Love Brokers Release Day Giveaway

It's release day for my latest novella, a fun little holiday tale called Love Brokers: Mister Romance, and to celebrate I'm giving away one ebook copy. You've got just one day to enter though, so leave a comment below (along with your email addy and format of choice) and tonight at midnight PST I'll draw one lucky winner. Good luck!

To kick this party off I give you chapter one...

Five years ago

Jacob smiled at the young man sitting across from him, whose expression was hopeful but reserved, his shoulders straight back, and body held tightly in check as if preparing himself for Jacob to say, Sorry, no match for you. The poor man obviously had no idea who he was dealing with. Otherwise he wouldn’t be sitting there looking like the hammer was about to fall on his head. Jacob Cruz did not run the average dating service.

“I have just the man for you, honey,” Jacob said as he pulled a black leather-bound book from the top drawer of his desk, then flipped through the plastic-protected pages. “Don’t you worry about a thing.”

Mark’s shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. A small attempt at a smile touched the corners of his mouth, and a light blush colored his cheeks. “Sorry, I just haven’t had much luck in the relationship department. No one seems able to see me as more than a”—he paused to air-quote—“great friend.”

“Please.” Jacob waved a dismissive hand. It was Mark’s quiet vulnerability, coupled with those big brown eyes and thick dark lashes, that made him gorgeous. He didn’t need to be a supermodel to be hot. No one did. “Your man is right here in this book.”

Jacob kept his client list small and personal so he could spend time with each and every one face-to-face. Getting to know them, their personalities, quirks, likes, and dislikes gave him a good grasp on not only who they were but what they needed. Which was, as most refused to believe, not always what they wanted.

There weren’t 1.2 million single men to surf through and take their chances on. There weren’t twenty-nine compatibility questions to answer to find their one true soul mate. Oh no, things were done old school at His Perfect Match. All Jacob used his Web site for was as a yellow pages advertisement. Even at the ripe old age of eighteen, Jacob had known the heart was far more accurate than what any computer-generated algorithm could produce. Just ask the first couple he’d ever matched up, who were still together nine years later.

It was his extra attention to the little details that could never come through on paper or a series of questions that made him the best matchmaking consultant on the West Coast—north and south of the border—and earned him the title “Mr. Matchmaker.” He had a 99 percent success rate, a business in high demand, and nothing but stars on the horizon, but it was that 1 percent that made him go the extra mile every time. A wave of guilt lapped at his conscience when that 1-percent-fail sneaked to the forefront of his mind. Kevin Hale was the reason he made sure he always went above and beyond every single time.

Jacob gave himself a mental shake. Right now his complete focus needed to be on Mark Rawlings, the nervous young man currently sitting across from him, who Jacob was about to introduce to his soul mate.

Mark had a wicked sense of humor, but he kept it on a tight leash until he felt comfortable around people. Crowds were hard for him; his innate shyness caused him to tangle up words in the back of his throat like rush-hour gridlock on Highway 99. But as soon as those barriers were breached, he was a firecracker. Mark needed someone who could draw him out and give him the confidence to let go and truly believe he was more than friend material.

Jacob’s hand stilled on page twenty-one. Jeremy Lighten. Yep. Jeremy had a few years and inches on Mark, was a successful businessman, confident without being arrogant, compassionate, decisive, and had a knack for making everyone around him walk an inch taller. Even Jacob had felt that when he’d met Jeremy a month prior. He nodded to himself. Mark and Jeremy would be perfect. Their names even sounded good together.

Jacob snapped open the binder, pulled the page out, and slid it across the desk to Mark, who looked down and quickly back up to meet Jacob’s gaze with wide eyes. His voice squeaked just a touch when he asked, “Him?”

Jacob nodded. “Absolutely.”

“But he’s…so…”

“Perfect for you.”

“Out of my league.”

“Mark.” Jacob leaned forward. “Who’s the professional here? I know my men, and I know you, and I am so confident you and Jeremy will hit it off that I’ll be expecting an invitation to your wedding within the year.”

Mark spluttered. Jacob smiled. The man really was adorable. Jeremy was going to love him.

“I’ll arrange for your first date this Saturday. How’s dinner at the Top of Vancouver sound?”

“I’ve never been there.” Mark lowered his gaze back to the photo in front of him.

“You aren’t afraid of heights, are you?”

Mark shook his head absently, eyes still fixed on Jeremy’s photo and basic details.

“Oh my, you’re in for a treat, then.” Jacob let excitement color his voice. The ToV was a gorgeous revolving restaurant atop Vancouver’s Harbour Centre, over five hundred feet high with spectacular views of the city, the harbor, and the North Shore mountains, and the perfect atmosphere for a romantic dinner. “Just don’t get lost if you go to the restroom—remember to walk counterclockwise.”

* * * *

Whistling while he worked, Jacob had just finished putting away his files after calling Jeremy and making reservations for Jeremy and Mark’s first date, when his office door swung open and a waft of whatever Calvin Klein’s latest pour femme was preceded a familiar voice.

“Sounds like you’ve made another successful match, then.” Her voice had that smoky, sultry quality to it that could send a shiver down any man’s spine, regardless of orientation.

Jacob got up from his chair and met Violet, one of his first clients—his first and only straight client—and his best friend ever since, midway for a hug and cheek bussing. Finding a man for her had been a challenge, even though Jacob did have a few straight male friends. He got gay men, but straight? They were like another species altogether. He’d had to call in his sister to help on that one, and it turned out a friend of a friend had a cousin who had a friend who was absolutely perfect for Violet. Adam Walsh was understated, laid-back, and didn’t ruffle easily, which complemented Violet’s feisty, outgoing attitude and gave her a sense of solid ground. She had a tendency to jump before looking, but Adam always made sure the safety net was in place when she did. And they looked fantastic together. Violet was tall and willowy with long golden hair, and the darker-haired Adam was the all-American boy next door.

“So,” Violet started as she took the seat where Mark had been, then crossed one of those long legs over the other. “Tell me all about them.”

Jacob smiled. “A beautiful man with a heart of gold who thinks no one can see him, and a very astute man who always sees the gems under the surface. They’re a perfect match.”

“They sound lovely.”

“They are.”

“You’re such a romantic.” She leaned forward, her dark blue eyes sparkling. Uh-oh. Jacob knew that look all too well. “Speaking of romance… You know I have a little of the matchmaker magic too.”

Jacob raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Because you made one successful match?”

“Because I don’t make matchmaking my business, but when I do it, I do it for keeps.” She nodded once, then sat up straighter and rolled her shoulders back.

“Okay, I’ll give you that.” Jacob clasped his hands together and rested them on his desk. “What are you up to, Mrs. Walsh?”

“Well…” She lowered her gaze and picked at a piece of invisible lint on her skirt. Without looking up, she said, “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Okay.” Jacob frowned. “Send him by the office.”

“Well, he’s not actually a potential client.” She glanced up, her gaze assessing. Then, having made whatever decision she’d clearly been weighing, said with conviction, “I know he’s perfect for you. He’s your one and only. Your Adam.”

Jacob chuckled. A little overzealous at times, but Violet’s heart was always in the right place. “I appreciate that, honey. I really do, but in case you’ve forgotten, I’m not on the market. I’m happy with Christopher.”

“Oh, pish.”

“Come on, Vi. He’s a good man.”

Violet scrunched her nose. From the day she’d met Christopher, she’d had a hate-on for him and had made it perfectly clear why. It didn’t matter to her that he and Christopher had only just started dating then, weren’t officially exclusive, but as far as she was concerned, Christopher was forever branded a player. “Sure he is. For someone else. He’s not a good man for you, Jake. You deserve better.”

Jacob sighed, picked up a pen, and started twirling it through his fingers. How many times did they need to have this conversation? Sure, maybe he did deserve better, but he knew Christopher loved him. Okay, so he had a bit of a roving eye and a tendency to get overly flirtatious in public, and his idea of romantic was takeout shared on the couch over a hockey game on the big screen. Maybe Christopher wasn’t perfect, but really, who was? And if that didn’t make Jacob the biggest hypocrite this side of the Rockies. He couldn’t very well profess perfect matches when he couldn’t make his own.

“We’re not going to agree on this, Vi. I know him better than you. He’s been good to me.”

“But he doesn’t rock your world, and he’s rude to you in public.”

“Stop. He’s not rude.”

“He ignores you, like he doesn’t want anyone to know you’re together. Unless you’re getting hit on.”

Jacob dropped his voice an octave and said “Violet,” as the warning it was meant to be.

“Okay, fine.” She huffed, but because she’d never been one to let anything go, quickly added, “His name is Brant Hudson, and he’ll be at the Romantic Addiction New Year’s Eve party this weekend. Just meet him. That’s all I’m saying.”

“No, that’s not all you’re saying. Don’t think I’m not wise to your evil wimmins ways.”

Violet laughed and tossed her hair over her shoulder like a seasoned diva. “Shut up.”

“Seriously, hon, things are good with Christopher. I’m not going to walk out on almost two years for a pretty face.”

Violet didn’t look convinced, and even Jacob had to agree the unspoken enough hung heavy in the air between them.

“There’s a whole lot more to Brant than a pretty face. You’ll see.”

“Fine.” Jacob sighed. “I’ll meet him. Only because I know there’s no way you’ll let me get through the night without it. But I’m telling you now, nothing will come of it.”

Violet smirked and did a little victory rock in her chair. “Love you, Jakey.”

Dammit, he was in trouble. “Love you too, little miss troublemaker.”