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

Trick was already nose-deep in his plain knots, snarfing them with abandon, flecking drool all over thepatio floor.


“You are a disaster,” Andy told the dog with affectionate exasperation, not entirely unlike Kat talking to Scooter, come to think of it. He flicked a tentative glance at the waitress, then peeked at Scooter. “You order; I don’t know what’s good.”


“It’s pizza,” Scooter said, rolling his eyes. “It’s all good. Pick a topping, gorgeous.” One of these days, Scooter was going to find whoever it was that made Andy so terrified of his own opinion and punch them in the mouth a few times.


“Pepperoni, then,” Andy said. “Gotta start with the classics.”


“All pepperoni, and mushrooms on half, too, okay? Thanks.” Scooter grabbed a knot and ate it, then licked oil off his fingers; too damn good to waste it on a napkin. “Dunno if it’s up to your standards,but this is the best pizza place in the whole Tidewater area.”


Chapter 57