Eli Bell is the only son of a police chief inspector and a forensic scientist. He's grown up wonky in a world that only deals with the straight and narrow -- and his new boyfriend isn't helping. Rob Hawkes is six feet of muscle, tattoos, and arrest warrants. A career criminal and a former guest of Her Majesty's Prison Service, he'd rather hit Eli's parents than sit down to dinner with them. One wrong move, and Rob could destroy Eli -- and his family -- without a second thought. But this isn't what it looks like. Rob's not in control here -- and Eli's the one to blame.

What It Looks Like

“That’s for financial reasons, Eli, it makes no sense for you to waste so much money on renting when—”


“Danny and Rob live together for financial reasons!”


Dad’s lip curled. “Oh, I see. Has the bottom dropped out of the cannabis market?”


Eli banged his fork down; Mum hit the table again. “Quiet!” she barked. “Samuel, not another word!”


“I will not,” Mum said coldly, “have another row about this. Samuel, for God’s sake, everyone knows you disapprove. I must admit that…from the little I have seen, I’m not best enamoured with the man—with Rob—myself, but Eli is not a child anymore.”


Despite, Eli thought grimly, Mum’s constant talking to him like he was.


“Stayed in, like I said,” Eli said. “Made more plans for Christmas—” Dad’s face tightened, but he said nothing. “—and Rob had some household stuff to do so we chatted while I did some sketching.”


Chapter 18