Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings

Gaycation in Paradise | Ariella Zoelle

Suite Dreams #4

Release Date: December 26th, 2021

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Blurb

Aldo tries to play it cool when he works for his celebrity crush, but resisting the temptation to flirt with Rook is tough. Not falling in love with him is impossible.

Aldo Farnese

They always say don’t meet your idols, but I’m assigned to work as the live-in butler for Rook Warrick, the famous Hollywood action hero on the run from a scandal. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to act normal while fanboying about your secret celebrity crush when you’re in forced proximity with him and all of his powerful pheromones? It’s so hard, and I mean that in every sense of the word. Seriously, he is G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S. How can I resist my urges to take the chance of a lifetime at being with him?

Imagine my shock when I discover Rook missed his calling as the romantic lead in those cheesy rom-com movies my siblings adore. He’s so charming, wonderful, and thoughtful that he makes me swoon—and trust me, I am not the swooning type. My preference for quick-and-easy goes right out the window to drown in the blue lagoon outside our villa. He makes my heart want those happily ever afters I used to scoff at until I met him. Will he take me seriously when I say I have real feelings for him or think I’m just an immature kid who can’t handle commitment?

Rook Warrick

I never expected to feel like I didn’t have a single care in the world when my career is on the brink of disaster after a paparazzi video of me kissing my male co-star goes viral. But Aldo is a surprisingly perverted ray of sunshine who makes me laugh harder than I have in years. His laid-back attitude and quick wit make my forced banishment feel like I’m on a real vacation with a good friend…who I occasionally hook up with because he’s entirely too tempting to resist. Not to mention he’s very persuasive.

Aldo is the polar opposite of what I prefer in my partners: he’s eighteen years younger, a full foot shorter than me, and looks like he doesn’t have what it takes to keep me satisfied when I like a man to take control of my desires. But he unexpectedly ticks all my boxes, including a few new ones I didn’t even know I had. I have a long list of very valid reasons why it would be smart to keep my distance from him. But why should I let any of that stop me when I’ve fallen in love with him?

Gaycation in Paradise is the fourth book in the Suite Dreams series and part of the Sunnyside universe. This novel features a celebrity/regular guy, insta love, age gap, forced proximity, opposites attract, gay romance. If you love cute sweetness, sexy fun, and no angst stories that will make you laugh and swoon, you’ll enjoy this satisfying HEA without cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series in order.

Excerpt

Chapter 1: Rook Warrick

I dropped into a chair, which had a slope to it that cradled my body as if I were in a hammock. With a sigh, I closed my eyes and melted into its embrace while the porter brought in my luggage. For the first time in two days, I stopped my frenetic scrambling, allowing my exhaustion to hit me harder than a truck ramming into a brick wall. It would be easy to let myself drift off to the sound of the waves lapping at the posts holding the villa above the water if it weren’t for the gnawing hunger reminding me to eat.

A male voice tinged with humor broke through my darkness as it teased me. “Wouldn’t you rather do that in bed?”

With effort, I opened my eyes to see who had addressed me in such a manner. To my surprise, it was a younger man who barely looked old enough to hold down a steady job. His golden-bronze skin was sun-kissed, with beautifully defined biceps that hinted that there was more to him than being pretty. His eyes were bluer than the water outside and bright with mirth. A smirk tugged at the corner of his full lips while he studied me. He was undeniably attractive in his navy polo shirt and khaki shorts, with a sweet face that normally didn’t appeal to me. I liked my men more rugged, more aggressive, more willing to pin me down and give it to me good after they worked for the privilege.

It took a moment for my brain to kick back online enough to remember how to be normal. “Who are you?”

“I’m Aldo, your exclusive live-in butler during your stay with us.” He gave a formal bow that seemed at odds with his baby face. It reminded me that my assistant had informed me that the resort supplied a butler to take care of all my needs. That would minimize the risk of being seen outside and having my location reported to the paparazzi. The thought of being tended to by someone in a stuffy uniform was awful, so I had requested the butler be dressed casually to make me more comfortable. “How would you prefer me to address you, sir?”

I wrinkled my nose at the honorific. Standing on pomp and circumstance with titles was anathema to everything I was. “Please don’t call me ‘sir’ or anything like that. Rook is fine.”

“Understood.”

“There’s no need to be so formal. I hate that kind of pretentiousness.” The thought of him treating me that way during my entire stay made my skin crawl. “I’d much prefer if you were yourself.”

His lips turned upward in an ornery grin. “Are you sure about that?”

I arched an eyebrow at him. “You think I can’t handle you?”

“Oh, I know you can’t.”

His challenge riled me up despite my exhaustion. “What makes you so certain?”

“Because I’m two handfuls of hell.”

I laughed hard, which felt amazing after spending so many days angsting about the potential end of my career. “I assure you I’m more than capable of handling that kind of spunkiness.”

“No, I’m confident you’d much prefer me handling your spunk instead.” He backed his claim up with a cocky grin that caused me to bristle, while also igniting a spark of interest within me I blamed on jet lag. “But that’s a discussion for later.” He handed me a bottle of water, making me wonder where it had come from without me noticing.

I accepted it with a word of thanks. Breaking the seal, I took several long swallows before replying. “No, I doubt we’ll be having that kind of conversation at any point.”

“Oh, ye of little faith.” His devilish grin being at odds with his angelic features intrigued me about who the mysterious young man was.

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