For months, coffee shop owner Ian Long has fantasized about a customer he knows only as "Blue Eyes." Until he learns Blue Eyes is in the midst of a divorce—the last thing Ian wants is to be the rebound experiment of a straight guy. Giving in to lust, he invites the man into the café after hours and they indulge in a little exhibitionist play, but Ian is unwilling to get involved.
When he's forced to see Jeff again to return his briefcase, Ian finally agrees to go out on a date. Dinner quickly becomes an erotic encounter in a special room at the sex club Mavericks, and Ian realizes Jeff satisfies desires he didn't know he had. The more he gets to know Jeff as a person, the harder it is to resist falling for him.
Jeff makes it clear he's interested in more than just sex. He wants to go public with their relationship in more ways than one. But can Ian open his heart, when he fears it will be broken?
When he's forced to see Jeff again to return his briefcase, Ian finally agrees to go out on a date. Dinner quickly becomes an erotic encounter in a special room at the sex club Mavericks, and Ian realizes Jeff satisfies desires he didn't know he had. The more he gets to know Jeff as a person, the harder it is to resist falling for him.
Jeff makes it clear he's interested in more than just sex. He wants to go public with their relationship in more ways than one. But can Ian open his heart, when he fears it will be broken?
~~
For the most part this book really worked for me. I liked the intense sparks between Ian and Jeff - the story starts after they've known each other for a little while so the tensions is definitely ratcheted up a few degrees. Their relationship evolves even though it's a short story, with Ian having to work through some serious emotional issues in order to find his HEA with Jeff. And the fact that Jeff is a real bisexual character and not some stereotypical man into 'playing' with women? Loved.
The not so greats were there as well, though luckily not in enough quantity to make me really dislike the story. I thought Jeff was a bit too perfect. He knows exactly what he wants (Ian) and seems to have no problems, hurdles, or issues to get over to make this relationship work. Sometimes it seemed as if Jeff's only job in the story was to just to be there and love Ian, to be this prince charming. I guess I'm just a little too used to having flawed fully fleshed out heroes and with that Jeff sometimes came off as a little flat.
My only other criticism would have to be about Ian's 'redemptive act' or whatever you want to call it. Maybe it's because I haven't read the rest of the series, but it seemed a little tacked on and not as true to the two of them. Without going into spoilers, I'll just say that it came out of nowhere to me and I didn't consider it necessary to their HEA.
All in all you've got a good story, scorching love scenes, and a cute couple. Add in the bits we see of Ian's siblings and I wouldn't rule out me picking up the first two books later.
Overall Feeling - Eh/Thumbs Up
Series - 1) Double Shot 2) A Shot in the Dark 3) Pulled Long (December 12, 2011)
**Title requested for review from NetGalley**
