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

They ended up sitting on the sofa after dinner, watching baseball, so Rafael brought up his idea of getting everyone together to see a Rabbit’s game.


“That sounds like a blast. Jamie’s been after me to come out. I’ve been so wrapped up in the plane, though. Are they playing Friday night? I bet we’d get more of the guys to join us if we schedule it on a Friday.”


Rafael agreed, but started fidgeting. “Two things. First, are we…telling our friends we’re dating? Or do you not feel ready to announce that?”


Dustin’s eyes darkened and he straddled Rafael’s lap, bracing his hands on the back of the sofa. “Do you want to hide it? Tell me the truth.”


Asking Rafael anything while Dustin ground his ass against him didn’t help, but he stared into those blue-green eyes that made his world tilt. “I want everyone to know.”


Dustin leaned down until their lips nearly touched. “To know what?”


Rafael’s breath hitched and his heart pounded in his ears. “That I’m yours.”


Chapter 44