In 1934, life in Brookburn, Indiana, is quiet, simple, and peaceful, but young dreamer Levi Beckerman yearns for more. When the carnival shows up for the Fourth of July, he’s entranced by its many temptations. None is more seductive than the charismatic barker, Sebastian Gustineau.<br><br>Seb’s been a part of the carnival for almost a decade. Once, it provided him the escape he needed from a life he thought he didn’t want, but now, he craves things it can never offer. Flitting from dusty town to dusty town, he loses himself in pretty dalliances. Levi seems like the perfect distraction, until a single conversation convinces him that preserving Levi’s innocence and way of life is more important than his momentary satisfaction.<br><br>However, his plan to discourage Levi goes horribly wrong. When Levi’s family is threatened, Levi fights to protect them, doing what he can to hide the secrets he’s sheltered his entire life. The only person he trusts is Seb. He just isn’t sure if the growing bond between them is enough to save them all.

A Simple Charm

Ironic, really, considering what he did to survive now.


But flirting with Levi was easy, and not just because he was one of the prettiest men Seb had ever seen. He’d looked up at Seb with open wonder, and he hadn’t pulled away when Seb had thrown his arm around his shoulders. In fact, Seb would’ve sworn he’d pressed even harder into his side, and though their hips weren’t quite aligned, he fit perfectly within the crook of Seb’s arm.


This was a kindred spirit, sympathetic to the carnies rather than using them for a desperate distraction. He’d have to be careful about selling a wrong bill of goods, but for a spot of fun in an otherwise dusty world, Levi was more than perfect.


Chapter 6