Tristan used to be top salesman at his firm, but when his friends suffered a tragedy, he stepped in to support them. Their ordeal over, Tristan turned to partying to ease his new solitude. Now his job is at risk and he stands to lose his home. Rain spent years putting up with his husband Milo's bad behavior before moving out. Single again and insecure, Rain dreams of creating a marionette show to celebrate kids on the autism spectrum in honor of his son. When Rain meets his neighbor Tristan, he's drawn to Tristan's sex-appeal and protective nature. But Milo keeps pulling on Rain's strings and messing with his head. Tristan loves everything about Rain, including the strange sandwiches, mismatched socks, crazy marionettes, glitter makeup, and messy apartment. And Rain wants to give Tristan everything, but can he cut lose from Milo's hold?

A Touch of Rain

Rain turned his face up to him and smiled. “You said I was beautiful.” He skimmed his fingertip down Tristan’s chest. “I’ve been called cute, but never beautiful.”


“Are you serious?” Tristan craned his neck and looked down at him. “Rain, every time you walk into the room and smile, I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut.”


Rain chuckled. “The first time I saw you, I hid behind the open door of the U-Haul truck and watched you sort through your mail. You were shirtless and obviously still half asleep, and I spied on you until you went back inside. I couldn’t believe you’d be living on the other side of my wall.”


Tristan caressed Rain’s shoulder and was quiet for a moment. Rain could feel a change in the air. Tristan was clearly struggling to say something. “I have to sell my apartment,” he said, at last. “I’m going under, Rain.”


“But you love that place. And you—”


Chapter 63