Fruitcake is the laughingstock of the holiday season. But is it really an aphrodisiac instead? Motorcycle mechanic Sam McGuire is surprised to find a gaily wrapped box on his doorstep with a piece of fruitcake inside. The note on the present is an invitation to a holiday party. Intrigued, Sam attends the party -- mostly to get more of the fruitcake he falls in love with -- and meets his new neighbor, Jay Merriweather. The lure of Jay’s big family and its holiday tradition of enjoying Grandma’s fruitcake hook Sam, as does the sexy man himself. But Sam can't imagine why handsome, college-educated Jay would want someone like him, who was raised in a children’s home and barely graduated high school. Can the magic of the holiday season help two men who seem so different come together like the ingredients in a well-made fruitcake?

Blame It on the Fruitcake

“Eat up! Try it. I’ll never make you eat it again. Promise.”


One by one they sniffed the pieces. Zeke and Jimmy put the whole cube in their mouths and chewed. José bit off a chunk while Art tried to stare it down.


“Oh my fucking God,” Jimmy groaned. “What the fuck?”


His eyes were like saucers. He was glaring at me.


Art put his piece down as the other two groaned.


“This shit is great,” Zeke nearly yelled. “Hot damn. Can I have more?”


Jimmy and José were nodding and slid their paper towels toward the container.


“Maybe Art isn’t going to eat his,” I said, and I thought a fight might break out, what with everyone grabbing for Art’s piece.


Quickly he picked it up and shoved it in his mouth. He shot a glance at me. He grinned. “What the fuck?” he asked after he’d swallowed. “I don’t get it. This stuff’s great.”


“Yeah, I don’t get it, boss.” José’s forehead was creased like he was really puzzled. “How come it’s got such a raw deal?”


Chapter 5