English professor Gavin Dozier hasn’t had much luck when it comes to love. When his last boyfriend cheated on him, he was driven to experiment with women. Sex with Marian, though, had its own dangers, and before he knew it, he was a father. Now estranged, the only thing Gavin and Marian have in common is their daughter Evie, a precocious seven-year-old who stays with Gavin every other weekend. While out with her daddy, Evie meets the heavily-tattooed Brody Phelps, a sketch artist with serious talent who still dresses like a brooding punk rocker, even though he’s in his thirties. Brody is instantly attracted to the sexy college professor, but knows Gavin is out of his league -- the man has a kid, which probably means he isn’t gay, and besides, Brody never even graduated from high school. Guys like Gavin don’t go for guys like him. But when Evie leaves Gavin’s cell phone behind, Brody has the perfect excuse to meet up with them again. To his surprise they hit it off, and when he asks Gavin out, the professor accepts. Even though Evie brought them together, will her demanding personality pull them apart? Is Gavin ready to trust his heart to someone else again? Can Brody overcome his own fears of inadequacy and let Gavin in? And what will Marian have to say when the father of her child starts dating again?

Never Met a Stranger

Imitating their daughter, he says, “Aww! You said the F-word.”


Beside him, Evie covers her mouth with both hands, her eyes huge above her fingers. “Mommy said the F-word?” she asks, her voice disappearing completely at the euphemism. “That’s the worst word of all!”


In his ear, Marian continues. “I just don’t want my daughter exposed to that sort of lifestyle, and you know what I mean.”


“Then you should’ve thought twice before sleeping with me,” Gavin replies. “Jesus, M. All I’m going to do is get my phone back from this kid, all right? It isn’t a date.”


“I don’t like him knowing my number,” she mutters. “I don’t like him knowing Evie.”


“He got the number out of my phone,” Gavin points out, though how Brody managed that, he doesn’t quite know. “I’m sure he isn’t going to hang onto it any longer than he needs to. And as for Evie, she’s the one who started talking to him. You know how she is. What am I supposed to do, put her on a leash?”


Chapter 17