Rafael Patino has a great life in Rain Valley. He’s a teacher at the high school, has a great group of friends, and enjoys the occasional baseball game. Other than the sporadic call from his drunken mother, he’s pretty content. He’s also been in love with his best friend Dustin for nearly a decade. Years of keeping those feelings under control are put to the test when they begin a summer project together. Dustin Vance builds furniture for a living, has just earned his pilot’s license, and has an amazing best friend. When he buys a 1976 Cessna Skyhawk, he asks Rafael to help restore it, then travel with him to Wisconsin for the largest aviation convention in the world. As they spend their days working on the plane, they begin to spend their nights together. Will they find love in the clouds, or will they stall out before they even take off?

Love in the Clouds

He pulled into the Walmart parking lot and parked long enough to transfer funds into her account. An easier method than running to her house at all hours to give her money. Especially since she lived half an hour away. He knew he needed to be stronger and stop indulging her, but for today, he pushed her out of his mind.


That done, he continued on his way to Dustin’s, his thoughts again returning to his bedroom. God, he’d wanted to kiss Dustin. But that would have ruined everything. He just needed to work through his feelings and find a way to move on, but still keep his friendship.


By the time he made it to Dustin’s, he’d talked himself into believing things would be just fine. Until Dustin walked into the sunshine, wearing aviator glasses, faded and well-fitting blue jeans, and a blue graphic T boasting “Pilots Do It Better” across his chest. As always, his dark blond hair was in a perfect swoop on top. No getting around it—Dustin looked sexy as hell.


Chapter 11