Is there enough room in the billionaire actor’s heart for a chef ready to bake up something tasty?
Hunter Tarleton wasn’t ready to come out, but the tabloids forced his hand. Ever since being outed, he’s lost his shot at acting gigs, but he’s found his determination to be his own man. He’s got more than enough money for five lifetimes and no one to share it with. With his newfound freedom, he’s ready to find love.
When he visits Boys Club, he meets Kaz and he’s knocked off his feet. Kaz isn’t anything like he expected. Kaz loves food play, and he’s quiet and shy, but also a damn good cook. When he and Hunter are together in the kitchen, the sparks fly. Life in the public eye isn’t easy and it’ll take everything Kaz has got to navigate his new life with Hunter. Will Hunter be the strong protector Kaz needs? Can Kaz handle the scrutiny?
With the right amount of love, time and patience, they have the chance to cook up the perfect romance. All they have to do is give in to the tastiest treat of all—love.
Reader advisory: This book contains reference to inadequate parenting, and sex work.
General Release Date: 30th January 2024
“This is Hunter Tarleton. Hello, Joy. How may I help you today?” Hunter held tight to the phone. He’d been taught from an early age to be polite. He detested answering calls, preferring texts and emails, but audition notices for feature films required an actual voice, not just words on a screen.
He measured his breaths. He didn’t need this role. Didn’t need any of them, but he liked to act. He’d been turned down for the last four roles he’d been in the hottest contention for and hadn’t even been called back for at least a dozen others.
He’d spent the last twenty-five years in Hollywood, working his way up from child acting and bit parts to waiting tables while he learned his craft, then managed to snag a few major roles that had catapulted him into the spotlight. He’d earned the title of Sexiest Man in Hollywood twice and tended to secure roles as the boy– and eventually man–next-door or the leading man.
Hunter prided himself on keeping in shape and being the ideal specimen of maleness. The better he kept his body blemish free, the more chance he had of winning roles and being the characters. His scars weren’t going to give him gravitas, he’d been told, so he’d either had them lasered off, grafted over or whatever had to be done to get rid of them. If it meant being super protective of himself, he did it to keep himself in peak shape.
He crossed his fingers. He wanted this film. The character was another leading man, but he had some nicks and dents in his persona. He’d been around and wanted to settle down, but only with the right woman who could understand what he’d been through. It wasn’t anything he could identify with because he wasn’t straight, but he didn’t care. It was a juicy part and he wanted it.
“Hunter,” Joy said. “How are you?”
“Fine.” He’d worked with Joy Lansing on seven other projects and respected her choices for the various films. As the casting director, she was the final decision on who might play each part. “What’s the news?”
“Yes.” Joy hesitated. “I’m thrilled with your reading and would love you for the role.”
She would? Not they? He’d been through this procedure too many times. “But? Give it to me straight.” If she wanted him, but wasn’t able to choose him, then he was out. It would also explain why she’d called him and not Nelson, his agent.
“The director wasn’t sure about you. He believes you may be too old for the part,” Joy said. “You could use a little…work, he said. If you were offered the role, you’d have to have a peel and some laser treatments on your hairline.”
He wobbled, then settled on the closest chair. She had to be shitting him. “Hold up? What?” He pinched the bridge of his nose. Laser treatments? A peel? “My face is my best asset and it’s not enough?” His best other than his ass, but no one wanted to see that these days.
“It’s not that,” she said. “Promise.”
She could be cold and cutthroat when needed, so her tiptoeing around his ego wasn’t usual. It didn’t even feel authentic. God, he hated games, and this was turning out to be a big one. He wished she’d just be honest. “I’m not being offered the role,” he said. “Plain and simple. Whether I have a peel or anything else, it won’t make a difference because I’m not getting the part.”
“Well…”
“Don’t sugarcoat it. I’m not getting work done to my face only to be turned down. If I’m not right for the part, then I’m not right.” He wasn’t in the mood for this.
“They’ve decided to go in a different direction,” Joy said. “I’m sorry. Maybe next time.”
“Maybe.” He’d work with her again, given the chance. She had good instincts with roles and actors. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“You’re welcome and I’m sorry, Hunter. You’re good and you were my choice, but he won’t budge this time. He wants someone younger and prettier.” She hung up without giving him a chance to reply, leaving him in silence.
He placed the phone on his desk. Well, shit. He didn’t need the money, but he liked to work. He loved acting, but the roles were drying up.
His phone rang and he answered, but set the call to the speaker setting. “Nelson.” Of all the times to hear from his agent… “What’s the good word?”
“How is my favorite client today?” Nelson asked.
Hunter rolled his eyes. He’d made his agent serious money over the years. Sure, he wasn’t Nelson Green’s only client, but he was the best. When Nelson called, it tended to be with news on the next role. “I’m fine. What’s up?”
“I have some information about the Parks project,” Nelson said. “It’s not great.”
“I know. Joy just called. Said I’m too old and crusty for the role and I should have some work done on my face and hairline.” His irritation grew. The slight lines at the corners of his eyes gave him character, and his hairline was damn good. Not the slightest hint of receding. He even had the best natural highlights, even with the smattering of grays.
“Oh.”
“You knew that, or you wouldn’t be calling.”
“I was given different reasons and I thought you should know,” Nelson said. “I believe in honesty, like you.”
He wasn’t sure what Nelson believed in most of the time, but he did a damn good job getting him scripts and keeping his name in the news, so he wasn’t about to argue. “Okay, then enlighten me.” He’d love to hear this. “Tell me the different reasons.”
“Since you came out, there are questions about whether you can play a straight character. You being gay means you should be playing gay characters,” Nelson said. “It’s not fair, but that’s the reasoning.”
He’d known it would be. That had been the reasoning before. “I see, but I’ll say it again. If there aren’t any roles for gay characters, how am I supposed to do any work? I’d love to play gay characters. I'd love to play anyone at this point.”
“Hunt, you’re a great actor.”
“If I’m such a great actor, then why can’t I get the roles based on my abilities, not my sexuality?”
“It’s not that.”
He groaned. “You said it was.”
“I guess it is, but…”
He shook his head at Nelson’s hesitance to answer. “Don’t. I know where this is going.” The same place it’d gone the last time. He should play gay characters, but no one wanted to make gay characters leads. No one wanted them to be anything but stereotypes, either.
“If there were more LGBTQ roles, you’d be golden,” Nelson said. “It’s not up to me.”
“I know.” But it was up to Hunter. “I’m opening my company up to more projects. I’m tired of not having roles, and I can’t be the only actor who feels the pinch. I’ll get the roles myself and help others along the way.”
“You’re opening it up?” Nelson asked. His voice cracked. “Like…Rainbow Productions will actually make more than a few commercials and that made-for-television movie?”
“Yes, it’s going to make more than those.” Although he had the most pride in his movie. He’d shown gay love in its rawest form and had been nominated for awards for the piece. How could it be so bad? So there were naked asses. So one guy might have flashed some pubic hair. Jesus. People had hair and asses. Big deal.
“You’re really going for it? You could lose money,” Nelson said.
Was Nelson worried about not getting paid or that the company could really go belly-up? Hunter had his bet on Nelson’s greed. “I’ve put most of my money aside and am still living on what I made from my first movie. What’s not wrapped up in the production company has been invested.”
He’d silently become a billionaire by playing the stock market and buying up property, rather than spending his cash on homes for himself or sports cars. He had enough to look good, keep up his image and a little for spending, but most was tied up and out of his easy grasp—exactly where it should be.
“You’re sure?” Nelson asked.
“If I can help other actors get their big break through my company and can keep making the films I want to make with characters across the spectrum, then I’ll do it,” Hunter said. “Without question.”
Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.
Find out more about Megan on her website, and sign up for the newsletter here. You can also check out her Blog, Amazon Author Page, Bookbub and Instagram.
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