Patton Cooper won three national championships as the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Marauders, but that didn’t stop them from trading him to Phoenix without so much as a warning. At thirty-two, he finds himself weighed down by old injuries and forced to start over again as a backup quarterback for an untried rookie. Deeply hurt by the betrayal of both his team and his ex-lover, Patton keeps to himself and takes what solace he can in football.<br><br>Cornerback DeShawn Jones has loved two things in his life -- football and Patton Cooper. It seems like his dreams have come true when he’s drafted to play for the Phoenix Wildcats, until he realizes the coach has no intention of letting him start, and his childhood hero is a withdrawn, wary man. But DeShawn refuses to give up on his dreams of playing, or his hope of reaching Patton.<br><br>A tentative connection forms between the two men, but the pressures of the game may be too much for the relationship to withstand. Especially when DeShawn is given the chance of a lifetime while Patton struggles not to relive the mistakes from his past.

Mr. November

“So don’t. Nowhere you have to be.”


Despite his words, he pulled himself into a seated position and moved to stretch along Patton’s side. A million questions rose to the surface of DeShawn’s mind, only some of which he’d ever consider asking. He wondered how he compared to Chris, wondered if Patton was already ready to regret this. DeShawn wouldn’t take it personally if he did regret it. This was a huge step, and after all the endorphins wore off, it might seem like a huge step in the wrong direction.


DeShawn didn’t want this to be casual. And he definitely didn’t want Patton to regret this.


“What do you think?” Patton asked, as if he could sense DeShawn’s racing mind.


“A great start. How’s your stamina?”


“I’m twenty-two and in peak physical condition. Stamina is the last thing I have to worry about. You think you can keep up with me?”


Chapter 35