M-M Romance Novels

On Point (Out of Uniform 3) Read Free *************** Chapter One Ben was out again. Which wasn’t a surprise, really, and Maddox refused to dwell on it as he rinsed out the bowl. He had a shiny new professional-grade stand mixer and an oven full of muffins. He didn’t need to be worried about his roommate and friend and what he might or might not be getting up to. Chances were high that Ben wouldn’t show up until morning, looking like something their old barn cat back home would have left in Maddox’s shoe. He’d be ravenous to boot and Maddox would have muffins and maybe things wouldn’t be so weird anymore. He couldn’t blame Ben for needing to blow off steam. After all, their SEAL team was due to ship out any day, and two of their best friends had just gotten engaged, and those were both the sort of things to have Ben on edge and restless and moody as heck, although he’d never cop to it. Maddox baked and cleaned out the fridge so they wouldn’t come back from their deployment to a science experiment’s worth of yuck. Ben went bar hopping. They each had their ways of coping— Snick. The sound of a key in the lock made him lose his grip on the bowl, sending it clattering against the stainless-steel sink. Okay. Not out all night. This would be okay too. His stomach went as acidic as lemon zest, but he was okay. No need for the sound of Ben’s husky laugh or an answering low murmur to make his hands clench around the sponge. No need at all. He kept his back to the living area. The way the U-shaped kitchen was set up, it opened to the dining area, not the foyer and living room, so he wasn’t surprised to hear Ben whispering, “Shh. My roommate’s probably asleep, but we can chill in here.” “Is he a SEAL like you?” The other guy had the loose drawl and vowel shifts Maddox associated with native southern Californians like Ben, but sounded younger. No surprise there. “Yup. Let me grab us a couple of beers.” Ben would undoubtedly argue that he didn’t have an accent, but Maddox had studied enough languages to have an ear for little details. Or maybe you’re just hyper-observant of how Ben says cool and caught. You need a new hobby. And a place to hide. Because of freaking course Ben would pick up someone tonight who needed more seduction than “this is the way to the bedroom.” And it wasn’t like Ben was being rude—in the two years he’d been living here, he’d brought back guys plenty, but he’d asked the first few times if it was okay or if they needed some sort of rules. And back then, Maddox hadn’t needed a rule. Hadn’t wanted rules. They’d been friends well over a decade now, ever since BUD/S training. He’d known exactly what he was getting in Ben, or so he’d thought. But this was the first time since... No. Not thinking about that. And now he was stuck—the muffins still had ten minutes and he’d have to cross through the living room to get to his bedroom anyway. “Oh, you’re up.” Ben strolled into the kitchen, and Maddox turned around slowly, pasting a smile on his

Firefly Lane (Briar County 1) Read Free *************** CHAPTER ONE Monroe “We need to figure out a schedule for movies with goats. The season starts in a few weeks,” Dad said as they sat down for a Covington family Sunday dinner. Like always, the whole crew was there: his parents, his three siblings—two with their spouses and children—and, of course, Roe’s best friend, Lindsey, and their son, Wyatt. They all lived in the same town and saw each other all the time. Hell, whether it was full-time, part-time, or simply helping out whenever they could, most of the family worked at Covington Acres Farms. Still, they made their way to Mom and Dad’s house often to share a meal. To break that rule was to break Mama’s heart, and no one wanted that. “We can talk about it after dinner,” Mama scolded. “I have some movie ideas,” his sister, Jackie, replied. The others jumped in with their thoughts on the goat activities—movies, yoga, and things like that—which was what the farm was known for. Roe’s head spun just trying to keep up with everyone. It was always like that. They were quite the bunch and he loved it. “Movies with goats is my favorite,” Lindsey replied from beside him. They’d been inseparable since they were kids. Everyone thought they’d grow up and get married, but once high school rolled around, Roe realized he was into the same kind of guys she was. Lindsey was the first person he’d told he was gay. He came out to his family his senior year, but she’d already known for two. Still, it didn’t matter that he was forty-five years old and had been openly gay since he was eighteen—most people still thought he and Lindsey would end up together. Sometimes he thought his family believed it as well. One might argue that was partly his and Lindsey’s fault since they’d had a child together, who was now thirteen. Really, though, they were just the closest of friends, who’d wanted to be parents and decided to make that happen together. “Wyatt can help with whatever y’all need over the summer,” Roe said. When his son opened his mouth to respond, Roe cocked a brow. Wyatt grumbled but closed it again. Roe gave his attention to Colby, his youngest sibling, as he rambled about the goats. He was the baby while Roe was the oldest. They were the two Covington kids who weren’t married, though Colby’d had a girlfriend for about a year and Roe figured they’d tie the knot soon. That was just what you did in Harmony. “Your mama can work on a schedule—ouch, woman.” Dad added the second part when Mama popped him on the hand with a spoon. “I said after dinner. This is family time.” “And this is a family farm,” Dad insisted, but he knew better, so he ended the conversation after that. Once the food was on the table, they closed their eyes to say grace. It wasn’t something Roe did at home, only partaking during their family meal. Dad said the prayer, and then there was a chorus of amens around the table before they dug in—roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, and all the fixins. D

Facing West (Forever Wilde 1) Read Free The first book in a new series by Lucy Lennox! Nico: I left my family and tiny Texas hometown fifteen years ago to escape small-town gossips and to give my mom and sister the chance at a better life. But when a phone call from an attorney back home informs me that my sister passed away, leaving me custody of her newborn baby, I’m shocked out of the steady life I’ve built for myself running a tattoo shop in San Francisco. The thing is: I don’t do babies. And I don’t do small towns. Or commitment. And I especially don’t do family. My plan is to go back to Hobie just long enough to sign adoption papers, giving my niece the kind of stable, loving family I could never provide. But the moment I meet my niece in the arms of Weston Wilde, my sister’s best friend and the town’s handsome doctor, my plans begin to change. Because suddenly, I see a different future. One with the very thing I thought I never deserved: a family. If only I can convince West that I’m not the same good-for-nothing kid ready to bolt when things get tough. Weston: There’s one thing I know for sure about Nico Salerno: he was a good-for-nothing as a kid and judging by the purple-haired, tattoo’d punk who shows up at his sister’s funeral, he hasn’t changed. There’s no way I’m letting him take custody of my best friend’s baby. But the more time I spend around him, the more I realize that his rough exterior is just a shell and that beneath all the tattoos is a scared, insecure man searching for a place to belong. And pretty soon I know exactly where he belongs: in my bed and by my side. The problem is, he abandoned his family once before, how do I know that if we become a family he won’t do it again? Facing West is the first in the new Forever Wilde series about the huge Wilde family from Hobie, Texas, whose patriarchs aren’t above a little meddling if that’s what it takes to help their grandkids find true love. *************** Prologue West—sixteen years ago “Someone might hear us.” I honestly didn’t care. I finally had a cute guy’s hands on me and was having a hard time keeping my breathing under control. I was sixteen and horny as heck, so my biggest concern was trying not to come before there was even a hand on my dick. “Right there, yes.” I gasped as his hand finally fumbled awkwardly over my fly. Any shred of concern I’d had over making out in the movie theater of my small town had flown out the window the moment one of the hottest guys in school had leaned over during Spanish class and whispered those words into my ear. “Quiero chuparte.” I want to suck you off. What I’d originally thought was a joke had turned out to be an invitation. I’d agreed to meet him at the movies the following night. I hadn’t known the guy very well since he was fairly new in town, but I was flattered as all hell he’d picked me to ask out. We’d been on the same baseball team for half a season, and I’d only just noticed him checking out my ass in my uniform pants a

High Heat (Hotshots 2) Read Free *************** Chapter One “Come on, honey. You gotta let me help you.” Garrick liked to think he was good at sweet-talking, but his track record of success was in serious jeopardy here. Woof. The dog danced away from him again. Balanced on crutches, he was limited in his ability to lunge for her. A year ago, his fast reflexes would have made his words irrelevant, but now he pitched his voice low and gentle. “Sit? Can you sit?” Miraculously, the dog plopped her fairly sizable behind down on his porch. She appeared to be some happy mix of pit, rottie and lab with a short brownish coat and white and tan markings on her nose and chest. No collar, which was alarming enough, but it was the bloody paw prints on his porch and scrape on her side that had him truly concerned. He took a few steps toward her, but she quickly backed up. Damn it. It was probably the crutches that were scaring her. “Me too, dog. Me too.” Industrial gray with heavy forearm cuffs, the crutches made a heavy sound with each step. They were a necessity that made his life far easier than the underarm variety had, but he couldn’t deny that they were probably intimidating to the scared dog. He needed a better plan. She was probably only fifty or sixty pounds, but he wasn’t going to be able to even grab her scruff, let alone lift her. “Can you stay?” The dog cocked her head like she was actually listening, which made Garrick laugh for the first time since discovering her barking at his front door. Obedient even if skittish, she stayed in place while he went back into the house. He traded the crutches for his wheelchair and retrieved his phone from the dining table. Hell. He hated needing help, had needed so much of it in the past year, but he couldn’t let his pride get in the way of helping a wounded animal. His neighbor Shirley had dogs, two of them, little white yappy things. She’d have a leash and know a vet to call. She didn’t answer when he dialed her number, but he could see two cars in her driveway. Probably had company, and he hated interrupting, but it really couldn’t be avoided. If she wasn’t home, he’d have to try another friend or his dad, but this would be quicker. Pocketing the phone, he rolled back out to the porch where the dog waited right where he’d left her. “Good girl,” he praised, but when he scooted closer, she backed up again. “Okay, okay. I’m getting help. Stay.” He used the wooden side ramp his friends had built for him to navigate the two porch steps, then zipped down the driveway and across the cul-de-sac to Shirley’s house, a neat little seventies ranch, same basic size as his own. Hers was a friendly shade of lilac, while he’d gone for gray. It was an older neighborhood of smaller homes but decent-sized yards, and close to both a park and Garrick’s favorite sports bar, where he used to hang out all the time. And the air base, but he was trying not to think about that. Gorgeous blue sky, not a cloud in sight, fresh spring a

Unshackled Read Free Standalone | MM Mafia Romance | Best Friend’s Father | Age Play | Hurt/Comfort Unshackled spares no one, and along the way, you’ll get everything from high-speed car chases, secret meetings in the dark, and the rawest hours of grief, to strong family ties, humor, and unconditional love.  In the wake of the bloodiest war the Sons of Munster had seen in a long time, we were supposed to celebrate our victory and move on with our lives. I wanted to see my brothers-in-arms dance and drink way too much. I wanted to hear laughter and Irish music. Instead, we were a syndicate crushed by grief.Shannon O’Shea had lost more than most, and every fiber of my being screamed at me to pull him from the depths of his despair. As the father of my best friend, he’d been there for me when my parents kicked me out for being gay. Now it was my turn. I had to find the answers. I had to rescue him.The day he asked for a favor and demanded discretion, the plan unfolded before my eyes, and I couldn’t resist the temptation. No names, no faces. He wouldn’t know it was me in the darkness. At the same time, the shackles around my wrists tightened as old enemies slithered back out of the gutters of my city, and my brothers and I were once again on the warpath. *************** Prologue 1 Kellan Ford Once we’d cleared the estate once and for all, Adam and I darted outside again, only to come to a screeching halt just past the patio. Broken glass, dead bodies, guns, and blood everywhere. In the darkness, the pools of blood were black. Several of our guys stood on the lawn, watching Shan working on Patrick. He’d be okay, right? He had to be. We all wore Kevlar vests. Eric had been shot too, but he was lucid. I came up next to Colm and couldn’t tear my gaze away from Shan and Patrick. Finn was there too, coaxing Patrick to open his eyes. My heart crawled up into my throat. “Don’t talk,” I heard Finn growl. Shan was trying to get the bullet out of Patrick’s chest. “He’s gonna be fine,” I gritted out. Adam put a hand on my shoulder. I shook it off and took another step closer. Patrick and Finn said something to each other; I couldn’t hear what it was, but it made Finn cry and chuckle at the same time. “Quit it,” Finn croaked next. “Don’t fucking… I love you, and you’re gonna be fine. You’re gonna feel like an idiot in the hospital later, and we’re gonna give you so much shit for saying good-bye too soon.” I pressed a fist to my mouth, only to notice my hands were covered in blood. Nausea slithered upward, tying a noose around my throat, and I quickly wiped my sleeve over my mouth, then my hands on my thighs. I was gonna be sick. “Dad…” At the sound of Patrick’s voice, my head snapped up, and I itched to run over to him. You’re going to be fine, buddy. I wanted to scream the words until they became true. “I’ll take care of—” He started coughing up blood. The sight made me wanna hurl, and tears filled my vision. “Ma,” he finished. “Fuck,” I choked out. “No!

Sanctuary Found (Pelican Bay 2) Read Free Coming home should be the easiest thing in the world, but I've never felt more lost...When his stellar military career comes to an abrupt and terrible end, thirty-two-year-old Maddox Kent returns to the town he never planned to step foot into again, hoping to mend the rift he himself caused with the brother he left behind. But coming home means facing some hard truths about himself and his actions. When he has the chance to start making amends by helping his brother with the wildlife sanctuary he runs, Maddox is thrown another curveball when a stranger appears...As long as we keep moving, everything will be okay. That's what I keep telling myself, anyway...For twenty-one-year-old Isaac, Pelican Bay is only supposed to be a stopping point on the trek from San Francisco to New York. With his little brother, Newt, in tow, Isaac is just looking to make things right by returning something of value to a person he wronged. But "getting lost" in the next big city proves to be a problem when the brutal Minnesota winter claims Isaac's car and strands him and Newt at the animal sanctuary. When the owners of the place offer him a job, a desperate Isaac agrees, despite the presence of a man Isaac instinctively knows could be his downfall...It should be so easy to let him go, but I can't. And not just because I want to protect him...Nothing about Isaac makes sense to Maddox. Not his piercings or makeup or flashy clothes. And most certainly not the snarky mouth that doesn't match the vulnerability Maddox sees in the younger man's eyes. But one thing does make sense to the hardened former soldier. Isaac is running from something, and Maddox's gut is telling him not to let Isaac and little Newt go until he can ferret out the truth.But having Isaac around means trying to make sense of something else Maddox isn't expecting... his own body's response to the beautiful younger man. Aside from their explosive chemistry, nothing about the straitlaced soldier and the secretive misfit works.But maybe that's exactly why it does...NOTE: Can be read as a standalone (no cliffhangers) but more enjoyment may be had by reading book 1, Locked in Silence, first. *************** Prologue Isaac Snow. So much fucking snow. Like… everywhere. I held my breath as the car suddenly skidded to the right. “Are we gonna crash?” “No, buddy, we’re not,” I said over my shoulder to my little brother. I didn’t dare look at him because I was too busy wrestling with the steering wheel. Weren’t you supposed to steer into a skid or some shit like that? Wait, that was for ice, wasn’t it? Did that even work in snow? “Oh,” Newt said from the back seat, sounding disappointed. “Lightning McQueen would’ve crashed and still won the race.” I smiled at that even as I felt my stomach drop out when the car chose that moment to jerk in the other direction. “You think Lightning would like Minnsopa?” “Minnesota,” I corrected. “I’m not sure, buddy. I think as long as he had

Bad Idea (Stonewall Investigations Miami 1) Read Free *************** 1 Gabriel “Fox” Morrison Miami. The city of vice. City of sex. It was my city, and it was my vice. Another vice of mine? Stuffing my dick down some random guy’s throat in the bathroom of Club Trinity. The stalls were cramped, dimly lit. They didn’t have any of the gaps at the bottom, providing some semblance of privacy while also making the stall resemble a church confessional. Made sense, seeing as how someone was down on their knees. Except no one was doing much confessing tonight. Music pounded from outside the bathroom, drumming in my veins, mixing with the shots of rum I had just downed. I needed this. I needed this buzzed-headed, clearly CrossFit-obsessed man down on his knees, lips wrapped around my cock. I needed the lust-filled gaze as he looked up at me, begging for me to come, his hands milking me. It was a simple and euphoric way of getting the stress off my shoulders. Opening up a new investigation agency wasn’t exactly easy, and neither was the case that had fallen on my lap a few weeks ago. “Mhm, fuckgargs—” The man’s words got slurred as I stuffed my entire size inside his mouth, sliding down his throat. The sensation was enough to push me close, my balls tightening against me. I groaned as my fingers dug into the back of the man’s head. He looked up at me, eyes watering, mouth stuffed with my dick, and I fell right over the edge. “Give it to me,” he said around my cock. “Oh shit,” I managed to grunt. I dropped my head back and unloaded, shooting my come straight down the man’s throat. He swallowed it up like it was his last supper. I did exactly as he asked, gave it all to him. Quivering, I stepped back, come still dripping off the head of my dick. The man—Axel was his name, I remembered now—got up to his feet and wiped his big lips, smiling. He was sweating through the white-and-blue tank top he wore, the straps looking more like strands of hair with how thin they were, clinging to his big, veiny chest. “That was fucking hot, dude.” “Thanks,” I said, the stall suddenly feeling more and more cramped. I turned and unlatched the door. My body was feeling good, and my mind wasn’t far behind. I wanted to get home and get some rest so I could hit the ground hard tomorrow. I didn’t get what I wanted tonight, which meant I’d be coming back. “Hey, wait,” Axel said, stopping me before I left the stall. “You want some?” He pulled out a tiny, clear bag from his incredibly tight jean pocket. Inside the bag I could see the bright green pills I had come searching for. Dragon. “I just bought it,” he said, opening the bag with the care of a jeweler examining a rare gemstone. Well maybe I was getting what I wanted tonight after all… “From who?” “Huh?” “Who did you buy it from?” I put my back against the stall door. Neither of us was getting out until I had my questions answered. This was what I had come to the club looking for, and everyone I had talked to kept their mouths sh

In Too Deep (A Texas Beach Town Romance 1) Read Free *************** Chapter 1 - Jonah Sunlight kisses my face like a lover. The sighing of distant waves off the gulf touches my ears like sweetly spoken words on the sand. The air is a cool, refreshing drink on my warm skin and catches my hair for a dance. In other words, I can fucking die here. And the men? Oh my sweet skipping heart, the men. My bestie Rico and I stop for gas at a small joint just off the causeway, and even the apron-wearing clerk with braces is a sight for the weariest eyes. “Hey, thanks for stoppin’ in, y’all,” he says with his sexy Texas twang and charming smile, and Rico and I can barely gather the breath to thank him back before leaving. If that isn’t enough, I nearly roll through a stop sign as my eyes drink in a group of gorgeous men strolling along the sidewalk. This beach town is full of them: men coming in and out of the boutiques along the boardwalk, jogging along the road shirtless and gleaming with sweat on their every muscle, making their way down to the beach with their surfboards and six-packs of beer and abs, some in butt-hugging board shorts, some in tight pec-squeezing tank tops, others in just their swimming trunks … “What in the actual gay heaven?” cries Rico from the passenger seat, his nose nearly glued to the glass. It’s his car, but he hates driving on long-distance road trips. “Looks like all the men in this town fell off the Adonis tree,” I say. “And smacked every damned branch on their way down,” he finishes. “We have to contain ourselves,” I lovingly remind Rico. “At least until we’re checked in to our hotel.” “Don’t worry. This won’t be a repeat of Tallahassee.” It’s a wonder how I muster enough concentration to steer the car to the front of our hotel without running anyone over. Though as we gather our bags from the trunk, we’re spotted by a trio of young guys seated on a waist-high concrete wall by the front doors, their ages likely spanning seventeen to twenty, if I had to guess. Whatever they were chatting about is promptly ended as they look us over. One of them—tanned, sandy blond hair, flat-bill cap and a loose colorful tank top that seems to fall off his slender, toned frame—gives us a chin-lift. Rico’s already hard at work. “Hey there, boys.” “Need a hand?” asks the sandy blond. Rico is about to give one of his charming one-liners when I cut him off: “We’re good, thanks for the offer!” A bag immediately drops off my shoulder. I quickly pick it back up with a grunt while Rico shoots me a look. “Sure about that?” asks his friend sitting next to him—shirtless, similarly slender and unapologetically ripped, with deep chestnut skin, striking eyes, and a spike piercing in his eyebrow. “We’ve got it, thank you!” I call back. “Jonah,” hisses Rico. “If you say so,” says the sandy blond in the tank, smirking with amusement. His friend grins. The kid with a skateboard tucked under his arm stays silent and watches us with mild curiosity. The front doo

Virgin Flyer Read Free Wanted: One night together, no strings attached. Hold me, make love to me, treat me like I’m the most important person in the world. No talking. No names. And don’t be surprised if I’m gone in the morning. After crushing on my best friend for years, I realize he’ll never want someone inexperienced like me. So I decide to get it over with, play the V-card once and for all with an anonymous hook-up. The terms are simple: no talking, no names.It isn’t as easy as it seems. Now I can’t get the handsome stranger who greeted me with soft kisses and gentle touches out of my mind. Those hands, those lips... But it was just a one-time thing, and I need to forget about him once and for all.At least I know I won’t ever see him again—until I board a flight and catch sight of a familiar profile in the cockpit just as the door closes. *************** 1 Teo “Who the hell is still a virgin at age twenty-six?” Chris asked the question, gesturing with his overfull beer glass and sloshing some of the foam onto the sticky table below. “I told her that was bullshit. Any guy who claims to still be a virgin at our age is just lying to get into her pants quicker. Or he’s got an embarrassing little problem in his pants. One of the two.” As our friends laughed around the crowded table, I hoped the dim lights of the bar hid my splotchy face. My cheeks were so hot they’d probably steam outside in the frigid January air, but in the crowded space of the neighborhood pub, I began to sweat. Jay’s laugh turned into a giggle as he reached out to high-five Chris. Jay was noticeably drunker than the rest of the group since he’d gone out for birthday drinks with his coworkers before meeting up with us at the pub. His tie was half-untied, and his black hair stood out in messy spikes. “And if he was gay… dude would have even less chance of still claiming a purity ring.” He turned to me with his trademark grin. “That ‘virgin’ crap is heteronormative bullshit. Teo, am I right or am I right?” He moved his palm over to me for another high five. I glanced at Chris, wondering how it was even possible my best friend of twenty years didn’t know I was still a virgin. But of course I knew the truth. It was because I’d lied to him years ago in a fit of anger and jealousy. “You’re right,” I said with as much fake enthusiasm as I could. But deep down, I’d always wished Chris knew me well enough to see the truth, that I’d been holding out for someone special instead of giving up my virginity to some random hookup. That I’d been holding out for him. “Anyway,” Chris continued, “I told her to dump his sorry ass and find someone with more experience in the bedroom. Someone who knows how to find a woman’s special spot. Someone like me.” Groans and cheers came from around the table as another one of our friends shoved him good-naturedly in the shoulder. Chris raised his hand to get the server’s attention for another pitcher of beer even though his glass was still full enough t

Say You'll Be Nine Read Free One dilapidated cabin in need of renovation.Two stubborn men pretending to be a couple.Three summer months to get the job done.Four tangled legs in only one bed.Five cameras catching it all for YouTube.Six hundred thousand Instagram followers.Seven nosy family members with Opinions.Eight thousand reasons they should never fall in love.Nine million reasons why they will.Say You'll Be Nine is a standalone novel. *************** 1 Nine “Nine will help you carry those out to the car.” I glanced up and smiled while Walt handed Mr. Purcell his change. Mr. Purcell was one of several customers who still paid in cash, even when he was shelling out for half a pallet of potting soil like he was today. Walt’s assurance of my help was one I’d heard thousands of times in my life. Nine will help. Nine will carry that. Nine will do that for you. It was a familiar refrain both at work and at my family’s farm. As I made my way to the front of the store, I ignored the buzz of my phone in my pocket. My mother had been messaging me all day to remind me of the leaky bathroom faucet she needed me to fix after work, and my brother Eli was no doubt texting me to remind me it was my turn to buy beer for poker night this weekend. As if I’d forget. The first Friday of the month was my night to buy beer. Lord only knew why I drew the first Friday when I was the last boy out of the ten of us, but there it was. It was fine. I didn’t complain. I never complained, and I always helped out. It was what I was known for, and honestly, I enjoyed helping people. I liked knowing something I did made someone else’s life easier. Mr. Purcell turned to me with a smile. “There he is. Been recording any more of them videos for me? I was hoping you might do one on repairing roof flashing. Now that the weather’s turning, I’d like to get up there and patch everything. Be great if I could do it myself without having to call in John over at the roofing company, you know?” I gathered up several of the bags of potting soil from the counter and threw them over my shoulder. “I did the one on switching out your door locks like you asked, but I haven’t done any roofing ones yet.” “Oh! Well if you did the door locks, let me go back in and pick those up and I’ll get ’em knocked out this afternoon. I’d like to break off my key every time that damned thing jams up.” He opened the rear hatch in his old Suburban, and I loaded the bags of soil before turning to get the remaining bags of soil, seeds, and starter pots he’d purchased. I pointed him in the direction of the locks and told him I’d be right there to make sure he got the right items. As soon as I’d closed his SUV up, I joined him on aisle four. “Didn’t you say you needed one for the tool shed too?” I asked, scratching the back of my neck and trying to remember our conversation from a few weeks ago. “Oh, and Debbie’s place now that Nate left. Can’t be too careful after a breakup.” Mr. Purcell snapped his fingers. “Damned r

Forever Wilde in Aster Valley (Forever Wilde 9) Read Free When Miller Hobbs finds himself on a winter vacation in Colorado with the giant, exceedingly loud, Marian and Wilde families, he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. He’s not really a Marian or a Wilde despite having DNA ties to both.So every morning before the rest of the family wakes up and fills Rockley Lodge with holiday merriment (and noise), he escapes to the quaint downtown of Aster Valley where he spies a man through the bakery window kneading dough and dancing to music only he can hear. Miller is entranced by the dancing baker, and when Darius looks up and catches Miller staring, the interest suddenly goes both ways.Can two strangers find love among the quaint chaos of an Aster Valley Christmas? Even if it includes the two most overwhelming and meddling families vying for the title of greatest matchmakers of all time? *************** 1 Miller “Take him down, mother… fudger!” Ginger Marian screamed at the giant television screen, loud enough for the Riggers players to hear her in Los Angeles. I was starting to believe this special football-viewing room had been the key selling point to the Marians’ rental of Rockley Lodge in Aster Valley for the family reunion in the first place. Not only was it large and filled with comfortable leather recliners, but it was also decorated with priceless NFL memorabilia owned by Tiller Raine, the celebrity quarterback who apparently owned the lodge itself. And the acoustics were… “Yeah!” Ginger’s shout echoed around the room, and she jumped to her feet to perform a kind of rhythmless bump-and-grind that made the baby girl in her arms—a baby I was almost positive didn’t belong to her and my cousin Pete—shriek with contagious laughter. “Tackle him! Eat dirt, Nelson Evangelista! Isn’t that right, Reenie?” she cooed at the baby, who laughed even harder. “So I told him no,” Nico Wilde continued as Ginger and the baby kept dancing. “I refuse to ink any version of a spider, even if it is a cartoon one. That’s too creepy. Find someone else.” “That’s hardly fair,” Ben muttered, absently rubbing his calf through his blue jeans. “Some spiders are sweet.” Ben was my cousin Griffin’s biological brother, and I was pretty sure he was married to the tall guy named Reese, who was outside with some of the Wilde cousins. I knew for sure that Ben had a memorial tattoo of his daughter’s tarantula right at the spot he was rubbing, though, because he and the other guys had been showing off their ink the day before, and that experience had been seriously memorable. It turned out I had a thing for guys with tatts. Who knew? “Pfft,” Nico replied. “Your tattoo is the only exception and only because you’re my best friend’s baby bro. And… okay, maybe if Georgie wants her own one day, I’ll do it. But only because no one else is touching her virgin skin.” The Marian and Wilde men sitting around him collectively shuddered at the idea of anyone even thinking about inking on

Feel the Fire (Hotshots 3) Read Free *************** Chapter One “You want me to go where?” Luis paced the narrow length of his boss’s office, ignoring the visitor’s chair in front of where Rosalind sat. His pulse alternately revved and sputtered, struggling to keep up with the freaking live grenade Rosalind and the Forest Service had just lobbed into his life. “Central Oregon. The Painter’s Ridge air base is there along with an interagency hotshot crew and, of course, a large forest service office. It’s a big operation.” “I know what’s there.” Even now, he could picture exactly what was there—endless sky, big ranches, surprising number of cowboys, and Tucker. But not the Tucker of his memories. Chestnut hair. Gap between his teeth. Floppy hair over his ears. Penny in his sneakers. That boy was gone forever, replaced by a fully adult Tucker, who undoubtedly had a happy wife, happy life, maybe a half-dozen kids by now, all with Tucker’s damn smile. That boy—man—had roots as deep as a two-hundred-year-old fir in that area, and no way was Luis getting lucky by him having moved away or something. “I had a feeling you might. You grew up near there, right?” She gave him an encouraging smile, sun glinting off her short gray hair. She was one of the few in the building with a window in her office. Usually he enjoyed visiting her and her collection of houseplants and stacks of forestry manuals, but not today. “Something like that.” His voice was probably terser than Rosalind deserved, as they’d been good work friends before she’d taken this promotion, but damn, he was still reeling. “I grew up in Riverside mainly, but we spent some years up in Oregon when my dad was transferred there to manage a new bank branch. All my family’s back here in California now though,” he added in case she was under the mistaken impression that he was pining for the area. No, he’d gotten all the pining out of his system years ago and all that was left was a bitter, ashy taste and a major distrust of toothy grins and careful promises. I promise to write. I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait forever. You’re the one. My one. “Hmm.” Rosalind’s mouth twisted. “I’m not saying this assignment will be easy. Extended travel is never fun. And I’m sure your family will miss you. You’re not seeing anyone right now, are you?” Ah. There it was. The real reason Luis was being shipped north. In a large office with several fire behavior specialists, he might well be the best, but he was also the only single guy, only one without kids. And that made him expendable. This wasn’t the first time the forest service had loaned him out to a region with great need—he’d spent a few weeks in northern California last year, and in Montana with the big national park fires the year before that. But fucking Oregon? That he wasn’t prepared for. “If I say yes, will that get me out of this?” He gave her his best smile, but she simply sighed. “Sorry. I know this is short notice. But you’ll get the travel per diem. If yo

Emerett Has Never Been in Love (Love Austen 1) Read Free A man who acts before he thinks, a man who thinks before he acts, and the ensuing mishaps on the path to the ultimate love match.~ ~ ~Emerett “Lake” Lakewood has a healthy ego and a flair for the dramatic. After losing his best friend to marriage—completely crushing his heart—he deems it prudent to distract himself, and what better way than playing cupid?He’s already got his eye on two young men desperately seeking romance, and he has a plan to hook them up.Barbecues.Photoshoots.Reciting Shakespearean love declarations.Lake is killing it. Love is positively pulsing in the air. Anyone could see it.Well, anyone other than Knight, his best friend’s dad, who cautions Lake to stop meddling. To leave love to its natural course.Lake has always valued Knight’s frankness, but this time he’s wrong. Without him, two hearts might be doomed never to find love.Besides, what does Knight know about romance? He’s barely dated in all the seven years Lake’s known him. He’s clueless.Though, there’s a thought. Knight has everything going for him. Sensibility. Kindness. Generosity. And for a forty-four-year-old, he’s—objectively—freaking hot.Why is he single?~ ~ ~“. . . [T]here may be a hundred different ways of being in love.” ~ Jane AustenAnd a hundred different ways not to recognize it. *************** “. . . [T]here may be a hundred different ways of being in love.” ~ Jane Austen * * * And a hundred different ways not to recognize it. Cast Emerett “Lake” Lakewood: Ridiculously clueless and a compulsive matchmaker. Knightly Dixon: Morally scrupulous with the patience of a saint. Taylor Dixon: Knightly’s son and Lake’s best friend. Amy Dixon: Wife of Taylor, married off-page at the start of the book. Harry: Lake’s first victim of romantic meddling. Philip: The man Lake wants Harry to fall in love with. Fond of clapping and his alligator-print shoes. Martin: Harry’s cousin and longstanding crush. Cameron: Next door neighbor and huge fan of Jane Austen. Needs a venue for his film studio. Brandon: Cameron’s brother and business partner. Josh: Lives down the street, graduated from Oxford, does everything better than Lake. West: Lived abroad in England, was Taylor’s first best friend. Is harboring a secret. Garfield: The cat. Emerett “Lake” Lakewood loved love, and loathed weddings. He snatched the spare key from underneath a pot of petunias and broke into his best friend’s childhood home. Floorboards creaked as he stole into the urban-farmhouse-style living room. Taylor’s Xbox shimmered in a shaft of moonlight; the distressed-wood coffee table he and Taylor had studied at for exams gleamed; the forest-green vase they’d taken turns throwing up in the night they’d graduated college taunted. A silly ache washed over him like a late October breeze. He’d been one of the last to leave the local hall, though he’d wanted to bail the minute Taylor and Amy—his now wife—had driven off with a clatter of tin cans. His sigh ech

Bennet, Pride Before the Fall (Love Austen 3) Read Free “I want someone to want me for who I am. No changing my appearance or philosophies or principles. I need a partner to be proud of me—in public and beyond—and proud of themselves.”“Think you’ll find it?”Bennet had always dreamed of love. Of finding his Mr. Right.Hell, he’d even settle for Mr. Righteous.Who he won’t fall for, not ever? Mr. Downright Pride-less.It’s Pride and Prejudice, complete with scumbaggery, anguished declaration of desire, meddling villagers, Karaoke, Scrabble, and Pride. *************** It’s Pride and Prejudice, complete with scumbaggery, anguished declaration of desire, meddling villagers, Karaoke, Scrabble, and Pride. Cast Bennet Keene: Hero. Principled. Striving to create a safe, proud environment for his brother. Judges too quickly. Lyon Keene: Crass-mouthed fifteen-year-old who tests his brother daily. Darcy Tilney: Local landowner, taking time in the country to reflect. * * * Caroline Bingley: Head over heels for Darcy and does her best to capture his interest. * * * Charlie: Level-headed friend who cautions Bennet not to judge too quickly. Wiremu: Charlie’s dad, runs local pub and loves karaoke. * * * Henry: Darcy’s son, with whom he needs to repair some bridges. Cameron: Darcy’s son’s boyfriend. Georgie: Darcy’s daughter. * * * Olivia Collins: Costumier at Ask Austen Film Studios, kind-hearted, wants children. Will Wickham: There to stir up shit. * * * Caesar: A cute dog Darcy befriends. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a single, openly gay man must lust after every male in his vicinity. At least in the close-knit, conservative universe of Cubworthy, that is. Well. Sure, he was out. Sure, he flirted for fun. Sure, he liked no-strings sex. But ultimately Bennet Keene was searching for deep, meaningful love. It would take more than just any man to tempt him. He moved in his firm leather saddle, ass rolling against the cantle as Doll, his borrowed white mare, cantered powerfully under him. Movement across the paddocks caught his eye. A horse, galloping hard up a mirroring hill. The rider—male, by his form—sat comfortably straight-backed as he halted his stunning black steed and contemplated the view of the gossipy village below. Something about the authority in that figure made Bennet’s— Brilliant. He was a monumental cliché after all. As if he felt curious eyes on him, the rider turned. Bennet offered his friendliest nod and received a stiff inclination of the man’s head. They moved toward the river and, once they hit flat land, Bennet pressed his legs into his mare’s flanks and spurred her on. “Come on, Doll. Let’s show off.” Grass ripped behind him as they rode.

Squared Away (Out of Uniform 5) Read Free In the wake of tragedy, SEAL Mark Whitley rushed stateside to act as guardian to his sister’s three young children. But a conflicting will could give custody to someone else—someone Mark remembers as a too young, too hot, wild party boy. Even after six years, Mark can’t shake the memory of his close encounter with Isaiah James, or face up to what it says about his own sexuality.Isaiah’s totally over the crush that made him proposition Mark all those years ago. In fact, he’s done with crushing on the wrong men altogether. For now, he’s throwing himself into proving he’s the best person to care for his cousin’s kids. But there’s no denying there’s something sexy about a big, tough military man with a baby in his arms.As the legal details get sorted out, their long-buried attraction resurfaces, leading to intimate evenings after the kids are tucked in. A forever future is within reach for all of them, if only Mark can find the courage he needs to trust Isaiah with his secrets—and his heart. *************** Chapter One Six years ago “I’m going to do it.” Isaiah’s voice was full of confidence he wasn’t entirely sure he felt as he tugged his friend Bree into an enclave off the main ballroom. “By the end of the night, no more V-card.” “You’re going to lose your virginity at your cousin’s wedding?” Bree didn’t sound so sure. “No offense, but is anyone here even playing for your team?” The large ballroom swirled with people in fancy clothes, suit porn everywhere for Isaiah’s viewing pleasure. His cousin Cal having his wedding at a hotel and spa renowned for its wines when Isaiah couldn’t drink yet was all kinds of cruel, but all the hot guys more than made up for it. And true, most of the guests were Cal and his bride Danielle’s age or more like parental types and other gray-haired relatives. But Isaiah had been scoping out potential targets all night. He was determined to not let this opportunity slip away—prom had come and gone, graduation too, and here he was, still a virgin. Prom night had been fun, going with Bree and the rest of the gang as a group, and he wasn’t going to regret going to the school-sponsored “safe” graduation party to satisfy Aunt Cecily, who was Cal’s mother and had largely raised them both, but damn he was ready for some action. And not the fumbling around he’d done with Jimmy Sanders last summer. He wanted real, honest-to-god, sweaty, full-on-naked, loud sex. And he knew exactly where he was getting it. “Him,” he said to Bree, jerking his head in the direction of the bridal party table he’d just escaped from. Everyone was still milling around, finding their seats and greeting people, and there were only so many congratulations for Cal that he could stand through. Besides, he’d needed to find Bree, tell her his big plan. He narrowly avoided the temptation to point. Bree would know exactly who he meant anyway. Predictably, she gasped. “Mark? Danielle’s brother? Have you lost your mind? He’s

Ends of the Earth Read Free A desperate young father. A lonely ranger. A race against time. Jason Kellerman’s life revolves around his eight-year-old daughter. Teenage curiosity with his best friend led to Maggie’s birth, and her mother tragically died soon after. Only twenty-five and a single dad, Jason hasn’t had time to even think about romance. Disowned by his wealthy family, he’s scrimped and saved to bring Maggie west for a camping vacation. The last thing Jason expects is to question his sexuality after meeting a sexy, older park ranger.  Ben Hettler’s stuck. He loves working in the wild under Montana’s big sky, but at forty-one, his love life is non-existent, his ex-boyfriend just married and adopted, and Ben’s own dream of fatherhood feels impossibly out of reach. He’s attracted to Jason, but what’s the point? Besides the age difference and skittish Jason’s lack of experience, they live thousands of miles apart. Ben wants more than a meaningless fling. Then a hunted criminal on the run takes Jason’s daughter hostage, throwing Jason and Ben together in a desperate and dangerous search through endless miles of mountain forest. They’ll go to the ends of the earth to rescue Maggie—but what comes next? Can they build a new family together and find a place to call home? Ends of the Earth is an age-gap gay romance from Keira Andrews featuring sexual awakening, action and adventure, a plucky kid, and of course a happy ending. Note: Previously published as Road to the Sun. *************** PROLOGUE Harlan didn’t have to turn around to know it was her—he’d recognize Mary Beth’s nauseating giggle anywhere. In the week since she’d walked out, he hadn’t missed her at all. He was better off without that bitch nagging him all the time and sticking her big nose in his business. The fluorescent light above the bank of refrigerators flickered restlessly, a low rattle echoing through the back of the roadside store. Harlan curled his fingers into the plastic holder of a six-pack of Bud cans. After a moment of debate in the snack aisle, he grabbed a bag of corn chips, a smirk curving his lips as he heard Mary Beth ask the cashier for a pack of smokes. She’d come crawling back soon. She always did. Turning toward the cash register, he stopped dead, staring at Dwayne. Dwayne had been his buddy since high school, when they used to pump iron and camp out in the woods, living off the land, practicing for when the world finally went completely to shit. Now here was good ol’ Dwayne, with his shock of red hair and ugly freckles—and his arm around Harlan’s woman. Mary Beth had been Harlan’s since they were kids, and Dwayne knew she was off limits. But here they were, giggling and whispering with their heads real close. Just who in the hell did they think they were? They were making a fool of him. No one made a fool of Harlan Brown. No one. Ears buzzing with a hot rush of blood, Harlan watched them slide open the ice cream cooler by the counter. Why, they hadn’t ev

Sailor Proof (Shore Leave 1) Read Free The sexy Navy chief and his best friend’s adorkable little brother… It’s petty, but Naval Chief Derrick Fox wishes he could exact a little revenge on his ex by showing off a rebound fling. His submarine is due to return to its Bremerton, Washington, home base soon and Derrick knows all too well there won't be anyone waiting with a big, showy welcome.Enter one ill-advised plan…Arthur Euler is the guy you go to in a pinch—he's excellent at out-of-the-box solutions. It's what the genius music-slash-computer nerd is known for. So when he finds out Derrick needs a favor, he’s happy to help. He can muster the sort of welcome a Naval Chief deserves, no problem at all.Except it is a problem. A very big problem.When Arthur’s homecoming welcome is a little too convincing, when a video of their gangplank smooch goes enormously viral, they're caught between a dock and a hard place. Neither of them ever expected a temporary fake relationship to look—or feel—so real. And Arthur certainly never considered he'd be fighting for a very much not-fake forever with a military man. *************** Chapter One Derrick It was going to happen. Today was finally the day I was going to deck an officer and thus end any hope I had of ever making chief of the boat, and probably earn myself a court-martial to boot. But Fernsby had it coming, and he knew it, the way he met my eyes as he gave a cocky laugh. He might be a junior-grade lieutenant who had to answer to the other officers, but he wasn’t stupid. It didn’t matter how much he had it coming, a chief fighting with an officer of any rank over a personal matter was going to be harshly punished. But it might be worth it. Fernsby had been goading me the entire long deployment, every chance he got, which considering the close quarters on a submarine was pretty damn often. And now here he was, joking with another officer about winning the first-kiss raffle for our homecoming, knowing full well that I was standing right there. And that he’d be kissing my ex. Personal matter indeed. And totally worth punching that smug smile away. “I hope we go viral. Social media loves two hot dudes kissing.” Fernsby smirked as he waggled his eyebrows at the big-eyed ensign who’d been hero-worshipping him all damn tour. And of course he was smirking. First kiss was a storied tradition for most navy deployments, and sailors loved vying for the honor of being first to disembark and greet their loved ones. Usually I was happy for whoever won, and over the years I’d seen more than one proposal as a result of that first kiss. God, I hoped Fernsby wasn’t planning that. Bad enough that he couldn’t stop ribbing me that Steve chose him over me and that I’d been the last to know Steve was cheating. Watching them be all happy was going to suck. “I’m gonna get so lucky.” Fernsby’s knowing gaze met mine over the ensign’s head. An angry noise escaped my throat. “And I hope—” “Fox. A word. Now.” My friend Calder appear

Rend (Riven 2) Read Free After a whirlwind romance, a man with a painful past learns to trust the musician who makes him believe in happy endings. Matt Argento knows what it feels like to be alone. After a childhood of abandonment, he never imagined someone might love him—much less someone like Rhys Nyland, who has the voice of an angel, the looks of a god, and the worship of his fans.Matt and Rhys come from different worlds, but when they meet, their chemistry is incendiary. Their romance is unexpected, intense, and forever—at least, that’s what their vows promise. Suddenly, Matt finds himself living a life he never thought possible: safe and secure in the arms of a man who feels like home. But when Rhys leaves to go on tour for his new album, Matt finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his past.When Rhys returns, he finds Matt twisted by doubt. But Rhys loves Matt fiercely, and he’ll go to hell and back to triumph over Matt’s fears. After secrets are revealed and desires are confessed, Rhys and Matt must learn to trust each other if they’re going to make it. That means they have to fall in love all over again—and this time, it really will be forever.Roan Parrish’s pitch-perfect Riven novels can be read together or separately:RIVEN | REND *************** Prologue We had what some people might call a whirlwind romance. I wouldn’t have called it that. But then, romance wasn’t something I was familiar with at all. A sign outside the shabby bar in Crown Heights promised dollar well drinks and the chance to avoid my shitty apartment for a little while longer, so I ducked inside, out of the cold. I’d been walking for hours, desperate to be anywhere but home, and winter had seeped into my bones. I had three roommates and my bed was also the living room couch, so the only chance I ever had at solitude was to arrive home late and leave early. Tonight, with any luck, I wouldn’t be going home at all. The floor was dingy, the bar polished to a mirror shine, and the lull of a Wednesday night meant I could nurse my whiskey and ginger for a while. I slid a battered paperback out of my coat pocket but didn’t open it yet. My fingers were numb and clumsy, and after walking for so long, I had the sensation that I was still moving even after I sat down. An ocean in my ears and rust on my tongue. When the whiskey flared hot in my chest I let myself relax slightly. It had been a fuck of a day. The kind of exhausting day that reminds you that life is exhausting. That sometimes just rolling out of bed—or couch, in my case—was so draining you wanted to crawl right back in. Lately, every day seemed that way, and I was disgusted with myself, because I should’ve felt better. I finally had a job where I could help people with more than their beverage size or correct change. I had a chance—a chance to make life better for people who’d been through the same things I had. I should’ve felt better, but I didn’t. It had been two months since I’d started working at Mariposa, and t

Any Closer Read Free Part of the First Time For Everything Daily Dose 2011 collectionCharlie Ryder has a colorful past, painful memories, and an embarrassing secret. After three years working for Leo Foster’s construction company, Charlie’s worst fears are realized, and Leo finds out what Charlie has worked so hard to hide. When Leo meets the revelation with absolute love and acceptance, Leo has to trust that Charlie’s love isn’t just gratitude, and Charlie has to learn to trust again, period. It’s going to take a lot of work for these two men to get any closer. *************** 1 “So, Brian said you used to be a porn star.” In retrospect, it was a hell of a way to start a conversation. After I realized he wasn’t answering, I looked up and saw that my friend, Charlie Ryerson, was not breathing. “Breathe,” I suggested, smiling at him. As soon as he did, he sucked hot coffee down the wrong hole, burned his throat, and started coughing. Maybe air was overrated. I got up to get him some water, gave him a pat on the back as I walked by, and when I returned, placed a tall glass down in front of him. “Sorry.” His eyes were huge, and as I took my seat back down across from him at the table in the crowded diner, I noticed, like I didn’t usually, that his lime-green eyes were the prettiest color I had ever seen in my life. I was also a fan of his short, closely cropped curls and his thick, perfectly curved brows. Normally, I didn’t really see the individual parts of the man, but instead, the whole that was my friend. I saw Charlie’s face when he smiled, heard his voice when he yelled at me, and noticed the space he took up when he was sitting beside me in my truck. I was aware of him peripherally, but I didn’t focus on him. Today I was really looking at him. Today I noticed the fluid way he moved, the delicate cut of his features, and how fine-boned his hands were. The scrutiny had been brought on by something Brian had said. My old high school friend was back in town to see his family and had looked me up just to have drinks and dinner. Or so he had said initially. I didn’t know he needed money at that point. So at the time, we had been walking out of the office when Charlie was on his way in from another job site. There were ten men, plus me and my partner, Paul, so any number of us were coming and going through the office at all hours. The only person who never left the office was Alison Reynolds, Ali, who looked like she was sixteen but was actually ten years older than that. So I had waved, and Charlie had waved back, and Brian had been flash-frozen beside me, suddenly unable to move. When I walked around in front of him, he had pointed. “Chaz,” he stated. I pointed to myself, chuckling. “Actually, it’s Leo.” “No,” he choked, swallowing hard, finally turning his head to look after Charlie. “Chaz. That’s Chaz Ryder.” “Charlie Ryerson.” I smiled at him. “But Chaz is close, I guess.” “No, no, no,” he exhaled. “That’s Chaz Ryder; I’ve seen all his movies.”

Connor (Boys & Toys Season 2 1) Read Free *************** CONNOR BOYS & TOYS SEASON 2 BOOK 1 [ THE KANSAS BOY ] The city is ripe with life in the hot afternoon sun, honking vehicles, and toiling smog. In a crowded airport, Connor, bright-faced, young, and fresh off a flight from Kansas, cheerily makes his way with three heavy bags of luggage. 1 “Today, my life begins!” I state excitedly. The vendor rubs her sleepy eyes. “Congrats. Here’s your change.” I slap my new blue hat on my head. Today, my life begins! That was my first thought after proudly disembarking the plane ten minutes ago. The life I dreamed of since leaving the doors of Wortham Academy of Kansas, degree in hand. This big new city is the playground of my future, and I am ready to play its game. Life is beautiful. Life is limitless. And my future is full of promise and— “Outta the way, you fucking dipshit!” I’m shoved aside by a small yet monstrous old man, causing one of my rolling suitcases to tip over. “S-Sorry!” I call out at him, but he’s already replaced by a dozen other busybodies, pushing their way ahead. After adjusting the strap of my laptop-carrying messenger bag, I quickly scramble to right my luggage, realizing that being trampled to death is a very likely possibility in this lobby. And that’s not an ideal start to my new life. Wait a second. Didn’t I have four bags? “I think my bag was stolen,” I tell a bored-faced clerk at the help desk. “It had half of my clothes, a care package from my mom, an irreplaceable lucky teddy bear named Grinch with one missing eye—” “Fill out this form.” I stare down at a zillion words crammed onto a tiny sheet of paper. Hey, isn’t this a city-living rite of passage? Being pickpocketed in the middle of a crowded place? I should be honored! I wonder whether it’s still called pickpocketing if it’s an entire bag that was stolen. Ten minutes later—and one sad glance at the long bathroom lines—I conclude I’m going to have to hold it until I get to my new apartment. In lieu of a bathroom mirror, I make sure to give myself a quick glance into the reflective side of a vending machine, fussing with my short, messy hair and trying to coax it all into the same direction. My normally big, blue (and vexingly innocent-looking) eyes appear sunken and tired after my flight, which wasn’t all that long, even though I was able to get in almost two movies. I give myself a kiss in the reflection—noticed unexpectedly by an old security officer nearby—then cheerily make my way for the doors. “Taxi!” I call out a moment later as I stand on the curb like a pro in the waning evening sunlight, waving a hand and nearly knocking off my hat. This is all very exciting to me, by the way. Another yellow bullet whizzes by, tossing my loose bangs as it goes. Am I even doing this right? Who cares? I’m so thrilled I’m even doing this at all. I’m sure no one notices, but I’m beaming with pride as I try—and fail—to get myself a taxi. I’ve never had to hail one before. Heck,

The Truth Within (Pelican Bay 3) Read Free I’m not a fighter. I never was. So how do I make the one man who might just be worth fighting for see that? At twenty-five years old, Ford Cornell should have his whole life ahead of him but instead, the would-be artist is drowning in denial and just trying to get through each day. And the boy who once believed life was about following impossible dreams has finally come to accept that it’s really only about surviving a living nightmare… one of his own making. But the bruises are becoming harder to hide. So is the truth… I refuse to fall for a guy who won’t accept the truth about who he is or what he wants. Not again… They say bad things happen in threes. For Sherriff Camden Wells, it’s more like fours… or fives… or dozens. After an ugly lie destroys his career and the man he’d planned to spend the rest of his life with cuts him to the core with the ultimate betrayal, forty-year-old Cam is counting on his new job as sheriff of the quiet town of Pelican Bay to be the fresh start he needs. What he isn’t counting on is meeting a young man who makes him want to break all his own rules. He wants me to accept something that will cause me to lose everything. I may not have much but it’s something and something is better than nothing… right? Ford’s gotten used to his role as his older brother’s punching bag and being his mother’s never-ending disappointment. They may not be the Cleavers but family is family and Ford’s seen up close and personal what happens when you don’t have anyone in your corner… or when you go against family. And there’s just no way he’s strong enough to survive that… Nothing about us should make sense but maybe that’s why it does… Two men… one living a lie and one knocking down the walls of the closet he was forced to live in for so long. When one white-hot encounter leads to another and then another, Ford and Cam are forced to accept that their need for each other isn’t going away anytime soon. But being together means one will need to go against everything he believes in. So which man will bend and which will break? And what will the truth ultimately reveal? **This book CAN be read as a standalone, but you may want to consider checking out books 1 and 2 in the series to fully enjoy all the secondary characters you'll meet in this story. Book 1 - Locked in Silence Book 2 - Sanctuary Found *************** Chapter One Cam “I need to speak to your son, Mrs. Sullivan,” I said tiredly as I automatically dropped my hand to the butt of my gun where it was resting in the holster. I wasn’t really expecting any trouble, but after almost twenty years working as first a beat cop and then as a detective in one of the most violent cities in the country, it was habit to always be prepared. And while the small town of Pelican Bay was about as far as you could get crime-wise from Detroit, safety and geography never went hand in hand. Bad shit happened to people no matter where they lived, and I’d

Tight Quarters (Out of Uniform 6) Read Free Petty Officer Bacon, a navy SEAL and ace sharpshooter, has been on the front lines of more than his fair share of dangerous ops. Yet when a minor injury relegates him to the beta team, he’s tasked with what may be his riskiest assignment yet: the silver fox journalist he’s babysitting is the hottest, most charismatic man he’s ever encountered.Award-winning journalist Spencer Bryant may have been named one of Pride magazine’s most eligible bachelors of the year, but he’s not looking to change his relationship status. He’s a consummate professional who won’t risk his ethics or impeccable reputation by getting involved with a source. Even a sexy-as-hell military man. But while Spencer can resist his physical attraction to Bacon, he has less control over his emotions—especially when the mission goes sideways and the two men are trapped alone.Getting out of the jungle alive turns out to be easy compared to facing the truth about their feelings for one another back in the real world. And whether or not they can build a future is a different story altogether. *************** Chapter One Bacon was hanging on to life by one index finger. Literally. One sore, overused finger was all that separated him and a plunge down the sheer cliff face. The desert sun had sweat rolling down his face, stinging his eyes. “Come on, Bake. You’ve got this!” Curly called at him. He was already safely on the ridge, along with several other SEAL team members. This was the last step in a grueling training mission that had tried their stamina with a HALO jump followed by a long run over rough terrain and this final climb. “Bacon. Haul ass.” The new XO, Lieutenant Buratta, had a permanently clipped voice. Generally seemed like a good guy, but not at all warm, and also not helping right now. “You can do it!” Shiny’s relentlessly cheerful voice carried from his position below. Fuck this. Bacon didn’t need a cheering squad. “Motherfucker.” He did what he had been trying to avoid and swung all his weight on the finger he’d dislocated on their last overseas mission. It hurt like he’d taken a hollow-point right to the hand, but he wasn’t going down like this. He was a good climber, better than Shiny and Curly that was for damn sure. He scrambled for the next handhold, senses tunneling to just him and the rock. “Hurry up.” It wasn’t one of the guys’ voices he heard next, but a distant memory. For a moment he was fifteen, climbing the water tower, his friend Jamie just out of reach above him, urging him on. And he was nimble and free and fearless and loving the adrenaline rush. Blocking out the pain, blocking everything other than the love of heights and climbing, he scampered up the rock, Jamie’s voice ringing in his ears. “That’s how you do it. Way to get it.” The XO slapped him on the back as he made it over the ridge, Shiny not far behind him. Trying to catch his breath, he stayed down on his knees. “Hooyah.” Curly came over. “Knew you coul

Hudson's Luck (Forever Wilde 4) Read Free Hudson: Don't ever accidentally propose to your girlfriend. In front of her family. Especially if her dad is your boss. Because when you make it clear you've made a mistake, he's likely to send you out of the country to get you as far away from his broken-hearted daughter as possible. It happened to me. Now I'm stuck in Ireland trying to redeem myself so I can get promoted and have the life I've planned for: successful career, loving wife and kids, a comfortable, financially-secure home life in Texas. But all of that seems to evaporate the moment I walk into the historic pub and see the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Only, he's not a woman.Charlie Murray is most definitely a man—the kind of man who causes me to take a second look for the first time in my life. And a third look, and fourth. I can't help but want to get to know him better... to get close to him, touch him, maybe even kiss him. But I'm straight. Or so I've always thought. Even if I'm not, how in the world could a feisty Irishman ever fit into the safe, predictable life I've always planned for? Charlie: Don't ever accidentally fall for the straight guy. Especially when he's trying to pry your family's business right out from under you. I should know. Because when Hudson Wilde walks into my family's pub and begins babbling so adorably, I can't help but fall just a little bit in love. But I'm looking for Forever Man, and the sexy American is certainly not him. He's so confused about what he wants, even choosing something from the dinner menu throws him into a fuddle. But those eyes... how can I resist?So maybe I’ll give in. One steamy night before he heads home and I go back to life at the pub. We'll never see each other again.Until, of course, his business deal sends me to Hobie, Texas, right into the middle of Hudson's steady life, more gay Wildes than can fit on a dance floor, and an ex-girlfriend who may or may not be content remaining an ex. But the more time I spend with Hudson, the more I think he might be my Forever Man after all. And I may be his. Is it possible we could both be so lucky? Hudson's Luck is the fourth book in the Forever Wilde series but can be read on its own. Beware it includes 93k words of delicious man parts touching, grandfathers meddling, neighbors nosy-ing, dogs fornicating, cats being cats, horses... ah, crunching apples? or something... and one very flirty Stevie. *************** 1 Hudson Hudson’s Words To Live By: Don’t ever, ever give a woman a present in a tiny box unless it’s an engagement ring. And sure as hell don’t do it if the present is also a tiny metal hoop device that could be easily, horribly misconstrued as an engagement ring. Oh, and maybe also don’t give said present on your one-year dating anniversary. I was doing that thing some people do where the coin flips through each of your fingers and back again, except instead of a coin, I was doing it with the small ring that had gotten

Luca & Marcel (Hostile Takeover 0.50) Read Free *************** 1 Luca “Listen, I hate that you broke your leg, Jillian. Of course I do. But you have two hundred and five perfectly functional bones,” I reminded her reasonably. “Is this one little femur really a reason to cancel your trip to Vegas with your beloved boss?” Jillian’s million-degree glare lost a little of its fire under the haze of IV narcotics. “Bite me… boss.” I sighed and shifted in the uncomfortable hospital chair beside her bed. “You know what I mean. My cousin Curtis is good at talking me into things, and without you there as my personal assistant to back up my arguments with quick access to the data, I’m likely to sign away my entire fortune by accident.” “Maybe you could stand to lose some of that money,” she muttered. “It’s not like you ever spend it.” She was right. I was a workaholic and rarely took time to spend my money on myself. That wasn’t the point. The point was, I was prone to letting family talk me out of my money for stupid reasons and poor investment opportunities. My best defense was my no-nonsense PA, who was experienced at gently leading me away from making stupid decisions on the fly. “I at least need a second pair of hands. Someone to look stuff up on that tablet you’re always carrying around. Say official-sounding things like, ‘We’ll look into it’ and ‘Give us some time to crunch the numbers.’ That kind of thing. This resort opportunity is compelling. I don’t want to miss out on a chance to get in at the ground level because I was too scared to assess it without my PA.” “You can hire a temp,” she said. “Personal assistant temps are a dime a dozen, and, bonus, they usually come pre-bitchy-fied.” “Are you crazy? A temp? Me?” I realized I was clutching the front of my shirt and carefully lowered my hand to my lap. “I need a miracle worker. There’s no temp alive who could do your job.” A faint smile touched Jillian’s lips. “Thanks, boss. You flatter me.” I really wasn’t, though, and that was the problem. “Maybe we could rent a wheelchair for you…” I thought through various scenarios. “We’re taking the private jet, so that part would be fine… and then… well, I don’t know how accommodating the Bellagio is for wheelchair users, but I figure it has to have accessible rooms, right? Please, Jill? I’ll buy you a pony. Or a Ferrari. Or both.” Jillian’s husband finally spoke up from where he’d no doubt been biting his tongue into pieces. “She’s having surgery, Luca. Jesus. She’s not going to Vegas with you on your work trip.” I glanced at him. There were probably good doctors in Vegas for this kind of thing. “But she could—” “Nope.” He wasn’t budging. “Find someone else.” “We’ve been planning this project assessment for months,” I argued before turning back to Jillian. “You probably already have everything ready to go. How do I find someone who will know what to do with the information? I know! What if we put them on comms with you and you can talk them through it

The Lights on Knockbridge Lane (Garnet Run 3) Read Free Can one man’s crowded, messy life fill another man’s empty heart? Raising a family was always Adam Mills’ dream, although solo parenting and moving back to tiny Garnet Run certainly were not. After a messy breakup, Adam is doing his best to give his young daughter the life she deserves—including accepting help from their new, reclusive neighbor to fulfill her Christmas wish. Though the little house may not have “the most lights ever,” the Mills home begins to brighten as handsome Wes Mobray spends more time there and slowly sheds his protective layers. But when the eye-catching house ends up in the news, Wes has to make a choice: hide from the darkness of his unusual past or embrace the light of a future—and a family—with Adam.From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.Garnet RunBook 1: Better Than PeopleBook 2: Best Laid Plans *************** Chapter One Adam Everyone on Knockbridge Lane had a different theory about Westley Mobray. It was the first thing Adam Mills heard about as he introduced himself around last week, when he and August moved in. The eight-year-old McKinnon twins next door said he was a vampire. Their parents, Darren and Rose McKinnon, scoffed at that, but said he could be a witch. Marisol Gutierrez three doors down insisted she’d seen him skulking around the neighborhood at night, hunting for animals to sacrifice to the devil. A teenager at the end of the street reported that anyone who looked him in the eyes would be hypnotized, and anyone who touched him would turn to stone. Mr. Montgomery on the corner just said freak. Westley Mobray was never seen before sunset, though mysterious packages arrived on his doorstep often. He never spoke to anyone and never waved hello. And late at night, the windows of his run-down house glowed an eerie green. At least, that’s what they told Adam. So when he saw the man in question through the twilit haze of his own front window—with his daughter in tow—he was understandably startled. Especially since he’d thought she was playing quietly in her room. He’d slammed two coffees to prevent it, but he’d been asleep. The kind of light, unsatisfying sleep he often fell into when he had a moment of quiet. Which was something that didn’t happen that often as the newly single parent of an eight-year-old. His insomnia had been pretty bad since the divorce, and worse since they moved back to Garnet Run, where he was the only one responsible for Gus. The knock at the door jerked him out of that strange sleep, and he scrambled for the door, stubbing his toe in the process, so that when he yanked it open he was biting back the kind of words that he tried with varying degrees of success not to say in front of Gus. He focused on Gus first. She was all in one piece and was even smiling. It was her I did something bad and delightful smile, but a smile was good—at least when on a child who seemed to have been forcibl

Lie With Me (Stonewall Investigations Miami 2) Read Free *************** 1 Beckham Noble The city was charcoal gray. Rain clattered down the window as I looked out at the passing buildings. The regal Croydon Clocktower whizzed by in a raindrop-streaked blur. The Ashcroft Theatre looked different than the last time I’d seen it, with an entirely new modern facade, all white edges and square boxes. It all felt like home, and yet nothing could seem stranger to me. Of course, things had changed. I hadn’t been back in London since I’d moved to the States. After my father and I threw fists at each other. After he kicked me out of the house and I never looked back. I moved to America… damn, seventeen years ago. I had been twenty-three, a young man just figuring himself out, when I felt like my past in London was too much for me to bear. I packed up my shit and made a life for myself across the world. Now I had just turned forty and no longer needed to figure myself out or explain myself to anyone. Least of all my father. And even if I wanted to talk to him, that wasn’t a possibility. The reason I had come back to London was to put our past to rest with him. Once and for all. It was my mother who’d talked me into it. When I was kicked out, she did everything she could to get me back into the house. She was ready to divorce my father and sleep on the streets with me until we found a place to stay. I didn’t want that, and I knew my relationship with my father was irreparable. So I cut all ties with both of my parents. I made it solely on my own, surviving day by day until I started working at a pub. That was where I met a private eye who would talk to me every day about his job, his cases. They weren’t all riveting cases, but he talked about each one with a contagious excitement. Years later, I spoke to my mum again. We had a tear-filled reunion, my heart feeling like it had been mended from an age-old wound, scabbed over with time. She told me that she’d divorced my father. Losing everything she loved in life, she had thrown herself into her sewing and dressmaking. Her passion bled into her pieces, and she soon found huge success, changing her life around. Sometime in the last couple of years, my parents had a rekindling of sorts. They spoke over tea and found some common ground. Over those years, things slowly got better, until my mum was telling me that my father was a changed man. She said there was something different about him. A happiness that changed even the way he smiled. She wanted me to speak to him, to try and build a bridge of the whitewater of trauma we had rushing underneath us, but I felt like there would be no way. I couldn’t speak to him. I couldn’t face him. And then I got a call about his death. It was my mother, and she had sounded pretty shaken up. She asked me to promise that I’d be at the funeral, at least to provide some strength to her. I didn’t want her going through that day alone. I imagined her dressed in black, holding herse

Tempted - First & Forever Stories Read Free *************** Chapter 1 It was love at first sight. I was ten years old at the time, and I fell as only a clueless little kid could—by belly flopping into love with absolutely no regard for logic or reason, and with only the flimsiest grasp on reality. Was it mutual? Oh, hell no. It wasn’t like I could just fall for a kid in my class. Instead, the object of my adolescent infatuation was a seventeen-year-old god among men named Eden Davis. He was a new friend and teammate my brother Casey brought home one day after football practice, and he was perfection. The moment I met him, it felt like an asteroid had just smashed into my little world and thrown everything off kilter. That might seem overstated. What can I say? I was a dramatic kid. But the impact he had on my life really was huge. Falling for Eden meant acknowledging I was gay for the first time. It shaped the man I grew into, and it affected every relationship I’d ever have. The impact was that big because fifteen years later, I was still madly in love with Eden. It was an ache in my chest that had been there so long it had become a part of me. And it was as unrealistic as ever. Even though I wasn’t a kid anymore, my brother’s straight best friend was still totally unattainable. Oddly enough, the three of us were currently roommates. When Eden and Casey decided to move to San Francisco to look after Eden’s granddad, I did what I’d been doing for years and tagged along. At least I’d been promoted from an annoying kid pestering my big brother and his friend to one of the guys. More or less. Sometimes it felt like a cartoon I’d seen of a duck standing on one leg in a flock of flamingos. The caption said, “They’ve finally accepted me as one of their own.” Not that flamingos were the right analogy. Casey and Eden were more like two lions, and I was a goofy yellow lab, wearing a mane made of mop yarn and trying to blend in. Despite the fact that they let me hang out with them now, there was still a divide. Even at twenty-five, I was convinced they still thought of me as a kid. “Earth to Seth.” That was from my brother. He said that to me a lot. When I shot him a look, he smirked at me and said, “Concentrate, bro. You look like you’re about two seconds from slicing up your finger, instead of that carrot.” The three of us were making dinner, and okay, yes, my mind had been wandering. That was why I was on salad duty, as usual. One little kitchen fire one time, and I was no longer trusted with the stove. My tendency to daydream really worked against me in my quest to convince both Eden and Casey I was an actual adult now. It also didn’t help that at thirty-two, both of them were doing what I liked to call “important grown man jobs.” Eden was a police officer, and Casey was finishing up nursing school and working in a hospital. Meanwhile, they thought I delivered pizza for a living. That was what I’d been doing when we’d first moved here from St. Lou

Second Act (His Chance 1) Read Free *************** Chapter 1 “Ten!” Shit, I was missing it. “Nine!” I shut the door to my room and ran down the hall while the countdown continued. “Eight! Seven! Six!” As I stepped into the courtyard of the resort I called home, the crowd shouted, “Five! Four!” There was only one person I hoped to find as I waded into the throng, even though this was definitely a bad idea. The fact that it was New Year’s Eve didn’t actually justify kissing one of my best friends. And yet here I was, with a racing heart and sweaty palms, searching for Lorenzo while all around me people yelled, “Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!” Confetti rained down as Auld Lang Syne began to play, and I brushed the colored bits of paper from my dark hair. I’d missed my opportunity. No wonder, since I’d spent over an hour pacing in my room and trying to talk myself out of this. When someone touched my shoulder, I spun around and found myself face-to-face with Lorenzo. His brown eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled at me and said, “Happy New Year, Will.” Before I could stop myself, I stretched up to kiss him. He was six-three to my five-foot-ten, so it wasn’t easy, but I managed to press my lips to his. He deepened the kiss before stepping back with an expression that was both confused and startled. An awkward pause stretched between us. Finally, I blurted, “Happy New Year, Lorie,” and fled into the crowd. A few seconds later, I bumped into my friend Vee, who exclaimed, “Hey, Will! I’m glad to see you changed your mind about blowing off the party. Happy New Year!” “To you, too.” He tilted his head and asked, “You okay? You seem flustered.” “I just did something I really shouldn’t have.” “Do tell.” “I decided to use New Year’s as an excuse to kiss Lorenzo. It immediately turned awkward, and now I’m mortified.” “He’s totally watching you,” Vee told me, as he glanced over my shoulder. “But don’t worry, I got you, Boo.” My friend grabbed the lapels of my gray suit and planted a big, wet kiss on my lips. Then he grinned at me and said, “Now he’ll just think you’re going around kissing everyone.” “Um…thanks?” We were joined by a cute guy I’d never seen before. Vee pushed us together and said, “Craig Yi, this is Will Kandinsky. Will just embarrassed the shit out of himself by kissing a friend he’s been crushing on forever, so we need you to make out with him for a sec. The guy he likes is watching us, and we want him to think Will’s gone off on a drunken New Year’s kissing spree.” The guy muttered, “Okay,” before tipping me back and planting a kiss on my lips. When he returned me to an upright position, I happened to catch a glimpse of Lorie across the courtyard. He looked more confused than ever. Vee produced an empty glass out of nowhere and announced, “We need more champagne! Follow me, boys.” I tried to tell him I just wanted to go back to my room, but he threw his arm around my shoulders and said, “You can hide later. For now, just have one drin