Julian Junk was often teased about his last name and his father's occupation as a garbageman. Mackensie Keller grew up privileged and spoiled. As teens, Junk and Mickey make plans for their future, but when Mickey is sent off to boarding school, he tells Junk their parents are probably right -- they just don't belong together.<br><br>Back in town ten years later, Mickey is all grown up. He and Junk reconnect as adults, but so much was said, and so much has changed. Though he asks for forgiveness, which Junk grants, though old romantic feelings are quickly rekindled, Mickey is reluctant to bring a new man into his young daughter's life after his last relationship's failure. He's also harboring a secret, one that threatens to spoil upcoming Thanksgiving plans.<br><br>Once Junk discovers the source of Mickey's dilemma, he devises a crafty plan to make everything right. Will it work out? Will Mickey accept his help, and can the two of them make a go of it with so much stacked against them?

One Man's Junk

“Why?” Mickey asked, the sleep in his voice and a lack of movement telling me he didn’t want to.


“The cops sweep these woods at nine-thirty.”


“‘Fraid so. At least they’re nice enough to do it the same time every night, so we bad boys know it’s coming.”


“Sounds to me as if you’ve done this before.” Mickey was now standing over me, a tall, lean profile, except for the morning wood protrusion in his jeans, my mental description quite the misnomer, considering the hour.


“Once or twice, but never beside anyone I wanted to go home with.” I held out my hand for assistance, “Not until tonight,” then offered a thanks on the lips once up. “And that’s the truth.”


Mickey’s phone was deader than a doornail when we eventually dragged ourselves back to the truck.


“You, uh, wanna spend the night?” he asked me, as we turned onto Pine Avenue.


Chapter 26