After model and actor Mason Adams nearly died from a drug overdose and served time in rehab, his agent is convinced the quiet life is the perfect way to get his life and career back on track. So Mason rents a beach house for the summer in a seaside town to get away from his fast-paced, partying lifestyle in Los Angeles.<br><br>Mason, however, isn't sure the sedate life is for him -- until he meets his neighbor, crime fiction author John Harding. Forced to retire from the fire department after a career-ending injury, John has found a new life in a modest beach house as a best-selling novelist. Life is good, but quiet and not exactly exciting, until Mason comes to stay next door.<br><br>Unable to resist, they begin an affair. Once the summer ends, Mason knows he'll return to LA ... and he'll have to leave the man who has stolen his heart.

The Beach House

“Are we really going to go do the tourist thing tomorrow?” Mason asked.


“Well, I…we don’t have to if you’d rather not.” Mason looked away, out the window, his cheeks slightly pink.


John realized right away he’d said the wrong thing. He was still getting used to how to deal with Mason and obviously he’d needed a stronger, firmer response than John had given him. He felt like an asshole. Taking his dissatisfaction with Mason leaving at the end of the summer out on the man himself.


His hand closed over Mason’s, drawing the younger man’s uncertain gaze to him once more. “I do want to. I think we’ll have a great time.”


“Yep. In fact, in the area not too far from the castle is a sanctuary for elephant seals. I think we should check it out while we’re there. There’s also this cute town on the way called Cambria. Ever hear of it?”


“You’ll love it. We’ll go there, too. Make a whole day of it.”


Chapter 17