Camera Shy: MM contemporary rom com by E.J. Russell

Author:E.J. Russell [Russell, E.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Reality Optional Press
Published: 2022-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

Ari’s calendar fucking lied. It claimed he’d only been on the road for two weeks, but he could swear it had been two decades, minimum. When the car service pulled up in front of his house, Ari could barely summon the energy to climb out the door. Someone was waiting on the porch steps. In the glare of the westering sun, Ari couldn’t make out any features, but there was only one person it could be.

Dustin. Waiting to welcome him home.

They’d texted and video chatted every day while Ari was gone, but other than checking on Ari’s relative comfort and updating him on the charity-of-the-day, their conversations had been frustratingly short and task-oriented. Since they’d be in the same house now, with more leisure for conversation and relaxation, that was about to change. Because one thing Ari had noticed: Behind Dustin’s new haircut, updated wardrobe, and the eyeliner—totally hot—that Ari gave Kristen credit for lurked stress and fatigue.

This time, we’re having dinner together, damn it, and he’s drinking at least half a bottle of Tall Poppy.

Ari had a smile ready, but when the back-lit figure approached, it resolved into someone vaguely familiar, but decidedly not Dustin. The guy opened the car door and gestured for Ari to step out.

“Welcome home, Mr. Dimitriou,” he said. Oh, right. Connor. The show’s production assistant. “I hope your flight was pleasant.”

“Which one?” Ari grumbled, tired, irritable, and… and something that he couldn’t immediately identify. To be fair, he couldn’t blame Connor for his mood. Despite his past work as an investigative reporter—or perhaps because of it—Ari had morphed into a total homebody. Given the option, he’d choose a staycation over a week in Paris or Maui or Cancun. He couldn’t help it. His house was his favorite place in the world.

He refused to believe that the house was less important than who waited for him inside, because that would be pathetic.

Grabbing his laptop bag, he left Connor to deal with collecting the luggage and tipping the driver, since that’s what PAs were supposed to do, and headed for the front door as though being pulled into his home’s gravity well.

Once inside, he heaved a sigh of relief, drawing in the scents of vanilla and tangerine from the candles Dustin always stocked for him, letting the light from the windows, the sun on the ocean, the sough of waves, wash over him, waiting for that calm contentment that always hit him as soon as he walked through his front door.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. What the actual fuck? Where was the fucking calm contentment, damn it?

Connor cleared his throat from the doorway. “Excuse me, Mr. Dimitriou? If you could step aside, I’ll bring your luggage in.” When Ari glanced over his shoulder with a frown, Connor gabbled, “Of course, if you’d rather stand there, I don’t mind. I can wait. Here. Until you’re ready.”

This time, Ari’s sigh was resigned as he moved out of the way. “Go ahead. Everything in the bags needs to be cleaned or laundered, so there’s no need for you to unpack now.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.