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Blurb:

Hector and Chad are back! Hector thought to combine his business trip to Las Vegas with celebrating Valentine’s Day with Chad, thus keeping a previously made promise. Unfortunately, work prevails and Hector’s well laid plans are demolished. Will he be able to turn things around and make Valentine’s Day in Vegas a day neither of them will soon forget?

Excerpt:

Chad walked in the door and Hector all but pounced on him. He lifted him with a hug from the floor, swung him around and kissed him soundly in the mouth before putting him down again.

“Wow! Not that I really care, but what was that for?”

“It’s Valentine’s Day, sweetheart. That’s all the reason I need.”

Chad’s handsome features transformed from excited to distraught almost instantly.

“Daddy, I’m so sorry. I thought we would be home for Valentine’s Day since your seminars were supposed to be over by yesterday. I’m afraid I left your present there,” he said sadly.

Hector kissed him again and smiled. “It’s okay, baby, the only gift I need from you is you in my arms.” He saw the relief in Chad’s face and pulled him to the dinette area. “Now come, I made dinner.”

Chad let out a noise of mock shock. “Be still my heart. You made dinner? Should I be afraid?”

Hector laughed as he guided him across the room. “No, you shouldn’t. I did manage to feed myself for several years, darling, before you came into my life, you know.”

“Yes, but as soon as I came into your life you quickly relinquished that job to me,” Chad reminded him with a soft chuckle.

Hector snickered and then shrugged. He sat Chad in one of the chairs at the table and lifted the silver lid from the plate in front of him with grand fan fare.

“Wow, it looks fantastic.”

Chad quickly lifted his fork and took a sample. Hector stood over him holding the lid against the table as he waited.

“Mmm, and it tastes wonderful. This has to be the best chicken parmesan I have ever had.”

Hector finally put the lid beside his plate and lifted his own. “Yes, I thought so too,” Hector said smugly and took the chair opposite him. “I wanted to make sure dinner was especially good night,” he added as he poured Chad a glass of red wine.

Chad lifted the glass and swirled the liquid. “And it is. Is that why you got it from Perfecto Italiano?”

Chad’s eyes peered at him over his glass sparkling with mirth as Hector coughed on his drink.

“What? No. What–“ he paused to clear his throat. “What makes you say that, Chad?” he asked shifting his gaze avoiding eye contact.

“Well, the fact that you have never made edible chicken parmesan for me since we’ve been together was my first clue. You always take me out for chicken parm because you know it’s my favorite, but the ticket on the inside of the lid was a dead giveaway.”

Hector stared at him over his wine for a moment. “The ticket is still in the lid?”

“Yep.”

Hector lifted the lid to verify Chad’s accusation. He rolled his eyes and clicked his teeth when it was confirmed.

  “Damn.”

Chad laughed and Hector shrugged and dropped the top on the table.

“Yeah well, I’m still going to take credit for it. I warmed it up and put it on the beautiful china courtesy of the New York New York hotel.”

“And you did a wonderful job. Presentation makes the meal,” he said reaching out to touch his hand.

After a short while Chad dropped his fork and took the last sip of his wine before sitting back with a satisfied sigh.

“That was great. You really made a marvelous choice.”

“Thanks! Time for dessert,” Hector announced jumping to his feet.

He cleared the dishes away and returned with another small plate with a silver cover over it. Hector put the carrier on the table and turned Chad’s chair around away from the table. He pulled his chair closer to face him before picking up the tray again.

“Did you get the dessert from there, too?” Chad asked excitement filling his voice.

“Nope some place totally different.”

“Really? Where?”

“Open it and find out,” he offered leaning forward holding the tray with both hands.

Chad raised an eyebrow before eying him before doing was he was asked. A small gasp left his lips and the top slipped from his fingers onto the floor.