Jacob Baumgardner is struggling to get his nonprofit shelter for gay teens off the ground because the building needs a lot of help before it can pass inspection. Raised by his grandparents for part of his life, Jacob feels that the shelter is his chance to honor them, but someone is making things difficult. An anonymous extortionist seems determined to ruin Jacob’s late grandfather’s good name and keep the shelter from opening.<br><br>Luka Smith is struggling to find his place in the world after a traumatic event in his teen years pushed him to run. When Jacob hires him to help with repairs at the shelter, Luka falls for his new boss hard. Luka wants nothing more than to help Jacob realize his dream.<br><br>As they work together to ensure The Promise of Hope Shelter gets off the ground, their feelings for each other only grow. But will a calculating blackmailer close the shelter before it even has a chance?

The Promise of Hope Shelter

God, why didn’t the damn voice shut up and let him fall back under. His lungs hurt. He just wanted to slide into the darkness again.


His mouth opened and air whooshed out before he drew air into his lungs, nearly gagging at the intensity. The pain in his lungs ebbed and his vision cleared. He glanced around as he took another deep breath. He was on the floor. In his office. He saw arms around his waist. Confusion plucked at him.


“Good. Just keep breathing steadily.”


He recognized that voice. The owner’s name was on the tip of his tongue. He craned his neck and caught a glimpse of wavy, thick, black hair and a scent he remembered from earlier. Luka. It was Lukaholding him.


Chapter 8