’Til Death Do Us Part is now out in eBook formats through JMS Books, LLC (and all the usual distributors), and will be available in print format on June 30, 2016.

This series of blog posts was motivated by a comment from one of the book’s reviewers, Bethany at Rainbow Gold Reviews, who made the comment that she wished the flashback scenes had been from Sam’s POV instead of from Henry’s.

The flashback scenes chronicle the time from when Henry and Sam first began their courtship through to the night before Henry leaves on his ill-fated flight. To catch up with the flashback scenes previously posted, click this link to the the category archives: https://authoraddisonalbright.com/category/til-death-do-us-part/flashback-scenes-from-sams-pov/.

This week’s scene is from the 3rd flashback in the book, found at the beginning of Chapter 4:

Sam finished filling his plate at the buffet, then took a deep breath before crossing the room to join Henry at his breakfast table. He dreaded the upcoming conversation.

He sat down, and before he could bring up the subject of Henry’s “offer” from last night, Henry launched into a nervous sounding speech about the relative nutritional benefits of the different varieties of seaweed found in the waters around the Solomons. Henry finally paused for air after asking Sam something about kumquats.

Sam ignored the question. Hell, he hadn’t been paying attention and wasn’t even sure what Henry had asked. He’d been too busy watching Henry’s strikingly beautiful brown eyes dance nervously around the room. Obviously Sam had been correct in thinking things would be awkward between them if they tried to simply dance around the elephant in the room.

Sam swallowed, then blurted, “I feel like I should explain… about last night.”

Henry paled, then blushed. He didn’t say anything but his lips thinned out, and he started picking at a loose thread at the seam of his shorts.

Fuck. He needed to just get this over with. “Uh, it’s not that I wouldn’t be interested. It’s just that I don’t want to jeopardize our working relationship. I don’t think it’s a good idea to hook up with someone I work with and see almost every day.”

Sam cleared his throat and bounced his leg. He stared at his plate, occasionally peeking up at Henry, who remained silent, but now also looked embarrassed and… wounded. Shit. He didn’t want to hurt the man’s feelings.

Sam continued, “I guess I should confess that I’ve had a bit of a crush on you, otherwise I could probably just be an adult about it and not think anything of a little fling with you while we’re here. I just don’t think I’ll be able to go about business as usual once we get back to reality and this little affair you’re offering is over.”

Goddammit. He had a bad habit of oversharing when he was nervous. He didn’t think Henry was the type to tease him about what he’d just said, going forward, but it would probably add to the awkwardness between them rather than alleviate it.

“Is that what you think? That I’m just interested in a couple rolls in the hay while we’re here, then go back to innocuous conversations about curriculum and lab results as if this summer never happened?”

Sam lifted his gaze from the table to stare inquiringly into Henry’s eyes. It wasn’t? “Um…”

“It’s not. I’ve been drawn to you all year, too, Sam. I like you. I want to get to know you on a more personal level. I’d absolutely love to date you, now and continuing when we return to Seattle.”

Sam’s jaw dropped. “Oh.”

His jumpy leg shifted into overdrive, and he couldn’t stop his reflexive grin. Gorgeous, personable, and highly intelligent Henry Miller wanted to date him. “Okay, then.”

I think this one might be another point for Bethany. Darn it.