Benjamin is Mr. Average, but has big dreams. Every week he buys two lottery tickets in the hope of striking it rich. So imagine his surprise when, one Saturday night, his numbers finally come up. Ten million dollars transforms his life. He buys his dream house and outfits it with every beautiful thing he has ever wanted, complete with a real British butler. He also donates to animal charities and adopts Sasha, an abused dog. Yet with everything perfect, Ben soon feels unsatisfied. On one of his nightly walks, he stumbles onto a local hook-up spot. Soon he becomes a regular customer, seeking quick and dirty sex with random strangers to provide the exhilaration he craves. But when he’s attacked by a gay basher, he realizes this isn’t the life he wants to lead, and packs up everything to move to the countryside. Settling into a simpler life on a small farm, Ben hires the rough and ready Mick to help run the place. The two men become good friends -- Ben is attracted to Mick, but Mick appears to be straight, though curious about gay sex. But when Ben almost dies in an accident, the simmering attraction between the two comes to fruition.

Six Numbers

Mick shrugged. “Just tellin’ ya.”


He bent down and opened the bait bucket. “Just grab some bait. Push it onto the hook. Now, hold ya rod like this. This part is ya line roller. Make sure it’s in this position. Then grip the line with ya finger, like this.”


Benjamin was doing his best to take everything in so he wouldn’t have to ask again.


“See this thing here?” Mick pointed to a metal half-ring. “This is the bail. Ya flip it over then with a flick of ya wrist ya cast ya line. Close the bail and start reeling in ya line. Ya ready?”


Benjamin nodded and reached into the bait bucket, screwing up his nose at the stench. He took out a small fish and pushed it onto the hook.


“Flip the bail,” said Mick, standing behind Benjamin. “Remember, hold ya handle like this. Now, bring it back. Not too far.”


Chapter 27