Because of a deathbed promise to his father, Elijah Peck reluctantly left his friends and successful career in Bridgeport to return to Willowby, Connecticut, the small town of his upbringing, in order to run the antique shop that had been in his family for generations. Now, in just the span of two years, Eli has morphed into a social recluse, isolated in what he believes is a stuffy, suffocating nowheresville. With no thriving gay community at his disposal, and with his entire existence wrapped around the store he never really wanted, Eli's devoted little time to his personal needs. As a result, instead of acting like a man in his mid-thirties, living out his own dreams, maybe even finding love with the right guy, he often feels like just another item in his shop -- a dusty, moldy antique that has seen better days.<br><br>But all that starts to change when a stranger moves to Willowby.<br><br>One night outside his shop, Eli has a chance encounter with Neville "Gray" Grayson, a wickedly handsome musician who's purposely left the bustle of New York City in favor of quiet country living. Eli is instantly drawn to Gray, and the flirtatious jazzman stirs dormant feelings inside Eli, reinvigorating his hopes for a brighter future. Not only does Gray make Eli feel attractive for the first time in years, but also makes him appreciate small-town life in a way he never has before. And Eli can't help but wonder if Gray's presence also offers the promise of finding much-needed companionship, sexual fulfillment, and perhaps even love ...

When the Jazzman Sings

But easier said than done. For the first time since returning to town, I had actually met someone who interested me sexually. Oh sure, some of the local men had “serious potential,” and a few had been the unknowing object of my lust for a short time. But since all of them were straight, or appeared to be so, I’d never wanted to jeopardize my decent reputation in Willowby by hitting on the wrong guy and creating a scandal. The residents, if not entirely accepting regarding my sexual orientation, at least showed me respect. They treated me as one of the “Willowby family,” and I wanted to do nothing that would cast a negative light on myself or my family’s good name and give them a reason to run me out of town. I hated living here, sure enough, but if I ever sold the shop and left Willowby for good, I wanted it to be a decision of my own design.


Chapter 12