Admiring Jesse

By Shawn Lane

Jesse is used to Valentine’s Day passing without finding his own sweetheart. But suddenly he starts receiving gifts from a secret admirer.

With encouragement from his too-sexy roommate Gilbert, Jesse opens himself to the idea that someone is actually interested in him. Though he has his doubts, Jesse can't help but wonder if his admirer could finally be the man of his dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jun 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781634864008

Shawn Lane

Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romance. She lives and works in Southern California. She has been published by Loose Id, Amber Quill Press, Evernight Publishing, MLR Press, JMS Books, and Ellora’s Cave. For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.

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Chapter 1

I can’t say I ever looked forward to Valentine’s Day. I hadn’t really given it much thought at all. Not since childhood. It was not a holiday I liked. Not that I liked any.

I was kind of the Charlie Brown of the kids when I was growing up. Other kids would invite me to their parties if they were forced to or give me Valentines because the school made us give them out to every kid, but for the most part, being small, plain, and boring, I was overlooked.

So, when I came home from my morning courses at the local community college three days before Valentine’s Day, I barely glanced at the small, red, heart-shaped box of chocolates sitting on the coffee table. I figured either it was for my roommate, Gilbert Turner, or he’d bought it to give to someone himself.

Gilbert and I had become roommates along with my cousin, Stuart, when the three of us decided to get an apartment together shortly after starting college. Gilbert had been Stuart’s best friend since grade school and I had sort of just come along for the ride. But Stuart had moved in with his girlfriend recently, so it was just the two of us now.

I had a couple of hours before I had to be at work at a nearby department store, so I went straight to the kitchen to make myself a sandwich. I was bent over digging in the crisper drawer of the fridge when Gilbert spoke from the doorway.

Hey, did you see something came for you?

I paused as my hand closed around a head of lettuce and straightened. For me?

Gilbert was smiling, showing his perfect white teeth and the two dimples he had on either side of