Kiwi Nathaniel Dunn is in a fighting mood, but how does a man fight Wellington’s famous fog? In the last year, Nate’s lost his longtime lover to boredom and his ten-year job to the economy. Now he’s found a golden opportunity for employment where he can even use his artistic talent, but to get the job, he has to get to Christchurch today. Heavy fog means no flight, and the ticket agent is ignoring him to fawn over a beautiful but annoying, overly polite American man.<br><br>Rusty Beaumont can deal with a canceled flight, but the pushy Kiwi at the ticket counter is making it difficult for him to stay cool. The guy rubs him all the wrong ways despite his sexy working-man look, which Rusty notices even though he’s not looking for a man to replace the fiancé who died two years ago. Yet when they’re forced to share a table at the crowded airport café, Nate reveals the kind heart behind his grumpy fa?ade. An earthquake, sex in the bush, and visits from Nate’s belligerent ex turn a day of sightseeing into a slippery slope that just might land them in love.

Sunset at Pencarrow

“Is that what you’ve been calling me in your head?” Nate figured it was the only explanation for Rusty’s deer-in-headlights imitation. “Gee, thanks.” He strode on ahead, giving the couple of twigs in his path a hard kick.


“Lucky guess?” Rusty said sheepishly when he caught up to Nate. “Hey, I didn’t mean to be rude. Besides, you have to admit you kind of deserved the name when we were at the airport yesterday.”


“You could have denied it and protested my guess and told me I wasn’t grumpy.”


“You wanted me to lie?” Rusty cocked his head to one side. “You told me why you’re feeling moody. It’s not a problem. I understand—I really do! But I didn’t know that before you told me. How could I?”


Chapter 21