Charmingly Euphemistic

I read this as an online original story several years back, and remembered it as funny and endearing.  So when I saw that it had been made into an audiobook, I decided to get it. Result? Still funny and endearing.  I don't remember the online story well enough to know exactly what changed, but I think it has been polished up a bit, to its benefit.

I don't read a lot of contemporary romance these days, mostly because there are way too many books to read, and I am trying to reduce the potentials by cutting out categories, authors, series that aren't finished yet, books that sound too angsty or dark, etc.  But once in a while a funny contemporary hits the spot.

James is an assistant helping to run an art gallery.  He is good at his job and has an excellent eye for art, but he isn't so good at people.  He is introverted and easily unnerved, and it becomes apparent that the people who are close to him are willing to do the work to maintain the relationship.  James would generally rather hide alone in his room than deal with anyone.  

Turkish is a photographer who has made a splash with his work, and sells photographs at the gallery.  He is confident and friendly, willing to put himself out there, with a lot of friends. 

At the beginning of the story, James can't figure out why Turkish is being so mean to him.  Turkish is smitten, and trying to get James' attention by, essentially, pulling his pigtails. Turkish is willing to break down James' barriers and chase him until James is a little too rejecting, and hurts Turkish enough to give up.  Then James has to decide what he wants and whether he is brave enough to do what it takes to fix things.

Most of the story is told from James' point of view, but there is an epilogue from Turkish's point of view that allows us to see James from his eyes, and it is hilarious.