Today is the fifth(!!!) anniversary of the release of Heated Rivalry and to celebrate I am sharing a little something. I’ve been asked quite a bit about Ilya’s thoughts and feelings during the “Las Vegas scene.”

This is a scene that got cut from The Long Game because I couldn’t elegantly fit it into the story. It was hard to cut because I think it’s a fun, sexy scene, but definitely, y’know. Indulgent. And a bit ridiculous.

It started as a tweet and now it’s a short story. This was maybe not the most productive use of my time today, but once I got the idea in my head I needed to get it out. So here is a hastily-written short about Ilya giving out candy on Halloween. I imagine this taking place a few weeks before the dinner party with Hayden that the other short story is about. Ilya’s first Halloween in Ottawa, living in a house rather than a fancy Boston penthouse.

Enjoy (if you dare…)

A Heated Rivalry short story!