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

“Yes,” he admitted, knowing how pathetic he sounded. He was totally falling for his best friend. Yet even in the same bed, Raf hadn’t made a move.


“Shit. Sounds like you have things wrong, man,” Conner said, grinning.


Dustin’s brows knitted. “What are you talking about?”


Conner let out an exaggerated sigh. “Seriously? What man asks you to stay in his bed if he doesn’t feel attracted to you?”


“That’s not it at all. We’re best friends. He just didn’t want me to crash on his sofa.”


“Then why are you staying there so much?”


Dustin shrugged. “It’s usually late when we get done at the hangar. By the time we get back to his house, we’re tired.”


“Why is he driving you to his house instead of taking you home?”


Conner stared across the table. “Just answer the question.”


“Usually, my Honda is at his house.”


“So why not drive home? Don’t you live only a few miles away?”


“Well, yeah. But…I just end up there.”


Chapter 30