Incident at Zhenbao is not all “one thing”. Life is a mix of smiles and some tears, too. So, here’s a few random paragraphs of the book to give you a little flavor… but nothing to divulge what all readers say: “I sure didn’t expect that!” and “that caught me by surprise!”

EARLY ON, TOM FINDS HIS WAY—TO THE COLLEGE PARKING LOT—THEN:

      (more) … The rasping buzzer would have waked the dead. Nada. My pile of luggage at the curb. I'd camp with it tonight. I leaned on the buzzer again. I'd nothing to lose.
      "I hear you!" shouted a hoarse male voice. A moment later the door clanged open and bolts of lightening shot through me. A statuesque block of marble chiseled beautifully into a twenty-something man, dark stubble, strong jaw, short tousled hair, muscular arms and pecs crammed into a tee that fell to the top of his muscular thighs, taunted my curiosity of what lay underneath.
     "And you are?"
     His gleaming gunmetal blue eyes, slitted like a dozing cat, drilled me deep somewhere behind my solar plexus, in my heart or balls or both. The effort not to look, not to stare, while yearning to discover if he were completely naked, sapped my vocal cords.
     "S…sorry. Sorry to bother you. I'm here to check in." I said with an uncharacteristically squeaky voice.
     "Name?"
     "Tom Hamilton, sir," I said, gathering my wits.
     "I've been expecting you. Come."
     His long artistic fingers ruffled his dark hair, his other hand extended horizontally holding the thick plank door open as if it were a feather.
     "My bags too?"
     "Unless you want to sleep outside," the creature said with a silky voice.
     His raised eyebrow confirmed my stupidity. I was damaged goods even to a total stranger and pathetic enough for him to linger in the doorway and watch as I nervously trotted back and forth to create a jumble of luggage in the foyer.
(more)

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