Title: The Secrets of My Scowl
Author: AE Via
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: October 28, 2016
Sparks ignite and tempers flare when a sexy, optimistic wedding planner moves his business in across the hall from a jilted, divorce lawyer’s practice.
“Look smart ass. This is the last time I’m going to remind you about breaking sections of the lease. If there’s a next time, I won’t stop until you and your frilly, white wedding shit is thrown out of here. Do you got it?!”
Wylde looked in Jacob’s pained eyes and answered in his deep voice. “Yeah, counselor. I got it.”
From high school, up until he became a successful attorney Jacob Snowden was convinced that love had it out for him. “Everyone left,” were the words he lived by. His mother, his high school sweetheart, his father, and his fiancé, all left Jacob just when he felt it was safe to let down his guard. Not any longer. Jacob was a determined man, set at keeping people at a distance. If his six foot one, military-made body didn’t scare people off, his permanent scowl surely did. At almost forty, Jacob’s social life was non-existent, but he told himself his work fulfilled him. He helped people get out of their loveless marriages. Jacob Snowden was one of the best divorce lawyers on the east coast and was damn proud of it. So, imagine his disdain when a wedding planner moves into the suite directly adjacent to his… an insanely masculine, male wedding planner.
Wylde Sterling had made quite a name for himself in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, working for a wedding planner that catered to the elite. He was known for his charm and impeccable taste. Yep, he was incredible at giving couples the wedding of their dreams. But he wanted nothing more than to plan his own. After striking out in love more times than he cared to admit, Wylde decided to start his own business in a new city, hoping Richmond would give him a fresh start. Things started out wonderfully – until he started to piss off the angry divorce attorney next door.
Wylde could see past Jacob’s mean scowl, knowing there was a reason for it. It was the man’s defense mechanism, his means of keeping people away. Everything in Wylde told him to stay away, but he believed Jacob just needed to meet a man who had been hurt as badly as he had.
This title is a standalone that ends in an HEA
It was another freezing night as they walked to their cars. The temperature had to be in the low thirties now. “Do y’all get a lot of snow here?” Wylde asked, staying close to Jacob’s big body.
“You’re not used to snow? You’re from up in the mountains.”
“Jesus. Just answer the damn question, lawyer.” Wylde elbowed him.
Jacob smirked at him. “We usually get some. I’m pretty sure we will this week. Forecast is calling for four to five inches.”
“Oh, man. I hope it’s not here on Friday. I’m going to Mr. Drummond’s greenhouse that day,” he said as they turned the corner.
“I hope you find what you need there. He loves giving away those flowers. He has them delivered to hospitals, funeral homes, people’s doorsteps, you name it.” Jacob’s voice had gone quiet in the dark lot as they made their way to their cars.
“You’re going to make me the most popular wedding planner in Richmond if I can get free flowers.” Wylde started his car with his key fob, Jacob doing the same, but they still hadn’t parted ways.
“It’s going to be a hectic week for me. I’m winding down on a pretty big case, but on Friday, maybe you can come by and we can play a game when you get back.” Jacob rocked back and forth like he was nervous about Wylde’s answer.
“That sounds good. I should be back early.” Wylde started to move in closer, wanting every last second of Jacob he could get, and of course, some of his body heat.
“If you’re back before five, why don’t we drive around a bit, and I’ll show you some of Richmond. That is, of course, if you haven’t found a guide already.” Jacob’s scowl was dropping into place and it made the hairs on Wylde’s arms stand up… and his d**k.
He knew exactly what Jacob was hinting at. He’d seen Wylde out with a man before and from the mean look on Jacob’s face, it looked like he wasn’t interested in competition. Wylde needed to set this straight now.
They were toe-to-toe, Jacob leaning a little on his driver side door. Wylde slowly eased his arm inside Jacob’s heavy coat, grazing the fabric of his suit jacket, letting it rest there on his hip. Wylde leaned in so their chests were pressed together. He didn’t have to look down at Jacob’s face and he liked that. “No, Jacob. No other guides. None.”
Jacob appeared to accept that answer. His jaw unclenched and Wylde felt a heavy palm on his back as Jacob pulled him even closer. He thought Jacob was leaning in for a kiss but instead, he grazed the side of his jaw and rested his face in Wylde’s neck. “Thank you for tonight,” he whispered roughly. “I really needed it.”
Wylde held on. He wanted to run his hands up and down Jacob’s hard body but he reminded himself to be cool. He needed to let Jacob run the show and keep it at a pace he was comfortable with. Wylde’s judgment couldn’t be relied upon when he was so madly attracted to the man. Instead, he placed a delicate kiss behind Jacob’s ear and pulled away. “I had a lot of fun too, Jacob.” Wylde pulled his card out of his messenger bag and softly slid it inside the breast pocket of Jacob’s suit jacket. He licked his lips as he got a very similar reaction as the other week – minus the sensual moan. Damn, Jacob was so sensitive there. Wylde would remember that. “My cell phone’s on there. Until Friday, counselor.”
Wylde walked away and got in his own warm car. Jacob was still standing there when he drove off. That had to be a good sign. But as he made the short commute to his own apartment in the Towers on Franklin, he said a silent prayer.
Please don’t let us hurt each other.
“You’re not used to snow? You’re from up in the mountains.”
“Jesus. Just answer the damn question, lawyer.” Wylde elbowed him.
Jacob smirked at him. “We usually get some. I’m pretty sure we will this week. Forecast is calling for four to five inches.”
“Oh, man. I hope it’s not here on Friday. I’m going to Mr. Drummond’s greenhouse that day,” he said as they turned the corner.
“I hope you find what you need there. He loves giving away those flowers. He has them delivered to hospitals, funeral homes, people’s doorsteps, you name it.” Jacob’s voice had gone quiet in the dark lot as they made their way to their cars.
“You’re going to make me the most popular wedding planner in Richmond if I can get free flowers.” Wylde started his car with his key fob, Jacob doing the same, but they still hadn’t parted ways.
“That sounds good. I should be back early.” Wylde started to move in closer, wanting every last second of Jacob he could get, and of course, some of his body heat.
“If you’re back before five, why don’t we drive around a bit, and I’ll show you some of Richmond. That is, of course, if you haven’t found a guide already.” Jacob’s scowl was dropping into place and it made the hairs on Wylde’s arms stand up… and his d**k.
They were toe-to-toe, Jacob leaning a little on his driver side door. Wylde slowly eased his arm inside Jacob’s heavy coat, grazing the fabric of his suit jacket, letting it rest there on his hip. Wylde leaned in so their chests were pressed together. He didn’t have to look down at Jacob’s face and he liked that. “No, Jacob. No other guides. None.”
Jacob appeared to accept that answer. His jaw unclenched and Wylde felt a heavy palm on his back as Jacob pulled him even closer. He thought Jacob was leaning in for a kiss but instead, he grazed the side of his jaw and rested his face in Wylde’s neck. “Thank you for tonight,” he whispered roughly. “I really needed it.”
Wylde held on. He wanted to run his hands up and down Jacob’s hard body but he reminded himself to be cool. He needed to let Jacob run the show and keep it at a pace he was comfortable with. Wylde’s judgment couldn’t be relied upon when he was so madly attracted to the man. Instead, he placed a delicate kiss behind Jacob’s ear and pulled away. “I had a lot of fun too, Jacob.” Wylde pulled his card out of his messenger bag and softly slid it inside the breast pocket of Jacob’s suit jacket. He licked his lips as he got a very similar reaction as the other week – minus the sensual moan. Damn, Jacob was so sensitive there. Wylde would remember that. “My cell phone’s on there. Until Friday, counselor.”
Wylde walked away and got in his own warm car. Jacob was still standing there when he drove off. That had to be a good sign. But as he made the short commute to his own apartment in the Towers on Franklin, he said a silent prayer.
Please don’t let us hurt each other.
A.E. Via has been a best-selling author in the beautiful gay romance genre for six years now, but she’s no stranger to MM. She’s been an avid reader of gay lit for over fifteen years before she picked up her laptop to place her own kiss on this genre. She’s also the founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books, having published a couple great new up and coming MM authors.
A.E. has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Virginia Wesleyan College that she used to start her own paralegal firm after she graduated in 2008. She spent five years preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions for struggling blue collar workers who couldn’t afford to file with a lawyer. It was a rewarding and satisfying career… but another path called to her.
Writing.
A.E.’s novels embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
She’s recently celebrated her 20th book anniversary, and is kind of known now for her hardcore, play rough and love hard, bad boy, alphas. However, she does like to push herself to step out of her comfort zone, exploring different tropes, but she won’t push herself into a whole other genre. She’s head over heels for gay romance and she has tons of more hot stories to tell.
Be sure to visit Adrienne on her social media pages and subscribe to her newsletter to never miss another release date! Go to A.E. Via’s official website for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peek at upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next.
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