Throwback Thursday

I've just gotten the rights back for this one and put it up - but it's from a while ago so I think it makes a good Throwback Thursday post. It was interesting writing a character who didn't really want kids and who wasn't sure they were going to keep seeing this guy they really liked because he was about to be a father... I got them to their HEA though!

Below are the purchase links - this one is currenly on Amazon and KU - once it's finished its initial run on KU, it'll be available wider.

There's an excerpt below! Look for a smutty excerpt for it on Saturday

Free-spirited computer programmer Kent McMann loves life, candy, his family, and his job designing apps. With his go-getter attitude, he succeeds at anything he tackles. So having a child with a surrogate mother is the perfect start to the family he’s always wanted, even though he still hasn’t found his longed-for Mr. Right.

Then, into Kent’s life comes triathlete Dex Lochland, who also happens to be a successful app designer, and the two of them hit it off. They soon begin a relationship full of fun, sex, laughter, and love. But when Kent learns his attempt at fatherhood with the surrogate has succeeded, Dex is shocked. Unknown to Kent until that moment, Dex has never wanted children.

Kent’s decision before he met Dex might cost him the man of his dreams.

Originally released by a different publisher.

Available at Amazon/KU.


Excerpt:

Dex Lochland stepped off the elevator and tried not to sigh. The rooftop of the Tech for Life building was jumping with partygoers, the atmosphere cheery. It was a celebration, after all.  

Whatever new piece of tech or new program they were launching was sure to make the company a mint. TFL was the number-one fitness accessory and app producer in the country, and it showed in the party. Everyone was elegant and the food was decadent, despite the fact that neither of those really had much to do with fitness.

Why was he here again?

Oh right, Julie had accused him of being too inside of his own head and of having no life outside of the Ironman triathlons he ran. The barb had hit just a little too close to home, and with his thirtieth birthday looming, he’d heeded her advice that he “get himself out there.”

The problem was, parties like this one tended to bore him. He hadn’t even come to his own launch parties, aside from the first one where he’d discovered he didn’t talk tech, he didn’t do well at random small talk, and he wasn’t interested in rubbing elbows with celebrities.

“Just find one person and talk to them. Then you can go home.” Julie’s instructions rang in his head when he would have turned around and taken the elevator back down to the lobby, so he straightened the tie that threatened to choke him and that Julie had insisted was proper attire—it was a fitness-app release for Pete’s sake, wouldn’t running or yoga gear have been more appropriate?—and waded into the throng.

He passed on the waiter with the tray full of champagne flutes and grabbed a bottle of Evian from a side table so they wouldn’t keep trying to offer him a drink.

He didn’t know anyone here aside from Douglas Manning, the VP of development who was his own liaison here at the company, but he didn’t really want to make Douglas his one person. Besides, he was pretty sure Julie had meant someone new. She’d probably even meant someone who was potentially a date, but he was going to count it as done whether he talked to a woman or a man.

Sipping at his water, he was drawn to the fountain surrounded by greenery at the far left of the rooftop.

“I brought Hula-Hoops for everyone!” The words rang out, a wild-haired guy bouncing and smiling wide. It was like watching a cartoon, seriously. A crazy, bright, loud cartoon.

“Kent!” The cry sounded from almost everyone.

Dude. Kent McMann, crazy genius and mad developer. That was who this launch party was for. Something to do with the damn Hula-Hoops, but the guy had all sorts of apps and add-ons for your phone, your tablet. In like every field. The man didn’t let categories hold him in.

Dex found himself caught as he watched the guy passing out Hula-Hoops in every color imaginable. Kent smiled at everyone, spoke and touched and chatted for a second. The man had the make-nice thing down; Dex was impressed. He could make a pretty good go of it when he really tried, but he had a harder time pretending this kind of thing didn’t bore the hell out of him. At least today’s craziness was outside.

“Ironman!” McMann got to him. “Great to meet you in person. Love the app. The logo tickles me.”

Now Dex was even more impressed. Not to mention Kent was adorable as hell with the crazy blond hair and the freckles across his nose. “Thanks, man. Congratulations to you! It’s your big day.”

“Thank you! I’m totally stoked. Want a Hula-Hoop?” Okay, this man was adorable.

“I can’t remember the last time I hula-hooped.” If he ever had. Still, he found himself holding out his hand, pleased when a rainbow one was handed over.

“I hope you make good use of it.”

“I don’t know, I might need lessons.” Was he flirting with Kent?

“I know a fabulous teacher.” Whether or not Dex was flirting, Kent was totally flirting back.

“You’ll have to give me his number,” Dex suggested.

“Give me your phone. Better yet, meet me at the elevator in fifteen minutes.”

Dex could totally handle fifteen more minutes. Especially if more time with Kent was his reward. “I’ll be there. Hula-Hoop and all.”

“Rock on, Ironman.”

“Keep on hooping.” He gave Kent a wink, then watched the man go. Broad shoulders moved down into a tiny little waist and a sweet, sweet ass.

Damn. This event was looking up.

Sean

smut fixes everything