Book #3 in the Buchanan House series–the full length novel Tiny House is ready to read. I love Nathan & Paulie and i hope you will too!
I’m hanging out on the Dreamspinner Blog today, chatting about Tiny House and giving away a free download of the audiobook version of Buchanan House! If you’d like to get to know Paulie a little better through music, you might enjoy the post. But beware, i’m asking for your guilty musical pleasure!
Blurb:
Pride weekend is over, but for Nathan Lucas, the summer is just heating up. He appears to have it all. He’s tall and blond, ripped and handsome, and half owner of Buchanan House, a successful gay retreat on Oregon’s beautiful central coast. But his joie de vivre hides a fear of abandonment. When he was twelve his mother had triplets, and instead of the cherished only child, Nathan became a scapegoat for his exhausted parents, and he has never truly dealt with that pain.
Portland chef Paulie Nesbitt is head over heels in love with Nathan. They’ve been drinking buddies with benefits for years, while Paulie has not-so-secretly yearned for more. Paulie’s extra pounds and self-doubt have kept him from acting on his feelings. Their friends know they would make the perfect couple, but Nathan and Paulie will have to let go of past insecurities if they want a future together.
Excerpt:
Nathan pulled himself up by his pink feather boa when the first guests arrived on Thursday. Sometime during the weekend, he’d honestly started feeling normal again. Normal for Nathan Lucas, anyway. Sure, he missed Felipe and Andres, but it was fun working with Alex and Derek, and having Paulie around… well, that was more than fun. Paulie’s steady presence was a balm to Nathan’s soul. It didn’t hurt that he was as skilled and talented a chef as Eric, and as quick with a smile or a hug. Nathan could see Buchanan House getting by just fine with the five of them and Tim.
Still, it was relief, after the bustle of Pride and the stress following, that no big activities had been planned. The guests all slept late, indulged in the decadent food, and enjoyed the garden and the beach. The new workout gazebo was a big hit. Sunday, when the guests checked out, every one left with smiles and promises to return for another perfectly relaxing getaway.
Nathan said good-bye to the last guest and went looking for Paulie. He wasn’t in the kitchen, and Eric, Alex, and Derek seemed deep in conversation. They didn’t notice him, so Nathan backed out quietly and kept looking.
He ran into Paulie coming down the stairs, carrying the bag he’d brought with him on Monday. “Paulie. Are you leaving?”
Paulie reached the bottom and put his bag down. “I have to go back to work tomorrow.”
Nathan felt a jolt of panic that stole his voice for a few seconds. Rationally he knew Paulie would have to return to Portland, but that didn’t mean Nathan wanted to let him go. “You don’t have to. I mean, we can pay you. I should’ve already offered to pay you. You’ve done so much—too much….” Nathan clamped his mouth shut before he could embarrass them both any more. Paulie was assistant to the head chef of a five-star Portland restaurant. Why would he want to stay at Buchanan House, practically in the middle of nowhere? “At least I was hoping to take you out for thank-you drinks before you went back.”
Paulie almost looked like he wanted to be convinced.
“What time do you have to be in tomorrow? We can make it an early night if….” With every word Nathan spoke, Paulie seemed more and more uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry. I really shouldn’t. We could end up….” The soft blush creeping up Paulie’s neck and across his face said he was thinking they could end up hooking up.
Nathan reached out and squeezed Paulie’s shoulder. “I suppose we could. It would be fun.”
Paulie sighed, and panic cut through Nathan again. “I can’t. I should’ve said something sooner.”
“No. It’s okay. If you’re not up to going out, I’ll make you a drink and we can relax on the beach or….” Nathan’s voice failed as Paulie shook his head.
“I can’t because I promised I’d be home tonight.”
“Promised who?” A familiar ache flared in Nathan’s chest—the same ache that bloomed whenever he watched Eric and Tim being adorably in love.
“I’m seeing someone.”
“Oh.” After a few seconds, Nathan remembered he should be happy for Paulie. “Oh. Congratulations. Who’s the lucky guy? Anyone I know?”
“No. He started at the restaurant about six months ago. Before that he lived in Idaho.”
“Oh.” Nathan couldn’t stop saying oh, and felt like an idiot. “Oh.”
They stood at the base of the stairs for a few moments, and then Paulie sighed and picked up his bag. “Take care, Nathan.”
“Oh. Yes. You too. Drive carefully, Paulie.”
Nathan watched, helpless, as Paulie left without a backward glance or even a good-bye hug. He stood in the center of the lobby and stared at the closed door. He heard the thunk of Paulie’s car door and then the engine and the crunch of tires on gravel.
Buy Tiny House:
Dreamspinner Press (ebook): http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7494
Dreamspinner Press (paperback):http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7495
All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tinyhouse-2020750-149.html
Charley Descoteaux 