Chapter 1

A TWIST AND TWO BALLS

Eduardo Mancini is going to

be a star of the London stage and screen. Or that was the plan. His alter ego

Eddy March hasn’t got further than the chorus and a bit part in a TV series.

His parents aren’t supportive, his agent can’t place his particular skills, and

he’s finding it hard to hang onto his young dreams. Things go from bad to worse

when he’s late for an important audition, hasn’t got enough to money to pay the

taxi fare, and is chased across the streets of Soho by the irate driver

Eddy reaches what he

believes is sanctuary – “With A Kick”, a store where ice creams are blended

with alcohol and imagination, and where his friends can help him. But Nuri the

taxi driver is persistent in his steady pursuit, above and beyond the money

he’s owed. Despite their very different characters and background, Eddy and

Nuri’s relationship goes from a complete unknown to a wary balancing act. There

are still mistakes to be made, and hurdles to clear. And both of them have to

admit that their life so far hasn’t gone the way they planned. But maybe being

caught by Nuri was just what Eddy needed – both for his job and his heart.

SLAP AND TICKLE

Bryan

Harrison is a successful accountant and a man who admires order and

self-discipline. It’s a startling break from his routine when he literally

bumps into Phiz Bussman outside With A Kick. Phiz’s lifestyle and behaviour are

in complete contrast to Bryan’s, and appear totally chaotic. But they each

recognise something in the other that they need.

Bryanhas been helping With A

Kick with its financial difficulties, and is finding it difficult to balance

his professional persona with friendship with the owners. But then he’s always

found it tricky to expose his more vulnerable feelings. His cool facade hides

loneliness: he believes he’ll never find a lover who accepts and welcomes his

secret desire.

Whereas

Phiz is all about exposure: he’s defined by his cheerful but clumsy liveliness,

his open-hearted emotions, and his physical needs. Despite that, he’s lonely as

well. He craves someone who will help him bring purpose and focus into his

life, and admits freely he needs a firm hand – in every way. If they can both

accept a friendship that’s destined for more, Bryan may be just the man to

provide it.

NICE AND SNOW

Nuri’s expecting a quiet Christmas, driving his cab, doing some studying,

enjoying good food and drink – and devoting some serious loving to boyfriend

Eduardo. Occasionally he misses his homeland of Turkey, but he’s

content to share the London celebrations with Eddy.

But what with Eddy’s distress over his new role at the local comedy club,

interference in their love life from Nuri’s irrepressible brothers, a

disturbing number of costumed Santas on the street, the dangerous slush on the

roads, and then the portly, bearded man dressed in red, in need of an urgent cab

ride… It doesn’t look like things will be that quiet after all!

SMACK HAPPY

Phiz can’t always control his hyperactivity and propensity for chaos. But he no

longer has to feel marginalised because of it, not now he has Bryan for a

friend and lover. Bryan’s calm, ordered attitude is the perfect foil for Phiz:

and Bryan’s private desire for kink is just what Phiz needs to keep him

grounded.

This

Valentine’s Day, Phiz wants to give Bryan a special gift, but Bryan can’t be

tempted away from his work. At least, not until he opens Phiz’s gift and

realises love means… taking time away to play.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT WITH A KICKA TWIST AND

TWO BALLS

A TWIST AND TWO BALLS - 1

There’d been a twenty in his wallet,

he’d swear to it. Hadn’t there?

Eduardo

sat in the back of the London taxi as it idled in the late afternoon traffic,

and scrabbled in his pockets. Maybe the twenty had been there, but a couple of

days ago. He’d been living off the change in his pocket, but where had that

come from, except from when he split the twenty? He lifted out a crumpled five

pound note and counted eighty two pence in change. And—with a desperate and

totally impossible hope—recounted. Quietly, under his breath.

“Having

trouble, sir?” The cabbie’s voice was accented and deep. He didn’t turn his

head, so Eduardo could only see the back of his head, thick dark curls brushing

his strong neck. But good grief, the last thing Eduardo wanted was to catch his

eye!

“Not

at all,” Eduardo said. His voice sounded ridiculously high, and he mentally

cast himself as wayward Prince Hal to the driver’s gruff Falstaff, being led

astray by the bolder and rougher character. And what the hell was he doing,

casting plays he’d never direct, in the middle of a setback such as this? All

his credit cards were currently maxed out, and he knew he didn’t have enough

cash to get him to Shaftesbury Avenue, not in this heavy traffic. A glance at the

meter told him he didn’t even have enough now, at the edge of Chinatown.