When they were teenagers, Quinn MacGregor and Aaron Larsen fell in love over the course of one magical summer. It ended in bloodshed and tragedy. Now, ten years later, Quinn is back in Spruce Creek, Nevada, to inherit his family’s criminal cartel. His cousin Jimmy has been making friends -- and enemies -- in dangerous places, but that doesn’t mean he’s happy to hand over leadership to Quinn. And Jimmy might not be the only one who wants Quinn out of the way for good, especially if Quinn’s secret comes out. Aaron Larsen is back in Spruce Creek to sell his former family home. Aaron lost a leg in Afghanistan, and he’s drinking too much and battling depression and PTSD. The last thing he needs is for Quinn MacGregor to drop back into his miserable life. But when Quinn is shaken by the news that he left more behind in Spruce Creek than his bad memories, he turns to Aaron like it’s old times, and Aaron doesn’t know how to say no. The events of ten years ago cast a long shadow, and in a town where they can’t trust anyone else, Quinn and Aaron just might have to learn to trust each other again.

A Desperate Man

Charlie raised her eyebrows. “Quinn was never supposed to find out. I don’t want him in my son’s life. Not with his family. It’s hard enough keeping Lennox away from most of my dad’s bullshit, without adding the MacGregors to it. He carries a gun, you know? Quinn?”


“Whatever he’s back in town for, I don’t want anything to do with it,” Charlie said. Her expression softened. “And neither should you.”


“I don’t.” Aaron shook his head. “It was a mistake.”


Chapter 27