Icecapade

By Josh Lanyon

“A fun and flirty story . . . I can’t resist a good romance between a staid lawman and a cheeky, sly thief and Josh Lanyon delivers that and more.” —Joyfully Reviewed (Recommended Read)

On the eve of the new millennium, diamond thief Noel Snow seduced FBI special agent Robert Cuffe, then fled into the dawn. Now a successful novelist, Noel uses his capers as fodder for his books, and has modeled his hero’s nemesis (and potential love interest) on Cuffe. Though he leaves Robert a drunken phone message every New Year’s Eve, Noel hasn’t seen or heard from him in a decade.

So he’s thrilled when his former lover shows up at his upstate farm one Christmas Eve. Elation quickly turns to alarm when Robert accuses Noel of being responsible for a recent rash of diamond heists. Robert is all business and as cold as ice: it seems his only interest in Noel is to put him behind bars.

Innocent of the crimes, and still as attracted as ever to the oh-so-serious lawman, Noel plans a second seduction—providing he can stay out of jail long enough!

“The story was sweet in the men’s awkwardness but it was a step toward what could be and it was very heart-warming.” —Book Binge

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Dec 6, 2010
• ISBN: 9781426890925

Josh Lanyon

Author of nearly ninety titles of classic Male/Male fiction featuring twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance, JOSH LANYON’S work has been translated into eleven languages. Her FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Harlequin Mondadori, then the largest romance publisher in Italy. Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.She is an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All-Time Favorite M/M Author award.Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.comFollow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Book preview

Prologue

January 1st, 2000

The world did not end.

Given his hangover, maybe it should have. Noel stared up at the tiny red eye of the hotel room smoke detector. A little late for red lights, considering the warm weight lying against him, the muscular hairy leg tangled with his own, the big hand resting possessively on his groin.

Talk about having him by the balls.

He smiled faintly, turned his head on the fine linen pillowcase to study his bedmate. Tumbled black curls, a strong nose, a thin, ironic mouth. Not a handsome face, exactly, but undeniably attractive in a craggy, tough guy way.

So this was FBI Special Agent Robert Cuffe.

Noel’s lips twitched with self-mockery. Well, that answered one question.

He resisted the temptation to touch his mouth to the surprisingly soft lips a few inches from his own. As dearly as he’d love to wake Cuffe up for another round of fun and games, play time was over. He could see the watery frame of light around the top of the long ivory draperies. It must be five-thirty or so. Longer than he’d intended to stay.

Cuffe muttered in his sleep, a gust of alcohol-scented breath warming Noel’s ear. Noel’s mouth curved again. Cuffe was a big guy and he could hold his drink all right, but Noel knew a trick or two to even the odds. Even so, there was no pretending he too hadn’t been drunk off his ass last night. To take that kind of a chance?

Definitely the worse for drink.

But it had been worth it.

From his standpoint anyway. Cuffe might feel differently once he figured out who had actually been seducing whom. Not much of a sense of humor, Special Agent Cuffe. Took himself and his mission very seriously. And his mission last night had been to try and get the goods on diamond thief Noel Snow.

And he’d been close. Not as close as he thought, but close enough. Closer than anyone else had come in the three years Noel had been in business. In fact, Noel had begun to take a friendly interest in Cuffe—even before last night.

He stretched cautiously, respectful of his aching head and the tiny, mostly pleasurable pangs of a body well used. Cuffe’s hand flexed in a responsive, an unconscious caress, and Noel’s cock came instantly awake. He mentally shook his head. at himself.

But God, it had been good. What he wouldn’t give to lie curled against Cuffe’s long, strong body for a couple more hours. When Cuffe woke they could have a nice leisurely fuck, shower together, perhaps order room service. The Michelangelo had the best coffee and hot croissants outside of Paris.

But no. Cuffe would probably resemble a bear with a hangover. He was too smart not to start questioning his good luck the night before, and before long he’d put two and two together and Noel would be in bracelets—the stainless steel kind. After that, it would only be a matter of time before Cuffe figured out exactly where Dahlia Boaz’s 33-carat diamond ring had been stashed.

Speaking of which, Noel needed to get downstairs before the cleaning crew got rolling.

He threw his bedmate a final cautious look. Cuffe continued to sleep the sleep of the just. The just fucked. His face was hard even in his dreams, softened only by ridiculous eyelashes—as thick and dark as a doll’s.

Keeping his breaths even and slow, his movements minimal, Noel inched out from beneath Cuffe’s arm and slid to the edge of the bed. He rose, careful not to bounce the mattress, and stood for a moment watching Cuffe in the gloom.

Was he faking?

No.

Not much for subterfuge, Cuffe, regardless of what he believed. For nearly two years they’d been playing cat and mouse, and all this time Cuffe had imagined he was the cat. Noel had become quite fond of his endearingly single-minded nemesis. He always made sure to leave a few promising clues for him, enough to guarantee Cuffe remained point man on his case.

Of course after last night…well, Noel had his own problems to deal with after last night.

It took him less than three minutes to pack his remaining belongings. He never really unpacked. He’d enjoyed watching Cuffe painstakingly—considering how smashed he was—rifle through his suitcase last night while Noel feigned sleep.

Easing open the hotel door, he hung out the Do Not Disturb sign, slipped into the hall and soundlessly closed the door behind him.

At this time of the morning it only took a couple of seconds to catch an elevator to the main lobby, chill and pristine as a marble tomb following the revelries of the night before. A hint of antiseptic hung in the air. Noel could hear the distant howl of a vacuum. Through artful arrangements of creamy orchids and gilt Italian vases he spotted household staff going about their duties.

There was no sign of surveillance. No sign that anyone was paying him any attention at all. Why would they? Everyone in the city was probably recovering from the night before and the blow out New Year’s Eve party in Times Square.

Noel checked out without incident, and headed straight to the downstairs lavatory. Using the small, universal key on his fob, he opened the door of the metal trash container, moved the basket out of the way, and retrieved the plastic wrapped ring he had left tucked in the back of the metal compartment. He unzipped the lining of his London Fog trench coat, dropped the

Reviews for Icecapade

[crtsjffrsn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A short story about thief-turned-novelist Noel Snow who once seduced FBI agent Robert Cuffe before disappearing with the spoils of one of his heists. Snow has gone on to model one of the characters in his book series after Cuffe and, though it's been years since they've seen each other, he still finds himself fascinated with the lawman. So it's with a bit of a thrill (both excitement and fear) for Snow when Cuffe shows up at his home just before Christmas. Cuffe makes it clear he's there as part of an investigation and is convinced Snow is guilty - but can Snow prove he wasn't involved in this recent string of crimes? Can he find a way to get Cuffe to forgive him for what happened years ago (and since)?

A shorter story, but very well-written, which is something I've come to expect from Josh Lanyon. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Cuffe and Snow and their exchanges throughout the book make both the tension and the way they both feel about the past really come to life on the page. I definitely give this one a recommendation.

[drez-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this! Cute, short story about an ex-criminal and the cop who was trying to catch him. Great ending!

[kaysbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A short story for Christmas; that has to be a wee bit kitschy and o so romantic. Well, Lanyon dishes out a nice little Christmas story that remains just a bit too much on the surface of emotions.After Noel had a one-night-stand with Robert, things could have been perfect if their professional choices would op against it because Noel is a jewel thief and Robert a FBI-agent. That’s why Noel flees after their first encounter but can’t forget the other man. Like Cary Grant in “To Catch a Thief” he ends his career and lives in a beautiful house. And to handle his feelings for Robert he writes detective stories until some 10 years later, Robert shows up at his front door but apparently not for a reconciliation but with questions about a series of thefts with Noel’s MO. It’s two days before Christmas; time enough to figure things out and get a perfect Xmas on the road. Will there be a happy end? Duh!!I liked the story but would have loved to learn more about Lanyon’s men, not only here them bickering around. But a nice read on a relaxed winter Christmassy night.

[ellenavondale · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My first m/m story. Very sweet. Well written. Premise is out there, FBI agent and career cat burglar hook up, then ten years later they hook up HEA.

But it is a novella, it's a romance and it's well written...good enough for me.

[ellen1213_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My first m/m story. Very sweet. Well written. Premise is out there, FBI agent and career cat burglar hook up, then ten years later they hook up HEA.

But it is a novella, it's a romance and it's well written...good enough for me.

[dianeyu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Christmas enemies to lovers story that will make you laugh and make you hope that it can all work out. Really enjoyed it.