Available Dreamspinners Press
Twitter: @WriterShira
Blurb:
Are you a fan of the Blue Notes series? Would you like to know
where the couples from the first four books are now? This is your chance to catch
up! Aiden and Sam are finally getting married. But when Cary and Antonio’s baby
daughter makes her appearance a bit earlier than planned, the big reception is
put on hold. David Somers normally conducts orchestras, but this time he
devotes his energy to “conducting” his friends so that everyone can join him at
his Milan villa for a reunion at an intimate Thanksgiving dinner.
Sam and Aiden, Jules and
Jason, David and Alex, and Cary and Antonio are soon assembled, and each couple
shares something they are thankful for. Played out in four movements, this
symphony is a celebration of friendship and love, orchestrated by David.
Excerpt:
DAVID TAPPED his cellphone, shoved it in his pocket, and rubbed the bridge
of his nose.
“Something ruffle the maestro?”
Alex grinned up at him from the couch, his bare feet tucked underneath
him, a pile of staff paper scattered about the floor and coffee table. He’d printed
out a score for a new composition and managed
to knock it off the printer tray. Of course,
all the page numbers at the bottom of the sheets were cut off. Damn thing was at least
thirty pages and
would be a nightmare to
organize.
“Nothing that can’t be managed.
Unlike your score.” David raised an eyebrow
and Alex saw the ghost of a grin on David’s face.
“You could just reprint it, you know.”
“What? And waste paper?”
“You’re stubborn,”
David said as he picked up several of the pages
and
set them on the coffee table before joining Alex on the couch. When Alex said nothing,
David leaned over and feathered several kisses over Alex’s
neck. “Delightfully so, of course. But stubborn nonetheless.”
Alex sighed contentedly and pushed the rest of the music onto the floor. Fine.
He’d reprint the
damn thing. Later. “Who was on the phone?”
“Aiden.” David spoke the name with his lips so close to Alex’s ear that Alex nearly gasped.
David’s voice just did that to Alex—that
sexy baritone seemed to resonate
through every part of his body. Alex was pretty
sure David knew what it did to him too.
“Aiden? I thought he and
Sam were in Australia.”
David
pulled away and offered Alex a sardonic eyebrow. “Austria.”
“Oh, come on!” Alex laughed. “You know I can hardly keep track of my own schedule. Now you expect
me to keep up with his?”
“Not
even the correct continent.”
David went back to kissing
him. “What was he calling
about?” Anything to keep David focused on
his neck.
“The party
in Connecticut is off. They’re
also postponing the civil
ceremony in New York for now.”
Alex shot up off the couch. “What?
But we’ve been planning the reception
for six months now! It’s only two weeks away. What the hell happened? Are they okay? I mean…. Shit. You know what I
mean.”
David smiled—a strange
expression for someone who’d just learned
that he’d wasted four months arranging the party to celebrate Aiden and
Sam’s wedding. Caterers, musicians, guests, and a dozen
different schedules to coordinate.
“Okay.
Fess up. Why are you smiling?”
“Aiden and Sam are fine. They’re just postponing it.” David appeared
entirely calm. Too calm. Happy, even?
“Postponing? They’ve been
doing that for two years now.”
“Three.”
“Fine. Three
years. So why are you happy about
it?” Alex pressed.
Of course, David was yanking his chain, but he liked that. Anyone who thought David Somers didn’t have a sense of humor simply didn’t know him.
“I’m happy,”
David said as his eyes brightened, “because there’s a good reason
for it. In fact, there’s
a wonderful reason for it.”
Alex
laughed. “What reason would that
be?”
“Who might be
the more appropriate way of say—”
“David,”
Alex warned.
“Graziella Michaela
Redding.” “Graziella? You mean….”
“Mother and child doing
quite well, I’m told.”
David grinned outright
this time.
“Cary
and Antonio’s baby?”
“Born last night. Almost five pounds. Three
weeks early but doing well.” David stood up and wrapped his arms around Alex’s waist. “A good reason
to postpone a wedding, don’t you
think?”
“The best.” Alex kissed David. “Should
we plan a visit in a few weeks?”
“A few weeks?” David’s sly grin made Alex chuckle.
“Just because we can’t have the party to celebrate doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage
of the opening in everyone’s
schedules.”
“What did you have in
mind?”
“Thanksgiving in Milan. It’s been years since we’ve been able to get everyone together.”
“The villa?” David’s Italian villa was certainly large enough. “But—”
“Is that a problem
for you? Last I looked at your schedule, your next
performance is in Buenos Aires in three weeks.”
David nipped at Alex's earlobe.
“No… it’s not… ah…. Shit, David, I can’t think straight
when you do that!” Alex shivered
and closed his eyes. “And no. No problem for me. But didn’t you give the staff at the
villa the entire month off?”
Alex knew David had completely forgotten about that particular detail. He frowned, then said blithely,
“We’ll just have to do it ourselves. Jules and I can handle
the cooking. You and Jason can get the placed opened
up. Rachel can help you with the
rooms.”
“You’re
serious about this?”
“Am I ever not?” David pulled at Alex’s earlobe with his teeth. “I’ll call the travel
agent and look into rebooking all the air travel.”
“Travel agent?”
Another kiss, a nip, and then: “The travel agent. Too complicated to handle that much rebooking
online and you needn’t
trouble yourself with that. Just call Jules and Jason and let them know we’ll meet them in Milan on
Saturday. I’ll text them the flight
information as soon as I have it.”
“Ah…. Okay. Sure. Jules and Jason.”
Alex could handle that. He’d been meaning to call Jules to see how the Blue Notes album was coming along anyhow. He’d joined Jules and the other members of the trio on several of the tracks when he’d been in Paris
three weeks before.
“Good.” David brushed his lips against Alex’s. “And one more thing.”
“Hmm?”
Focus,
Bishop, focus!
“This.” David pushed Alex onto the couch
and began to unbutton his shirt.
“First things first. Always.”
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