to happiness. It was difficult to grasp the mentality of someone so single-minded, and he’d given up trying after Preston had made it abundantly clear they were better friends than lovers. The pain of that rejection had stayed with him for a long time, and he’d been reluctant to open his heart to anyone else lest it be torn apart with hardly any remorse.
     Through the succeeding years, Ned had fallen in and out of lust several times. And that’s all it was, a physical need like eating or sleeping. He’d learned a lot about himself in the process and began to count on the one thing that set him apart from the competition―money. Ned’s looks were perfectly acceptable, but nothing out of the ordinary. His ginger-brown hair and blue eyes were typically English, and his forty-eight-year-old body was fit and lean, thanks to the well-equipped gym he’d built on the premises. In reality, he was quite forgettable when compared to Preston, still the most attractive man in the polo circuit, despite his age and silver-streaked hair.
     Ned’s big draw was his personality. Being the fourth child of a well-to-do family had led to a pressure-free existence. Familial expectations were minimal, and indulging his penchant for the horsy set was a given. As long as he didn’t get embroiled in any scandals, he was free to pursue his career in polo, which included the usual perks that came with being in the rarefied world of globetrotting, like-minded gentlemen. His reputation as a reliable player had earned him the respect of his peers, and unlike his best friend, the explosive and unpredictable cowboy, Ned was a calming presence in the challenging and oftentimes volatile sport. He was sought after as a friend and companion and his long list of acquaintances included the top echelon of society. He’d never done anything to raise an eyebrow, and even his weakness for pretty boys had been met with amused indulgence; everyone knew they were nothing but a passing fancy.
     Falling in love with Bandi had been unexpected, and the accompanying highs and lows of passion, unfamiliar, and downright disturbing. Controlling a relationship with deep pockets was far easier on the nerves, and much more predictable, but not nearly as satisfying. For the first time in his life, Ned was willing to thumb his nose at society and do the unexpected. Taking his relationship with a man twenty-four years his junior to a more permanent level, and acknowledging Bandi as his life partner, would be leaving himself open to criticism. People would say he was a doddering old fool who’d fallen into a familiar trap, but he didn’t give a damn. He knew their feelings were genuine and the naysayers could go hang themselves.

All the books in the Polo Series are currently on sale at the Dreamspinner Store, including The Sixth Chukker which releases April 8.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7601

Forged in Trust Blog Tour Schedule

Follow the Tour

Sept. 1 - The Novel Approach

Sept. 2 - On Top Down Under Book Reviews

Sept. 3 - Charlie Cochet

Sept. 4 - Love Bytes

Sept. 4 - Sinfully...Addicted to All Male Romance

Sept. 7 - Hearts On Fire

Sept. 8 - Prism Book Alliance

Sept. 9 - MM Good Book Reviews

Sept. 11 - WoW...from The Scarf Princess

Tour and materials organized by PAS Promotions

Coming Soon!

Forged in Trust

Dr. Ethan Marshall is the young resident on call the night Tessa Duran murders her husband for abusing her twelve-year-old-son, Rino. Ethan stays in the cubicle while the rape kit is performed and is surprised when the boy resorts to prayers instead of tears.

 Despite compelling evidence, Tessa is sent to jail for life. To avoid placing Rino in foster care, their parish priest agrees to raise him. Ethan is touched by Rino’s plight and visits whenever possible, but the connection is broken when the priest and young boy leave the area months later.

Raised by the Dominicans in California, Rino considers joining the order until a romance blossoms with a fellow student. After much soul-searching, he turns his back on everything familiar, and chooses his orientation over his perceived vocation. Upon graduating dental hygiene school, Rino takes a job at the office of Scott Gregory and Robin Kennedy.

Seventeen years have passed since that horrible night in the emergency room. Forty-three-year-old Ethan is now a Dominant in search of a full-time submissive. Twenty-nine-year-old Rino is adrift, longing for someone or something to help him find the serenity he’s lost along the way. As they rekindle their friendship, they realize they might be perfect for each other.

Available for Pre-order at a discounted price until August 9.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6811

Fire Horse Audiobook Now Available

                       Fire Horse is now available in Audiobook
               
                   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6147



BlurbPreston

Fawkes is ten the first time he meets fifteen-year-old Konrad Schnell at the San Antonio Polo Club. Captivated by the mystique surrounding the sport of kings, Pres vows to learn the game at the hands of his newly acquired friend and mentor. The hero worship soon grows into something deeper, but the friends are separated when Preston goes off to boarding school in England. 

The relationship that follows is riddled with challenges?their age gap, physical distance, and parental pressure taking precedence over feelings yet to be explored. Although their bond goes deep, they deal with the reality of their situation differently: Preston is open and fearless while Konrad is reticent and all too aware of the social implications of making a public stand. 

Their paths intersect and twine, binding them as tightly as a cowboy’s lasso, but fate may alter their plans. How will love overcome the divots in the turf as they gallop toward the future—one where obstacles no longer stand in their way?

                                                  Winner in the 2013 Rainbow Awards.
                          Seventh (tie): Best LGBT Erotic Romance (Bobby Michaels Award)

Character Interviews

Do you like character interviews?

I've never done them before but I thought I'd put
it out there for any of my readers who are interested in finding out what the guys from the Horizons universe have been up to since Daddio released.  Now's your 
chance to leave questions in the comment
section that I'll incorporate into a post during the upcoming blog tour.  

Chyna Doll is the fourth book in the Horizons series.   It can be read as a stand-alone (if you haven't read any of the other books) but always more fun and meaningful if you've read the series from the start. Luca is a key player in this story with LOTS of Grier and Lil moments, as well as an endearing side to Jody and Clark we haven't seen before.  I hope you get a chance to check it out.  Don't forget, leave a question, if you have one.  

Pre-order here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6088

One More Week!

One more week to take advantage of the discounts on the Cutting Cords series. After October 29, prices revert back to normal. Right now, Cutting Cords is FREE! Vessel and Cleave are half price, and you can pre-order Cutting Out for the reduced price of $5.24. 

Here's the link::http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5553

Coming Soon!

My latest release Fractured is available for pre-order on the Coming Soon page at Dreamspinner Press.  Scheduled release is March 24.  

Roque "Ro" Celdran dreams of a better life, far away from the hand-to-mouth existence of his migrant worker family.  He moves to San Francisco to study Landscape Design but finds himself short of cash.  Tony, Ro's identical twin, comes up with a plan to help Ro make ends meet.  The BDSM club Tony frequents is looking for gay men to act as submissives to the Dommes-in-training.  Ro reluctantly takes the job and falls headfirst into a world he neither understands nor desires.

Lance Roberts is the new doctor at the dental practice started by Scott Gregory and Robin Kennedy.  On the surface, he seems to have it all: the Mensa IQ, blond and blue-eyed good looks, and the determination to make it in his competitive field.  Underneath lies a frustrated Dom in search of the perfect sub who can handle his obsessive behavior and debilitating need for control.

When Ro ends up in Lance's dental chair, the last thing either one expects is a physical and mental connection.  Ro's attraction to "White Bread" never pans out, and Lance's weakness for Latinos always leads to a dead end.  Could this time be different?  What happens between the two alphas leads to a lot of soul-searching and some surprising conclusions. 

Enjoy a short excerpt

Lance felt like he was walking on the infamous cloud 9—the one that always showed up whenever he was infatuated. Trying to deny his feelings any longer was pointless. The moment Ro took his shoes off and then asked about recycling, his approval rating climbed up several notches. It didn’t hurt that the object of his affection looked like a younger version of Latino actor Esai Morales, who played Lt. Tony Rodriguez on NYPD Blue, one of Lance’s favorite shows.

Roque had lighter eyes, though, and looked more European than Aztec. He was positive there was Spanish nobility coursing through Ro’s lithe but muscular frame. Despite his humble background, Ro carried himself with quiet dignity, another immensely appealing trait. Lance was a sucker for confident men, especially if he could get them to exchange some of that power willingly. The vision of Roque kneeling at his feet, hands bound behind his back and a cock ring encircling what Lance could only imagine was a perfectly proportioned penis, made him groan in frustration. He could feel his own organ straining against his jeans, and he gave in to the moment, powering up his laptop. He jerked off to the image of a spanking scene, superimposing Ro’s face on the submissive he’d been virtually dating over the last few months.

Self-service wasn’t nearly as satisfying, but it took the edge off, and he could think rationally once it was out of the way.  He glanced at his watch and saw that it was only eight o’clock in the evening. His favorite shrink would still be awake in New York City if he called right now. Giving in to impulse, he tapped in his number, which was stored in Favorites. Peter answered on the third ring.

“What’s going on?” Peter asked, concern oozing through the connection.

“Not much,” Lance replied.

“FaceTime,” Peter ordered. “I do better when I can see you lying.”

“Shut up,” Lance said, laughing at his doctor’s insight. Nonetheless, he did as ordered and activated the iPhone feature. “Is that better?”

Peter harrumphed. “You must be in lust again.”

“Jesus, am I that obvious?”

“You’ve got that dumb grin on your face. Who is it this time?”

“Let’s just say I’m interested in someone. Nothing’s happened yet.”

“Then why are you calling?”

“Because I can.”

“I suppose you should get your money’s worth since I’m still on retainer.”

“Okay, enough with the jokes,” Lance said. “I’m attracted to one of my patients and scared to move forward.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“Moral ethics aside?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m afraid of fucking this up.”

“Is he in active treatment?”

“The initial surgery is completed, but I’ll be doing sporadic checks until I can place his implants.”

“But in essence he’s done for now.”

“Yes.”

“Problem solved.”

“What if I scare him off with all my other stuff?”

“Lance, try and be rational. Your last breakup was two years ago, and it just wasn’t a good fit. That doesn’t mean you’re incapable of finding the right match. What does this guy do?”

Lance didn’t respond, prompting Peter to ask. “Did you hear my question?”

“He’s a landscaper,” Lance replied in a soft voice.

“Here we go again,” Peter grumbled. “Let me guess. He’s a dark-skinned brunet with a heavy accent, and thinking of him groveling at your feet and begging for release makes you hard.”

“Fuck you.”

“Am I wrong?”

“Partially.”

“Is he also illiterate like Manny?”

“As a matter of fact, he’s not,” Lance countered hotly. “He’s articulate and driven from what I’ve learned so far, and Manny wasn’t illiterate, you dumb ass! He didn’t speak English, that’s all.”

“Lance, you continue to act like a moron despite your IQ. Falling for guys who provide little or no mental stimulation will always result in failure. It doesn’t matter if the body chemistry is right. May I remind you that good looks are temporary but dumb is forever?”

“He’s not dumb!”

“So you’ve said.”

“Then why are you on my case?”

“You wouldn’t be calling if you were confident.”

“I wanted to give you an update, but you’d rather badger me into admitting I’m doing the wrong thing. Peter, I’m not leaping before looking this time. We’re taking baby steps. Hell, I don’t even know if this guy is into BDSM. This may be a moot point, and it’ll fizzle out after the first orgasm.”

“You mean that hasn’t happened yet?”

“I told you I’m taking it very slow.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“Thank you,” Lance said begrudgingly. “Perhaps I’m not as moronic as you seem to think.”


You can pre-order Fractured here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/upcoming_products.php

Cover reveal-Fractured, book 3 in the Impacted Series

I'd like to share this beautiful cover for my upcoming novel, Fractured.  It was created by Paul Richmond using a photo from the gallery of photographer, Ronaldo Gutierrez.  Although this is book 3 in a series, it's a spin-off, not a sequel.  You won't have to read the first two novels to enjoy this one.

Release date is scheduled for early March if all goes well.  Official blurb to follow in the next week or so.  

Giveaway!

                                                    

I've just listed Ride-Off on Goodreads as a giveaway.  The winner will receive a signed paperback  (along with a signed copy of Fire Horse) .  The contest runs for a month and is open to residents of the US, Canada, Australia, and UK.  Two copies of Ride-Off have been listed, but in actuality, I'm giving away 4 books.  The giveaway goes live in 24 hours.  Click on the link for more details.
  
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/69775-ride-off

I was pleasantly surprised to come across this review from Amos Lassen yesterday.  Here's what he has to say about Ride-Off.

http://reviewsbyamoslassen.com/?p=25180#comment-32033 

And here's another honest review from the scarf princess, Jody.  In my Polo universe, anything goes, and trust me, there's a lot happening in the Fawkes-Schnell clan.  Throw in Ned Temple and his young lover, Bandi, plus a charming new addition to the cast in the form of cross-dressing, make-up artist, Jeremy Starr, and a soap opera is born.  

http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-spotlight-for-ride-off-by-mickie-b.html

Ride-Off Excerpt and Contest

To celebrate the release of my latest novel, Ride-Off,  I'm offering a signed paperback (or e-book if  you'd prefer) to the 14th person who comments, since this is my 14th published novel.  All you have to do is leave your name and tell me you want the book.  For anyone else who'd like to participate, leave a comment, and I'll draw another random winner.  The only catch is you have to respond within 48 hours since the book releases on Friday, October 18.  

So far, this is your third chance to win.  First is over at Chris' blog, Stumbling Over Chaos (see my previous post and easy click to link), the next is on Facebook or LJ, and lastly, here.  So three chances all in all to win a freebie.

Ride-Off is a sequel to Fire Horse which released last April.  Readers were drawn to this epic romance spanning 35 years.  Two years have passed since our lovers were reunited and now the hard part begins.  Trying to blend families is always a challenge, especially when the players are no longer children.

Preston and Konrad find themselves caught in one contentious argument after another as their strong-willed progeny vie for their places in this new family dynamic.  We've met or heard about most of these characters in Fire Horse but now we get a chance to peel off layers and find out what makes them do what they do.  There are a couple of new characters that insinuate themselves into this family saga.  Some are most welcome, and others, not so much.  Here's an except that hasn't been posted anywhere else.  Read, enjoy, and don't forget to comment to enter the contest.  For those of you who would rather bet on a sure thing, the buy link will take you directly to the Dreamspinner site where you can pre-order the book. 

Here's the excerpt.....

“My God,” Preston exclaimed when he opened the door of his suite and set eyes on his errant daughter for the first time in years. “You’re lovely.”

“Nice to see you too,” Sasha said, inserting himself between the pair. He was hardly able to keep the sneer out of his voice. Clearly, sharing the spotlight with anyone, even his half sister, bothered him more than he cared to admit.

Preston tore his eyes away from Paloma and rewarded his son with a kiss and a hearty slap on the back. “How are you holding up, kiddo?”

“I’m fine, Dad.”

Satisfied, Preston turned back to the young woman who’d been watching the exchange intently. “This is unexpected, Paloma.”

“Are you upset?”

“Not unless your mother has called Interpol.”

“I’ll get in touch with her once I’m settled,” Paloma assured him.

“She must be out of her mind wondering where you are. You should call her right now.”

“I don’t want to.”

He picked up the phone and handed it to her.

“But I haven’t met anyone,” she whined. “Won’t you introduce me to your companions?”

Preston frowned and took a deep breath, then reached for Paloma’s hand, and led her toward a door which opened after one knock. “Kon, this is Paloma.”

“What a nice surprise,” Konrad said, shaking her hand and then drawing her forward for a kiss. “I’d hoped to meet you someday, and here you are.” He was staring at her with a look of wonder written all over his face. “You’re Preston’s spitting image.”

“May I call you Uncle?” she asked.

“I’d be mighty pleased if you would, young lady.”

“Come on,” Pres said impatiently, pulling her toward another door on the opposite side of the large seating area.

Sasha couldn’t help but notice the suite was twice the size of his apartment and probably cost more per night than his monthly rent. He wondered what it would be like to live as a prince instead of a starving young pauper. He tracked his sister’s progress and watched when Bandi opened his bedroom door and studied Paloma with interest. His cousin was in a red polo shirt, with the RL logo on the pocket, and a pair of faded jeans that hugged his slim hips, drawing attention to his bulging package. Paloma scanned him from top to bottom and settled on one spot just below the sterling silver buckle. She looked a little dazed when Bandi reached out to shake her hand, drawing her eyes away from his groin.

“Mu...mucho gusto," she stammered, reverting to Spanish. She was blushing and looked ill at ease while Bandi appeared unaffected by the stir he was causing.

Ned peeked over Bandi’s shoulder to see what was going on. When he saw Paloma, his face lit up and he greeted her with enthusiasm, studying her as if she were some rare archeological find. “My goodness,” he exclaimed, “there’s no denying your sire, is there?”

“Ned,” Pres rebuked. “She’s not a prized bull.”

“No, but she’s definitely a thoroughbred. Who knew you could make such lovely children, Preston?”

Sasha noticed that his father appeared entirely too smug for someone who’d barely had a hand in Paloma’s upbringing. Being a baby daddy hardly counted as parenting in Sasha’s book.

“Something good did come out of my wild youth,” Pres responded. “Speaking of parents,” he said, turning Paloma toward the sitting room and the phone, “let’s go call your mother.”

“I wish we could wait until I’m settled,” Paloma protested.

“Trust me,” he said confidently. “This will go down much better if we keep her informed every step of the way.”

Paloma rolled her eyes but sat down on the chair closest to the phone while the hotel operator connected them. Within minutes, she was defending her impetuous decision to come to America in faltering Spanish. She spoke slowly, so Sasha could understand every other word, and it appeared the conversation was not going the way she’d planned. Apparently Preston caught the gist as well and hit the button, putting the other party on speakerphone.

“Lorena,” he boomed, “Preston here. Paloma is safe so get off your high horse for a minute and let the girl talk.”

Everyone listened while the voice on the other end screeched her reply in guttural Spanish. “I know she was wrong to run off,” Preston interrupted, hoping to reassure the harried female on the other line, “but she’s with family so you can stop worrying.”

It wasn’t working, because there were more invectives, and she shifted her anger to Preston as if all of this was his fault.

Paloma looked mortified as the conversation went from bad to worse. She began chewing on a lock of her hair in a nervous gesture. Every time she tried to explain, her mother cut her off with a sharp reply. For the first time since her arrival, Sasha felt sympathetic. Hell, he would have run away as well if his mother treated him like a child, which was obviously the case. Preston put an end to the bitter diatribe by pressing the disconnect button.

“Well, that went well,” he remarked.

Paloma let out an explosive breath and began to cry. He gathered her in his arms and patted her on the back as if she were, indeed, ten years old, instead of a grown woman. “Don’t you worry about a thing, honey.”

“Will you send me back?” she blubbered.

“No.”

“Thank you,” she replied. The relief on her face was pitiful. “She’s so controlling,” Paloma added in case anyone was too dumb to figure it out.

“She had to let you go at some point,” Preston mused. “We’ll get you set up with school and a place to live before we call her back, okay?”

She nodded, looking at her father like he was her savior.

“Is anyone in the mood for a drink?” Sasha asked. “I could use a frozen margarita myself.”

“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all night,” Preston replied. “Do you need a minute to fix your face?” he asked Paloma.

She gave him a grateful look and escaped into one of the bedrooms.

“That poor girl,” Ned commented.

“Now maybe you can understand why the marriage didn’t work out,” Preston said humorlessly.

“Bullocks,” Ned rebuked. “It didn’t work out because Lorena didn’t have a penis.”

Everyone erupted into laughter, easing the tension brought on by the melodramatic phone call.

When Paloma reappeared, she looked much more serene. She’d brushed her hair and it fell softly on her shoulders in shiny waves. Her lips glowed with a fresh application of plum-colored lip gloss, and the mischievous sparkle was back in her eyes. Preston smiled at her appreciatively and the girl visibly preened under his scrutiny.

It was a joint decision to have dinner at The Champagne Bar in the hotel rather than trying to find available seating for six at another five-star restaurant in town on a Friday night. As guests, they’d be guaranteed a table without a long wait. Preston ordered a round of drinks for everyone, and they opted to wait in their suite until the table was ready downstairs.

Sasha’s phone chimed and he saw that Jeremy had sent him a text telling him he’d procured the tickets for tomorrow night’s show. Did he want them delivered in person or left at the “Will Call” window?

“Dad, would you mind if Jeremy joined us?” Sasha asked, breaking into the usual discussion on polo. Paloma was listening intently while sipping her glass of white wine.

“Who’s Jeremy?” Preston asked.

“Dad,” Sasha said, sighing impatiently. “You’ve met him once before.”

“Is he the one with the eyeliner?” Preston asked.

Sasha nodded. “He’s got the tickets for tomorrow’s performance.”

“Sure. I’ll have them add another chair for dinner.”

Sasha texted : bring tickets but ditch Barbra. u’ve been invited to dinner. Jeremy would be thrilled. He’d met Preston briefly and was eager to meet everyone else in the family. He’d heard the tales and ogled the photos of polo players but tonight would be his first face-to-face appearance with the lot. Sasha hoped he’d make a good impression. He wasn’t sure how they’d handle Jem’s sequined alter ego, so he thought it best to leave her behind.

He should have known better. When Jeremy showed up, he wasn’t in drag, but he may as well have been. His eyes were lined, his lashes were darkened with navy blue mascara, and he’d glossed his lips to make them exceedingly kissable. Black leather pants showed off his long legs, and the platform boots made him appear taller than the tallest man in the room. Mouths gaped as he sauntered in, unwinding the hot pink scarf from around his neck. “Ta-dah,” he declared, pirouetting gracefully. Sasha avoided rolling his eyes  but couldn’t help the grin that curved his lips. He noticed that Uncle Ned was smiling as well, and he was the first to step forward and introduce himself.

“Ned Temple,” he said, extending his hand.

“My pleasure, sir; I’ve heard wonderful things about you.”

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” Ned replied. “I know nothing about you.” Turning to Sasha, Ned asked, “Why have you never mentioned Jeremy before?”

Jeremy countered immediately. “I’m sure it was an oversight.”

Catching his tone, Sasha could tell his best friend was a little hurt he’d never mentioned his name in passing. “Jeremy’s the company makeup artist,” Sasha said, “and the only person in the world who understands theater people. I rely on his advice as well as his company,” he added, hoping that praise would make a difference.

“Oh, brother,” Jeremy replied, masking his emotions with a nonchalant air. “Sash exaggerates. You know how these actors are, don’t you, Ned? May I call you Ned?”

“By all means,” Uncle Ned said, visibly amused.

Continuing, Jeremy declaimed, “Actors are worse than children, vying for my attention constantly. I’ve learned to grunt and nod at proper intervals while they talk incessantly about themselves. All of a sudden I’m the best friend and the best listener,” Jeremy added, slinging his own arrow.

“Whatever,” Sasha countered. “Isn’t it time to go downstairs?” The rest of the group had been listening to the exchange between Ned and Jeremy with the rapt attention of moviegoers watching a 3D horror show. They couldn’t seem to take their eyes off the flamboyant young man. “Hello!” Sasha called out again. “Is anyone listening?”

Preston started when he heard Sasha’s voice and picked up the house phone to check on their table. After a second, he put it down. “They’re ready for us,” he said, giving Kon a look that spoke volumes. Anyone who wasn't a polo player or somehow involved in the sport was treated like an alien, and that included artists and other intriguing theater personalities. Ned, on the other hand, was his usual gracious self and offered Jeremy an arm while Bandi trailed behind.

Seizing her chance, Paloma sidled up to Bandi and held his hand tentatively. “Shall we go?”

“What?” Bandi said, taking his eyes off Jeremy for a second. He glanced down at their clasped hands and gently pulled away. “After you.”

Sasha nudged Paloma aside and let the rest of the group step into the waiting elevator. When the doors closed with a whisper he rounded on Paloma. “Are you crazy? Bandi is gay, and furthermore, he’s your cousin. Keep your distance!”

Paloma looked at him in surprise and raised one eyebrow in a classic Preston move. “He’s not my cousin.”

“Of course he is.”

She shook her head. “He’s yours, not mine; we have different fathers."

“Oh.”

“Eres un tonto," she said as an aside.

“I’m not stupid.”

“Oh, so you do understand Spanish.”

“Bits and pieces. I know when I’m being insulted, so you can stuff your remarks.”

“I will if you stop meddling in my life.”

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