Hello everyone. Thank you for having me here. I’m T.A. Chase and I’m here to talk about my new re-release from Dreamspinner. Why I Love Waiters is the second book in my Why I Love series. This one features John, Chuck Davidson’s youngest brother, and Heath, a young man John meets at a diner near the base he’s stationed at.
I thought I’d share an excerpt from the book with you. I hope you get a chance to check it out. Thanks again. 🙂
Why I Love Waiters
Copyright March 2017
T.A. Chase
“See, I got beat up two years ago by a guy I thought was interested in me. It took me a year to be willing to even think about dating anyone, so I tend to be a little cautious,” Heath admitted as he twisted the cord in his fingers, not really wanting to think about what Seth had done to him.
“I’d never do anything like that to you or anyone. I fight to protect myself or the people I love. I don’t use my strength to hurt people who’ve done nothing to me.” John sounded sad.
Heath heaved a sigh and sat down on the couch. “I know that, or at least I felt you wouldn’t be the kind of guy who’d do that to me. I just wanted to let you know if it seems like I’m moving slow. Though I guess it probably doesn’t seem like I’m moving slow, does it? I called you and agreed to go to dinner with you.
“Oh, by the way, my grandmother would like you to come for dinner. She wants to check you out for herself. She tends to be a little protective of me ever since the episode where I got beat up.”
“I need to introduce you to my brother’s partner. I really think you two would get along really well. Of course, Chuck and I probably won’t be able to get a word in edgewise,” John teased.
“Wow… you’d introduce me to your family?” Heath couldn’t believe that. No one had ever said he wanted Heath to meet anyone important to him.
“Yes, I would. You might get a chance soon too. Chuck said he and Herb would come down to visit me. Hopefully I stay in-country long enough for them to come.” John sounded weary.
“Are you getting tired of leaving so often? I know your unit’s done at least three tours in the Middle East. That has to be hard on families.” Heath curled up in the corner of his couch, tucking his feet under him.
“I don’t tell my family where I’m going. I usually just let them know I’m not going to be able to call them as often. The only one I tell the truth to is Chuck. He’s a New York police detective, so he doesn’t tend to panic as quickly as my mother would.” John grunted.
“Seriously? A detective? And you’re a soldier? Your family believes in protecting people, doesn’t it?” Heath blinked as he thought about his family. “We just believe in feeding people.”
“I think your grandmother and my mom would get along really well too. Mom likes to feed everyone. All my brothers and sisters get together every Sunday for dinner at my parents’.”
Heath couldn’t imagine what that would be like. John had mentioned he had six siblings. What were their dinner conversations like? Did they all enjoy spending time together, or did they get tired of each other after a while? Heath only had his grandma Mel now. He didn’t have much contact with his own mother.
“Mom gets very insistent about family dinner. Chuck used to get four or five calls a week to make sure he’d even show up. Yeah, my oldest brother tends to be a hermit and avoids as many gatherings as he can. At least he used to. Now that he and Herb are together, Herb makes him go to dinner every week. Drives Chuck crazy, but I’m sure Herb makes it up to him.”
The suggestive tone of John’s voice brought heat to Heath’s cheeks. Why was he blushing when John wasn’t even in the same room with him? He bit his lip. Did he have enough nerve to start something?
A voice spoke in the background, and John said, “Hold on a moment, Heath.”
Shoot. John wasn’t alone or in a spot where he could engage in some phone sex. Heath pouted slightly before he gave himself a mental slap. He shouldn’t be thinking about phone sex when it was the first time they even really talked. From not wanting to rush anything, he’d jumped right into plotting how to get John in bed as quickly as possible. His inner slut wanted to be free to play with John, but Heath didn’t want to come across as easy, so he’d have to play it cool.
“I wish you were here with me. I want to taste your lips.” He hit his forehead with the phone. “Way to play it cool, Heath.”
“Wait. Are you hitting something with the phone?”
“Ow! Yes, that was my head.” Heath rolled his eyes. “Sorry about that.”
“Why be sorry? Just don’t do it again. Never apologize for telling me how you feel.” John’s voice dropped, and Heath trembled. “I want you to be honest with me and tell me what you want or feel. I can’t read your mind, though if I could, I bet it’d be a wild trip.”
“Are you saying I’m crazy?” he joked.
John laughed. “No, sweetheart. Just know that I feel the same. Hey, I have to go. Gotta get up early tomorrow to report for duty. Tell your grandmother I’d be happy to come for dinner. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll figure out what day and time. I know you’re both usually busy at the café.”
Blurb:
A Why I Love…. Novel
As a member of a covert military unit, John Davidson isn’t scared of much. Yet one look into Heath Kane’s dark blue eyes and he knows a different kind of fear for the first time. John can’t be gay, at least not out and proud in his unit, even with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repealed. He’s never been interested enough in any man to risk the fallout.
Heath’s hometown wasn’t the best place for a gay kid to grow up, but his grandmother did her darnedest to make it good for him. Now he’s paying her back for all her love. She’s getting older and needs help, so he returns home to wait tables at the Corner Café while taking online courses to get his degree. Even though the Army base provides him with a lot of buff eye candy, he knows it’s best to keep his head down.
Neither Heath nor John can deny their attraction, and John’s finally willing to act on their mutual interest. But holding on to each other will mean big changes in both their lives.
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T.A. Chase lives in the Midwest with her neurotic but still wonderful senior cat. She believes there is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries? Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates T.A., and writing about the things that make each of us unique is how she shares those insights. When not writing, she’s watching movies and reading. She’s also a part of a line-dancing group that takes over a bar on Tuesday nights and entertains at assisted living homes. It’s all about living life to the fullest.
She loves hearing from fans. But don’t be too upset if she doesn’t get back to you right away. Life has a way of making her lose track of days and hours. Don’t worry, though. You will hear back at some point.