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I hope you\u2019re excited about my upcoming release, Just Kiss Her<\/em>. This book is an age-gap, fake-dating summer romance, filled to the brim with sun, sea, sand and spice, all washed down with a shot of tequila. It\u2019s available to buy direct on May 23rd (then out on Kindle & Kindle Unlimited on June 6th), but if you\u2019d like to read the first chapter to get you in the mood, read on\u2026<\/p>\n Just Kiss Her: Chapter One<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n They had a deal, and he\u2019d broken it. But when had Noah ever played by the rules? He\u2019d told Brooke to meet him for a birthday drink. When she arrived, eight of her friends were waiting with eager faces and filled glasses.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMake a wish!\u201d Noah held a frosted pink cupcake in front of her face, one that held more tiny candles than the surface area should allow. Basically, a fire hazard. But it still made Brooke smile. She wasn\u2019t sure how she was going to share this cupcake, though. Maybe she should just scoff it, and to hell with everyone else?<\/em><\/p>\n That\u2019s what Claudia would do.<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke\u2019s hopeful gaze darted through the crowd, peering through the smiling faces who\u2019d made the effort to be in this Soho gay bar for her 29th birthday. One year until the big one.<\/em><\/p>\n But Claudia wasn\u2019t there. Just like always.<\/em><\/p>\n Disappointment clutched her.<\/em><\/p>\n Just once in her life, she\u2019d like to be caught off-guard. It wasn\u2019t going to happen tonight.<\/em><\/p>\n Instead, Brooke leaned forward, blew out her miniature candles, and gave the room a perfectly styled grin as her friends clapped. For one moment, on this sofa at the back of this sticky-floored bar, she was being put first, and she was loved.<\/em><\/p>\n To hell with Claudia.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much everyone!\u201d She ran a hand through her shoulder-length hair. \u201cCelebrating my birthday means a lot to me, and it\u2019s extra-special having you all here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Noah swiped his inky-black boy-band fringe from his face. His dad was of Italian descent, and Noah was a walking block of Italian gold. \u201cDo you like the teeny-tiny candles?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He knew she would. Brooke loved anything miniature. Model villages were a particular weakness of hers, thanks to her gran taking her throughout her childhood. \u201cI love them!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Her other best mate Allie put an arm around her, and gave Brooke a kiss on the cheek. \u201cYou said you didn\u2019t want a birthday cake. You said nothing about a single cupcake.\u201d She glanced at Noah, then at Brooke. \u201cAre you having a good time? We so want you to have a good time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n They both gave her earnest stares. She knew what they were thinking: Is this enough to make up for her?<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke took the cupcake and put it on the table, Allie clearing a space. \u201cI\u2019m having the best time.\u201d She\u2019d contemplated celebrating at home, but she was glad she was here. \u201cThanks for making it special. Even on a Tuesday in the pouring rain.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou deserve it all, whatever the weather.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnd if you play your cards right, I\u2019ll even get you up for a duet later.\u201d Noah nodded toward the small stage at the other end of the bar where a woman was setting up for karaoke.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot on your life,\u201d Brooke countered, as Noah knew she would.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot even \u2018I Kissed A Girl\u2019?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cChance would be a fine thing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n ***<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke leaned against the outside wall of the bar, and lit up her fifth Marlboro Light of the evening. Everyone else had dispersed around London, but Noah was still here, along with Allie and her girlfriend, Gwyneth. When Brooke looked inside, they were snogging by the window. They\u2019d only been going out three months, hence snogging and shagging were central to their lives. Other key elements included white-chocolate protein yoghurts (nutritionally excellent), Argentinian malbec (life necessity), and Allie\u2019s ragdoll cat, Winnie (cuteness personified).<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGood to see you\u2019re doing well on that promise to give up smoking for your birthday.\u201d Noah lifted his glass of pinot grigio to his lips with a grin.<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke gave him the middle finger. \u201cYou cannot be nasty to me. It\u2019s still my birthday for the next,\u201d she dug her phone from her pocket, \u201c55 minutes. Deal with it, Fuckface.\u201d She didn\u2019t often call Noah by his other name, but sometimes, he earned it. \u201cBesides, birthdays do this to me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He studied her for a moment, went to say something, then stopped. He knew what birthdays meant to her, and why they were so sticky.<\/em><\/p>\n But she\u2019d enjoyed this one. She hadn\u2019t simply endured it. That was a real step up.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got an extra birthday present for you, too. A surprise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke perked up. Noah had her attention. \u201cAre you finally buying an island somewhere hot with your trust-fund windfall?\u201d He actually had a trust fund. She never thought she\u2019d be friends with someone who did.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot quite. But I do have a proposition for you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke took another drag of her cigarette. \u201cSounds intriguing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Noah gave an uncertain smile. \u201cMegan is getting married. In Mexico. In a month.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She searched her mental address book for a Megan, but drew a blank. She had not fucked a Megan. She\u2019d remember. It sounded like a posh name.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOne of my half-sisters,\u201d Noah filled in. \u201cThe youngest one.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d Noah had three half-sisters from his dad. But he didn\u2019t have much to do with that side of his family. Brooke had never met any of them. Or Noah\u2019s mum, come to that. He liked to keep his life compartmentalised, so friends and family never met. Mainly because he was queer, and wasn\u2019t out to his family yet.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a destination wedding, and my dad has splashed the cash. He\u2019s paying for everyone to go to an all-inclusive, five-star resort, all expenses paid. Including business-class flights.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDoes that mean you get champagne when you get on the plane?\u201d Brooke had seen it in the movies, and she\u2019d kill to make it a reality. She\u2019d only flown twice before, both times to Spain. Her upbringing hadn\u2019t included flights to anywhere. It was far removed from Noah\u2019s, who went to Disneyland when he was two, and had tried edamame beans by the turn of his first birthday.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMore than one glass if you smile at them nicely.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat would be incredible.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n On the street, a car flew by at speed, its bass shaking the road long after it was out of sight.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe thing is, I found out last week that everyone gets a plus one. Nobody thought to tell my mum and I.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYour mum\u2019s going?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He nodded. \u201cDad thought it would be a nice gesture. She\u2019s bringing her best mate, Rhian.\u201d He looked directly at Brooke. \u201cAnd I want to bring my best friend.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re taking your bathroom mirror?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Noah threw her a mock-scowl. \u201cIt was busy, so I decided on you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Excitement bubbled within. Dammit, she could really do with a holiday. Especially a free one. It sounded too good to be true.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cPlus, you were only telling me the other week that you needed a break. Here\u2019s one on a plate. A super-relaxing one at that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke waited for the catch.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWith one proviso.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n There it was. What had Claudia drummed into her? \u201cThere\u2019s no such thing as a free lunch.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI want you to pretend to be my girlfriend.\u201d Just as Noah said that, a woman inside burst into a rendition of Diana Ross\u2019s \u2018I\u2019m Coming Out\u2019. He had the good grace to blush.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOr,\u201d Brooke replied, swiping her hand through the air between them, \u201cyou could realise it\u2019s the 21st century, and that coming out to your family would save you a world of heartache and lies.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n They\u2019d had this conversation a million times, but Noah\u2019s answer was always the same. He wasn\u2019t close to his dad, and his dad was old-school and hardly knew anything about him. He got on with his mum and he\u2019d told her he was bi. In Noah\u2019s book, that was good enough. If he told her he was gay, she wouldn\u2019t want to lie to his dad, so it was easier to keep them both in the dark. He\u2019d come out to them both at his own pace, eventually.<\/em><\/p>\n She wished this was easier for him. Most of her friends were already out to their parents, but Brooke knew you couldn\u2019t push it.<\/em><\/p>\n When she\u2019d told Claudia she was a lesbian, she\u2019d simply nodded. Brooke had repeated it, to make sure it\u2019d registered. \u201cYes, I heard,\u201d was Claudia\u2019s response. \u201cIt\u2019s not that much of a surprise.\u201d Brooke would have liked a bit more reassurance that Claudia loved her whatever. But that went for every stage of her life, not just when she came out. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI know all of that,\u201d he replied. \u201cAnd I knew you\u2019d give me the spiel about coming out to my dad, and telling my mum I\u2019m gay, not bi. You\u2019ll be pleased to know that I plan to on this trip, after the wedding is done.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She widened her eyes. She hadn\u2019t expected that. \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut I can\u2019t do it right away. I need my dad to see me as his equal. The way to do that? Turn up with a gorgeous woman on my arm.\u201d He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. \u201cThat\u2019s you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke\u2019s insides warmed. Yes, Noah might be 100 per cent gay, and she might be a full-blown lesbian, but who didn\u2019t love to be called gorgeous?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot taking into account the many holes in your plan \u2013 it\u2019s pretty leaky, let\u2019s be clear \u2013 you think we can pull this off? Look at us.\u201d She placed her hand beneath her chin, fingers splayed. \u201cWe\u2019re pretty fucking queer last time I checked.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He shrugged. \u201cI play straight every day at work in client meetings. You\u2019ve got long hair. We can both pass.\u201d He gave her his best, perfectly curved smile. His dimple popped in his left cheek. Then he cracked his knuckles, a truly unappealing habit. Brooke would never date someone who did that.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot all lesbians have crew cuts anymore.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThey do as far as my dad\u2019s concerned.\u201d He sighed. \u201cI\u2019m not asking you to cook my dinners or bear my children. I\u2019m asking you to pretend to like me for a whole 11 days.\u201d He put a hand to his chest. \u201cI\u2019m your joint best friend, remember? Plus, all of those days will be in the Mexican sunshine, attended to by five-star staff, with cocktails on tap. It\u2019ll be a cool, relaxing breeze.\u201d He leaned in and took her hand. \u201cPlus, I pinky-gay-promise that I\u2019ll wear boxers and a T-shirt in bed at all times.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He tilted his head, and as he smiled, she marvelled afresh at his smooth skin. Then again, he was only 26. Three years Brooke\u2019s junior. Plus, he didn\u2019t smoke. Neither did she, normally. Terrible for the skin, as Claudia always told her. Which is why Claudia had done it for over three decades.<\/em><\/p>\n Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She fished it out. It wasn\u2019t Claudia. She put it away and took another drag on her cigarette.<\/em><\/p>\n Across the road, drizzle swirled in the peach glare of willowy street lamps. Yes, the circumstance surrounding Noah\u2019s offer didn\u2019t thrill her, but could she afford to say no? Eleven days in the sun. Eleven days not in her office, doing a job that was a leech on her soul. However, pretending to be Noah\u2019s girlfriend for that length of time was a tall order.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat happens when you hook up with someone at the resort?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Noah\u2019s mouth dropped open and he shook his head. \u201cI would never be unfaithful to you,\u201d he said, his voice soft. \u201cYou\u2019re my everything.\u201d He managed to keep a straight face the whole time he spoke. Then he burst out laughing.<\/em><\/p>\n She narrowed her eyes, and punched him in the biceps.<\/em><\/p>\n He reeled, letting out a tiny shriek.<\/em><\/p>\n She ignored it. \u201cI\u2019m serious! If this whole ploy is to fool your dad because you\u2019re too scared to tell him you\u2019re gay, what happens when you inevitably sleep with three waiters, all of whom arrive at our table just as your dad comes over to ask how long until we\u2019re engaged?\u201d Brooke had been out on enough nights with Noah. She knew the drill.<\/em><\/p>\n However, this time, Noah\u2019s dark, brooding features gathered on his face like an incoming storm. That was new. In the three years she\u2019d known him, she\u2019d never come across it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI honestly won\u2019t do that.\u201d He gave her a look that said he meant business. \u201cI know my track record isn\u2019t great, but this trip is about family, too. My mum\u2019s coming, it\u2019s my sister\u2019s wedding, and I want to spend time with my dad. Having you beside me as moral support would really help. Hopefully, once he sees what a swell person I am, that\u2019ll give me the courage to finally come out to him. But I need you there.\u201d His haunted, serious look deepened. \u201cWith you as my girlfriend, Dad might finally see me as a whole, proper person.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cEven though it\u2019s not exactly the best way to come out to your dad?\u201d She really couldn\u2019t stress this enough. \u201cHey Dad, I\u2019ve got a girlfriend! By the way, not really, I\u2019m actually gay!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Noah pursed his lips. \u201cI get that. But you don\u2019t know my dad. He needs to see I\u2019m just like him. Then I can tell him. If I tell him I\u2019m gay right away, he\u2019ll view me differently from the start.\u201d Noah held up a hand. \u201cI\u2019ve heard him talk about queers before. Not much of it was complimentary.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke grabbed his wine. She\u2019d already finished hers. She took a prudent sip.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI promise I\u2019ll put you first.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say that flippantly.\u201d Claudia never had. It still stung, no matter how old she was. \u201cYou know what that means to me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n But Noah didn\u2019t flinch. \u201cI do. That\u2019s why I said it. You have my word.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She wanted to believe him. \u201cYou know your dad better than me. I\u2019ve never met either of your parents.\u201d But now, she\u2019d get to know them as Noah\u2019s girlfriend? She hadn\u2019t been any man\u2019s girlfriend since she was 17. It was going to be very weird. She was used to her significant others having no stubble and tits for days.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAlthough if I agree, I\u2019m more worried about your mum. Hasn\u2019t she hated every one of your boyfriends she\u2019s met? Won\u2019t it stand to reason she\u2019ll hate me, too?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He gave her a shy smile. \u201cShe wants the best for her only son.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou told me she was a dragon.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Noah rolled his shoulders. \u201cA friendly dragon. She breathes fire, but she could also star in a Disney movie. A dragon with a heart.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut she could also kill me with one breath.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cEssentially, yes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This \u2018free\u2019 holiday came with more strings than a tampon factory. \u201cIf I do this, we have to put rules in place.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Noah\u2019s blue eyes sparkled as he sensed victory. He picked up his wine and pulled back his shoulders. \u201cLike what?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n On stage inside, two drag queens cranked out a raucous version of an Oasis track.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo cracking your knuckles for one,\u201d Brooke told him. \u201cYou know I hate that. Also, no using all the bathroom products or hogging the mirror.\u201d She held up a finger. \u201cAnd don\u2019t say you wouldn\u2019t because we both know it\u2019s true.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Noah kept his mouth firmly shut.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI could really do with a holiday, so you promise I can relax when I\u2019m not pretending to be your girlfriend? Read a book by the ocean?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll set up your lounger and waft you with branches every five minutes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cPlus, we need two beds. These resorts often do that, right? One massive bed, or two queens? I like to spread out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cTwo beds. No problem.\u201d He licked his lips. \u201cPlus, you know I don\u2019t snore. We\u2019ve shared a bed loads of times.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n There was that. \u201cBut the biggest one of all: no bringing boys back to the room. If you want some action, go to their place.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat seems fair.\u201d He held her gaze. He wasn\u2019t messing around like he normally did. That said a lot. \u201cBut I meant what I said. This is a family trip, not a normal holiday. I\u2019m taking you as my fake girlfriend. I don\u2019t plan on sleeping around.\u201d He paused. \u201cWhat do you say?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWill you drink tequila with me?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He hated it.<\/em><\/p>\n She loved it.<\/em><\/p>\n This was the acid test.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She stared at him. \u201cIt means this much to you?\u201d She already knew the answer.<\/em><\/p>\n He gulped. \u201cIt would mean the absolute world. You\u2019d be doing me a huge favour I can never fully repay you for. You can throw it in my face for years to come.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou should have led with that. When\u2019s the wedding?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMay 1st. We\u2019ll fly a week before.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBank holiday weekend?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Noah nodded.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAllie and I were thinking of going for a day trip to Brighton.\u201d But Allie could also go with Gwyneth.<\/em><\/p>\n Noah glanced towards the window. \u201cAllie will understand. If she ever comes up for air. Plus, doesn\u2019t Mexico trump Brighton?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He had a point.<\/em><\/p>\n Brooke twisted her face, then blew out a long breath. \u201cI\u2019m going to regret this, aren\u2019t I?\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n He grinned, then pulled her into a crushing hug. \u201cI promise, you won\u2019t.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo long as I can get the time off,\u201d she continued as she let him go. \u201cI\u2019ll check with my boss, but he does owe me for all the hours of unpaid overtime I\u2019ve put in. One last thing: if I have to kiss you, it\u2019s a peck on the lips and no more. Are we clear?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCrystal.\u201d Noah picked up her hand and kissed it. \u201cThank you. I can\u2019t wait for you to meet my mum, too. I think you\u2019ll get on brilliantly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Just Kiss Her is out on May 23rd in ebook to buy direct. It will be released on Kindle & Kindle Unlimited and in paperback on June 6th. If you\u2019d like to order a signed paperback copy, email me: mail@clarelydon.co.uk<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n