Gideon Monahan is a man dedicated to what he does -- recovering stolen art -- to the exclusion of anything else, including a personal life. There's a reason for that, something that happened in his past that he can't forget.<br><br>Cole Newell is an archaeologist with a problem. He needs to find out who looted a dig he worked the previous summer, after one of the artifacts shows up at his gallery. Cole calls on Gideon to lend his expertise, which, much against his better judgment, Gideon does.<br><br>When one of the looters is murdered, they set out to find answers, with the help of Detective Quint Hawk. In the process, Cole realizes he's attracted to Gideon, even though he's certain the man is straight. After he helps Gideon open up about -- and accept -- his past, can the two men become more than friends? Both Gideon and Cole hope so, once they overcome the myriad problems facing them.

It Takes an Archaeologist

“I’m pretty sure that’s what it is. Naomi and I stay in contact only on and off, mainly through Facebook.”


“That’s becoming all too common these days, I’m afraid.”


“I’m an only child, estranged from my parents when Robin and I moved in together. Not that they had much of a problem with my being gay. They just didn’t want me to flaunt it, and when I did—at least in their estimation—they cut all ties with me.”


“Damn. If they hadn’t, you would have had someone to help you get past what happened.”


Gideon shook his head. “More than likely, they would have said it served me right.”


“Remind me not to invite them to Thanksgiving dinner.”


Arching an eyebrow, Gideon replied, “You’re planning that far ahead?”


Am I? I think so. Not that I’ve got a reason to, so far. He shrugged. “That’s me. I try to look to the future, since much of my life is spent dealing with the past.”


Chapter 32