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

Actually, Gavin doesn’t want to wait, either. It’s been a long day. A glass of wine would be nice, but losing himself in his lover’s embrace would be worlds better.


He lays Evie on her bed, then struggles to pull the covers out from under her. She’s already fast asleep and no help at all—she curls up against the pillows with a sigh, hugging her stuffed horse, and Gavin has to lift her in parts to get her under the covers. First her head, then her torso, then her waist. One leg, then the other. Just as he gets her free, she rolls away across the expanse of the bed and back on top of the sheets.


Chapter 37