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

“I know, I know,” Niko replied, staring into his glass of wine, seeing Greg’s face, instead. “I’m…I’m afraid of losing him. At first, I didn’t care. The sex was good, no, great, and we became friends, but that was it. Then, somehow, it became more for both of us.”


“In my opinion, and I might be wrong—” ?tienne glanced at his wife, “—you have to start by telling Greg how you feel. If you’re certain you love him, let him know. What have you got to lose?”


“Him, one way or another,” Niko said harshly.


“I said, tell him you love him,” ?tienne replied. “Don’t go for the big reveal until you find out if he loves you, too. Even then, wait for at least a little while, until you’ve cemented your relationship. Then, when you have, you can sit him down and have the talk—” ?tienne made finger quotes, “—with him.”


“Listen to your father,” Jelena said. “He’s a wise man, most of the time.”


“Most of the time?” ?tienne scowled.


Chapter 24