You did it! We figured this one out! It is a truth universally acknowledged (by me for certain) that the Bitchery pretty much knows everything, and really, it's true. Scroll down to see the solution for this HaBO - and many thanks!
This HaBO request is from Amy, who is looking for a romance that was included in an anthology, so this might be a tough one:
I am looking for a short story I read in a romance anthology within the last 2-3 years. I got the anthology from the library and read through all of the stories, without taking note of the author of the best story in the bunch. I’m hoping the author has lots of other books I can read.
It was a contemporary romance set at an expo/trade show. The hero had a booth for his family’s brewery and the heroine was working at a booth for the erotica shop where she worked. They started a flirtation that turned into a one-night stand, but the heroine was very clear that she didn’t want anything more. Our heroine was ashamed of her attraction to the hero because he was so clean-cut. Her co-workers were more into an edgy/tattooed look, so she was didn’t want them to know that she was turned on by preppy guys.
There was also a case of mistaken identity because she assumed that our preppy hero was really his player brother, whom she knew by reputation. The author also took the time to build the characters of the hero’s sister and brother and their desire for their family business to succeed; it was a lot of detail for a short story. I think they were meeting with honchos who could help them expand their business.
The sparks between the hero and heroine were pretty hot. The expo was a few days long, so they had several encounters. One night they ate dinner together (or at least sat together at a restaurant) and he brought her to orgasm by discreetly touching her under the table. I think the heroine ran into people from work at the restaurant, and she pretended she wasn’t interested in the hero.
Another night our hero brought her creme brûlée or some similar treat from a chef who was at the trade show. (The hero came across as a very nice guy.)
They eventually agreed to meet at a hotel across the street from the expo for a one-night stand. It ended as if that was all it was going to be. I very much wanted the two to get together permanently. There were no obstacles to their being together – both were single, smart, nice people.
This sounds really cute and I’m seconding Amy’s request. I also want to know if this author has more things!
It sounds a lot like the set up for “Real Men Will” by Victoria Dahl, but Dahl’s book is s novel, and the third in a series, not a novella.
This is totally the first story in Victoria Dahl’s Donovan Brothers Brewery series. (At last I know something.) It was my gateway to Dahl’s writing.
I forgot to add that the anthology is The Guy Next Door.
Yes!! That trilogy was so. Fun. This novella is called “Just One Taste.” The characters get a full novel/HEA in the last novel of the trilogy, REAL MEN WILL.
19 minutes. Almost a record!
Hey! I actually knew that one! Loved the entire series. 🙂
Well, I just checked my Amazon account and I’ve had these books in my TBR since December 2012 (must have been a big sale). I think they’ll be moving to the top of the pile now.
Oh, DARN IT. Julie, I’m with you–I KNEW THAT ONE!!!!! Damn.
You guys rock! Thank you so much. I knew there had to be a HEA for them. There was too much character development to let it go to waste. I can’t wait to check out the whole series.
I’m so glad this was solved. I’m buying it now.
Finally knew one and I’m late to the party. By the way, the last book in that series, Real Men Will, is the best in the trilogy! It’s the one connected to the novella included in the anthology.
I knew this one! I never know them. Not only did I know this, I knew based on the HaBO title without even reading the description.
I am now extremely pleased with myself. Thank you all for making this possible.
Just read all of Victoria Dahl’s books. Loved that series and all the others. She even wrote a hot historical that was “written” by a character in a different series.
I love this whole series, I think it’s my favorite of Dahl’s. Definitely read the novella (Just One Taste) before you dive into the rest of the story in Real Men Will.
I finally knew one. yay!
I knew this one too! And I didn’t even read the novella – I just remember reading a review and the lively comments section about the lack of hea.
AND I just had to order the entire trilogy on Amazon. Lol.