Scene designer Charlie Cox is in a clandestine relationship with the theater's lead actor, Ricky Moore. Charlie knows it will never be more than that because Ricky is too egotistical to want to be seen in public with a man who has deep burn scars on one arm. Not that Charlie blames him, since he's certain he’s a freak in almost everyone's eyes. Jace Parish, the scene shop boss, is in love with Charlie but will never let him know. Jace thinks he’s uninteresting because he’s thirty and starting to bald, which makes him look middle-aged. He also has never admitted to anyone he works with that he’s gay. Liam Dolan owns the gym where Jace comes to work out his anger and frustration. Liam has been drawn to Jace from the beginning but believes Jace is straight, so has never revealed his feelings to Jace. Ricky Moore knows he is using Charlie for his own selfish ends. What Ricky can't figure out is why, when he can and does have anyone he wants in his bed, he keeps coming back to Charlie. These four men have preconceived ideas about themselves and each other. What will it take for them to realize love is possible, if they will only give it a chance?

Hell, Look at Me

Even though Jace didn’t say what he was thinking out loud, he got an answer.


“Jace, I mean it. Maybe you know, but I don’t think so, given how you’ve…how you act around me. You’re dead certain I’m straight and only a friend, and an ear when you need one. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, I listened. Yes, I did the best I could to help when you needed it. But it was out of more than just friendship.” Liam paused. Then, with a bit of laughter in his voice he said, “Would you at least look at me when I declaring my interest in you?”


“Much better,” Liam told him with an impish grin. “Now as I was saying, it didn’t take me long, after you started coming to the gym, to begin wishing you weren’t straight. Yeah, I know now that you’re gay, but that was a long time coming. I liked you—quite a lot actually—and was happy we managed to become friends. Happy but frustrated.”


Chapter 34