Alec Bishop never expected the pandemic to bring a Romanesque god swinging into his life. His lockdown days blurred together into the coding of his computer screen and fending off attacks on his beloved balcony plants by a slightly psychotic pigeon.<br><br>When twist of fate -- and rope -- brings gorgeous circus performer Nico Franzetti into his life, Alec must battle his fears to grab hold of love and not let go.

Lift Me Up

“Sorry,” Alec said without a hint of apology, or of stopping.


Zach ran his hands over his face and the even-longer beard. “Alec, my beautiful wife and I are trapped with an infant and a toddler,” he said slowly. “As pleased as I am for your newly discovered love life, if you continue to show joy on this call, I am driving to your apartment with the sole purpose of punching you in the face.”


Alec laughed, but ceased the humming. He tried to show the problem code, but Zach interrupted and asked, “You happy then?” Alec bit his lip in a vain attempt to stop the smile spreading across his face. “Ugh,” moaned Zach, “you are happy.” His friend’s own smile betrayed any hint of annoyance. “That is…”


“Holy crap!” Alec launched himself from his desk as a flurry of gray and scarlet feathers dove for his head. He turned in a panic to see he had left the screen door open.


Chapter 6