J.D. Walker

Darwin “Dare” Mancuso owns a string of food trucks across the city. His friends often tell him he works too hard and has too little fun. Dare knows it’s true, but he has high standards for both his business and his love life, and isn’t about to fall into bed with just any man he meets, no matter how hot he is.<br><br>Then Abel Messler comes into his life, and Dare takes notice. Unlike the entitled business types to whom he serves every day, Abel has an innocence that’s hard to ignore and draws Dare in. When Abel loses his job, it’s all Dare can do not to hug him and kiss all his troubles away.<br><br>Instead he invites Abel out for a good time with friends, and the end result gives both men more than they ever expected.

Hot Dogs and Kisses

I’d just finished handing over a bacon cheeseburger with a banana milkshake to a jerk who’d been complaining about the length of time it took to make it—a whole five minutes, I ask you—when I came face to face with my presentation guy.


“Remember me?” he asked, his tie askew and strangely dull, tired eyes staring at me in resignation.


“Long story. Can I get a bottle of water, please?”


Definitely not the lunch of champions. “Sure.” I almost asked, “Anything else?” but realized he might be having a bad day financially, too.


I told him the amount and he handed over a ten dollar bill. “For the other day and today.”


I wanted to say “no, you probably need this more than I do,” but a man had his pride. “Thanks,” I replied and took care of his order.


Chapter 3