Jim Newsome is the CEO of a food services consulting firm, working primarily for the healthcare industry. He wears a shoe lift due to a childhood accident that shortened his leg. Whenever he acquires a new client -- typically a hospital -- Jim goes undercover to get a firsthand look at the problems before reporting his findings, and possible solutions. His current assignment hasn’t been an easy one, and Jim’s relieved it will all be over at the end of the week. Then Jim meets Lance Lamas, an orthopedic specialist. Lance tries to strike up a conversation, but Jim isn’t playing nice. But Lance’s relentless pursuit pays off, and the two men go out on a double date with friends. The evening ends in the best way possible, and when Jim reveals who he really is, Lance knows he wants to keep him -- shoe lift, dirty mouth, and all.

To Lift My Sole

I drank mineral water while I checked the news on my cell phone. A voice I didn’t want to recognize greeted me.


“Fancy meeting you here.” White coat stood next to my tiny table with a smile. Which, naturally, annoyed me.


“Are you stalking me?” It seemed a viable explanation for the number of times we’d run into each other in the space of half a day.


“It may seem that way, but not really. Call it serendipity.” He gestured to the empty chair across from me. “May I?” He sat without waiting for my response.


“Why are you here?” I set my phone aside.


“I live a block away. Thai food is my favorite.”


Lucky me. “Wonderful. Look, if it’s a date you want, I don’t do those.”


“You’re wasting your time.” Thankfully, my food arrived, and so did my infuriating companion’s. Apparently he had ordered before he approached me. I ignored him in favor of eating. He, however, felt the need to keep the conversation going.


Chapter 3