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

“Why do they call it The Rain Garden?” Conner asked, raising his voice above the music. “We’re not in Rain Valley anymore, right?”


Dustin steered him to an empty booth and they slid in on opposite sides. “No. But the owner is from Rain Valley.” He gestured to the bar. “You want a beer? My treat.”


Conner hopped up. “I don’t want to sit. I want to dance. Come on.”


Dustin followed him onto the dance floor just as the song switched to something with a great beat. He couldn’t place the song, but apparently Conner could, since he began singing along, his arms in the air as he twirled. Several guys were already scoping out Conner, but they frowned when he grabbed Dustin’s hips and pulled him close. “Show me what you got, Dustin.”


Chapter 31