Gay Romance Novella
Date Published: December 6, 2024
Taking chances is what Alexander lives for – especially when it comes
to love.
Alexander’s a man of uncommonly happy disposition. His luck always
holds true, and he takes chances with cheerful abandon. When he sees a
Christmas Eve wedding running amok and a hot best man in need of help before
Bridezilla goes boom, it’s second nature for him to step in and lend a
hand -- especially with regard to the delectable best man, Noah. He’ll
offer that one anything he needs -- a hand, a mouth, an… ahem.
And why not? The way Alexander sees it, he’s having fun and earning
good karma -- and he might just already be falling in love.
Excerpt
Copyright ©2024 Will Okati
If a man acted as if he belonged in any given place, people usually
didn’t ask questions. Alexander took the steps at an easygoing pace
and casually strolled to the lovely man’s side. “Need a
hand?”
“I could use three, to be honest.” Pretty eased a double stack
of linen napery on a bare table and stretched his arms, pulling each at the
wrists to release the cramped muscles. Alexander could massage those for
him, but… later. “Do I know you?”
Beauty and brains. “Not in the least,” Alexander replied,
twinkling at him. “I was passing by and thought I’d see if Good
Samaritans were still in style.”
Pretty rubbed his arms as he gave Alexander a once-over of bemusement and
perhaps a bit of appreciation. “At least you’re honest. If you
promise not to take off with a box of table favors or hit on one of the
bridesmaids, then be my guest. I’m serious about the bridesmaids. I
love my sister -- the bride -- but if one more thing sends her off the deep
end --”
Alexander laughed. “Don’t worry. About the bride or the
bridesmaids.” He winked. “They aren’t what caught my
eye.”
“Is that a fact?” Pretty’s cheeks turning faintly pink,
and the appearance of a small smile gave him away. “That makes two of
us.”
“You’re honest, too. And beautiful.”
The pink darkened to crimson. “And you’re a flatterer.”
That would have been worrisome if he hadn’t grinned at him and pushed
one-half of the napery Alexander’s way. “If you’re sure
you want to get involved in the madness… then you can be my
guest.”
“You can trust me,” Alexander said, ripe with confidence.
“Watch.” He took the top cloth off the stack and gave it a good
snap, meant to send a long cloth billowing out.
It would have been more impressive if said cloth hadn’t turned out to
be a dinner napkin.
Pretty burst into laughter. “I have to keep you now. I wouldn’t
be able to live with myself if I turned you out to wreak havoc on general
society.” His cheeks remained pink and his blue eyes lambent. He
offered his hand. “Noah McMasters. Call me Noah.”
Alexander took Noah’s hand. A very nice hand it was, too, slim and
smooth but firm. “Alexander.”
A hint of dimples enriched Noah’s smile. “Just
Alexander?”
“I have a surname, but I’ll make you work for that one.”
Alexander winked at Noah -- the name fit him as well as a tailored glove,
small and lovely -- and draped the napkin over his arm. He clicked his heels
together and bowed from the waist. “Right now, I await your command.
Tell me what you want from me and I’m yours.”
Noah ran him over with an assessing gaze, and no, “ran him
over” wasn’t hyperbole. Technically, yes, but the sense of his
taking Alexander’s measure left Alexander feeling as if he’d
been subjected to the tender mercies of a steamroller with amorous
intentions.
Amorous, though, that was good. And clever. That was better.
“What would you have done if I’d told you that I didn’t
need help?”
Alexander gave that the consideration it was due; precisely half a second.
“I’d have tried my luck down a different road that led to the
same place, because if all this has to get laid out before the wedding,
which I’m guesstimating is less than an hour or two away --” he
waited for Noah’s nod --”you need the help. So why not? And if
you want me to hit the road instead, all you have to do is say. I’ll
wish you well and be on my way.”
Noah snorted delicately. “I actually believe you, and that makes you
different from at least seventy-five percent of the guys I’ve
known.”
“Wait.” Alexander dropped his handful of cutlery with a
clatter. “How many of those guys --?”
“One ‘no really means yes, doesn’t it?’ was all it
took,” Noah said. “I push the rest out at arm’s length as
soon as I know what I’m dealing with. I’m pretty and I’m
small, but I learn quickly, I’m sneaky and I’m fast and I
don’t fight by the Marquis of Queensbury rules.” He laughed.
“Look at you. I can tell what’s going through your head right
now, you know. Where do I find them and how do I hurt them?”
“If you’d ever let me finish a sentence, I might confirm
that.”
“I find preempting the obvious saves time and I take it as a personal
challenge.”
Noah hefted the crate that looked far too heavy for him onto his hip and
nodded toward the tables. “I’ll say leave the linens alone, but
if you’re determined to lend a hand, then get lending. Follow behind
me and lay out the candles and other claptrap. Deal?”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“Sir. I could get used to that. Come on, this way. We’ll start
at the end and work our way up. I like to take my time and do it
right.”
“No sense in not bringing your A-game if the situation calls for
it.”
Noah chuckled. “You’re adorable when you try to flirt.”
He separated the napkins from the tablecloths and handed Alexander half.
“Are you coming?”
Yes, and probably very soon.
About the Author
Willa Okati (AKA Will) is made of many things: imagination, coffee, stray
cat hairs, daydreams, more coffee, kitchen experimentation, a passion for
winter weather, a little more coffee, a whole lot of flowering plants and a
lifelong love of storytelling. Will's definitely one of the quiet ones you
have to watch out for, though he -- not she anymore -- is a lot less quiet
these days.
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@changelingpress
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