Stay

By Alexa Milne

An act of kindness is never wasted.

Ben Harwood loves his grandmother. When he visits her in the hospital, another old lady, Ivy, expresses a longing for an orange, so Ben, who works in a supermarket, takes her oranges the next day.

Later, after attending his grandmother's funeral, he discovers that Ivy has died too, and decides to pay his respects. There, he meets Ivy's grandson, Martin Riley, and the attraction is instant. To his amazement, Ben finds he has become a bit of a hero to the Riley family, who have traveled over from America. For Martin, Ben breaks his three-date rule more than once. Is this simply a holiday romance with great sex, or can he and Martin build something more permanent?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jul 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784306717

Alexa Milne

Originally from South Wales, Alexa has lived for over forty years in the North West of England. Now retired, after a long career in teaching, she devotes her time to her obsessions. Alexa began writing when her favourite character was killed in her favourite show. After producing a lot of fanfiction she ventured into original writing. She is currently owned by a mad cat and spends her time writing about the men in her head, watching her favourite television programmes and usually crying over her favourite football team.

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Stay

ISBN # 978-1-78430-671-7

©Copyright Alexa Milne 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright June 2015

Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown

Totally Bound Publishing

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, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 1.

STAY

Alexa Milne

An act of kindness is never wasted.

Ben Harwood loves his grandmother. When he visits her in the hospital, another old lady, Ivy, expresses a longing for an orange, so Ben, who works in a supermarket, takes her oranges the next day.

Later, after attending his grandmother’s funeral, he discovers that Ivy has died too, and decides to pay his respects. There, he meets Ivy’s grandson, Martin Riley, and the attraction is instant. To his amazement, Ben finds he has become a bit of a hero to the Riley family, who have traveled over from America. For Martin, Ben breaks his three-date rule more than once. Is this simply a holiday romance with great sex, or can he and Martin build something more permanent?

Dedication

I’d like to thank my lovely readers, Cath and Dawn, for casting their eyes over this story, and my editor, Faith, for making it better.

Stay is dedicated to Betty, Emma, Ivy and all game old girls. I aspire to follow in your footsteps.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Moonlight Serenade: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group

Facebook: Facebook, Inc.

Prius: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Spiderman: Marvel Comics

Chapter One

Ivy sighed and gazed at him. She was a game old girl and in the small hospital because her husband had done in his back by lifting her onto their bed. I’ve such a longing, she said.

Could an eighty year old look coquettish? Ben smiled. Oh yes, he said, noting her twinkling eyes. He never knew what Ivy might say next. Anything I can help with, Ivy? He’d been visiting his grandmother in the ward for a few days now, and he’d gotten to know the other women, listening to their stories over tea and biscuits, but Ivy, whose closest relatives lived abroad, had gained a special place in his heart, even after such a short time.

I’d really love something I haven’t had in years. I don’t even know if you can get them these days, Ivy continued. I’d love an orange—one of those big blood oranges—but with my poor hands, I can’t even peel them now. Oh well, I guess I’ll have to make do with juice. She sighed again and bent over to suck her tea through a straw.

Ben didn’t say anything, but he knew he’d be able to get her some at his store. He turned to his gran who had fallen asleep in the chair next to his. She was in there for two weeks while his parents were away on a much-needed holiday in the winter sun of the Costa del Sol. The doctor had told his mother if she didn’t rest, she’d be in the hospital instead. His gran hadn’t been happy, but Ben had agreed to visit her every day, sometimes twice if he could fit it in with work. She was in her early eighties now and beginning to fade. Her life had been reduced to being in one room, mostly in bed, looked after by his mum. She wouldn’t have anyone else, and his mother would never consider putting her mother-in-law in a home. He touched her hand, not wanting to wake her, but he knew if he didn’t, she’d be annoyed with him