To most people who know him, Nick Fontana is the owner of a prestigious advertising agency. To a select few, he’s known as Niko, a man who deals with very sensitive problems no one else can handle. As a result, Nick has never found a man to love -- because he won't allow it to happen. Then he meets flirtatious Greg Tyson while out running. He thinks nothing of it until Greg applies for a job at Nick's ad agency. Greg is exactly what Nick is looking for in an employee. Hiring him, however, might turn out to be the biggest mistake of Nick's life ... or the beginning of something new, if Nick is willing to open himself up and let Greg in. Doing so will require an amount of trust Nick isn’t certain he can give without endangering Greg's life -- and losing his love -- in the process.

Love Was Not an Option

As a result, he’d promised himself he would do something to unwind as soon as he left work Friday evening. For him, that meant heading to the state park at the edge of the city to run. Not only would it relax him, it would get him away from dealing with people for a while.


He stopped at home long enough to change into shorts, a tank top, and his running shoes before heading out. The parking lot at the park was almost full, which didn’t bode well for his avoiding people, but he took it in stride. As soon as it gets dark, it’ll be better.


Chapter 8