Bitter and depressed after his boyfriend walks out on him, Garth Morgan cancels Christmas. Garth’s mom has other ideas however. She reminds him there’s still Adam, Garth’s eight-year-old son to consider. So Garth braves the Christmas Eve crowds at the shopping mall to buy gifts. Despite aching feet and arms that feel like they’re being pulled out of their sockets, Garth agrees to wait in line so Adam can see Santa. Adam asks for a new boyfriend for his daddy because the last one made Daddy cry. When the Santa lectures both Garth and Adam about the sins of homosexuality, Adam objects, swivels around on the man’s knee, and kicks him in the nuts. Before Adam and Garth can make their escape, they’re stopped by Tony Luciano, a former Marine who now works as a security guard. One look at the man’s wide chest, broad shoulders, and model-handsome face has Garth hoping Adam’s wish is about to come true.

The Nutcracker

The more Tony talked with Adam and Garth, the more he liked them. Adam shared Tony’s dislike of the guy playing Santa. And Tony wished he could have gotten away with kicking the dude in the nuts. Just wait until George and the other security guards heard about that one. And if he could get a copy of that picture…Oh, man. 


Tony had been charmed by Adam’s attempts to hook Tony up with his dad. Poor Garth, Adam had his dad wrapped around his little finger, and it was obvious Garth knew it. What Adam’s matchmaking skills lacked in subtlety, they more than made up for with enthusiasm. 


Tony enjoyed Garth and Adam’s company so much, he invented excuses to follow them around. Adam continued to crack him up, and Garth… Tony hoped his hard on wasn’t showing. But his uniform pants were tight and so what if Garth noticed. Didn’t it pay to advertise?


“Well, I think we’re all shopped out,” Garth said, emerging from the big department store on the main level. 


Chapter 4