A Present for Daddy

By J.M. Snyder

Six months after his wife leaves him, Bob Jansen finds himself spending the holidays with his parents in the town where he grew up. With him is his seven year old daughter, Jenna, who sometimes seems to be handling her mother's absence better than Bob is himself. But he's worried that, in her letter to Santa, Jenna has asked the jolly old elf for something Bob knows he can't pull off. He's afraid she wants her mother back for the holiday.
While shopping for his daughter's Christmas presents, Bob runs into Dave Knarr, an old friend. They used to be best buds in high school, before Julia, Bob's soon-to-be ex-wife, came between them. The two men catch up over drinks, and before the evening ends, Dave makes his real feelings for Bob known. 
If Bob is shocked to learn Dave has always been attracted to him, he's more surprised by his own reaction. Even if he's willing to take another shot at romance, what will his daughter think of his old friend?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Dec 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781611523898

J.M. Snyder

An author of gay erotic romance, J.M. Snyder began self-publishing gay erotic fiction in 2002. Since then, Snyder has worked with several e-publishers, most notably Amber Allure Press and eXcessica Publishing.Snyder’s short fiction has appeared online at Ruthie’s Club, Tit-Elation, Eros Monthly, and Amazon Shorts, as well as in anthologies released by Alyson Books, Cleis Press, and others.For more book excerpts, free fiction, and purchasing information, please visit http://jmsnyder.net.

Book preview

A Present for Daddy

By J.M. Snyder

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2012 J.M. Snyder

ISBN 9781611523898

Cover Credits: Wavebreak Media Ltd | bigstockphoto.com

Used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which may be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

* * * *

A Present for Daddy

By J.M. Snyder

Daddy, this one, this one!

I turn from the shelf of knick-knacks I’ve been looking over to see my seven year old daughter holding what appears to be a very expensive snow globe in both hands. Jenna, put that back.

An irresistible pout tugs at her small mouth. "But Daddy, I like it."

All too vividly, I can imagine the snow globe slipping out of her grip and crashing to the showroom floor. It probably costs as much as all the money I have in my wallet, which is supposed to last me until after the holidays. In the crash I see the end of Christmas for Jenna and myself—we’re already staying with my parents, eating their food, mooching off their hospitality. My mom might shrug dismissively and say it’s no problem, but at twenty-five, I should be on my own. On our own.

And if Jenna wants a half-decent holiday, she needs to put that snow globe down now.

"But Daddy, she tries again, shaking the globe to swirl the snow inside, as if I might have somehow missed what it did. Look how pretty it is!"

Quickly I cross the aisle and pluck the globe from her fingers. For one heart-stopping moment, I feel it slip from my grip, and I half-juggle it back onto the shelf. A higher shelf, out of her reach. No, honey, I tell her once the globe is safe and out of our hands. This is a bit more than we can afford. Remember what I told you?

Things will be tight until you start work, she recites in a sing-song voice. How many more days, Daddy? You said—

After Christmas.

Technically, after New Year’s—the construction firm I signed on with is closed for two weeks over the holidays. I’d sent in my resume in early November, but it took them forever to get around to calling me for an interview. Then there was a second interview, since some of the business partners hadn’t made the first one. Then a third interview over Skype with members of their foreign headquarters—I’d begun to think maybe they were just jerking me around, not intending to offer the job. All this for a finance position? There was also a credit check, and a background check, and I had to explain away the recent dings on my credit report and the recent court papers Julia finally got around to filing. The day Jenna and I moved out of our Richmond home and in with my parents was the same day I received the divorce papers in the mail.

Now, my pouting daughter stares up wistfully at the snow globe and sighs. "That’s a whole two days away! Gramma would love that."

I take Jenna’s small hand in mine and steer her towards a cheaper part of the store. There’s a lot in here Gramma would love. Why don’t we find something we can afford?

Jenna sighs again and picks up a ceramic bell decorated with a snowy scene. Not exactly a child’s toy, but at least it won’t break the bank if she drops it. I’d take her to the dollar store to shop for gifts if I didn’t think she’d spend all her allowance on herself.

After a moment, she rings the bell. This is nice.

It is, I agree. I’ve already glanced at the price—within my budget, even if she wants to buy two, one for each of her grandparents.

But she puts the bell back on the shelf and turns away. Daddy…

What, Beanie?

Jenna laughs. "Don’t call me that! I’m a big girl now."

I bend down to tickle her ribs through the heavy winter coat she wears. "You’re still Beanie to me. My big Beanie."

Daddy, stop! She giggles and pulls away, already reaching for something else

Reviews for A Present for Daddy

[barbara mcbride · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love the story line, its a good book, and I just love it all. please contunie to write more with kids I love those books

[shazov-133293 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute short story about a dad finding love in an unexpected place. All aided by daughter's secret wish to Santa of course!

[jules0623 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute and uncomplicated.