We’ll miss you, Angelo. – Paige Tyler – New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Paige Tyler – New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

We’ll miss you, Angelo.

We just got back from a mini vacation that I was going to blog about today, but I’m still too shocked and saddened by the tragic news of Angelo Riguero’s murder. I found out about it Sun night when I checked FB and I’m still reeling. I had to read the newspaper story a dozen times before it even sank in. I have tears in my eyes writing this. It’s so tragic and senseless and sad.

As you can tell from the pics of him in my FB photo album, he was my favorite Ellora’s Cave Caveman.  They couldn’t have picked a better ambassador to be the face of their company.  He wasn’t only gorgeous, he was sweet and kind and charming, and a total gentleman.

I first met Angelo when my hubby and I went to RomantiCon two years ago. I spotted him as soon as we walked into the ballroom. He was standing with some of the other Cavemen and I thought to myself, wow, I want him on the cover of every one of my EC my books! I hadn’t gone to any big conventions like that before, so I was way too shy to get a picture with him that first night, or even talk to him much, though I wanted to. Then at the book signing a couple days later I saw that he was on the cover of my print book IF YOU DARE. The other authors all told me that I should have him sign it for me.

My shyness kicked in again, but I realized if I didn’t do it, I’d end up regretting it. So, I took a deep breath, grabbed my book and a silver Sharpie and walked over to ask him to sign my book. I was even brave enough to ask for a picture with him. After that, I was all over him. Well, not literally, but I did have to have him sign the EC Cavemen calendars that came in our swag. Which meant I had to get another picture with him. When he came by my table a little while later to say hi, my shyness was still there, but he made me so at ease, I forgot all about how shy I was. We talked about where he lived, how he got into modeling, and one of my favorite subjects, football. I was frantically coming up with stories with long-haired heroes just so he could be on more of my covers even as we chatted!

When we went back to RomantiCon last year, I wasn’t nearly as shy about hanging out with Angelo. I wasn’t going to miss out on taking pics with him, either. The minute we walked in, he was right there with a big hug for me and a handshake for my hubby. And yes, I got pics with him, lots of them!

When he told me he wasn’t working for Ellora’s Cave anymore and wouldn’t be at future RomantiCons, I was bummed (it was Angelo who got the parties started and kept them going – the man knew how to work a room and entertain a crowd, which is why I secretly gave him the title Captain Caveman), but I couldn’t help being excited or him when he told me about the gym he’d started because he was so excited about it, too.
 
Since he didn’t work for EC anymore, I probably wouldn’t have met up with him again, although he kept saying when my hubby and I got to Dallas to see a Cowboy game we definitely had to stop by his gym and say hey and take one of his classes.

I’m going to miss PMing with him and reading his FB status updates. The world is a little sadder today without Angelo in it.

And now I’m tearing up again.

*hugs*
Paige

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17 comments
Capri Montgomery says October 3, 2012

I was shocked when I saw the FB postings too. It's hard to have to think about the fact that he's gone. I didn't meet him in person, but his emails were always friendly and he was always genuine. Great guy who is gone from this world way too soon.

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paigetyl says October 3, 2012

Capri – Wish you could have met him. He was a truly wonderful guy.

*hugs*
Paige

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angel says October 3, 2012

So sorry for your loss, and EC's.

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paigetyl says October 3, 2012

Angel – Thank you so much.

*hugs*
Paige

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Dalton Diaz says October 3, 2012

I'm still in shock. I've been working on a tribute post for NAC, and have to stop every paragraph to cry. It's just unbelievable.

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chirth7 says October 3, 2012

I Can't believe what happened to him. I know you were close and I'm sorry for the loss of everyone who knew and loved him. Wish I could have met him. RIP Angelo

Hugs, Christine

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paigetyl says October 3, 2012

Dalton – I'm posting this on NAC, too. I had to wait to write it, and even then I got so emotional it took like and hour to get it all written.

Christine – Thank you so much.

*hugs*
Paige

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Randi Alexander says October 3, 2012

He was a wonderful man. I knew him from e-mails and PMs as he helped me with my fitness program. I'd been looking forward to meeting him some day. You're lucky you had time with him, Paige. He will be greatly missed.

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Cris Anson says October 3, 2012

Angelo was the sweetest, warmest, most unselfish person, and totally unaware of his beauty. I wrote a tribute to him on my blog as well.
http://crisansonspassions.blogspot.com/2012/09/now-true-angel.html

He was special to me because I was privileged to do a photo shoot with him, the result of which was the cover for "What She Needs."

I ache for his family. May God hold you close, Angel.

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paigetyl says October 3, 2012

Randi – He was the reason I was so glad we went to RomantiCon that first time, and the reason we went back again.

Cris – What you said exactly! He acted as if he didn't even know how truly gorgeous he was, which made him even more attractive.

*hugs*
Paige

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Amber Skyze says October 4, 2012

It's such a horrible loss for his family, his EC family and everyone who knew him. He was such a sweet guy.
I was terribly shy around him too, but managed to get him to sign a book cover that he's on.

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Heather says October 4, 2012

So sorry for the loss of your friend, Paige. (((HUGS)))

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Shoshanna Evers says October 4, 2012

Angelo was my favorite Caveman 🙁 I never got a chance to have him on the cover of one of my EC books (probably bc all my heroes tend to have short hair) but he was the most friendly guy ever. I have so many pics of me with him from Romanticon '10 and '11 that DH started to get jealous 🙂

He will be missed. I still can't believe that such a great guy died so young. 🙁 I cried buckets when I found out he'd been shot. So tragic.

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paigetyl says October 4, 2012

Heather – Thanks so much.

Shoshanna – I can't believe it, either. I'm still teary.

*hugs*
Paige

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paigetyl says October 4, 2012

Amber – Yes, it is. It was easy to be shy around all that hotness.

*hugs*
Paige

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Jenny says October 5, 2012

It's such a tradegy and so hard to comprehend why this happened to such a beautiful man. He was so full of life and had a world filled with happiness and wonderful friends and family. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet him. He's the type of person you never forget. Last year I had the pleasure of dancing with him at RomCon. I will cherish and hold that dear to my heart always. God bless you, Angelo for touching our lives in such a special way. RIP my friend.

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paigetyl says October 5, 2012

Jenny – What you said. We feel honored to have called him a friend.

*hugs*
Paige

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