Keir Moreau, a middle school teacher living a solitary life, is excited to welcome a handsome new neighbor. But after their first meeting goes alarmingly wrong, Keir decides it's safer to keep his distance. Besides, he has to focus all his attention on finding help for a student who is being forced into conversion therapy.<br><br>Riley Quinn used to be an award-winning photojournalist, roaming the world and exposing corruption. An injury put an end to all that. Now he's frustrated with his new aimless life, wondering if he'll ever do anything again that really matters. When he first meets Keir, a case of mistaken identity leads him to mistreat his intriguing new neighbor. Riley tries again and again to redeem himself, but everything he does seems to push Keir farther away.<br><br>Keir, obsessing about his failure to help his student and fighting his stubborn attraction to Riley, takes a reckless gamble that goes dreadfully wrong. Or does it? Can an act of desperation open the door to romance?

The Chartreuse Door

Hoping to salvage lunch at least, Riley offered, “Hey, have a seat. I’ll get some plates, and we’ll try your salad.” He opened a cabinet next to the sink, pulled out paper plates, plastic forks and cups,and grabbed napkins that had been delivered with the take-out food. Turning, he saw Keir staring at the scars crisscrossing up and down Riley’s leg, a look of dismay on his face.


When Keir lifted his gaze, his eyes shone with concern. “You’ve been badly hurt.”


With a dark grin, Riley shrugged. “A house fell on me. Like the Wicked Witch of the West.”


Keir’s eyebrows rose. He looked like he really wanted to ask, but was fighting with himself to be polite.


Putting the plates and “silverware” on the table, Riley took pity on the man’s curiosity. “I got caught in an earthquake in Turkey. A friend and I dug his sisters out from their damaged house, but he was still in there when half of it collapsed. I wasn’t quick enough to get him out before the other halfwent.”


Chapter 16