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

Scooter was already in the tiny kitchen, humming and dancing as he cooked something. Andy dropped a smacking kiss on his shoulder before reaching for the full mug Scooter had left on the counter. “Morning,” he said into the first sip.


Instead of fidgeting impatiently by the front door, Trick was sitting at the entrance to the kitchen, watching Scooter with all the attention in the world, waiting for something to drop. “You already walked him?” Andy said in surprise. “Christ, how long have you been up? You do realize that we literally work until almost midnight most nights. We’re allowed to sleep past six in the morning.” Andy hid his smile in his mug. “What’ve we got planned—Wait, it’s the Fourth. Day off, hot damn.”


Chapter 77