Will the promising chef with dreams of starting his own restaurant and winery see the dark, quiet lure of his long time crush’s conservative older brother, Dylan Armstrong?
Hi everyone! I’m so excited to introduce you to my new romance, Return of the Chauffeur’s Son, an homage to a famous romantic movie and full of handsome billionaires, gorgeous heroes, great food, fine wine and hot sex. Be sure to enter in the Rafflecopter — and i hope you love my champagne cocktail of a book.
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Return of the Chauffeur’s Son
By Tara Lain
Blurb:
Luca McGrath may be returning to Napa Valley, California, as a promising chef with dreams of starting his own restaurant and winery, but his heart still lives with the bad-boy son of a billionaire, James Armstrong. Luca spent his childhood playing games with the golden boy of California society, so blinded by James he barely noticed the dark, quiet lure of his conservative older brother, Dylan Armstrong.
But now Luca’s home, and his own powers of attraction are enough to make James question his dedicated heterosexuality and his promised marriage to a wealthy and powerful businesswoman. The obvious attraction between Luca and James spurs Dylan into action—but he’s fighting a huge secret. While Luca dreamed of James, Dylan dreamed of Luca. When Luca gets caught in the struggle between the brothers and gets accused of culinary espionage he’s ready to chuck the fairy tale—unable to even imagine Dylan’s power to make his dreams come true.
Excerpts
That soft, deep voice slithered up his spine and filled
his brain with even more fog. He turned and watched Dylan amble toward him
across the grass, dressed in black jeans and a black long-sleeved T-shirt. He moves like a cat. “I’m not sure I’ve
ever seen you in anything but a suit before.”
his brain with even more fog. He turned and watched Dylan amble toward him
across the grass, dressed in black jeans and a black long-sleeved T-shirt. He moves like a cat. “I’m not sure I’ve
ever seen you in anything but a suit before.”
“It does happen—occasionally.” Dylan half smiled.
“They should star you in a movie about a panther that
turns into a human.”
turns into a human.”
“Cat People?”
Luca cocked his head. “You know that old movie?”
“Yes. Movies are a passion of mine.”
“Seriously. I thought you just worked all the time.”
“Surprise.” His light green eyes sparkled.
Luca leaned back against the fence. “What are some of your
favorites?”
favorites?”
Dylan stepped to the fence and leaned against it too,
about two feet from Luca. Do I really
feel heat coming off his skin? Luca took a deep breath.
about two feet from Luca. Do I really
feel heat coming off his skin? Luca took a deep breath.
Dylan looked up at the stars. “I love No Country for Old Men.”
Luca barked a little laugh.
Dylan glanced at him. “Funny?”
“It’s just the stereotype of the powerful businessman
taking out his enemies wholesale. Sorry.”
taking out his enemies wholesale. Sorry.”
“Okay. Well, I love The
Notebook.”
Notebook.”
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope. I don’t think it’s a great movie, but I do love
the chemistry between the young couple.”
the chemistry between the young couple.”
“Yeah, the old couple’s story was even too sappy for me.”
“I love Michael
Clayton.”
Clayton.”
“No shit!” Luca chuckled. “One of the least appreciated
movies ever. Love that film.”
movies ever. Love that film.”
“But I’ll see almost anything with Tilda Swinton in it.”
“Me too.” He shook his head. How could they have so much
in common?
in common?
“I also love My
Fair Lady.”
Fair Lady.”
“Now you are joking.”
Dylan smiled and gazed at Luca. “No, I’m not joking. I’m
gay. Remember?”
gay. Remember?”
The word felt like a karate chop to the windpipe. “Uh,
right. Sometimes I forget.”
right. Sometimes I forget.”
“So, how’s the new job?”
“Uh, wonderful. They really want me to develop new
recipes and dishes. It’s what I love—along with wine making.”
recipes and dishes. It’s what I love—along with wine making.”
“Oh? You’re interested in viticulture?”
Luca nodded. “Part of my degree is in winery management.”
Dylan pushed away from the fence. “You’re a man of many
talents, Luca.”
talents, Luca.”
What the fuck did
he mean by that?
he mean by that?
Dylan strolled a few feet toward the house.
Luca said, “By the way, I wanted you to know that James
invited my dad and me to your party and polo match this weekend.”
invited my dad and me to your party and polo match this weekend.”
That got his attention. He looked back with a crease
between the beautiful eyes. “Oh? When did he do that?”
between the beautiful eyes. “Oh? When did he do that?”
“Earlier tonight, when he and Nila had dinner at the
restaurant. She seconded the invitation and, since it’s kind of her party, I
figured it would be okay.” Did that sound like he had a chip on his shoulder?
restaurant. She seconded the invitation and, since it’s kind of her party, I
figured it would be okay.” Did that sound like he had a chip on his shoulder?
“Then I’m sure it must be okay.”
Luca stared at the grass. “If you ever want somebody to
watch a movie with, just holler.” Crap!
He wanted to bite off the tip of his tongue.
watch a movie with, just holler.” Crap!
He wanted to bite off the tip of his tongue.
Dylan looked equally astonished. “I’ll keep that in
mind.” He turned and walked into the shadows.
mind.” He turned and walked into the shadows.
Why the hell did I
say that? The sound of the big house door opening and closing carried
across the quiet space.
say that? The sound of the big house door opening and closing carried
across the quiet space.
Dylan just looks so
lonely.
lonely.
And so damned
beautiful.
beautiful.
A cool voice came from behind Luca. “And of course you
know that Nila is James’s fiancée.” Dylan stepped into their circle and gave
that little smile that never quite warmed his whole face. “Good evening, all.
Sorry I’m late. Why is Friday always the day for crises?”
know that Nila is James’s fiancée.” Dylan stepped into their circle and gave
that little smile that never quite warmed his whole face. “Good evening, all.
Sorry I’m late. Why is Friday always the day for crises?”
Luca could barely hear him over the dull thud in his
ears. Fiancée. Of course. Made sense. She was a tech wizard among tech wizards.
Add beautiful and charming. Then add female. The correct sex for the
heterosexual Armstrong son, no matter what he said about sucking cocks.
ears. Fiancée. Of course. Made sense. She was a tech wizard among tech wizards.
Add beautiful and charming. Then add female. The correct sex for the
heterosexual Armstrong son, no matter what he said about sucking cocks.
Luca glanced at Dylan’s chiseled face. Bastard. So that’s why you invited us. He wanted to parade James’s fiancée
in front of Luca and remind him exactly what he couldn’t have. Luca smiled
tightly. “I suppose crises are in the eye of the beholder.”
in front of Luca and remind him exactly what he couldn’t have. Luca smiled
tightly. “I suppose crises are in the eye of the beholder.”
Francis gave Luca’s arm a squeeze. Right. Don’t insult your father’s employers.
His father looked around. “Is William not feeling well
tonight?”
tonight?”
Esther frowned just a little. “Tired, mostly, but I’m
sure he’d love to see Luca. Why don’t you take him back, Francis? You know the
way.”
sure he’d love to see Luca. Why don’t you take him back, Francis? You know the
way.”
“I will. Come on, son.”
Luca followed his father into the hall that led to
William and Esther’s suites. On the opposite side of the house, both James and
Dylan had their own bedrooms, offices, gyms, whatever they needed. That way the
whole family could regard the home as their private quarters when they wanted
to. Of course, both sons had their own apartments in San Francisco too.
William and Esther’s suites. On the opposite side of the house, both James and
Dylan had their own bedrooms, offices, gyms, whatever they needed. That way the
whole family could regard the home as their private quarters when they wanted
to. Of course, both sons had their own apartments in San Francisco too.
Luca murmured, “Sorry, Dad.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. Dylan’s play was heavy-handed,
and he deserved what he got. I sincerely apologize, son. I didn’t realize Nila
was engaged to James. I’d heard they were seeing each other, but James sees a
lot of women.”
and he deserved what he got. I sincerely apologize, son. I didn’t realize Nila
was engaged to James. I’d heard they were seeing each other, but James sees a
lot of women.”
Luca stopped walking and leaned against the thick plaster
wall. “Before you came out of your room this evening, James showed up at our
door. He was more than flirtatious. Pretty damned confusing, especially in
light of this announcement.”
wall. “Before you came out of your room this evening, James showed up at our
door. He was more than flirtatious. Pretty damned confusing, especially in
light of this announcement.”
His dad shook his head. “I can’t claim to know what goes
through that man’s head. But no matter what game he’s playing, that doesn’t alter
the fact that James is both heterosexual and engaged in a liaison that’s very
important to the family. I’ve heard Dylan talking about the need to develop
wearable technology. I realize now that some kind of agreement with Nila’s
company must be what he has in mind. If that’s true, it’s worth millions, maybe
more, to Armstrong Technologies. Be careful, Luca. It looks like a big-stakes
game.”
through that man’s head. But no matter what game he’s playing, that doesn’t alter
the fact that James is both heterosexual and engaged in a liaison that’s very
important to the family. I’ve heard Dylan talking about the need to develop
wearable technology. I realize now that some kind of agreement with Nila’s
company must be what he has in mind. If that’s true, it’s worth millions, maybe
more, to Armstrong Technologies. Be careful, Luca. It looks like a big-stakes
game.”
Luca wiped a hand over his neck. “I didn’t start this,
Dad. Seriously. Sure, I was flirting a little, but then he started coming on. Hinting
at how he’d change his orientation for me. Even tonight, he keeps looking at me
like I’m ice cream.”
Dad. Seriously. Sure, I was flirting a little, but then he started coming on. Hinting
at how he’d change his orientation for me. Even tonight, he keeps looking at me
like I’m ice cream.”
“I noticed, and I’m sure everyone else did too,
especially Dylan. I believe James is just playing. You’re a damned attractive
man, and he’s known to lust after anything beautiful.”
especially Dylan. I believe James is just playing. You’re a damned attractive
man, and he’s known to lust after anything beautiful.”
“I’m not exactly the right gender to interest him. Shit,
did Dylan really have to make such an issue of it?”
did Dylan really have to make such an issue of it?”
“James may be kidding, but I’d say Dylan isn’t counting
on that. One never got rich or richer counting on the twists and turns of James
Armstrong’s affections.”
on that. One never got rich or richer counting on the twists and turns of James
Armstrong’s affections.”
Damn, so true.
They kept walking to William Armstrong’s study, but a
little cloud of sadness rode Luca’s shoulder.
little cloud of sadness rode Luca’s shoulder.
About the Author
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 32. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Paranormal Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soul-mate husband and her soul-mate dog near the sea in California where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!
You can find Tara at Lain
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Congrats on the new release, Tara. I loved the excerpt. It sounds like another winner.
Tank you so much Tanja! So glad you liked the excerpt! : )
Excerpt sounds great! Love your work.
Thank you so much Kassandra. Made my day! : )
Congratulations on the release! Thanks for the preview and this amazing giveaway!
Thank you so much Suz. : )
You’re very welcome. Enjoy it. : )
congrats on the new release, sounds great!
Thank you so much Lee! HUGS!