The Impersonator

By Shawn Lane

After Benjamin Pomeroy has hot club sex with Trey, a gorgeous new employee at the Las Vegas hotel where he works, he loses his job as the Elvis impersonator when the hotel’s new CEO, Maxwell Orton, decides Elvis doesn’t fit the hotel’s image.

Originally from New Orleans, Orton is fond of Mardi Gras, thus the Masquerade Ball to introduce himself to the executive staff of the hotel.

Because he lost his job, Ben agrees to impersonate his older brother, an executive at the hotel, for money when his brother doesn’t want to cancel his plans.

It’s an idiotic idea and he knows it, but he finds himself at the Masquerade Ball anyway. He’s intent on staying two hours and getting out fast when he has yet another encounter with the sexy, mysterious Trey.

But soon Ben realizes he can’t easily escape the fact that his enigmatic lover is Orton himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Feb 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781685503567

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.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Oh, Elvis! Elvis! Over here! a big, blonde buxom woman screeched at Benjamin Pomeroy.

Plastering a smile on his face, Ben opened his arms so the woman could embrace him. Her sweet perfume mixed with sweat made his nose twitch, but he continued to smile as the man with her snapped their picture.

Now let me get one of you and Elvis kissing, the middle-aged, balding man in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts ordered.

Not a kisser. He hated those the most. The woman turned her head and planted a big, wet, lipstick coated kiss full on his mouth. She tried to stick her tongue in his mouth, but Ben managed to keep his teeth firmly in the way. The man with her snapped several pictures.

Okay, Lucy, the man said. Let’s go. I’m hungry.

Sure, sure. She bumped Ben with her hip. See you later, Elvis.

Ben waited until they were out of sight and no one else was looking to carefully remove a handkerchief out of his tight leather pants. He wiped his lips and returned it to his pocket.

The only good thing about today, being dressed from head to toe in clingy black leather with his dark hair slicked back in the Elvis style, not to mention full makeup, was that at least it was February instead of summer. The summer in full Elvis costume standing just inside the doorway of the casino had been murder.

Ben checked the watch he had hidden in his costume. Break time. Thank God.

He made his way past the noisy slot machines, stopping to give the Elvis lip curl to those who waved at him, and down the long hallway with the sign Hotel Employees Only.

He wanted to wash off the heavy foundation makeup he wore, but knew he’d have to be out on the casino floor of The Roman Hotel and Casino again in fifteen minutes. Slipping inside the little break room for the employees on this side of the hotel casino, he grabbed a cold water from the fridge located there and sat at a little corner table. Other than himself there was an African American cocktail waitress sitting at another table using her cell phone.

Which reminded Ben he should probably check his own phone for messages. He had to turn the phone off on the floor. Employees were forbidden to take calls while working. Fishing it out of the back pocket of the snug pants, he turned it on.

He only had one message and it was from his boyfriend, Joe.

Hey, it’s me. Listen, I tried to find a way to tell you this, but well, I never could. I’m moving out today. I’m sorry.

Ben swallowed and stared at the phone, his stomach giving a sickening lurch. He shook his head. Had to be a joke or something. Didn’t it?

His finger shaking, he hit the speed dial for Joe.

Oh, Joe said after two rings. There you are. Good. I’m going to leave my key on the coffee table.

Wait, what? I don’t understand. He turned to face away from the cocktail waitress. He leaned his elbows on his knees.

Joe sighed. Look, you’re a good kid, Ben. But sometimes things don’t work out.

Don’t work out? We’ve been living together for six months.

That’s pretty good. As long-term as anyone’s ever gotten out of me. I’m leaving Vegas.

His heart racing, Ben frowned. Leaving? You’re in a show.

His boyfriend—former—snorted. I’m an unnamed dancer in a tits and ass show. So what? I got one of the hotels up in Reno offering me a featured role in a show starting next month.

Reno? You’re going to Reno?

Looks like. Maybe. I might go back to New York for a couple weeks, even. My mom’s been sick so maybe I’ll pay her a visit. Anyway, sorry, kid. No hard feelings. Being with you was real nice.

Real nice . His heart was breaking and being with him had been nice? He glanced at his watch. Fuck, Elvis needed to get back on the floor.

I gotta go back to work, he whispered.

Yeah, my ride’s here anyway. Okay, kiddo, next time I’m in Vegas we’ll get together for a one-nighter.

What?

Joe laughed. You got an ass made for fucking.

His eyes clenched tight, Ben shook his head. Fuck you, Joe. He hit end call and turned off his phone. Ben got up and shoved his phone back in the pocket of his pants. During his conversation the cocktail waitress had left and the break room was empty. He tossed the water bottle in the recycle bin and headed back to his post at the front of the casino.

* * * *

Ben smiled and preened his way through a couple more hours of pictures and casino visitors, every once in a while sneaking a peak at his watch to see how soon he would get off work.

When he finally only had a half an hour to go, his attention was distracted from a family who wanted their picture taken with him by a large group of hotel staff members walking quickly through the casino. The group of them gathered around one man, though Ben couldn’t see the man very well. They looked like an entourage.

Among them, he couldn’t help noticing, was his older brother, Phillip. While Ben’s job was to entertain tourists, his brother was a staff vice president. And Ben wasn’t the least bit jealous. No, of course not.

Elvis!