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

“So, tell me how you guys met,” Marian says as she dishes out two heaping servings of spaghetti. “Evie says she introduced you, but I find that hard to believe.”


Gavin laughs. “Actually, it’s the truth. I had to meet with a student and she got bored and wandered off. I could see her sitting at the counter, but I didn’t realize she was talking to the guy next to her until I came to get her. Did I tell you he’s an artist?”


Over her shoulder, Marian gives him an arched look. “Gav, this is Richmond. Everyone here thinks they’re an artiste.”


“No, he’s really good,” Gavin says. The words come out in a rush, and he feels like he’s gushing, but he can’t stop. “Brody is crazy talented. I’ll have to show you the picture he drew of Evie that she gave me today. It looks like a damn photograph.”


Marian’s smirk tells him she doesn’t believe him, and he wishes he’d thought to bring the picture along to show her. “Ask Evie,” he says. “She’ll tell you. He drew her something—“


Chapter 52