Title: Eyes Only for You
Series: Eyes of Love Series (Book 2)
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Release Date: Oct 2016
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Marcello Bagnini has a history of falling for the wrong men,
and it seems he’s done it again. Working out at the gym with his straight
friend Jerry is becoming harder by the day—in more ways than one. Worse yet,
Jerry isn’t the only one who notices Marcello’s wandering eyes. So instead of
risking his friendship with Jerry and alienating the other guys at the gym,
Marcello keeps his feelings to himself.
Real estate agent Jerry Foland has never explored his
interest in other men, but there’s something different about Marcello, and
Jerry’s starting to think he might like to see where his attraction could lead.
However, Jerry’s controlling father makes it clear that it’s either stay on the
straight and narrow or Jerry can say good-bye to his family.
As much as they try to stay away from each other, their lives
overlap, both at the gym and when Jerry is contracted to sell the home of one
of Marcello’s friends. Friendship grows into more, but Jerry’s father has his
own agenda, and it doesn’t include having a gay son.
“Ronnie always was driven that way,” Jerry agreed. “What do
you do, withhold it?”
Clay chuckled. “I blow his mind, and then he doesn’t have
enough energy to think about a goddamned thing. He says that stops the wheels
in his head from spinning. I know it’s the one way to get him to be quiet and
lie still for a few hours. It’s a challenge, but one I’m usually up for.”
Jerry groaned again, probably from the gay sex talk.
“Sorry, man,” Clay added to Jerry, who shrugged.
“So what’s it like with him? I’d think it would be hard to
deal 24/7.”
“The thing is, it’s all part of who he is. We’re working on
his filter and the things he says. Ronnie is an open-minded person, but you’d
never know by what he says. And most of it is for effect. He needs constant
attention, or thinks he does.”
“I have noticed that he’s less outrageous than he used to
be,” Jerry said. “Especially when it comes to women. How did you do it?” Jerry
asked, settling back, the water rising to just around his pert, flat, suckable
nipples. Marcello closed his eyes to try to cut off his thoughts.
“I used my phone and recorded three days’ worth of what he
said and then played it back for him one night. He didn’t believe me at first,
but hearing it was a shock. I don’t want to change his personality—it’s part of
what I love about him—but the hurtful speech was getting out of control. He
only needed to hear himself, and that pretty much took care of it.” Clay seemed
pleased with himself. “Ronnie is still an amazing man, and I think I love him
even more for trying to change.”
“Are you traveling any time soon?” Jerry asked.
Marcello had just made tentative plans. “I’m going back to
Italy next spring, I hope. My grandparents live outside Venice, and I’m going
back to visit them. This time without my parents.”
“They cramp your style?” Jerry asked with a smirk.
“I try not to let them.” He sighed. “My parents are very
traditional, and they don’t understand the whole gay thing. I told them, and
they acted like they didn’t hear me at all. They never talk about it and don’t
want to know about my life. The last time I visited, they invited some friends
over each night, and they all had daughters who were single and about my age.”
He caught Jerry’s eye.
“My mom has done that. She wants grandchildren and isn’t
above trying to prime the pump, as she says.” Jerry got out of the water and sat
on the edge of the tub to cool off.
Marcello had to control himself so he could look at Jerry
without appearing to stare. “When I wasn’t interested, they got upset with me.
It was pretty bad, and we ended up fighting about it. I tried to explain to them
how I felt, but they didn’t want to listen. My grandmother doesn’t speak much
English, but she understood perfectly. My Italian isn’t great, but I know my
grandmother cares for me no matter what. She even said that if I meet a ‘nice
young man,’ that I’m supposed to bring him to meet her. Sometimes it’s hard to
believe she gave birth to my mother.” Just talking about all that made his
anger rise hard and fast. He hated that his parents wouldn’t face reality or
accept him for who he was. They had even refused to listen to his grandmother,
telling her it was only a phase or some such crap. Marcello sat next to Jerry
on the edge of the hot tub but wasn’t comfortable.
“You know it isn’t your fault that your parents don’t
listen. It happens, but you have to know it isn’t your fault in the least,”
Clay said.
“I know,” Marcello said, then turned to Jerry when he
started speaking.
“Honestly, I think you got off lucky. At least they still
see you. So they’re in denial—there are worse things. My God, one of my cousins
came out to the family that she’s lesbian years ago. She and her partner have a
baby together, and at the last family reunion, my father sat next to her and
asked if she just hadn’t found the right man yet.” Jerry climbed the rest of
the way out of the whirlpool. “I’ll see you guys inside.” He grabbed his towel
and headed off toward the locker room.
Clay shook his head. “Wow. That got really serious.”
Marcello agreed and watched as Jerry left while trying not
to appear like he was looking.
Character Name: Jerry
1 Physically Strong
2 Searching for
belonging
3 Tough exterior
hides a softer core
4 Driven
5 Caring
6 Willing to look below
the surface
Dreamspinner
Press
Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell
stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout
the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a
large corporation.
Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and
leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when
writing) He considers himself blessed
with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive
and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle,
Pennsylvania.
