What I See in You

By Diana DeRicci

Kennedy has no use for holidays, and suffers through the pageantry. When Angel moves to Arbor Heights to be closer to his brother, Cupid strikes in a big way. Before Kennedy knows it, he is being courted, chased, and wooed. Angel is determined to open Kennedy’s heart and isn’t above using the spirit of the holidays to crack the wall surrounding it.

This is a re-release of a previously published book, only the publisher has changed. The content of the story has been re-edited for republication but there has been no major storyline changes from the original.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diana Castilleja
• Release date: Sep 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215439326

Diana DeRicci

Diana DeRicci is the sexy, flirty pen name of Diana Castilleja. A romance author at heart, DeRicci’s writing takes you into a saucier spectrum of sensuality and sexual adventure, where a happily-ever-after is still the key to any story. Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband, one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal. You can catch the latest news on all of Diana DeRicci’s writing and books on her website Listed above. Feel free to drop Diana an email. She’d love to hear from you.

Book preview

What I See in You

Diana DeRicci

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

About the Author

Arbor Heights Titles

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2021 by Diana DeRicci

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Published by Happy Ending Press

Cover Art/Formatting by Kris Jacen www.krisjacen.com/three-hearts

Issued 2021

This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher

CHAPTER ONE

It was the twinkling lights that annoyed him. Clear or colored it didn’t matter. It was always the ones wrapped around poles and trees like freakin’ little fairy butts, all sparkly and… Well, holiday-wintery-cheery-and-crap. Kennedy didn’t do cheery. Suffice it to say, he didn’t do anything remotely Christmas either.

Not that Arbor Heights cared about one man’s distaste for all the garish pomp and circumstance they had to trot out annually like a dog and pony show. All it did was clutter up stuff. Streetlight poles on corners with wreaths that stuck out to there. Lights that hung beneath not quite invisible wire supports, just low enough to taunt passing high-profile trucks. It was a miracle—the real kind—that entire city blocks of wire and electrical cables weren’t ripped to the ground annually. Wouldn’t that be a hoot? They’d lose their precious internet for what? A day? All for the sake of some ridiculous lights.

A ladder truck! That would be priceless! He jeered as he picked his way down the sidewalk, avoiding other pedestrians and smiling at none.

Kennedy didn’t smile at strangers. They wanted to stop and talk. Kennedy didn’t do that either.

Winter had settled in with a vengeance, though the official day was still sometime in the near future. He just knew it was friggin’ cold. Seasons meant little other than a need to change his stored wardrobe with whatever was already in the closet. Snow coated the curb where the street crews had attempted to make the streets survivable; passable was always up for debate. He tucked his chin into the cowl collar of his coat, staring upward and forward through his lashes. His gloved hands dug deep into his pockets. Puffs of iced air proved he lived.

Should just leave here, he silently bitched. It was the same complaint every year. Why he didn’t get up and go, he didn’t really know. Better to stay with the monster you know, he supposed.

Kennedy Myles had been born and raised in Arbor Heights, and couldn’t find the inclination to actually leave, even though he hated it there. It was more than that. He’d hate anywhere he went, so why bother?

At least in Arbor Heights he felt safe in comfortable surroundings, even if he knew very few people and called even fewer friends. It was still his home. All it took was one hour of news on any national channel to know how well the world would suffer one like him. Kennedy was one of them, one of the gay. The type of man women refused to make eye contact with and who would scurry past him with their children in disgust, and men… Second Amendment Rights said it all. He wasn’t a fool. He stayed quiet, stayed under the radar, and no one knew or cared. He was just another person on the street, a person behind a door that no one even had to talk to if they didn’t want to. If he didn’t want to.

Which he didn’t.

He watched his footing on the sidewalk, while the crunch of salt proved that either the city or the other shopkeepers on the stretch had taken preemptive measures against the ice. He palmed a key ring from his pocket and opened the door he’d stopped at. Inside, he replaced the lock and began opening the small jewelry repair store.

As habitual as the seasons themselves, he strode through the store to the rear to deactivate the alarm and then hung his coat on one of the large wall hooks. Stretching his shoulders with a good arm reach, he opened the safe and began to arrange the trays for the front of the store. Elspeth would be in shortly to finish setting up.

After a quick review to count pieces and a head nod that all was as he’d left it the night before, he turned for the small counter to make tea for himself and coffee for the front. He didn’t drink coffee in the mornings, but he understood consumer dynamics. Give customers a reason to linger and they likely purchased.

The front door unlocked again while he was finishing up with the hot drinks.

Morning, Kennedy, Elspeth offered as she appeared in the doorway, as bundled against the cold as he himself had been.

Morning, he replied while she hung up her coat.

She went about setting up the register, taking the drawer from the safe, when she asked, Did you see the ring request on your table?

No, I haven’t.

She counted out bills quickly. It was brought in right before closing. I told the gentleman I’d have you look at it and see if it could be done.

Okay.

It was too early in the morning for Kennedy to be chipper as both went about the routine of opening the store in the comfort of practiced ease and quiet. Kennedy didn’t do mornings well. Thankfully, Elspeth knew this and usually allowed him his first cup of tea before trying to draw him into the living.

Elspeth had been a good friend and co-worker for several years. She was also one of the few who knew he was gay, though he’d never directly said. She’d just known, surprising him ages ago by asking if he was with someone. Casual conversation. When he’d cautiously said no, she’d suggested the son of a friend. Appreciative, he’d declined and then hid for almost an hour trying to get over the shock.

With a cup of tea in hand, he propped himself on his stool behind his worktable in the best-lit corner of the store, and clicked on the magnification light. The store wasn’t very large; there were only a few display cases, as much of what he did was repair and refurbish. Kennedy had a fairly broad inventory range, from a few high-end pieces, including a couple he, himself, had created, to basic bands and chains.

He saw the image on his table beneath a paperweight. This? He wants to destroy this broach? Kennedy bit back more of his disgust. The small, round broach was beautiful, with peacock green and blue stones. He’d have to see it in hand to determine the actual stones, but by the clarity alone, he’d say they were semi-precious, like tourmalines. Very rich greens and blues that sparkled like ocean water.

He said he’d be by this morning to discuss the designs with you.

Kennedy shrugged. Okay. What a waste.