Mussolini's Roman Empire by Denis Mack Smith

Mussolini's Roman Empire by Denis Mack Smith

I don't do relationships. I don't do love.

The closest thing I have to a soulmate is my best friend and colleague, Becky, and I don't even share myself with her. To me, men are fun playthings to be enjoyed in small doses. Luckily, Mark - my latest conquest, as well as our manager at work - seems to like it that way too.

One day my carefree existence is interrupted when a ghost from my past makes an appearance. My ex Gareth has tracked me down at work, and my world threatens to crumble. Old wounds are ripped open, and painful secrets are about to be exposed. I thought I was over him, but my once strong facade threatens to break down. On top of that, Gareth's appearance has made Mark jealous, adding awkwardness to what was previously a perfectly casual affair.

Why is it that the harder I try to ignore these complications, the worse I feel? No matter how hard I try to run from it, the past is intent on catching up with me. Perhaps now it's time to admit that it wouldn't be so bad to confide in someone. To rely on someone other than myself.

Sally is the third book in L. Moone's Undateables series. This women's fiction novella features themes of loss, gender-nonconformity and plenty of hot action along with colourful (British English) language.

Denis Mack Smith is a Fellow of the British Academy and Wolfson College, Oxford, and a foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been awarded a dozen literary prizes in Italy and is a Commendatore of the Italian Order of Merit. Among his recent books are Italy and Its Monarchy (1989) and Mazzini (1994).