Jared Langford is a happy man. The desk clerk at the Deerbourne Inn knows everyone in his cozy town in Vermont. He is accepted and loved by the community, but he's missing someone special in his life. Devastating news has brought journalist Xander Fortier to Willow Springs for some much-needed rest. He's photographed every major conflict in the world for the last ten years, but being stateside has forced him to reassess the solitary life he's been living.

Something in Xander's gruff demeanor calls to Jared's caring nature. Soon the men are spending time together, but Jared's kisses might not be enough to keep Xander from leaving. Can the men find a happily ever after if they only have today?

Wild Women Authors welcomes author Gabbi Grey who celebrates the release of If Only For Today the latest offering from the Deerbourne Inn series offered by the Wild Rose Press. With Gabbi is photo-journalist Xander Fortier—who will start us off.

Good morning, Xander. Tell us a bit about yourself, starting with where you’re from. Louisiana – Bayou county.

Tell us a bit about If Only for Today. I head to a small town in Vermont to take a break from my intense career. Unexpectedly, I meet a man who catches my attention. He’s persistent, and we start spending time together. I know I have to leave soon, but I keep seeking him out just to be in his company.

What did you think the first time you saw Jared Langford? To be honest, I barely noticed him. I was tired, cranky, and he was the desk clerk at the inn where I was staying. I remember handing him my credit card and noticing his blue eyes. That’s it.

What was your second thought? When he came up to my room? That he was cute. And pretty soon he was checking me out and then I was checking him out. When we both realized the other was gay, we agreed to go to dinner.

Did you feel it was love at first sight? No. I mean, I’m a cynic about everything, and I certainly don’t believe in love at first sight. Lust? Yes. Love? Nah.

What do you like most about him? Jared is, bar none, the most delightful man I’ve ever met. Even though he loves musicals, I’m still attracted to him.

How would you describe him? The sweetest and possibly most naïve man I’ve ever met. Well, until I got to know him. Once I learned his secrets, I saw a whole new depth.

How would he describe you? Jared is a charitable soul, so he would say I was a talented photographer. If pushed, he might say I’m cranky.

What made you choose photojournalism as a career? First I wanted to get as far away from Louisiana as I could so I studied at NYU. Just after I graduated I shot some great photos of a riot. A newspaper in DC offered me a job and I agreed – as long as I could go overseas as much as possible.

What is your biggest fear? People seeing me as weak.

How do you relax? Who has time to relax? There’s always a war for me to cover. That being said, I do enjoy immersing myself in the culture of foreign lands.

Who is your favorite fictional character? I don’t read fiction. My greatest hero is Hemingway. Does he count?

Sure. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? To keep moving. I’ve been going for ten straight years, moving from conflict to war in every corner of the globe. No grass ever grows under my feet.

We thank you for taking time away from your schedule to speak with us. Now we’d like to chat with Gabbi.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? I’m going to take the easy way out and start with Jane Austen. My world opened up when I read Pride and Prejudice and seeing the mini-series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle changed my life. About the same time a good friend gave me a Harlequin. I don’t remember the title, but I fell in love. I’ve read thousands of romances since. Finally, at the behest of a friend I read Into Deep Waters by Kaje Harper. My first gay romance. I haven’t looked back.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? A few years ago I rescued a ChinPoo. Twelve pounds of canine love. Her trust in me is breathtaking, and I wanted my hero to feel that kind of love when he went to an animal shelter to rescue a special furry creature.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? This is my fourth book with The Wild Rose Press. A good friend works there and she encouraged me to submit. Turned out to be a great move for my writing career.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Finding Ian by Riley Hart, Bossy by N.R. Walker and Third Party by Danika Bloom.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I write m/f BDSM dark erotic books under the pen name Gabbi Black. My next book, Beautiful Eyes, should be out in the fall. And my next gay romance, Ginger Snapping All the Way is scheduled for Christmas.

Here's a bit more about our featured author:

Gabbi lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances…and while she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black.

To Purchase If Only for Today, go to:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3fOsviy

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/31LG1LP

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/if-only-for-today

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-only-for-today-gabbi-grey/1138919955

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/if-only-for-today/id1556170342

To learn more about Gabbi Grey and the stories she creates, go to:

Website: https://gabbigrey.com/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey

Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/