Luca Lays it Down

By Alexandra Reed and E.S. McMillan

Luca Konig marches to the beat of his own drum - in both life, and in love. Raised in Milan, Italy by a hardworking single mother, he knows hardship well. When a music internship in New York is offered to him he jumps at the chance of a better life for himself, and for his mother.After losing a drumming competition out of state, Luca heads back to New York even more determined to focus on a career in the music industry.What he doesn't plan on is sexy fireman Gage Maxwell inadvertently turning his life upside down, leaving him uncertain of his true desires! When it comes to his heart, will Luca keep playing hard and fast or is he finally ready to lay it down for just one guy?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fiery Vision Publishing
• Release date: Dec 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393918097

Book preview

Luca Lays it Down

Twelve Drummers Drumming Series

By

Alexandra Reed & E.S. McMillan

Dedications:

To all my readers and supporters - keep laying it down!

~ A.R.

To my Peeps ~ Thank you guys so much for being with me on this journey!

~ E.S.M.

Acknowledgements:

Thank you so much Tiffany for the cover and including me in this amazing project! 

FVP Family, thank you for being an amazing family to be a part of!

~ A.R.

Mel ~ Thank you for holding the fort down while I disappear to write and follow my dreams! I love you to the moon & back!

Jennifer W.O. ~ Thank you for helping out with this project! I appreciate you so much!!!

Kaila K ~ I will never be able to thank you for all that you have done to help me! I hope you know that I plan on keeping you!

~ E.S.M.

Synopsis:

Luca Konig marches to the beat of his own drum - in both life and in love. Raised in Milan, Italy by a hardworking single mother, he knows hardship well. When a music internship in New York is offered to him he jumps at the chance of a better life for himself, and for his mother.

After losing a drumming competition out of state, Luca heads back to New York even more determined to focus on a career in the music industry.

What he doesn’t plan on is sexy fireman Gage Maxwell inadvertently turning his life upside down, leaving him uncertain of his true desires!

When it comes to his heart, will Luca keep playing hard and fast or is he finally ready to lay it down for just one guy?

Chapter One – Luca

I slammed the cupboard door shut in frustration. Making a snap decision, I grabbed my apartment keys and headed to the store. It had only been a month since the Twelve Drummers Drumming Talent Competition and my epic failure to make it big. Grimacing at the memory of leaving the competition a loser, I feel my stomach knot. These days I can barely tell if it’s hunger or anxiety causing the discomfort.

Ciao, Luca.

Looking up, I notice Mrs. Mancini sweeping dust off the stairs to her building. She was still quite spry for someone of her age. Smiling, I wave at her. Hey Mrs. M. You need something from the store?

Grazie, no, she replied, waving him off.

Mrs. M. was the neighborhood watch, or as close to it as you could get. At least I fell in her good books. No one wanted to be on her bad side if they could help it.

After a short walk, I ducked into the store and grabbed a shopping cart. Not because I was getting a lot, but because I was feeling lazy. My drive had all but disappeared on me lately and it was a miracle I even got out of bed in the mornings. Today was a rough day though, and one that could only improve with copious amounts of junk food and a pity party for one in my lonely apartment. At least it was Friday, and I didn’t have to deal with my internship for three days. I did have to find another job though, and soon, if I wanted to continue living in the neighborhood that is.

Lost in thought, I didn’t notice anyone in front of me until I walked straight into him, my chest connecting with his solid one, and loudly.

Scusi, I mumbled, quickly stepping back. My fault.

No problem, as long as you’re okay?

I glanced at the man in front of me and my heart did a somersault. He was bellisimo – perfection. His dark skin rippled over his visible muscles, his tee-shirt stretched impossibly tight over his chest and arms, and his smile...well, it took my breath away. Cocoa colored eyes stared at me in concern as I forgot how to speak.

Hey, are you okay? he asked again, placing his basket on the floor, and taking a step toward me.

Um, yeah. Just a rough day, I somehow manage to say, trying desperately to tear my eyes away from his.

I’m Gage, Gage Maxwell, he said, holding his hand out in greeting.

Luca Konig, I replied, shaking his hand, trying to ignore the electricity his touch was leaving on my skin. I apologize for walking into you. I’ll leave you to it.

Hey, before you go, I could use some advice, Gage said, his rich honeyed voice sending shivers through me.

On? I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Well, I’m getting a whole bunch of snacks for the guys at the firehouse and I’m stuck between getting plain potato chips or the meat flavored potato chips. How do you feel about meat, Luca? Gage asked, suggestively.

I prefer it, I replied without thinking. Mentally shaking myself at my forwardness, I panic for a second wondering if he’s really hinting at what I think he is, or whether I’m just reading too much into a simple question.

Hmm, good to know. I don’t know about the other guys, but I only go for meat myself, Gage winked as he slipped the potato chips into his basket.

Um, yeah. They’re rather good, I stammered. Feeling awkward, I reach out and grab a bag for myself, unsure of where this whole situation was heading.

So, do you fancy doing some snack hunting with me, Little Luca?

Little? I may not be as buff as Mr. Hottie, but I still have abs. He is taller than me though, and wider in a ‘Hulk, smash’ kind of way. I guess I could understand how I’d be ‘little’ compared to him. My pride still bristled at the nickname though.

Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it. Sorry, I just...ah shit. Most people are smaller than me, okay and I happen to give out nicknames like they’re candy or something, he apologized, grabbing my arm as I turned to walk away.

Okay, I smiled half-heartedly. I don’t mind, just never been called ‘little’ before.

Gage looked me up and down, his rich eyes trailing over my entire body before hovering over my crotch. I bet you haven’t, he chuckled. Come on, I need your assistance.

I wandered around the snack aisles with Mr. Hottie, debating the merits of assorted snack items for a while before ending up behind him in the queue. I’d normally grumble about being stuck behind someone with more items than me, but this time I couldn’t even if I wanted to – the view of his ass was entertainment enough to pass the time as I waited for him to finish.

I’ll be seeing you around then, Little Luca, Gage chuckled, flexing his muscles as he gathered his bags and lazily strolled out of the shop.

Moving to take his place, I set my cloth bags down eagerly and began bagging my items. Flinching a bit at the total, I reluctantly handed my card over to the teller and sighed in relief as the payment went through. Thanking her, I gathered my bags to leave.

Sir, your card, the woman called out before I’d taken two steps.

Frowning at my carelessness, I returned to retrieve it, thanked her again and left the store.

The walk home was uneventful. Mrs. M waved as I passed her again. Few people were outside yet thankfully. The neighborhood would be noisy over the weekend as always. It didn’t bother me normally but all I wanted right now was peace and quiet and to sleep my worries away.

Hurrying up to my apartment on the second floor, I let myself in and dumped the bags on the kitchen counter. Remembering I’d slipped my card into my pocket, I pulled it out to put it back in my wallet when I noticed something odd.

It wasn’t my card. It was Gage’s.

Oh shit.

Chapter Two - Gage

Little Luca. I thought to myself with a smile as I pulled my small blue car into the open fire station. Looking around, I noticed that mine was the only car in the parking area. Hopefully that meant that I had the place to myself for a little bit. Taking advantage of the quiet, I leaned back the worn leather seats and let my eyes fall closed. Images of the sexy man that had literally run into me and took my breath away ran through my mind as my smile widened across my face.

KNOCK...KNOCK...KNOCK! The loud rapping on the car window snatched me out of my thoughts of the sexy ace I had met earlier. You okay in there? Ty, my best friend and fellow firefighter asked. The concern for me was written all over Ty’s face. We have been inseparable since the age of six, when Ty and his father moved next door to me and my family. We became instant friends and brothers. 

I’m fine, I reassured him as I shook away the thoughts of Luca. Turning in my seat to gather the bags full of food from the back seat of the car, Help me get these into the kitchen.

What’s for dinner? Ty asked as his stomach audibly rumbled. Ty was a huge fan of my work in the kitchen. He always thought that after high school, I would enroll in culinary school and eventually go study under a famous chef in some foreign country like Italy or France. He was so surprised when I announced that I was going to become a firefighter. I definitely had the body for it, but Ty knew that my heart was in the kitchen. 

I was thinking my famous spaghetti, fresh garlic knots and hand-tossed salad. I informed Ty as I handed him a cloth bag filled with food.

I think I will pass on the salad, Ty responded with a smirk.

You don’t know what you are missing. The fresh veggies that I picked up from the market are amazing, I informed him as I slid out of the car with the remainder to the groceries.

What’s for dessert?

Little Luca.  I mean cookies and chips, I replied. Hoping that Ty didn’t catch on to my little slip, I quickly walked past him and into the quiet firehouse.  Placing the bags of