Jimmy Fassett’s band just broke up, but then he meets Landry Flannery, a truly gifted fiddle player. It doesn't hurt that Landry's a looker and has a bold pink stripe in his hair that drives Jimmy crazy. The two men jam together in the evenings -- banjo and fiddle -- and they hit it off. Soon, Jimmy wants to turn their budding friendship into something more, but Landry keeps putting obstacles in the way and inviting more and more people over to play. That’s not what Jimmy wants, so he walks away. Fate, however, isn't done with the two men. At the end of a festival where Landry's band was the headliner, Jimmy is forced to take Landry home because he's sloppy drunk. The two men argue the next morning, and Jimmy refuses anymore contact, until Landry forces the issue. Could things work out between the two men, after all?

Drowning in Neptune's Pool

“You know,” Landry said as he placed his mug on the table, “I’ve had a crush on you since I saw you that first time with your tuna sandwich.”


Surprised, I blushed, remembering my fishy breath. “You did? I mean, you flirt with everybody, so I wasn’t sure if that was just wishful thinking on my part.”


He turned to face me. “So you feel something, too?”


“Yeah, I do.” I turned to face him as well. “It’s not just that you’re a great looking guy. It’s deeper. Now that you’ve let me in a bit more and told me about the things you’ve gone through and still struggle with, it makes what I know of you even more special.”


His expression was so hopeful, it was almost heartbreaking. “Really?” he asked.


In response, I reached out and drew him to me, gently kissing each corner of his mouth, then nipping his chin.


Chapter 10