Three times burned, Br’er Harris swears off efforts to find love. He still has needs, though, which he satisfies by becoming a paid escort. Widower Ray Cunningham wants to explore the feelings of attraction to men he’s had most of his life but has kept hidden for fear of rejection from his ultra-conservative family. Ray doesn’t want a relationship with a man; he just wants to satisfy his urges with no-strings hook-ups. And the easiest way to achieve this is to hire an escort. Ray’s first encounter is with Br’er, and they’re instantly and powerfully drawn to each other. The attraction is so powerful and disturbing, each privately vows to never see the other again. However, their feelings will not be denied. Br’er accepts a second meeting, which leads to a third, then a fourth. Despite his previous history with relationships, Br’er knows Ray is the one for him. Unfortunately, Ray’s fear of being outed to his family keeps him from being able to offer more than clandestine meetings in out of town hotel rooms. Br’er says it’s enough, but Ray knows he deserves better. Ray is faced with a decision. Can he let Br’er go to find the love he deserves, or will he be able to throw open the closet door and live openly with the man he’s hardwired to love?

Hardwired for Love

Br’er shrugged. “To make his cronies jealous I guess. He’ll probably want me to pretend I’m legit, not a hired date.”


“A guy I see about once a month. He usually just wants me to do a slow, sexy strip while he watches and gets himself off.”


“Hey, it’s easy money. He never wants more than that.”


Br’er stopped when he read the last message. His heart skipped a beat, then he sighed, both disappointed and relieved.


Br’er shrugged. “Just some guy who wants to meet at a hotel pretty far out of town. For a minute I thought it might be that Randy guy who I kinda fell for. But he was in a different hotel in the opposite direction.”


“Sometimes. But it really doesn’t matter. Most of the time they’re not their real names anyway. Most of the men who hire us are not out and those that are…well, some are ashamed they have to rent someone to be with, so they keep it on the down low.”


Chapter 12