L. A. Heat (38 page)
Authors: P. A. Brown
A quick glance at David and he knew the older man
was startled by the invitation, but wanted to accept.
Could Chris deepen the wedge between the partners?
Was he prepared to isolate David even more because of his insecurities?
Could he do that to this man he loved more than
life?
He produced his most beguiling smile. “We accept.
Aceptamos
su invitación
.” He reached out to take the bottle of wine from David. “Now,
let me break this open. You can stay for a glass, right?”
“We’d be happy to,” Inez said.
David hung back when Martinez and Inez stepped
into the living room. He slipped his hand into Chris’s, who smiled up at him.
“Merry Christmas,” David said, stooping to catch a
quick kiss under the mistletoe Chris had hung in the alcove. “Love you.”
“Hey, love you too. Now let’s go and take care of
your guests.”
“Our guests, you mean.”
Chris squeezed his hand. Then they followed their
visitors into the living room.
UNTIL IT’S FINISHED, a novel is
a work in progress. Thanks to all the members of NovelDoc and NovelPros for
their endless patience with my requests for help and for letting me know when
it was time to let go. The critiques I got were immeasurably helpful in molding
this work into the novel you hold in your hands. A special thanks to Jamie
Lankford, Dave Shields, Jo Ann Hernandez, Sue Asher, Gloria Piper, Derek
Armstrong, James McKinnon, Art Tirrel, Vicky Hunt, Rashmi Shankar, Alan
Jackson, and Kate Johnston.
I would also like to express my endless gratitude
to the Stratford Writing Group, especially Norah-Jean Perkins, Patti Miller,
Meg Westley, and Beth Pratt, for always having an encouraging word even when
they offered criticism.
To my daughter, Victoria Bruce, who's been a great
source of inspiration to me over the years.
And to Nick Archer, Mark Jesko, John Windham, and
Lavenderquill, who have been there from the first iteration of Chris and David
and always encouraged me to go further.
To Lyn Hamilton, creator of the Lara McClintoch
mysteries, who believed in this book, and to Leona Trainer, agent
extraordinaire, who was patient with all my newbie mistakes. To Nelson Clark,
who assisted me with all my questions on Los Angeles, a special thanks.
A very special thanks also to Officer Manuel
Portillo of the Los Angeles Airport Police and vice president of the Los
Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association, who helped me get the police facts
right. Any errors or omissions are my own negligence or artistic license.
Another special thanks to all the great people at
Alyson who actually paid me to write! You rock.
And finally, thanks to the wonderful city of Los
Angeles and the freaky, crazy, marvelous people who live there. Without you
there would be no story.