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

He knows connoisseurs like to fill wine glasses halfway, then sit back and savor the aroma and flavor while sipping the drink. But he has only one goal in mind, and that’s to get Brody inside and between the sheets as soon as he can. The fuzzy glow of a wine buzz will enhance their lovemaking—and tonight, that’s what it will be, making love. He had been terrified to admit it out loud; after the heartache he went through when the Jerk screwed him over, Gavin thought he’d never allow himself to love another in the same way again. But the emotion has been bubbling up inside of him for a long time now, and every time he sees Brody, it percolates anew. At dinner tonight, he let the words slip out, saying them low enough that Brody could ignore them if the feeling wasn’t mutual.


Chapter 46