Andy Howard dropped out of college to get away from his abusive father. When his longtime boyfriend reveals similar tendencies, Andy refuses to endure another moment of it, running away with nothing more than the cash in his pockets. He makes it to Virginia, where he's taken in by Scooter Stahl, a restaurant owner looking for an extra hand who's willing to be paid cash under the table.<br><br>Scooter's been struggling for years: to keep the beachside restaurant he inherited from his parents above water (both financially and literally); to live down the fact that he's gay in a small southern town; to get over the man who's owned his heart since he was fourteen. But he's never had to struggle as hard as he is now, to keep his hands off Andy.

Nights in Sandbridge

He started to pour Andy’s coffee, then thought better of it. As sore as Scooter was, Andy was probably dying. He wasn’t used to Memorial Day and he’d been rather tipsy and falling asleep on his feet towardthe end of the party. Scooter had nearly carried him across the walkway to his apartment. Andy had been clingy and handsy as Scooter had helped peel him out of his sweat-stained tee and take off his shoes and socks.


Scooter winced as he remembered how long he had hesitated, hands over Andy’s belt, before tipping Andygently into the bed.


Fuck. Scooter had been too drunk and Andy had been too tired for them to do anything. And it would have been wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Still, Scooter had spent more time than was probably healthy or sane just watching Andy sleep, one arm thrown over his head, the other tucked against his chest.


Chapter 32