Josh, a lonely trapeze artist, thinks he’s cursed. It’s an old family superstition. He can’t have sex on a day he flies or he’ll fall. Maybe that’s why he’s never had a steady boyfriend, though sometimes he dreams of one. In his show, a strange melody plays in the background. It follows him and surfaces from time to time on the street. When Josh’s uncle hears about the music, he tells his nephew to bring the old ring, passed down from generations since the time of the curse. Steve is a realtor who always reaches his goals, in sales or otherwise, and he moonlights as a dancer in an all-male review on The Strip. All his friends his age are married, and his best friend’s wife Genie wants to see him hitched, too. He’s a little bit challenged in the relationship department, though. He has some growing up to do, or maybe it’s his problem in bed, where he’s somewhat one-sided. Steve and Josh meet one crazy night when Josh breaks all the rules used to protect him from the curse. After that, he runs. If it wasn’t for Genie’s matchmaking, Josh and Steve might never see each other again. Though not yet ready for a boyfriend, Josh does need a realtor. What a good way for he and Steve to get to know each other, while Josh works up the courage to tell Steve about the curse. Still unaware of Josh’s problem, Steve falls in love with him. When Steve finds out about the curse thing, it’s a big disappointment, but he wants Josh anyway. There’s no doubt Josh is worth the wait. Maybe the curse isn’t real after all. Can lonely Josh overcome his fear of it? Can horndog Steve handle a curse? Is the answer in the ancient ring?

The Curse of Flight

Josh’s chest sunk. He had no date. At this rate, he probably wouldn’t. He might wait another week. If he left the bar, he would look online, which he loathed, so impersonal as well as unreliable. Face to face was better. “No. I don’t.”


Steve leaned closer unblinking. “Want one?”


“What makes it so hot?” He already had a pretty good idea, but didn’t like surprises.


Steve said nothing and dunked a finger in his beer. Then he touched it to the empty seat and made a hissing sound like meat on a grill.


This was when guys like Steve usually talked about themselves, how wonderful they were. There was none of that to Josh’s surprise. Steve put the focus on him instead, on his ass, but at least on him. Josh’s eyes rolled in their orbits, and he stifled a laugh. “What is that supposed to mean?”


Steve’s smile and wink said it all. He shrugged those broad shoulders and sighed. Wistful eyes glanced sideways at the empty seat.


Chapter 3