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

Evie’s smile returns, brighter than ever. “Daddy, it’s SpongeBob!” she says, clapping her hands. Then she scoots off the counter back onto her chair and runs over to the table to grab her plate. She carries it carefully to the sink, returns for her glass of iced tea, and clambers up into place again. Sitting on the counter, she can see through the pass-through into the living room, where Brody’s turned the TV around to face her.


As Brody returns to his chair, Gavin warns him, “You’re spoiling her.”


Brody takes Gavin’s hand and raises it to his lips to kiss the knuckles. “I’m distracting her,” he corrects. “Which means now I have you all to myself.”


Under the table, Gavin runs his other hand over Brody’s knee. “Once she goes to bed, I’m all yours.”


From the counter, Evie asks, “Can’t I stay up with you, Daddy? I’ll be real quiet.”


Closing his eyes, Gavin shakes his head. “Here it comes,” he murmurs.


Chapter 35