Behind the tacky street-level storefront crouched a massive red brick warehouse. Zippos was one of those landmarks in New York City that you could easily pass without ever noticing. They build some costumes, they tailor and they have a line in with some of the soaps. They also offer large-scale rentals for local theatres-and they rent to the TV studios. “…mad-evil-genius-storytelling…” -The Novel Approach “Have you ever been to Zippos?” Dan stopped at the crosswalk and we waited for the light. The frenetic pace of only a few minutes ago…where had that gone? He had slipped into some new character. He moved in a loose gait, ambling down the sidewalk. He’d done something to his hair in the last few minutes-smoothed it. Jeans and a tailored Egyptian cotton button-down, sleeves rolled sexily to the elbow.

He wore a handsome pair of black loafers today, no biker boots, and except for the fact that he was remarkably good-looking, he was just another New Yorker. It was boiling hot on the sidewalk, but Dan’s shirt managed to look crisp. Hey, nobody ever said taking a relationship to the next level was a waltz in the park. Hired to protect an outrageous soap star from a deranged personal assistant, Dan’s got his hands full refereeing rival actors, locating one four-foot-eleven woman…and convincing Ce that he’s playing for keeps. PI Dan Albright is a man of many gifts: investigation, security, sex talk, and driving Caesar nuts in and out of the bedroom.

But what’s really got him poised to run? A looming brunch with his sexy lover’s esteemed family. Hit on by a lusty German, stalked by the paparazzi, victim of an unexpected airbag attack, and desperate for some part-time help, Ce’s running out of time, staff, and patience.

When his pregnancy-hormone-buzzed business partner sweet-talks him into working a solo gig for his famous ex, Caesar attracts the worst kind of attention. Feisty New Yorker Caesar Romano has a knack for getting into a jam, and this week is no exception.

Trust Me If You Dare by L.B. Gregg