Ibiza on Ice

By Gillian St. Kevern

Tired of being ridiculed as the man dumped in favour of an ugly Christmas sweater, Aston is determined to get revenge–by having his dream vacation at Ibiza's hottest clubs! He's even planned a social media campaign to make sure his ex, Dan, knows exactly what he's missing.

When a snowstorm strikes, and Aston's media campaign takes off before he does, he finds himself propositioned by his unwelcome roommate Mike: trade vacations, or Mike will out Aston as a fake. Desperate to save his reputation, Aston finds himself in Finland–and falling hard for a man with a sweater almost as terrible as Dan's. Worse, Laaksonen cares as little about impressing people as Aston cares about being nice. Aston knows he has too much self-respect to fall for a man so hazardous to his reputation. But the long Polar Night poses the ultimate test to his Ibiza club dreams...

• Language: English
• Publisher: NineStar Press
• Release date: Dec 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370495320

Book preview

A NineStar Press Publication

www.ninestarpress.com

Ibiza on Ice

Copyright 2016 Gillian St. Kevern

Cover Art by Natasha Snow ©Copyright 2016

Edited by Raevyn

Published in 2016 by NineStar Press, New Mexico, USA.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, NineStar Press, LLC

Warning

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers.

Ibiza on Ice

For the Love of Christmas!

Gillian St. Kevern

Table of Contents

Ibiza on Ice

About the Author

Other books by this author

Connect with Gillian St. Kevern

Dedication

To Sera, the best writing buddy I could have.

Acknowledgements

This book would not have been possible without the encouragement of Melissa, Raevyn and Sera, and many, many members of Romance Writers New Zealand. Thank you for letting me ramble at you about my uncooperative characters!

Prologue

Jake? People were everywhere Dan looked. They streamed through the automatic doors, cheeks rosy from the cold, and cheerfully unwound their scarves in anticipation of the warmth within. Weighed down with shopping bags, others struggled against the current of shoppers to reach the doors. So many people, Dan couldn’t move without stepping on someone―and none of them was the person he was looking for. Ow!

The hard edge of a Harrods’ shopping bag caught him in the back. Dan stepped out of the flow of people, positioning his back to the wall. The woman behind him gave him a dirty look for the few-seconds holdup―and then stopped, her eyes dropping to Dan’s chest.

What’s the delay? The man behind her rustled his bags impatiently, before he too noticed Dan. He sneered. Nice sweater!

Thanks. Dan looked down at his chest. Once described as ‘something a reindeer puked up,’ his sweater was an eye-watering combination of reds, greens and browns. The sweater attracted attention, even among the tightly packed crowds of Boxing Day bargain hunters. It had earned Dan national attention and introduced him to his boyfriend. But would Jake spot him now?

Juggling his shopping bags so he could free his hand, Dan pulled out his phone. A message danced over the lock screen. Dan tapped in his touch-code, wondering if it was Jake.

Wanted to let you know exactly what you’re missing. A picture followed immediately. The deep cerulean confused Dan, as did the pure, almost white gold of the sand. The beach wasn’t just postcard perfect but miles away from Dan’s reality. As Dan looked at the sunlight on the waves, he felt the cold tendrils of the London winter drift across his unprotected neck. He had the distinct feeling of whiplash.

The knees intruding into the front half of the beach scene were another story. Only one person would text Dan a picture of his knees―Aston, Dan’s ex.

Nice view, Dan texted back. Working on your tan, I take it.

My tan will last longer than your entire relationship. Aston’s reply was immediate. It’s not Christmas now, Dan. Just watch. The two of you have nothing in common! You’re going to be thrown out with the wrapping paper.

For a moment, Dan’s anger blocked out the pressing shoppers altogether. Like you threw me out once you saw my sweater? The moment I didn’t match your precious aesthetic―

Heya. Dan looked up from his phone to see Jake, arms full of shopping bags, an outsized woollen hat pulled over his head and the biggest grin on his face.

Dan laughed. More decorations?

Jake nodded enthusiastically. His eyes shone, and his face was flushed from his battle against the throngs of shoppers. This is the best Boxing Day ever.

Dan reached over to take two more of Jake’s bags, adding them to what he already carried. I can’t believe you’d never once gone to the sales.

Honestly? I usually spend Boxing Day alone in my apartment, eating Christmas leftovers and sulking because Christmas is over and I have to wait three hundred and sixty-four days for the next.

Dan felt a twinge of worry as he steered Jake towards the automatic doors and outside. Much as I admire your dedication to the season, you know you don’t have to wait until December to indulge your dorky side, right?

Jake laughed. When else am I going to be able to go outside, dressed like this, and receive full immunity? He twirled around, scarf and shopping bags spinning with him.

If Dan had attempted the manoeuvre, he would have instantly collided with a pedestrian. Jake, however, possessed an effortless magic that allowed him to pull off both the theatrical gestures and the sweater he was wearing with equal aplomb. And the sweater…the sweater required a lot of aplomb.

Dan smiled, shaking his head. Jake’s delighted expression as he unwrapped it jumped instantly to mind. Dan’s parents and sister had teamed up to find a sweater that rivalled Dan’s own in what his mother called ‘Christmas cheer’ and everyone else called ‘sheer tackiness.’ It was navy, with a background pattern of stars worked in alternating yellow and white. If the knitter had stopped there, it would have been seasonal yet classy. Unfortunately, the knitter did not, adding to the design with a homage to Jesus in the manger that looked like a collaboration between an artistically challenged Sunday school teacher and her class.

Dan felt the tension within him ease. Jake’s happiness was infectious. As he turned to hail a cab, Dan slipped an arm around him. Look. It’s snowing again.

Jake turned his gaze to the skies eagerly. Isn’t it magical? This has been the best Christmas of my life.

Dan was unable to take his eyes off Jake’s face. The rest of the world knew him primarily as Jake Boss, radio presenter and personality, but Dan saw a completely different Jake. Impulsively, he leaned forward.

Jake took the invitation to kiss him. The shoppers streamed by, jostling them as they passed, but Dan and Jake were as secure in their happiness as if they existed within a snow globe all their own.

The cab pulled up, and they reluctantly detangled. Dan put the shopping bags in the boot as Jake gave the driver his address. It wasn’t until they’d pulled out into the road and the driver was navigating the complexities

Reviews for Ibiza on Ice

[maggiescribd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little silly but very entertaining. I enjoyed every word of it. If I was rating it solely on entertainment I would give it a 5/5, but the premise was just a little too convenient for me personally (I know - it's fiction). Overall a great reading experience.