Undeniable Magnetism
When Simon walks into Jay’s bar for a drink, he never
expects to find himself having an afternoon quickie in the back
room. Although he’s very attracted to the blond, blue-eyed
bartender, he’s never experienced a real relationship
with another man and isn’t ready for the commitment that
entails.
Jay is ready for Mr. Right, and when he meets hot, hunky Simon,
he believes he’s found his match. But convincing the reserved
man that their brief encounter could evolve into something more
will take all his considerable persuasive skills.
Jay is blue collar, Irish. Simon is an African American from
a society family. Can two men from such different backgrounds
find common ground? Undeniable magnetism draws them to one another,
but only love can keep them together.
Review
Romance
Junkies, Blue Ribbon Review by Katie: "a very insightful
read, UNDENIABLE MAGNETISM is one romance that should not be
missed. This is a true hit from Bonnie Dee"
Lisabea's
blog: "Yeah, I liked them. Jay is so pushy and in your
face and funny and overcompensating that he perfectly balances
Simon."..."a sweet little read. No trapezes, no tree
sex, no mystery or guns and mucking about with crazed killers:
just two guys and their love story."
Bam's
blog, Review by Tumperkin: "If you’re looking
for a heart-warming category-length contemporary read, you couldn’t
do much better than to pick this up. It’s got nicely-drawn
characters and believable conflict...Oh - and I really liked
the sex scenes. They were hot but grounded in reality. Lots
of lust but tenderness too."
Mrs
Giggles, 85: "What I really like about this story is
how Ms Dee manages to show me how the two men manage to develop
something deeper beyond their initial burst of lust. "
Literary
Nymphs, Reviewer Ruby Minx, 4.5: "Bonnie Dee has done
an amazing job with the characterizations in the book and the
dialogue is believable, funny and really fresh and shows Jay’s
and Simon’s genuine feelings for each other. Highly recommended
and a terrific read."
Rainbow
Reviews, 3 -star review by Sibila: "A cute blending
of scorching hot man/man love and partnership. It's very contemporary;
the dialog fun and easy. "
excerpt
It was a good day. Hell, a great day. No particular
reason. Things hadn’t really gone that smoothly. The beer
delivery had been late, and there was a discrepancy in the cash
drawer after Sylvia’s shift. But none of that mattered.
There was something special about today. Something coming. He
could feel it, and he’d learned to trust his intuition.
His mom swore her mother had had the second sight. Jay didn’t
believe he was blessed -- or cursed -- with his grandmother’s
gift, but he could sense things sometimes, situations about
to go sour or things about to take a turn for the better, like
today.
He whistled tunelessly as he took inventory of the shining bottles
of liquor. Needed more J.D. and Cutty, but the Dewars would
hold.
“How about the Pistons last night? Some fourth quarter,
eh?”
“Did you bet on it?” He walked to the end of the
bar where Gunderson sat nursing his second beer of the afternoon.
The old man was a fixture on his stool almost every afternoon
and right through ‘til about midnight. It got tiresome
listening to him ramble about the past or rant about big government,
but Jay figured that was part of the service he offered. Somebody
had to listen.
Leaning on the counter, he shot the shit with Gunderson, nodding
in the right places and making eye contact, but also glancing
past him at the rest of the pub. An exit sign had burned out,
the windows needed washing, and Sylvia hadn’t filled the
pretzel bowls before she’d left.
It was still early. Nobody much here except the old man and
a young couple in the corner engaged in a serious argument.
Occasionally their voices rose almost loud enough to make out
the words then faded back to a viperous hiss.
The outside door opened, and a man stood silhouetted against
the sunlight. When the door closed behind him, Jay saw it wasn’t
anyone he knew. The man’s skin was milk chocolate, his
closely shaved scalp gleamed in the dim light. He wore a white
button-down shirt and slacks. In the dim light, the whites of
his eyes gleamed as he scanned the room. He was tall, broad-shouldered
and strode smoothly across the room toward the bar. An athlete,
perhaps, with that height and grace.
“Hold that thought, Max.” Jay cut off Gunderson’s
flow of words and moved to wait on the new customer, who’d
taken a seat at the bar. He stopped in front of the man, took
one look into his deep brown eyes, and knew this was the special
thing that was coming his way. A surge of excitement rose in
him, and it wasn’t merely the lift of his dick as it filled
the front of his jeans, but a fluttering thrill deep inside
that told him, This is someone special.
Jay braced his hands against the bar, leaning slightly into
his customer’s personal space. “Hey. What can I
get for you?” He smiled and lowered his eyelids and his
voice a little, hinting at another meaning.
The man’s gold-flecked brown eyes widened in response,
but he quickly looked past Jay’s shoulder at the bottles
on the wall. “Grey Goose. No ice.”
Jay turned to get the drink, still smiling. Yeah, this is going
to be a very good day.
*****
Simon watched the bartender’s ass as he reached for the
bottle. Tight jeans, tight ass, molded together in an eye-catching
display.
“I’m Jay,” he said as he poured the vodka.
“Simon.” He took the glass and sipped, suddenly
dry-mouthed and very thirsty. Jay’s eyes showed interest.
There was no mistaking the quick scan of his body or the smirk
in his smile when their eyes met.
Simon swallowed too fast and nearly choked. God, how he hated
this part, the push and pull of two men sounding each other
out. There was always the chance he’d misread the signals,
make a suggestion and be rejected or even get his face punched.
He wished he could simply move past “getting to know you”
straight to sex, since that’s all he wanted. He wasn’t
planning on having a relationship with anyone and probably never
would. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t even been looking
today -- just came in for a drink. This wasn’t a gay bar,
but a typical corner pub. Simon hadn’t expected to find
an opportunity to let off steam, but then the bartender practically
winked at him with those blue eyes and suddenly the afternoon
was fraught with possibility.
“Where do you work?” Jay asked.
“Dunham and Chase Advertising.”
“That sounds…” He interrupted himself with
a laugh. “I’m not going to lie to you and say it
sounds interesting, but I’m sure it beats spending every
afternoon with Max here.” He nodded toward the old man
a few seats down, who was gazing morosely at his nearly empty
glass. Max didn’t seem to hear and, a moment later, climbed
off his stool and shuffled toward the men’s room.
The bartender leaned against his folded arms on top of the bar,
inclining his body toward Simon, invading his personal space.
A smile quirked his lips, and Simon guessed it was always there,
that glimmer of humor lurking just below the surface. “So,
do you like your job at Dunham and Chase?”
That was a question Simon avoided facing every day. He’d
allowed himself to be sucked into his father’s business
and so that’s where he was. Like or dislike didn’t
enter into it. “It’s financially sound.” Unless
clients keep slipping away, which they will, if Dad doesn’t
allow us to get with the times.
“Mm.” The low vibration of Jay’s murmur of
assent made Simon’s skin prickle. “This place isn’t.”
Jay indicated the building around them. “But it’s
all mine and that’s cool. Bought out my partner last year
so I own it for better or worse.”
Nodding, Simon searched for something nice to say about the
crummy tavern. “It’s very…”
“Run down? Decrepit? Or, as I prefer to say, lived in?
Yeah, I know I have some repairs to make. But the customers
are regular and the bills get paid, more or less, so I can’t
complain.” He glanced around the room. “I’ve
been considering taking out a small business loan and doing
a complete makeover. You think a facelift can draw a more upscale
crowd in here?”
“Honestly, I don’t think yuppies are your target
market. Not in this neighborhood, no matter how much you spruce
it up.”
The bartender nodded. “That’s what I was afraid
of.”
“Better to play to your strength, sell it as an old school,
‘everybody knows your name’ tavern, and try to draw
in the disenfranchised middle class from other areas of the
city who are tired of their local pubs being transformed to
trendy bars. They’ll make the trip across town if the
ambiance draws them.”
“Hah, I knew you were more than just a pretty face. Thanks
for the advice.” His flashing smile displayed the merest
suggestion of dimples in each cheek that came and went like
lightning, as did the heat in Simon’s groin, except that
heat didn’t leave, but settled there and burned warmly.
“So, you’re good at your job?” Jay said.
“I guess I am.”
“You don’t sound sure. Or, at least, you don’t
sound like you enjoy what you do very much.”
Simon shrugged, uncomfortable with discussing his feelings about
his work. “The most exciting job in the world probably
gets boring after years of doing it.”
“True enough, I suppose, but that’s when it’s
time to switch jobs.” Jay held up a finger. “Just
a minute.”
He came out from behind the bar and walked to a table in the
corner a couple had just vacated. The door was still swinging
closed behind them, letting a few rays of sunlight into the
gloomy room. He picked up glasses, wiped the table, then returned
to the bar, where he set the glasses and rag down and sat on
the stool beside Simon.
His presence radiated heat and energy, and Simon couldn’t
stop sneaking glances at the muscular forearm resting on the
countertop so near his own. Fine brown hairs matted it. He longed
to brush his finger through the soft fuzz and feel the strength
and warmth of the body beneath. He focused his attention back
on his glass and saw it was already half empty.
“Is your business nearby?” Jay asked, leaning on
an elbow and facing him.
Simon glanced up and was caught by the other man’s eyes.
They were almost unearthly in their sapphire brilliance. “I
-- uh… No. I was meeting a client out this way. The discussion
was a little intense, so when I passed your place, I thought
I’d stop for a few minutes and de-stress.”
“Need another one?” Jay nodded at his drink.
“Guess not. I should probably get back to the office.”
“Naw.” Jay’s warm grin crinkled the corners
of his eyes and made them shine even bluer. “Remember
back when you used to play hooky from school? Stolen moments
are the sweetest. Everybody’s gotta have an afternoon
off now and then.”
“I never skipped school.” Simon smiled briefly.
“I’m afraid I was one of those nerdy kids who got
a certificate for perfect attendance at the end of the school
year.”
Jay’s grin turned to a laugh. “I bet you were! You
seem like a ‘toe the line’ kind of guy.”
Instinctively, Simon glanced at the mirror behind the bar to
see what Jay saw. Did he really look as uptight as he knew he
was? Did he walk around as if he had a poker up his ass? All
the mirror showed was a couple of guys sitting at a bar, one
dark-complexioned, one light, one tall and lean, the other muscular
and stocky. They looked very different. Simon had no doubt they
were. “What makes you think I wasn’t a real rebel?”
“Something about your eyes.” Jay met his gaze in
the mirror. “I’m guessing you don’t like to
step outside the box too much. You don’t strike me as
a hellraiser.”
“Let’s see. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle,
never received a ticket, not even for illegal parking, and never
been in a fistfight.” He ticked the items off on his fingers.
“Yeah, I guess I’m not much of a rebel, although
I’ve smoked a joint on occasion.”
One sandy eyebrow lifted, and Jay looked from the mirror into
Simon’s eyes. “Is that an invitation? I can give
old Gunderson another drink then turn the sign to ‘closed’
for a while.” His voice was a sexy, husky rumble that
made Simon’s already stiff cock swell even harder.
“Oh, no. I didn’t mean… I don’t have
any pot on me. I meant in the past I’ve occasionally indulged.”
Simon knew he was talking too fast in his sudden nervousness
and sounded like a priggish dork. The bartender wasn’t
asking him to smoke dope with him. Something else was about
to happen here. The tension floating in the air was thick enough
to cut with a knife.
Jay’s blue eyes had darkened to indigo. “I’ve
got something guaranteed to de-stress you,” he continued
in the same suggestive tone. “Come back to my office and
I’ll show you.”
