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

Marian raised her voice to talk over him. “Want to know what I tell her when she asks why Daddy doesn’t live at home? Because Mommy ain’t got a dick, that’s why.”


“Marian!” Gavin pushed past her into the house, sure he’d find his daughter cringing within earshot, but the hallway and living room were empty. He called out, “Evie? Daddy’s here to pick you up. Come on, sweetie. Let’s get going.”


He felt a hand on his shoulder, then Marian gave him a shove that was probably meant to be playful, but in her inebriated state, it almost pushed him into the wall. “God, I’m only kidding. She doesn’t know what a dick is, anyway. Lighten the hell up.”


Turning, he leveled a finger at her. “You need to stop. Right now.”


“What?” Marian asked, surprised. “Why’re you so angry? What’d I do?”


Gavin took a deep breath to steady himself. Not in front of Evie,he promised. His daughter already knew her parents weren’t together; she didn’t need to see them bicker and fight, too.


Chapter 18