Finding Dreams

Finding Dreams

A Romance Video Game Collection

Chrissy Wissler

Blue Cedar Publishing

Contents

Introduction

Anything Possible

Changing Perspective

Sketching Heroes

Calling Christmas

Speak Courage

Discover Hope

Open your Heart. Make a Wish.

Also by Chrissy Wissler

Sneak Peak: Second Chance

About the Author

Introduction

Ilove video games. I have many, many wonderful memories growing up and playing video games, getting lost in the story, playing for hours just to see what happens next. Final Fantasy, Xenosaga, Tomb Raider, Zelda (all of which are still favorites).

And throw in some romance? Even just a dash of it? (Mass Effect, anyone?)

Oh man, I was a fan for life.

These days, I don't have much time for video games. The kids are young (which means full of life and energy and everything else in between), reading (because books are still my first love), and now lots and lots of board games (much less time investment than video games and still taking you to worlds—and galaxies—far away).

Yet still part of me just can't let go of this idea, this mash-up of video games and romance (and if you hear about a fully immersive, player-driven romance video game please let me know). It's why I wanted to put this collection together, all my romance video game short stories in one place for your enjoyment.

I have many more stories to tell about the video game industry (courtesy of my husband, a video game designer, I get a pretty unique glimpse into how the whole thing works). It's exciting to see how this industry is beginning to evolve and change, especially as more women slowly earn their spots on development teams. But also, it's the industry as a whole finally seeing women as important partners when it comes to games. That women enjoy games and we sometimes want a different experience from the men.

You know, games just for us.

Like... maybe... a romance game or two?

We'll see what that future holds and where it takes us, but for now I hope this collection brings you as much enjoyment reading it, as I did writing it.

Thank you.

— Chrissy Wissler

Torrance, CA

May, 2019

Anything Possible

It seems we've got quite a bit to discuss."

Ryan, their lead designer on the new and as yet unnamed project, balanced an armful of books as he closed the conference room door with his foot.

Karen glimpsed a hot pink cover and was that...a male chest? A chest she imagined would somehow look very similar to Ryan's.

She flushed and immediately looked away. It wasn't her fault every time he took off his sweater his shirt seemed to...to go with it.

Rain coated both him and quite a few of the books. Hardly surprising with the usual Seattle weather - or specifically, the Eastside's weather. Like the other side of a lake made a difference in how much it rained. Karen's inner book lover cringed at the damaged books.

You know we don't read around here, boss. Brad straightened in his chair. Not really. He slouched only slightly less. Only games. No books allowed.

Karen wholeheartedly agreed. Not in the no books allowed part, just that these guys didn't read part. It apparently didn't exist in the company's culture, though she truly hoped it didn't extend to all video game companies.

Karen hadn't been here a month, had hardly settled into her small producer's cubicle, when she'd learned that nifty fact. And had quickly stuffed her novel back into her purse.

A romance novel.

Oh, no. It had been a good thing for Karen to remember where she was and who was around her.

Out of the six designers in the small, pristine room, she'd bet only Ryan had read book. Even then, she couldn't say for sure if he'd read one in the last two months.

Okay. Role playing guides and media tie-in books didn't count.

Ryan shifted his way across the room and caught one book before it took a dive, which caused the whole pile to shift.

Yeah, well. That's about to change. Ryan juggled the stack.

Karen rose, intending to help, but paused. No one else got up. Would it be odd or appear brown-nosing if she helped? The new, lowly producer helping her boss?

Too late.

Books tumbled from Ryan's arms and onto the conference table. One landed in front of Karen. Cover side up. Like the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches always flopping on the gooey side.

Bright pink background. A muscular, hairless—and very handsome—male chest, complete with snug cowboy jeans. The author's name in bright, white and gold letters: Rachel Clare.

Karen's face heated. Again.

That was not her book. Couldn't be.

She resisted the overwhelming need to dash to her dime-size cubicle and check her purse. No. She remembered tucking it away after lunch. Nice and secure. No one had seen her.

But that was, no doubt, her book.

Or a copy of the exact same book she was reading at this very moment.

Are these romance books? Brad leaned across Karen and poked the book. What the hell we want with these?

Jason and Tom joined Brad in the book poking as if they were afraid to touch them, to become contaminated. Karen stayed exactly where she was. Hands clasped on her lap, knuckles white, refusing to lift her eyes and meet Ryan's gaze.

And yes, she felt him looking at her. She always felt him. How could she not? She was a woman, one of the handful in the growing company, but she wasn't blind.

And it wasn't her fault Ryan didn't fit into the typical nerdy role. Nerds didn't have those kind of arms. They certainly didn't have the kind of pecs a woman could see outlined in his collared shirts.

Karen's blush deepened. Oh, someone just shoot her and put out of her misery.

She risked a peek. Ryan was clearly looking at her, but also at all of them—looking for something. What that something was, she hadn't a clue.

Except, as she glanced around the room, taking in exactly who Ryan was looking at...realization crept down her back.

She was the only woman, in addition to being older than anyone besides Ryan, she was in with a room of young twenty-somethings males and a pile (a gigantic pile) of romance books.

She really, really wanted to be anywhere but here.

Ryan flopped into his seat and picked up her book. Tried to appear relaxed, confident even. As if he did this sort of thing all the time. Handle romance books.

To the others, it probably worked. Not so much for Karen. She noticed his tense shoulders, the way his smile kept drooping as if he couldn’t quite hold it in place.

Great. Not even a month and she knew her boss's subtle ticks. She was so screwed. How she was screwed—well, she was absolutely, under no circumstances going to go there.

Karen.

Okay. Maybe she was. Yes?

You know this woman? He held up the book and pointed to the author.

In fact, a quick inspection revealed Rachel Clare's name was on every book. And there were quite a few of books here.

She's one of the biggest writers in romance.

Is that so? Wanna tell us why? Brad nudged her, elbow folding into her silk blouse.

She resisted the urge to pull away. That's how they were here, these guys. Comfortable, even when they couldn't see she clearly wasn't comfortable.

No. She didn't want to tell him, or anyone else here, why she read knew Rachel Clare's name.

Nor did she want to talk about the particular book he was busy poking around, which happened to have one of the steamiest sex scenes she'd read—to date anyway.

However, that might make him stop poking it.

If you hadn't noticed, I'm a woman. Oh, look at that! First one foot, then the other. Now to stand up. She could do this.

And if not, surly she could fake it?

Karen plucked the book from Brad. Rachel Clare is one of the biggest selling writers in romance. Wealthy to boot and I'll bet your wife has at least one or two copies. If not...

She tossed the book at Brad, which he fumbled as if it burned. She's either read one or heard of Rachel Clare.

Best not to mention the Scottish Highlanders being one of Clare's biggest selling serious. The kilt thing might make them all fall over.

Ryan nodded, though the nod wasn't a happy nod. That's more or less, the impression I was given.

What's this about, Ryan? Brad had completely lost the slouch. Now, back completely straight, he wasn't going anywhere near those novels.

Our new project.

Silence. Karen waited to hear a cricket or two. Not even they appeared to fill the sudden, uncomfortable shock swelling among the six, clearly uncomfortable men.

Somehow, she found her voice first. Or maybe it was because she was a woman and speaking the 'R' word wasn't a terrible, frightening feat. She hoped anyway.

You mean to say our next project is a romance video game?

Ryan's blue eyes narrowed at her. Pierced her. She didn't want to think about the way her heart beat a tad bit faster.

That's right.

The damn broke and the boys lost their fear. Or to be fair, replaced it with anger. Karen leaned back in her chair, losing her breath. This was serious. Real.

Even though Ryan maneuvered the questions—and shouts of indignation—he hardly took his eyes off her. Waiting, almost.

For what, she hadn’t a clue.

Yes, Ryan explained. They were making the first romance video game. An extreme budget, a AAA title for all consoles. A ground breaking game.The first game exclusively for women.

Someone mentioned ponies and the world’s most favorite anorexic doll.

Ryan clarified: first game for adult women.

Karen's eyes dropped to her book. This had to be real. This wasn't the kind of joke she thought Ryan would pull. It was just to, to scary—as completely evidenced by the absolutely irrational