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CHAPTERONE
Fillion
Could the gift of a massage be exactly what Fillion needs to make this holiday his merriest ever?
Fillion Berry is a profitable bookshop owner, but his personal life is less successful. His Daddy left him on New Year’s last year and he’s been floundering. When his friend Chrissy discovers how bad things are getting, he enlists the help of his Daddy, Jerusalem, and together they cook up a plan to bring some holiday joy into Fillion’s life.
Spa owner Rome Aparny holds an auction every year to raise money for charity. When the highest bidder of a full-body massage gifts the item to Fillion with the note “for a lonely boy in need’, Rome thinks he knows exactly what that means and he arrives at Fillion’s store with his massage table, his oils, and the willingness to get to know Fillion better.
Could a little holiday magic turn Christian and Jerusalem’s matchmaking into a success? Find out in this Daddy Boys story.
CHAPTERTWO
PROLOGUE
“Daddy, are you home?” Chrissy had a problem, an itch in the center of his forehead, a problem.
“Kitchen,” Jerusalem called out. His Daddy met him at the kitchen doorway, wiping his hands on a drying towel. “What’s wrong, boy?” Daddy always knew.
“I need you. I have a secret…” And he hated it. He hated when his friends asked him not to tell his daddy.
Jerusalem raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Come sit at the table and tell me your secret.”
He nodded. “Yes, Daddy. Thank you, hmm?”
“You’re always welcome, Christian.” Jerusalem pulled out a couple of chairs from the table and sat on one.
He perched on the chair his Daddy had pulled out for him, trying to figure out how to tell Daddy what was going on.
Jerusalem took his hand and squeezed. “Just tell me, boy.”
“You remember Fillion? My friend from the bookstore? I went to see him today.” And the bookstore owner was… in crisis.
“I do remember him. He comes to the get-togethers sometimes, right?” At his nod, Jerusalem went on. “So was there a problem when you went to see him?” He had his Daddy’s full attention.
“He’s… he made me promise not to tell you, but… Daddy, he’s in crisis. He’s been drinking, not eating, and he’s talking about hurting himself. He’s so lonely.”
“Oh, Christian.” Daddy pulled him into those strong arms so he was sitting on his Daddy’s lap, and then hugged him. “I’m glad you broke that promise. It sounds to me like he needs a daddy of his own.”
“He had one, but… they broke up. It was ugly as hell-er-heck, I mean.”
“How long ago was that?”
“I think a while? I never met him, the Daddy. I only knew about Fillion because he saw the books I bought. The other boys and I invited him to the gatherings after he lost his daddy so he wouldn’t be quite so alone.”
“And he hasn’t been able to find anyone since and he’s hurting now, hmm? Then we should do something about it, wouldn’t you say?”
“That’s what I’m doing.” He didn’t know what to do, so he was doing… this.
“Let me think a moment.” Jerusalem was quiet, rubbing his back, soothing him. “How about we arrange for a delivery to Fillion? A delivery that includes a daddy for him.”
“Can we?” Because that would rock! “You are amazing!”
“I don’t see why not. Rome holds auctions every December to raise money for charity. We’ll bid on a home massage with special oils or something. And when we pay, I’ll just mention that Fillion is an unhappy boy.”
“He’s very handsome and smart, and he’s read everything. Literally. Everything.”
“Are you trying to sell him to me?” Jerusalem teased. “Because I already have a boy I’m quite enamored of.”
