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

“So, what’s the problem, Ray?” Steven asked. Then acting as if he’d had a revelation, he said, “Say, Alex could be a girl’s name. Maybe he’s really a she.” The two brothers-in-law laughed loudly.


“Don’t be stupid,” Anne said. “A pretty girl like Adrienne. She’s not like one of those women who look like truck drivers.”


“Pretty’s got nothing to do with it,” Cedric added. “There’s that model. What’s her name…Patricia Velasquez. She’s one hot chick and as queer as a turnip in a flower garden.”


“Then there’s Rosie O’Donnell,” Steven chimed in.


“Stop it, you two,” Megan scolded, but she was giggling as she did.


“Well, nobody in our family are homos. They were all raised in the church. They know what’s comin’ to folks like that. Besides if they were, we’d pray that perversion out of ‘em right quick,” Steven said as if he were the final authority on the subject. Cedric vigorously nodded his agreement.


Chapter 47