At Your Service

4.5 stars
Mathias and Pascal
Very different persons Mathias twenty four and Pascal forty-eight.
Pascal working at a high-end restaurant, lonely since he lost his partner.
Mathias working two jobs so he can live where he desperate wants to.
One job is at the bank and the other is at the gay bar down the street.

When Mathias is working at the bar and his eyes catch Pascal he immediately sees what he wants and when he finds out they live in the same building he has a goal.
Only Pascal has doubts and has a slow pass. Mathias is doing his very best to get Pascal over the threshold.
They both have very busy schedules and to find some time together seems almost impossible. But the more they like each other the more they are desperate to find that time.
The story has a lot of extended conversations and rendezvous, they all have a purpose. Pascal is melting bit by bit and when he finally opens up he is a very passionate and thoughtful partner. He examines every inch of Mathias body who instead is more straight to the goal. This all very nice put on paper. The part with the one thumb touch gave me some goosebumps.

They both have friends who give them back up. I nice side story is that there are books written about Pascal life by a group ladies who support his love life with Mathias.

It's a lovely written good developed angst free story. It is entertaining and focused on the growing relationship with all the ups and downs. This all felt real and sweet and mature.
Recommended

I received an arc which was provided to Divinemagazine from DSP

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

At Your Service is Book 1 in Ariel Tachna's At Your Service series. Anthony is in France with the publishing company he works for. He and his boss decide to try out a restaurant that uses local products when the waiter, Paul, catches his eye. After an evening of flirting, Anthony goes home with Paul for a hook-up. After spending the night together, Paul and Anthony decide to hook-up for the remaining four days Anthony has in France. At the end of their time together, they're friends and decide to keep in touch and Anthony agrees to look him up the following year. Their friendship grows to where they have a scheduled video conference every week, even encouraging the other to date. And then one day, Anthony's boss offers him the opportunity to expand their business in the U.K. and Anthony and Paul will get a chance to continue their friendship.

Anthony was a good guy who had recently gotten over a bad relationship. Anthony didn't really do hook-ups and was more interested in relationships. Paul had a bad relationship and hasn't ever forgotten how it ended, leaving him unable to ever consider another one. He has trust issues and rarely sleeps with the same guy twice. He doesn't expect the feelings he has about Anthony and goes out of his way to make sure Anthony knows he's picking men up at the restaurant. But, he hides from Anthony how out of control he is. Paul is interested in having a relationship with Anthony once he moves back to Paris, but Anthony has some strict rules he'll have to meet before a relationship will be considered. Anthony is determined to meet those goals and prove that he's trustworthy. The only time he sleeps well or feels in control is when he's with Anthony. Paul's brother recognizes his behavior and seeks out Anthony to make him realize what's going on. This gets both men to sit down and talk about their relationship and what they want. Anthony's able to better help Paul's need to hook-up once he realizes what's happening and the pressure he's put on Paul.

It took me a little while to get engrossed in Anthony and Paul's story, but once that happened, it was a quick read. There were great descriptions of France and the food that added an interesting element to the story. Paul and Anthony have to work for it, but they do get their HEA.

Rating: 4 stars