Asking For a Friend

By JJ Harper © JJ Harper 2023 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places or incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are used factiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons living or dead, events or locals are entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/ Use of these trademarks is not authorised, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owner. All songs, song titles and lyrics mentioned in the novel are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders. All rights reserved. Cover design by Jay Aheer @Simply Defined Art Formatted by Brenda Wright, Formatting Done Wright Warning. This book contains material that is intended for a mature, adult audience. It contains graphic language, explicit sexual content, and adult situations. Lando writes about romance for a living yet shuns it in his life. After too many failed relationships, Lando Hardwick has enough. No more dates for him. His taste in men is abysmal. He always falls for the ones who are only looking for fun. Hesketh Trent has stopped searching for a boyfriend. They only see him as a walking cash machine, only care what he can buy them. What has happened to romance, love? Getting soaked by scalding coffee is the worst way to start the day, but hell’s bells, the man is divine. Even though the man ticks all his boxes, no way is Lando giving him his phone number. He’ll be like all the rest: one hot night and he kicks him out the door. But Hesketh doesn’t give up so easily. The cute redhead with no brain-to-mouth filter intrigues him as no man has ever done. A cat and mouse chase is on, with Lando as the mouse. Once Lando is caught, they can’t stay away from one another. Until Hesketh makes a mistake. Thank god for mutual friends who won’t give up on them and push them together when they’re both too stubborn to take the next step. Asking For a Friend is a stand-alone MM novel with a group of sassy men, a larger-than-life ginger cat called Flanaghan, a stubborn writer, and a man who can plan events but not his own life. Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-one Chapter Twenty-two Chapter Twenty-three Chapter Twenty-four Chapter Twenty-five Chapter Twenty-six Chapter Twenty-seven Chapter Twenty-eight Chapter Twenty-nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-one Chapter Thirty-two Chapter Thirty-three Chapter Thirty-three Chapter Thirty-four Chapter Thirty-five Chapter Thirty-six Chapter Thirty-seven Chapter Thirty-eight Epilogue About JJ Harper Other Books by JJ Harper “Don't be too stubborn to change.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita I rush through the door of the coffee shop, shaking my head to get some of the water out of my hair. It’s chucking it down out there. I don’t mind the rain, not if I’m warm and dry indoors and I can sit on my windowsill with Flanaghan, my larger-than-life ginger cat, and watch it stream down the pane. With a whoomph, I bash into a broad, firm, wool-coated body. “Shit!” he exclaims. A cup hits the floor, and coffee splatters everywhere. I dodge out of the way of the scolding liquid, but I’m too late. The bulk of it ends up on my jeans. “Ow! Fuck!” I shriek. “Oh, my god! I’m so sorry,” we both say. Hell’s bells, he’s divine. Exactly my type: tall, dark, and so bloody handsome. “God, you’re lovely.” I clap my hand over my mouth. Shit, why do I always blurt things out as if my brain has no connection to my mouth? His full lips lift into a stunning, brilliant smile. Heaven save me—he has dimples. “Um, thank you. Are you okay? You seem to have most of my Americano down your jeans.” “Well, I’m wet anyway, so what’s another drenching going to matter?” The coffee is already cooling on my legs. Kate, one of the baristas, arrives with a mop and bucket, pushing us out of the way. She rolls her eyes at me. “Only you, Lando.” “I’m so sorry, Kate. Do you want me to do it?” I try to take the mop from her, but she holds it out of my reach. “You don’t work here anymore, lovely. Go find a seat, and I’ll get you your tea in a minute.” “And another coffee for him.” I gesture to the solid brick wall of a man still looking at me highly amused. “I really am sorry.” “How about you make it up to me by giving me your number?” He wants what? He doesn’t even look like he’s taking the piss. “Huh, what? No, you don’t want that.” I shake my head, and my cheeks heat up. I know I’m turning bright red, the curse of being a redhead. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t. Or maybe I should keep coming back here and wait to bump into you again?” And oh hell, there are the dimples again. “Lando is always here,” Kate answers for me. “You’ll see him again.” “Thanks, Kate,” I mutter under my breath. No way he’s actually interested in me. And even if he is, he won’t be for long. I’m short and slim, not bulked up, which seems to be the trend nowadays. My hair tends to do exactly what it wishes, and he’s already got acquainted with my lack of a brain-to-mouth filter. “That’s good to know.” He takes a fresh coffee from Simon, another barista, and gives me a wink.