Art teacher Stone Larrabee dreads parent/teacher conferences. One following Christmas break becomes especially awkward, when a man with whom he shared a hot anonymous hookup and a nasty argument afterward walks in. Edison Watts.<br><br>The moment they’re reunited, sexual sparks reignite. Too many conflicts force Stone to decree there can never be anything between them but the one night, though, even as fate keeps throwing them together throughout the school year, and developing feelings become hard to ignore.<br><br>Some problems are easily solved while others, including the reason for Edison’s initial attraction to Stone and the chip on Edison’s shoulder bigger than the high school’s football field, prove more difficult. Stone can teach, but he decides must also be willing to learn and grow. When Edison promises to do the same, can they find a way to make one and one equal two?

Substitute Teacher

“Probably enough. This is about when I’m ready to get up, anyway. Monty and Python like walking at dawn. Look. I have videos from Dad.”


They watched all three two times each, side by side atop rumpled white sheets at the foot of Stone’s bed.


“They’re adorable…like you.” Edison took the phone and set it on the white lacquer nightstand.


“I must look awful, all sweaty bedhead and wrinkled clothes.” Stone tried to smooth down both.


“Uh-uh.” Edison touched the same places.


“Sounds good.” Edison rose as well. “You relax. I’ll get it.”


“This place is a lot nicer than the dirty Doherty.”


“Ha.” Stone scooched back against the wall. “D-e-r-t-y.”


“Yup.” Edison tapped the top of the coffee maker while it brewed, to speed it along, or because he had the music in him, too.


“I know nothing about you,” Stone said.


“Very little. I could describe your body, if you ever go missing or something.”


Chapter 28