Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway: He’s Behind You by Rebecca Cohen

We’re so pleased to welcome author Rebecca Cohen today on the tour for her new novel He’s Behind You, the third installment in the Treading the Boards series.

Here’s an exclusive excerpt from the book just for you, and when you’ve finished that, head on over to  UK Gay Romance for a giveaway of He’s Behind You..

Blurb: A Treading the Boards Novella

It’s panto season for the Sarky Players, an amateur dramatics society based in Greenwich, South London. With the traditional Christmas play around the corner, it’s time to get ready for more larger than life performances—on and off stage.

While Craig Rosen is happy with his quiet life playing Warhammer and working in a university lab, a new colleague thinks he needs more excitement and drags Craig along to an audition for the Christmas pantomime, Aladdin.

Corporate lawyer Jason Carter accepted he’s gay a little later in life than most, but now divorced and in his late thirties, he’s ready to embrace who he really is. He can’t believe his luck when he runs into Craig at the audition and the cute younger man agrees to help him navigate his new life. There’s no doubting the attraction between Craig and Jason, but with Craig’s insecurities and Jason still finding his way, they’ll need to make sure they don’t veer off script.

Treading the Boards Series: Overly Dramatic || Summer Season

Buylink: Dreamspinner | All Romance | Amazon

Excerpt: Craig cocked his head to one side. “I wouldn’t say that, but I guess what really intrigues me is why now for your gay enlightenment, and how do I fit into it?”

“It’s not happened overnight, and it has taken me this long to be comfortable enough in my own skin to explore it. Let’s face it—I need a boyfriend to explore it with. The only naked men I’ve seen are in porn or the odd flash of arse in the gym.”

Craig dropped his gaze and chased the condensation down the side of his glass with a finger. “If you’re expecting someone built like a porn star, you’re going to be sorely disappointed in me. Maybe you should consider the club scene if you want to experiment a bit rather than having a boyfriend.”

“I think you’re being very harsh on yourself. The man sitting in front of me looks like a fine specimen.”

Craig’s little smile was cute, and Jason really wanted Craig to be the first man he ever kissed. Something about his self-effacing manner and kind eyes made Jason think he’d be fine in Craig’s hands.

“Still, if you want to explore your sexuality, there’d be plenty of willing bodies if you know where to go.”

Craig’s uncertainty surprised him a little, but maybe he’d underestimated him, judging Craig on what he thought a young gay man would be like—free, maybe a bit easy. He’d fallen guilty of believing a stereotype. God, he didn’t want Craig to say thanks, but no thanks. “So you wouldn’t be willing?”

“I’m not saying that. But I would want to be your boyfriend, not a casual shag. I’m not overly experienced myself. I’ve had a handful of partners and might be a bit boring.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute.” Jason hesitated for a moment, wanting to reach out and take Craig’s hand but not knowing if he should. “I know the club scene’s not for me. I tried going to a couple of nights, but… I can’t do it. I doubt I’d have been able to cope twenty years ago. I felt like a lamb to a slaughter. A bloody old lamb at that.”

About the Author: Rebecca Cohen is a Brit abroad. Having swapped the Thames for the Rhine, she has left London behind and now lives with her husband and baby son in Basel, Switzerland. She can often be found with a pen in one hand and a cup of Darjeeling in the other.

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