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

As Thanksgivings went, this one was right up there at the top. He sensed he would cherish the memories for years.


If only the day after Thanksgiving could have started as well.


He awoke to find the women picketing, and they’d brought along a lot of friends. It was too fucking early to deal with this crap.


By the time he made his way downstairs, all four kids, along with Garrett, were watching the women from the porch. Yes, there were definitely more picketers. Fuck.


Marcus arrived and joined them on the porch.


“Thought you were out of town for another week?” Peter asked. Marcus had been out for the last week visiting his parents.


“Maybe I missed you guys,” he said with a grin, then cocked an eyebrow at Jacob.


Jacob filled him in on what he’d been missing before Marcus and Garrett corralled the kids inside. He paced and watched as the women, all dressed to the nines again, pulled out their signs and talked amongst themselves.


Chapter 28