Patrick Holt is lonely. A bad breakup with his boyfriend has left the forty-year-old ophthalmologist reluctant to get involved with another man. When his neighbor sets him up with her brother-in-law Eric, Patrick prepares himself for disappointment. But Patrick quickly finds himself surprised and charmed by Eric, and Eric, who’s had relationship problems of his own in the past, falls hard and fast for Patrick.<br><br>On the outside, Eric seems like a great guy: young and attractive with a promising job as an assistant manager at a Chicago hotel. But Eric has a dark side he and his family are hiding from Patrick. When the truth is finally revealed and Eric’s secrets are exposed, will Patrick be willing to go the distance with Eric? Or will he run as fast as he can from the new man in his life?

Baggage

I needed to talk with someone and get some advice, so I called the one person who knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.


I looked at Clay as he sat across from me in his downtown apartment. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a gray Cubs T-shirt. After my conversation with Gary the night before, I’d called Clay and asked if I could see him so we could talk.


“Is Dean here?” I asked, giving the living room a quick scan.


“Yeah. He’s locked in the bathroom,” he deadpanned. “Of course, he’s not here. I told him to stay away because my ex-boyfriend wanted to speak with me tonight.”


“And he didn’t have a problem with that?”


“No. Why would he? Are you planning to try and seduce me or something?”


He raised an eyebrow, and I rolled my eyes.


Chapter 41