Six years ago, Jarrett Kessel helped his best friend’s little brother deal with his family’s rejection when he came out. He saw potential in the tempestuous teenager. Talent. Then, they both moved on with their lives.<br><br>Now, the FBI needs Jarrett’s help. Sketch artist Eli Locke is their only lead in finding a killer, but he’s nowhere to be found. Though the Feds are convinced Jarrett is the best way to lure him out, he’s not so sure. Until they show him the web comic Eli has created, with a superhero who bears a striking resemblance to Jarrett.<br><br>When Eli gets an email out of the blue from the man who changed his life, he doesn’t even consider saying no to a meeting. Jarrett is even more amazing than he remembers, and the fact that he’s all right being the role model for the one thing that means the most to Eli is just icing on the cake. But the truth about the murder comes out, and even though he had nothing to do with it, Eli wants to run. It’s up to Jarrett to keep him from ruining his life for good, before the killer finds them both and does it first ...

Outlined in Ink

“Wow,” Eli said as he approached. He had to look up a little to meet Jarrett’s gaze. “I had completely forgotten how much room you take up.”


Jarrett chuckled and took Eli’s hand in greeting. His grip was strong and dry, and squeezed a beat longer than he would have expected from a colleague. Hell, it was more than what he would have anticipated from a good friend, and he stared at Eli with more than a little surprise as the pressure continued on into his wrist, then wrapped around his arm, shoulder, and upper body in what almost felt like an embrace.


“And I’d forgotten how everything that goes through your brain comes out your mouth,” he said with a smile. He was the first to pull away, and the first to slide into the booth. Eli’s knees brushed against his when he slid onto the bench opposite him, though Eli did nothing to break the brief contact. “You look good.”


Chapter 9