Fake Date Flip-Flop: The Williamsville Inn, #3

By Hank Edwards

The first family wedding after a painful breakup. A milestone high school reunion. A hotel with a history of romantic meetings and happily ever afters.

 

While checking in at the Williamsville Inn, Nash and Tobias meet and feel an immediate spark of attraction. During an impromptu shared dinner, they commiserate about being single for their weekend events: the wedding of Nash's niece, and Tobias' thirtieth high school reunion.

 

When they hatch a plan to be each other's fake date for the weekend, neither man realizes that while they're pretending to be an item to satisfy nosey family and inquisitive friends, they just might end up falling in love for real.

 

This story is set at the Williamsville Inn and is part of the Williamsville Inn Series of gay romance stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hank Edwards
• Release date: Jul 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223403241

Hank Edwards

Hank Edwards has been writing gay erotic fiction for more than twenty years. He has written over two dozen novels and even more short stories. His writing crosses many sub-genres, including romance, rom-com, contemporary, paranormal, suspense, mystery, and wacky comedy. Find out more at www.hankedwardsbooks.com.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Nash scowled out the car window at the snow piled up along the side of the road. Upstate New York in winter was not where he ever envisioned using up four precious vacation days the second week of January. But here he was, and once he checked in at the hotel, he'd feel more settled. This was Lottie's weekend, and that was all that mattered.

Still, a wedding two weeks after New Year's? And in a town pretty much synonymous with heavy snowfall? Nash figured he reserved some right to mentally gripe about the situation.

The Uber driver grumbled something about traffic and weather, but Nash wasn't really listening. All this snow reminded him of the trip he and Mike had taken to that ski resort in Colorado. It had been over Christmas, but how long ago? Three years? Five? When it came down to it, Nash guessed it didn't really matter. His and Mike's relationship had lasted twelve years, but sometimes it seemed to Nash as if everything had been condensed, so it all happened within the span of a single year. Including the painful breakup.

Nash's reminiscing was interrupted by the driver turning into a hotel parking lot, and he frowned as he looked out the window. This is it?

This is it, the Williamsville Inn.

It looked very lived in, as his sister probably said, and he couldn't wait to hear her opinion about the place her daughter had chosen for her wedding. Nash got out, shivered in a blast of frigid air, and pulled his coat tighter around him. The driver grabbed his bag from the back of the SUV, waved, and then climbed behind the wheel and drove off.

After wrangling his suitcase into the lobby, Nash used the app to give the driver a twenty percent tip and a five-star rating, and then approached the front desk. All he wanted was a keycard to get in his room and a good meal from room service. Maybe a thick steak paired with a velvety red wine. Not good for his waistline, but damn good for his mind.

A man and woman worked the desk, the woman busy with at attractive male guest. As he approached, Nash automatically checked the guy out. Late forties probably, like Nash himself, he had some silver threads running through his dark hair. He was shorter than Nash's six foot three, but not by much, and looked like he had a tight, toned body underneath his layers of clothing.

Good afternoon, sir, said the clerk behind the desk. His name tag read Clayton. Welcome to the Williamsville Inn. How may I help you?

I have a registration. Nash Ward.

Clayton typed rapidly. I see you're here for the Bushnell-Cooper wedding. They're a wonderful couple.

Yes, they are. Lottie Cooper is my niece.

She's very sweet. I've talked with them myself several times. Okay, I've got you in a king room with a mini-fridge and a courtyard view. Your checkout day is Monday by noon.

Sounds right. Nash pulled out his wallet and handed Clayton a credit card. Glancing to his left, he caught the man beside him looking him over. Nash smiled. You here for the wedding?

The man shook his head. Unfortunately, no. I'm here for a class reunion.

Oh? Nash looked around the small and slightly claustrophobic lobby. There's enough space for two events in one weekend?

The desk workers both laughed, and the woman—Stacey, according to her name tag—said, There are three ballrooms in the hotel. This weekend, we're hosting your niece's wedding as well as the thirtieth high school reunion for Williamsville East High School.

Okay, no need to go throwing number of years around, the handsome guest said.

Nash smiled. Forty-eight looks good on you.

Well, thank you. He extended a hand. Tobias Hudson.

Nash Ward. It was nice Tobias held onto his hand a little longer than was customary, making Nash perk up a bit. When Tobias released his hand, Nash stroked his own full, mostly silver beard. And in case the silver didn't give it away, I'm right up there with you. Forty-nine.

It looks good on you, too.

Tobias’s tone and lingering look boosted Nash’s spirits even more. It had been a long time since he’d felt a mutual spark with someone, and he was surprisingly disappointed Tobias wouldn’t be attending the wedding.

Stacey handed Tobias back his credit card and then a room keycard tucked inside a paper folder. A moment later, Clayton repeated the process with Nash.

Your room number is here. Clayton pointed to the paper envelope where 318 was written. Elevators are down the hall on the left. The breakfast buffet is open from 7:30 until eleven each morning.

Sounds good, Nash said. How late is the kitchen open for room service?

Clayton and Stacey both made faces, and Clayton said, I'm sorry. We don't have a kitchen or dining area in the hotel, so no room service. There are takeout menus and a list of nearby restaurants in the welcome folder in your room.

Nash's expression must have given away exactly what he thought about the situation because Clayton took a step back and whispered, Again, so sorry.

When he turned away from the desk, Nash was surprised to find Tobias waiting a few feet away.

Hey, Tobias said, and Nash thought he detected a little tremor in his voice. Nerves, maybe? I know a great place that's not far from the hotel. Would you and your wife want to join me for dinner? He smiled, hands folded over the extended handle of his suitcase.

I don't have a wife or girlfriend. Don't have a husband or boyfriend, either, in case you're thinking about asking.

Well, even better because I'm flying solo as well. Come on, what do you say?

Nash blew out a breath. How far is it?

Not far. And I've got a rental car, so I'm happy to drive.

In this weather?

This? Tobias smirked as he gestured toward the lobby doors. This is just the warmup.

The smile sold him on the idea. All right. But fair warning, I'm pretty hungry, and I get ornery when I haven't eaten.

Noted. Let's drop off our bags in our rooms and meet down here in half an hour?

Yeah, okay, Nash said.

Perfect. They both turned for the elevator, and Tobias laughed. Nash liked hearing Tobias laugh, liked how hearing him laugh made him feel. Crazy, since they literally met minutes before. Let me guess, Tobias said, are you on the third floor, too?

Yeah, 318.

I'm in 326. How about I just knock on your door in half an hour?

That'll work.

They were both silent as they waited for the elevator, but once they'd stepped in and the doors closed, Tobias asked, So, is it gnash like what a person does with their teeth?

Nash gave him a long look. "No. There's no g at the beginning."

Tobias smirked. Just wondered. I ask because you seem a little…

Nash raised an eyebrow.

Intense.

The elevator doors opened on the third floor, and they stepped out. Their rooms were in the same direction, of course, and Nash led the way.

It's my first family event in a while. Since the brutal breakup with Mike. I'm feeling a little stressed.

Good thing the steakhouse we're going to has an extensive bar.

Nash grunted an acknowledgement, then stopped in front of his room and dipped the keycard into the lock to open the door.

See you in half an hour, Tobias said and gave him an over-the-shoulder wave as he continued down the hall.

Nash took a moment to check out Tobias’s ass and thick thighs before stepping into his room. The hours and stress of travel started to peel off him as he kicked off his shoes, then set his suitcase on the luggage stand in the closet and hung up his suit. With his toiletries kit in hand, he stepped into the bathroom. It wasn't as large as he would have liked, but it was clean and appeared to have been recently updated.

He removed his shirt and pants, washed his face, and brushed his teeth, then combed his hair and beard. Taking a moment to study himself, he tried to look beyond the abundance of silver in his hair and beard and the dark skin beneath his eyes, working to pick out the good instead of the flaws.

The silver in his hair