(Holiday Hanky Panky 1)
A Searchlight Paranormal Romance
Date Published: October 30, 2026
Publisher: Changeling Press
Meet Bob/Birdie: the source of bi-awakening for a closeted SearchLight
agent.
Agent Nick Pierce is known as an effective tracker with a caustic wit and
unparalleled paranoia. He’s harassed or insulted more magical creatures
than most people have ever met. He’s hidden his bisexuality for fifteen
plus years and is content to take that secret to his grave until he meets a
police detective moonlighting as a dancer at a gay club.
Bob White is protective of this newbie who’s followed a friend into
Ravencrest, at least until his full-time gig as a police detective makes him
think Nick might be a suspect.
As their attraction grows, Nick’s virginity and his terror of one
specific vampire are thrown into the light. Nick must defend himself from
Bob’s suspicion and the vampire’s next attack. But can he quell
SearchLight’s desire to wipe Bob’s memory?
Excerpt
Copyright ©2026 Emily Carrington
The crowd was a little ugly tonight. Not because of their glitter or makeup
but because of their forced smiles. Bob White, who went by Birdie when he was
performing, read the signs. Most of the drag queens were being protective of
their dates and of anyone who looked fragile. Bob approved. Maybe he could
lighten the mood. Tonight was his show. He wasn’t dancing every song on
stage, but he got to couple with many of the drag kings and queens. Being
androgynous as well as good at disguises meant only a few knew him with all
his costuming in place.
Now, though, he was stripped to the waist and clad in jeans. Because it was
his show, he’d chosen most of the night’s music. However, when he
strode onto the stage, the music that began to play wasn’t what
he’d picked. He caught CJ’s eye, saw the wicked gleam in it, and
inwardly sighed. He had a choice. He could either dance to this country song
or he could raise a stink.
He chose to dance to the het-suggestive song. He’d heard this one a few
times. The other officers at the station listened to just about everything at
one time or another. He did his best to turn the heterosexual-focused song
into a gay anthem through the movement of his body and his facial expressions.
The Ravencrest Club, which was mostly a gay bar although all were welcome,
seemed hotter tonight than usual, and Bob turned a swipe of his forehead into
part of the dance. Considering it was November in New York, it really was warm
in here.
He quit worrying about the heat when he caught sight of three men standing
close to the edge of the stage. Two of them, a Native American and a Caucasian
man with black hair, had their arms around each other. The third stood close
to them but he looked distinctly uncomfortable. He had lovely light brown eyes
and hair like wet sand’s deepest hue swept back from his forehead. He
was tanned and fit and although he didn’t wear a skintight T-shirt, the
leather jacket that he kept zipped showed off his physique. He was sweating.
It gleamed on his forehead. Bob wondered why he didn’t show whatever he
was wearing underneath. Maybe it was offensive. Or maybe he was embarrassed by
it. Or maybe he just wanted to feel protected. His anxiety was almost
palpable.
Bob didn’t examine the other two quite as closely. For one, they were
obviously together. For another, they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying
themselves.
Bob danced right up to the discomfited man, presenting his ass for either a
smack or nothing depending on the guy’s nervousness level. After
he’d danced there for five seconds, he faced his intended target again.
To his surprise, the man was holding up a five-dollar bill and looked
intimidated. Bob took pity on him and took the money with a bow and a smile.
The object of his attention flushed but didn’t drop his eyes, even when
the Native American half of the couple nudged him. He gave off a general air
of confidence despite the way he chewed at his lip for a moment.
The music ended then and Bob came back to himself. He hadn’t meant to
spend so much time with this unknown person. He retreated a few steps and
bowed to the cheering, whistling crowd.
About the Author
Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender
women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she
created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its
problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host
of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the
contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,” Emily
has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate
quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her
website.
Author’s Website
Emily on Facebook
Emily on Twitter
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
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