Book Title: Dusty’s Snack Shack (Book One of the Short Orders Gay Romance Series)
Author: Dann Hazel
Publisher: The Original Press, LLC
Cover Artist: Joshua Fippen
Release Date: March 25, 2025
Tense/POV: Past Tense; 3rd person
Genres: Gay MM Romance
Tropes: Second Chance, Friends to Lovers, Vacation Encounters
Themes: Long-Distance Romance; Importance of Community; Romance Across Social Classes
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 60 500 words/215 pages
It is part one of a new series, but can be read as a standalone
It does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
At Dusty’s Snack Shack, desserts range from gooey to chewy.
But Ken finds the treats at Dusty’s shop aren’t necessarily as sweet as one tantalizing owner!
Blurb
Sand, sun, and a steamy summer fling.
That’s all Dusty and Ken expected from their chance encounter at Myrtle Beach, when Ken purchases ice cream from Dusty’s Snack Shack.
But as their bodies entwine, so do their hearts, leading them on a journey of unexpected emotions.
With the bustling beach as their backdrop, and a sweet Saint Bernard that adores both men, they explore the depths of their passion and the pitfalls of falling in love.
Then, as the summer winds down, their romance takes a precarious turn, threatening to tear them apart.
Will their love withstand the crashing waves, or will it be washed away by the tide?
If you enjoyed the passionate romance and twists and turns of Nicholas Sparks’ “The Notebook,” you’ll love this beachside love story with a gay twist.
Why wait? Grab your copy now before the tide changes!
They traveled to the resort in Ken’s car. A guard greeted them at the entrance to the parking garage. “Both of you were guests here during the fire?” he asked.
Ken shook his head. “Just me.” He nodded toward Dusty. “Dusty is a friend of mine. I was hoping it would be okay for him to help me retrieve my luggage.”
“No, that’s not possible.” The guard’s voice was gruff and perfunctory, as though anticipating a showdown. “The only people who can enter the facility are official registered guests of the hotel.”
Ken opened his mouth to protest. Dusty stopped him with a firm hand on his forearm. “It’s okay, Ken. I’ll wait for you here.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
The guard, whose demeanor softened once he realized the men would give him no static, pressed a button to raise the security arm. “You’re one of the first to arrive, so it shouldn’t take long.”
Ken parked on the second level, which directly accessed the mezzanine level of the resort. “I’ll be right back.”
Dusty waited only fifteen minutes. He saw Ken as he rolled two bulging suitcases toward the car. “I had to pack a few things that my friends left behind, too. Though I thought then she was being ridiculous, Vivian was the only one with the foresight to grab her shit as we were evacuating.” Ken chuckled. “That checks, I guess. She’s a teacher with far better organizational skills than the rest of us.” Ken started the car. The sound of the engine reverberated against the walls of the concrete structure. “The rest of us thought we’d discover the whole damn thing was a false alarm. We expected to be directed back to our rooms right away.”
By the time the men returned to Dusty’s beach house, the sun was setting. Benji, whining and pacing fretfully, had grown restless. His dinner time had already passed, and he was pissed and powerless. Dusty prepared his food while Ken placed his luggage in the bedroom.
As Dusty attended to Benji’s needs, he thought how much easier things would have been had he and Ken never met. Or, in meeting, they might have put up their defenses, and regarded one another as one more casual, meaningless fuck. A lascivious memory of a night of pleasure. Nothing more. No glimpses into personality. No sharing of dreams. No divining of how to resolve personal challenges. Advice neither given nor taken. Everything would have been fine. The pain the men were feeling now would never have occurred.
Benji finished his meal and lapped up most of his water. Together, Ken and Dusty escorted the dog into the backyard. Dusty moved to the sidelines as Ken and Benji frolicked like playmates. Dusty was amazed—and pleased—by the obvious affection between them, and saddened that they could never enjoy—well, whatever might have resulted had Ken stayed.
Benji let the men know that he was thirsty after their play break. Benji enjoyed his refreshment, then pranced into the living room. Ken and Dusty had just activated the TV. He jumped onto the sofa beside Ken while they watched mindless sitcoms.
An hour passed. Dusty was startled by the musical notification of a phone call. He recognized Gwen’s tone.
He grabbed his Smartphone from the coffee table.
“Gwen?”
“Just wanted to give you a heads-up, my friend.” Gwen sounded breathlessly alarmed. “A squad car just pulled into your driveway. Two police officers are getting out now.”
“What the fuck!” Dusty was both incredulous and annoyed. Why couldn’t he and Ken enjoy their evening in peace?
When Dusty hung up, Ken regarded him quizzically. “What’s going on?”
But there was no chance of a reply. Three loud, urgent knocks resounded against the front door.
“Christ, I have a doorbell,” Dusty muttered in annoyance.
Still, he rushed to answer the door even as Benji barked a warning, then quickly disappeared.
When Dusty opened the door, two officers, one male and one female, were standing on his porch.
“Are you Mr. Crofton?” The female officer was smiling, but Dusty understood the serious nature of her presence.
“I am Dusty Crofton.”
The male officer butted in. “Are you the owner of Dusty’s Snack Shack on the Boardwalk?”
Dusty gulped. Deep in his gut, he experienced a feeling of deflation and despondence. “Yes, I am the owner of that business. Is something wrong, Officers?”
As a Florida-based author of both fiction and nonfiction, Dann worked as an educator on both the secondary and post-secondary levels. But since high school, when he served as a reporter for the school newspaper, he’s always had a passion for both reading and writing. Dann lives in Lake Wales, FL, with his husband, Josh (also a writer) and their adorable Eskie (American Eskimo), Flurry. She’s definitely part of the family, with boundless energy and appetite! Dann is passionate about scenic walks and jogs around a local lake, enjoying Walt Disney World, staying healthy, reading, streaming movies and provocative TV series (especially those based on novels!) and current events. His pronouns are he/him/his.
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