Guest Blogger: Sean Michael
Working It Out is a part of the Amber Allure Office PAX. The PAXes are a collection of books that come out on the same day and that all start in the same place — namely the theme. In this case — The Office.
When I sat down to write this one, Affton showed up first, told me all about Luke, the one who got away, or rather, who left without notice.
Before I knew it, the story was written. I do love it when the characters show up strong and take over the story fast and hard.
Hopefully, you’ll like them too!
Blurb:
Four years ago, Luke walked out on Affton while he was still sleeping, leaving only a quick “I can’t do this” email behind. Affton has spent those four years focused on his career, a now very successful one at that. When he encounters Luke in the graphics department of the company he now works for, it rocks his world.
Insisting that Luke owes him a coffee at least, Affton’s world is further rocked when he finds out why it was Luke left him in the first place. Can he convince Luke that he isn’t the man Luke believes him to be and that they deserve a second chance? Or will he be fated to watch Luke run away from him yet again?
It’s coming from Amber Allure on March24:
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/bio_Michael.html
Excerpt:
“We’ll have a whole new graphics package ready for you by noon tomorrow, Geoffrey. I’ll bring it to lunch at Laffite.” Affton laid on the charm, smoothing the waters as well as he could.
Richard Chalmers was one of Fillian Commercial’s biggest clients and he was not going to disappoint the man.
“I’ll see you there. I’m looking forward to it.”
He hung up, grabbed the file, and headed to the graphics department.
Heads were going to roll and then no one was going home until the graphics had been fixed. They looked nothing like what the client had asked for, or for that matter, like what they’d pitched to Geoffrey in the first place.
The graphics department was a floor down and Affton strode down the stairs, building his head of steam as he went. They were a billion dollar advertising agency and this kind of mistake was not on. The graphics department had its own wing, but was otherwise open concept, so he was able to start yelling as soon as he was in the door.
“I want everyone responsible for so much as a dot on the Chalmers account in front of me in the next thirty seconds.”
The artists and computer geeks looked up, the place like a warren with little meerkats popping up and down.
“Twenty seconds. Why is no one running like their lives depend on it? ’Cause I swear to fucking God, your job does.”
“Seriously? Last time I checked I didn’t jump like a dog when someone barked.” A round, brightly colored, fierce woman looked at him through cat-eyed glasses. “Suits.”
“This suit can fire your ass like that.” He snapped his fingers. “The Chalmers account is one of our biggest and the client is anything but happy. I’m not playing here, people.” He opened the file and began reading off the names from the graphics department who were associated with the file. “Louise Belmar. Donald Scarp. Ilia Warken. Luke Addis…”
His voice faded away. Luke Addison? No fucking way. Not his Luke Addison.
Though, Affton supposed that he’d lost any right to call Luke his the day the man had packed up and walked out on him without a single explanation.
*
Thank you to Lucy for giving me the opportunity to tell you about Working It Out.
Sean Michael
*****
Bio: Often referred to as “Space Cowboy” and “Gangsta of Love” while still striving for the moniker of “Maurice,” Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and pursuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to “Chicago.”
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He’ll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
http://sean-michael.livejournal.com/
twitter: seanmichael09
