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

“He’s right,” Charlie said. “About my dad. But that doesn’t mean I want to hear it! You don’t have to tell me like it’s news, Quinn, like you think I’m stupid enough that I don’t already know it!”


Quinn showed her his palms in apology. “That’s not what I meant.”


Jesus. Every day it was hackles up with these two, and Aaron knew he wasn’t much better. The rubber tips of his crutches squeaked on the floor as he made his way over to the breakfast bar—he’d been taking it easy with his prosthetic since things had come to a head in Spruce Creek. Too much running around that night had caused pressure sores on his stump that were slow to heal.


Chapter 70