Here’s an unedited excerpt from my novella, The Shape Of a Heart, which will appear in the Hot Comfort anthology from MLR Press.

Blurb

Grieving after the death of his partner, Zach finds comfort amidst bookshelves and coffee beans in the arms of his new employee, but a secret from Keith’s
past will threaten their new-found happiness and test the strength of their tender, new love.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberly Gardner, all rights reserved.

Excerpt
Keith opened the refrigerator, grabbed the wedge of Locatelli Romano from the top shelf and set it on the counter. What else? While the cool air caressed his heated skin he reviewed the ingredients for the dinner he was cooking for Zach.

The salmon in its white paper sat next to the colander of spring mix, rinsed and ready to go. The little basket of raspberries for the vinaigrette peeked out from behind the tall, dessert glasses filled with chocolate mousse. Maybe they would eat the mousse in bed. That would be fun.

He set garlic, olive oil and a bunch of fresh basil on the counter beside the cheese. He would make the pesto then the dressing for the salad before he went and changed his shirt. He needed shoes too but he had plenty of time before Zach arrived.

It was a long time since he’d last cooked dinner for a man and he’d missed it. Everything from planning the menu to selecting the ingredients to the actual cooking and eating of the food, he loved it all. Food was so sensual, the sharing of a meal so intimate, it truly was one of the great pleasures of life, a pleasure he would share with Zach tonight. But not the only pleasure they would share if he had his way, and he thought he just might.

Humming quietly, Keith took the grater down from the cabinet and set it next to the bowl. He unwrapped the cheese and had just begun to work when the doorbell rang.

He glanced at the clock. Too early for Zach and he didn’t know that many other people in New Hope, none well enough for them to just drop in.

He set the cheese in the bowl and the grater down next to it. Going to the window, he Twitched the curtain aside and peered out.

Zach stood on the front step, one hand in the pocket of his beat-up leather jacket, a wine bottle tucked under his arm. His head was turned and he was looking back toward the street, his profile cast in shadows by the fading light. He looked incredible. Dark and sexy and just a little dangerous.

And I look like shit, Keith thought with a grimace. Nothing he could do about that now.

He ran his fingers through his messy hair, not that it would help, then opened the door, a ready smile curving his lips.

“Hey, Zach, you’re early.”

Zach turned, a frown creased his brow and his eyes snapped with blue fire. “You always just fling the door open without asking who it is? I could have been anybody.”

Zach was scolding him for not being careful. It should have pissed him off. But far from that, the lecture made Keith feel warm all over. God, he was so gone on this guy it was pathetic.

“I looked out the window.”

Then, because Zach looked so serious, “Besides, you aren’t just anyone, you’re you.”

“That’s not the point. I could have been-”

“Whoa.” Keith held up a hand. “What are you, the door police?”

Some unreadable expression flickered in Zach’s eyes. “No, forget it.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just forget it. Please?”

That was weird. Keith shrugged it off. It didn’t matter. Zach was here.

“So, are you just going to stand outside all night, or are you coming in?” He opened the door wider.

Zach stepped inside and, pausing in the tiny foyer, held out the wine. “This is for you. It’s … Wine.”

Keith laughed. “I can see that.” He took the bottle and turned it so the light fell on the label. “Chardonnay, perfect.”

Zach said nothing.

Keith looked up from his examination of the label and found Zach’s gaze on him. His mouth went dry and his pulse sped up. The small foyer and Zach’s size combined to bring the two of them thrillingly close.

They stared at each other in silence. Keith’s gaze fixed on Zach’s mouth, those tempting lips he had yet to sample.

What the hell.

Keith set the wine bottle down on the hall-table. Laying his palms on Zach’s broad shoulders, he rose on tiptoe and pressed his mouth to Zach’s.

For the space of several heartbeats, Zach stood frozen, not touching, not kissing back. Keith wasn’t even sure he breathed.

Shit.

A voice in Keith’s head whispered, bad idea, dude. His heart beat wildly but he refused to chicken out. He wanted this kiss, had wanted it for a long time and if Zach wouldn’t give it then, damn it, he would just take it.

He ran the tip of his tongue along the closed seam of Zach’s lips, asking for entrance.

Zach made a sound in his throat, half sigh and half growl. All at once his arms wrapped around Keith’s waist and Keith was dragged against him. Zach’s lips parted and his tongue met Keith’s. Met, conquered then invaded his mouth as Zach took control of the kiss.

Held tight against Zach’s body, Keith found himself on the receiving end of a soul-searing, heart-stopping lip-lock that was everything he’d dreamed it would be and more because it was real, a no-holds-barred full contact kiss. His mouth was plundered as hands rucked up his t-shirt and found skin. A wave of pure lust swept through him, at once hardening his cock and weakening his knees. He’d been swept up in hurricane Zach and all he could do was hang on.

So much for a slow seduction.

As suddenly as it began the kiss broke. Zach tore his mouth from Keith’s and practically shoved him away.

“Christ.” Zach scrubbed the back of one hand over his mouth.

Keith crushed the hurt that wanted to come. Zach’s hand trembled and that hurt turned to triumph. He’d shaken Zach, and done it with just a kiss.

Damn.

Keith resisted touching his fingers to his own bruised and puffy lips. He settled for smiling up at Zach. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Yeah, I get that.” Zach’s expression softened. One of those rare smiles curved his lips. It reached all the way to his eyes making them sparkle and bringing those sexy crinkles at the corners.

Keith’s heart did a little back-flip and his stomach fluttered with excitement. Oh yeah, tonight they would be sharing much more than a meal.

“Want to come in?” He grabbed the bottle of chardonnay from the hall-table and held it up. “I’ve got wine.”