Page 10 of Mama's Boy
“Are you on Amazon?I have a Kindle and I’m curious.”Chase sat up and looked around.“Do you have Wi-Fi and a computer?”
“Yeah.”Rowan gave Chase a look that said what the fuck?
“I asked because I have a website featuring all of my books and a blog that I can show you.There is also a chat room for my fans and a brief biography.That’s how I reel them in, they look to see if A.J.Hall is male or female and stay to read about my books.”
Rowan brought out his notebook and put in the URL for Chase’s website.“If you click on one of the books it goes directly to my publisher’s buy now page for the book where she also lists several other romance sales outlets and Amazon.”Rowan looked at Chase with a new respect.
“I had no idea you had to run this like a business.This looks great.How did you do the website?”Rowan put his feet up on the coffee table and reached over Chase to get his beer.“One of these days I’m going to have to get another end table but I haven’t seen one that I liked.”
“Go to antique stores and auctions.I got a beautiful nineteen twenties reproduction of a piecrust table at a small auction once.I use it as an end table.It’s beautiful.I’ll have to show it to you.Do you mind?”Chase took his shoes off and tucked his feet under his knees.
“No, of course not, I want you to be comfortable in my home.”
“About the website, there is a program called WordPress that is an open source website designer.It’s easy to install and use, so I was able to do it myself.As I got more proficient, I was able to add the chat room, the book carousel, and the newsletter functions.Twice a week I update my blog to let my readers know what new books I have planned and snippets of Works In Progress.”Chase moved closer to Rowan.
“That sounds like a lot of work.”Rowan took the last sip of his beer.
“It is but it’s what you have to do to hang on to your fans and acquire new ones.”Chase put down his beer.
Rowan looked at his watch.“It’s seven thirty, time to get ready for dinner.”
In fifteen minutes they were out the door.Rowan had found out a lot about Chase and he liked what he saw.He was very pleased at the way the day had gone so far.
Chapter 5
They arrived at the restaurant and Chase’s phone rang.He looked at the caller ID.“I’m sorry but I have to take this.It’s my mother and she had her first semi-date with Mr.Schwartz today.I have to make sure she’s all right.”Chase answered the call.“Hi, Mom.”
“How is your date going?”Chase picked up his fork and started to twirl it in his fingers.
“Fine.We’re at dinner.”Chase almost dropped the fork.His mother never asked about his dates.
“I wanted to let you know that John and I had a lovely time and I’ll be seeing him again and not just for driving lessons.We looked at the Mazda 2 and I liked it.John said he can get it for me at cost.And I met his son.”
“That’s good.I’m glad you’re happy.You deserve it.”Chase put the fork down.
“Remember, so do you, darling, so do you.I’ll let you get on with your evening.”
Chase hung up the phone.“It seems everything went well.She’s going to see him again.”Chase smiled, happy for his mother.
“And will you be seeing me again?”Rowan asked, teasing.
“I hope so.”Chase gave him a sincere reply.
* * * *
They ate fresh bay scallops done in a butter wine reduction sitting on a wide veranda looking out over the inlet.Roman arranged it so that Chase sat next to him rather than across, so he could hold Chase’s hand between courses.I don’t know what it is but I really like him.Although I want to make love to him, I want to do it when we are actually making love instead of fucking.
“Do you want more wine?”Rowan asked as he picked up the bottle to pour out the last glass.“I’m driving.”
“It is a lovely Riesling.”Chase smiled.
“Yes, it is and I wouldn’t want it to go to waste.”Rowan poured the last of the wine into Chase’s glass.
They lingered over a shared Napoleon feeding from each other’s forks.Rowan didn’t want the evening to end.
“Do you have to be up in the morning?”Rowan grabbed Chase’s hand and kissed his wrist.Chase blushed.
“I thought maybe we could take a walk on the boards to rid ourselves of some of this dinner.”Rowan looked down into Chase’s eyes.
