LEANING INTO THE LOOK
LEANING INTO STORIES BOOK 6
LANE HAYES
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 03.23.18
COVER ARTIST: REESE DANTE
BLURB
Grant Kostas made a career based on his looks before joining his family’s real estate firm. He may not love his job but he’s better at sales than he thought. And when he’s poised to bring in the biggest account of the company’s history, even his father is impressed. Unfortunately, the extra attention highlights Grant’s personal life. His parents accept that he’s gay. They just wish he’d meet a nice Greek man.
Miles Harrison is a fabulous red head going through a rough patch. Between getting dumped by his long-term boyfriend and finding a new place to live in the city, he’s nearing his wits end. He’s not sure why he thought rooming with his boss’s friend was a good idea. Miles has had a crush on Grant for years. However, he knows attractive people aren’t always pretty on the inside. As the two men grapple with external problems, they form an unexpected bond of friendship and trust that feels like the real thing. The only way to know for certain is to let go of fear and lean into the look.
“Hi. Um…want some coffee?” I asked as I made a beeline for the coffee machine.
I pulled out two mugs and held them out awkwardly like he might want to approve the cup I poured the damn coffee into. When he nodded, I set them both on the counter then turned to make a cup of java I certainly didn’t need. I wasn’t ready to talk. I needed a few minutes to get used to the idea of Miles being in my space. I heard him hum softly but he didn’t speak, and as the seconds ticked by, the quiet became comforting. I pushed a mug across the island toward him and started to head to the nearest barstool when he raised his hand.
“Do you have cream and sugar?”
“No cream but I’m sure my mom left sugar here somewhere.” I glanced at the wall of white cabinetry and played a quick guessing game. I opened and closed three doors before finally finding what I was looking for. “Ah-ha! Here you go.”
Miles gave me a funny look when I pushed a five-pound bag of sugar at him with a spoon. “Really? Don’t you have a sugar bowl?”
“I’m sure I do somewhere, but my mother rearranges my kitchen every time she visits, and it’s never exactly like the time before.”
“That would drive me nuts,” he commented as he unfurled the edged of the bag then scooped sugar into his coffee cup.
“It does at first, but within a couple of days, I’m too stressed out about other things to worry about where my mother hid the utensils,” I huffed with a laugh.
“What kinds of things?”
I focused on his long fingers and the elegant bend of his wrist. He had an aristocratic air about him sometimes that fascinated me. I’d caught on that he turned it on and off at will, which was usually a sign of a coping mechanism of sorts. See? All my years in therapy came in handy. I was a pro at dissecting everyone else’s issues. My own were still a mystery. Actually, that wasn’t true. I could identify my problems easily. Dealing with them was another story.
“Family things,” I said in a dull tone before gesturing toward the great room. “Let’s move over there. I feel like stretching my legs.”
Miles followed me into the adjacent space and sat on a corner of the black leather sofa. I flopped into the opposite corner and watched him. He sipped his coffee then stared at the geometric shapes of the area rug before turning to me with an intense expression.
“What now?”
“Um…well, we can hit one or two more places on my list. If you have time, of course,” I suggested, leaning forward to set my mug on the coffee table.
“That’s not what I meant.”
I didn’t think so. I pursed my lips thoughtfully then hiked my knee on the sofa as I shifted to fully face him. He’d changed back into his clothes but left his shoes and socks off. Dammit, even his feet were sexy. I didn’t think that was possible. I tried to smile but my mouth wouldn’t cooperate, so I cleared my throat instead and made a valiant effort to maintain eye contact before I spoke.
“I don’t know what happens next.” I lowered my gaze and focused on his hands again before continuing.
“Me either.” He cradled his mug thoughtfully then took a sip and set it on the table with more force than necessary. “Are we going to pretend it didn’t happen?”
“No.” I grabbed his wrist when he tried to stand and yanked him back onto the sofa. He fell half onto my lap then scooted sideways. I hooked my arm around his shoulder to keep him close, chuckling at his put-upon scowl. “I can’t do that. I’m not that good of an actor.”
“I’m going to make it easy for you. I’ll take the condo you just showed me and—”
“That place was terrible.”
“Then why did you show it to me?” he asked, jumping to his feet.
I waved my hand dismissively and rolled my eyes. “It’s a sales technique. I was giving you the feature you said mattered at the lowest price in this neighborhood. You wanted closet space, reasonable rent, and a central location.”
“Let me guess…you were going to gradually wow me with better features like neighbors who don’t play their music loudly and leave their crap in the hallways, and carpet and appliances from this century.”
“You want all that and closet space? Geez, you’re a tough customer,” I snarked.
“I am.” Miles agreed with a wink.
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in an almost empty nest.
Website: https://lanehayes.wordpress.com/
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