R.G. Alexander et al. - Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology

Once upon a time, a bunch of M/M authors wondered What if the Heart2Heart dating app put on a charity raffle in cities around the globe, and random guys in each location were paired up for an adventure? The dates could go terribly wrongor spectacularly right.

Seventeen of your favorite gay romance authors have joined forces once again, bringing you back to the Heart2Heart world for more love and laughter just in time for the holidays. This collection of fun, sexy, and hot short stories features all-new characters once again chosen from your reader suggestions! From Boston to Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia and cities in between, these lucky raffle winners will learn love has a way of appearing when you least expect it.

Once again, all proceeds from this collection will go to the authors favorite LGBTQ charities, to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

To the 200+ readers who submitted story suggestions. Special mention to those whose suggestions inspired an author or two: Angie, Awndrea, Cheryl, Christian, EM, Enae, Kaelin, Karen, Kathy, Katie, Lisa, Mariah, Meredith, Mia, Samantha, Stephanie, and Toni.

To AngstyG for donating her time and skills to creating the cover, logo and promotional materials.

To the team of beta readers, editors, and proofreaders, for volunteering their time and skills to help polish our stories: Ann, Barb, Courtney, Jamie, Janessa, Jenni Lea, Jill, Leslie, Lori, Susie, and Tanya.

To our charities the work you do is invaluable and were proud to support you with this project.

To those two little words, what if. We wouldnt be here without you!

Wish you were here.

Martin read the text again and glared at the attached picture before muting the group notifications and pocketing his phone. Yeah, so do I, he muttered.

Is this what you wanted, Martin? The club manager, Jessica, asked solicitously.

He turned to study the large, currently empty room and the woman whod been conspicuously absent since shed met him at the airport three days ago.

Martin was relieved shed reappeared this morning in time to help with last minute details, especially since she had a decent eye for placement. Shed set up several high tables along the far wall of the club near the small stage, where shed festively arranged all the raffle baskets hed spent the morning putting together. We wanted them to be the focal point without cluttering the room and youve done it. This works.

Fantastic. The redheads smile was so relieved he winced, knowing shed been graciously putting up with his bad mood all day.

Really, you did a great job, Jessica. Thank you.

No problem. If you dont need me for anything else, Ill go home, feed the kids and change into my party gear for the evening. She wrung her hands together, glancing at the bar swiftly before stepping closer and lowering her voice. Sorry I havent been more available, Martin. It really couldnt be avoided. Has Luke been taking care of you?

Martins face heated at the thought of the sexy bartender who always seemed to be around. Hes been a big help with the deliveries.

A big, gorgeous, distracting help.

Martin caught her quick smirk and then she was backing away, taking one last look around the club as she left. This place looks incredible. I cant wait for tonight.

Neither could he. The sooner it happened, the sooner it would all be over.

After she left, he went back to his usual bar stool, silently reviewing his mental to-do list. The raffle baskets were done. The party decorations were perfect. Catering was in transit. Everything was on schedule and running like a well-oiled machineso far. If tonight was a big enough success, Heart2Heart might decide to make this one of their annual events.

One more year. He could wait one more year.

Just to torture himself, he got his phone out again. It wasnt like he needed to look. The photo Tim sent was already burned into his brain. Two irritatingly handsome men beamed up at him, their arms wrapped around each other as they stood in front of the famous Arc de Triomphe.

It would be a great promotional pic. One of the techs clearly agreed with him, mentioning that hed already posted it to the online event page. Smart man. Nothing sold the app or reinforced their brand as well as a romantic success story, and his coworker, Tim the Traitor, was definitely that.

Bitter much?

He looked so damn happy that Martin almost felt guilty for resenting him as much as he did. Not because of the newly wedded bliss he was obviously in the throes of. It was where he was experiencing said bliss that made Martins stomach roil with jealousy.

Wish you were here.

Paris was supposed to be his assignment. And that perky little bastard knew it.

Not cool, Tim, he grumbled, putting his phone away again. He had too much to do to waste time obsessing, he knew, but this time it wasnt his fault. He could have gone the rest of his life without being included in that particular group text.