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

Luka arrived just in time for dinner, and Jacob pulled him aside in the hall before he joined everyone at the table.


“Hey,” Luka whispered. “I missed you, baby.”


Jacob shivered. “I missed you, too. But, um, Garrett’s here and I wanted to ask you again about having Mike come by and talk with us. Would that be okay?”


Luka nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it all day, and you’re right. We need to get this taken care of. I can’t have this horrible thing follow me all my life. Especially now that I’ve met you and we’ve got the chance at such an amazing future.”


Jacob melted inside. “Great, honey. I’m so glad you want to move forward with this.”


Jacob felt flush. “It just rolled off my tongue.”


“I like it,” Luka said, grabbing his hips and pulling him closer. “I know something else that would like to ‘roll off your tongue’.”


Fuck.Instantly hard. Jacob moaned as Luka rubbed against him.


Chapter 40