Excerpt Day: Good Company by JL Merrow

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Good Company by JL Merrow
Release Date: June 20, 2009
Publisher: Torquere Books
Publisher Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2034

Blurb: Hitchhiking is a dangerous proposition. Aidan is just hoping for a ride and no trouble when a bloke named John stops to give him a lift. John seems a decent sort, though. When night falls, Aidan would do John a 'favor' to say thanks, just like he would any guy who seemed interested, but finds himself in a bit of a bind: he might be getting fond of the man. Can a stranger who's good company become more than that in one short day?

Excerpt:

Aidan woke up confused and realised they’d stopped somewhere dark. His heart raced for a moment before he realised they were in a service station car park.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty,” John mocked him. “Hungry?”

“Er, yeah,” Aidan managed, as he collected his scrambled wits. “Um, I haven’t got a lot of cash…”

John looked amused. “Why does that not surprise me? Don’t worry, lad, it’s on the house. On account of you being such good company and all.”

Aidan felt a bit bad about that. “Um, sorry about falling asleep…”

“Nay, lad. Better than the radio, your snoring!” Grinning, John unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the Merc.

“Hey! I don’t snore!” Aidan protested.

“Who told you that, lad? Bloody liar, whoever it was!” Laughing, he led the way into the service station.

--

John bought him a burger, fries and a Coke, though he laughed at Aidan for asking for a diet drink. “Trying to keep your girlish figure, lad?”

Aidan grinned and held up a finger. “Up yours. I just don’t like the sugary ones. They make your teeth feel sticky.” Aidan wolfed down the food fast enough that it ought to put paid to any ideas that he might be on a diet.

“Don’t they feed you at home, lad?” John paused over his own burger and raised an eyebrow.

Aidan grinned to hide the pang that gave him. “Hey, I’m a growing lad, I am. I don’t have to worry about middle-age spread.”

“Cheeky bugger.”

“You said that before.”

“Must be true, then, mustn’t it?” He paused, finishing his burger and crumpling the wrapper. “So what’s up in Glasgow that’s worth going all this way for? Job? Family? Some bloke?”

Aidan couldn’t help grinning. “Deep fried Mars Bars. Can’t get ‘em down South, you know.”