IT guy Michael figures he's in for an awkward evening when a client takes him to a girlie bar. When he gets talking to big, blond Kyle, it seems like it's his lucky night after all. But they have a shared past Michael's managed to forget and Kyle is hoping he won't remember.<br><br>Kyle's deeply ashamed of his weakness back in high school, when he stood by and watched as Michael became the victim of a gay-bashing -- by new boy Kyle's group of friends. He's going to have his work cut out to persuade Michael to take a chance at trusting him now.

Stronger Where It Counts

It’s almost fully dark as we pull into the hotel parking lot. And although we didn’t talk much on the way back into town, like we had nothing more to say to each other, somehow I don’t want the evening to end this way. “You could come up for a coffee or something,” I blurt out to the dashboard.


The dashboard doesn’t reply. Neither does Kyle, for a minute or two. In fact, I’m about to open the door and get the hell out of there by the time he answers. “You sure?”


“I asked you, didn’t I?” Snappish and defensive. Real inviting, Michael.


Chapter 7