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- Herausgeber: Dreamspinner Press
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
After a one night whirlwind romance, Braylon returns to Toronto on the first of December every year in the hopes of seeing the man of his dreams again. Instead Braylon meets a strange man who tells him Christmas is a magical time, and one never knows what unexpected gifts he'll receive. Braylon takes a chance and makes a Christmas wish, but instead of getting what he wants, he contracts an infection, leaving him dependent on dialysis and unable to make the journey the following year. But the stranger just might be right; an unexpected gift may be the miracle Braylon needs most of all. A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Advent Calendar package "Celebrate!".
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Seitenzahl: 36
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014
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Chapter One
DARKCLOUDS blew across a full moon, and a deep chill permeated the air from a northern December wind. Dressed in a new heavy coat, gloves, scarf, and toque that he had bought for his first trip to Toronto, Braylon Tanner really didn’t feel the cold. The excitement and anticipation raced through him, keeping him warm as he waited—waited and hoped. It had been a night much like this five years earlier that he’d met him in this same spot.
The man of his dreams.
At twenty-one and a senior in college, Braylon was on the first vacation he’d ever taken alone. Responsible to a fault, he’d never been one to take risks. Nor was grace one of his greatest qualities; he of the two left feet. So he had no idea what had gotten into him that night. Perhaps it was the festive season, the fact he was on vacation, or maybe it was simply the arctic temperatures had frozen his brain cells. But even though he’d only been ice skating a few times, he was feeling adventurous, and maybe a little cocky. Okay, it was pure stupidity to think he could start skating backward midstride. He soon discovered the ice was totally unforgiving when a skull smacked against it, yet it was one knock on the noggin he would never regret. As he sat there a little dazed, ice soaking into the ass of his jeans, a helping hand reached down—a hand attached to a strong body and belonging to the best-looking man he’d ever seen.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, although my pride may never recover.” Braylon took the offered hand and winced as a jolt of pain stabbed him in the ass. He rubbed at his abused cheeks with his free hand. “My ass may not either.”
“That would be a pity,” the sexy stranger responded with a wink.
Braylon started to let go of the man’s hand once he was on his feet, but apparently he was still a bit rattled from the hard fall. His feet nearly went out from under him, and he ended up in the stranger’s arms.
“Whoa there, I got ya,” he said and held Braylon tight to his body—and oh what a body it was.
Braylon’s first impression had been right. The man’s chest was thick with muscle, and his powerful arms assured Braylon wasn’t going to be ass-planting again. His face was close to the sexy stranger’s neck, and Braylon inhaled deeply. Jesus, even his scent was sexy. Braylon would have been happy to stay right there where he was, but with the small kids skating by, he figured it wouldn’t be appropriate, especially with the thoughts popping into his head.
“Thanks,” Braylon muttered as he reluctantly pulled away and thankfully stayed upright.
“My pleasure. You’re not from around here, are ya?”
“What? My skating skills give me away?”
“That and the southern twang to your voice. I’m Ross, by the way,” he said and held out his hand again, this time in greeting.
“Braylon,” he said as he shook the offered hand. “And nope, not from around these parts. Georgia.”
“Long way from home.”
“Uh-huh.” Braylon narrowed his eyes at a young boy who went whizzing by, giggling and nearly knocking him over. It wasn’t the first time the little shit had skated too close, taunting him. But Braylon doubted the kid noticed nor cared about the daggers Braylon was shooting at him through his eyes. More than likely, he was picking up speed and preparing for his next attack. “I think I better get out of the line of fire and move to the slow lane.”
“Want some company?” Ross asked.
“I’d love some as long as you don’t mind if I have to grab on to you. If you hadn’t already figured it out, my skating skills are a bit lacking.”
To Braylon’s surprise and complete excitement, Ross bent his arm and offered it to him. “Shall we?”
“We shall.” He sniffed haughtily and laced his arm in Ross’s.
“Do you have family here in Toronto?”
“No,” Braylon responded with a shake of his head. “It’s been a tough year with family issues and school, and I just needed to get away. I’d never been to Canada or played in the snow, so I thought what the hell, Toronto sounded as good a place as any.”
After an hour of skating—well, Ross skated, Braylon shuffled—
