On a whim, Alex signs up to volunteer with an outreach program at a local youth shelter. When Father Nate calls him and asks him to work with Jamie as a big brother, Alex envisions a little kid he'll pal around with. What he doesn't expect is Jamie Owens, an 18 year old boy with a bad attitude who's only two years younger than Alex himself.<br><br>Jamie's hot. Very hot, and nervy, and precocious, and damn sexy, to boot. Even if he is eighteen, Alex feels guilty lusting after the kid. Alex sees himself as a mentor to Jamie, someone to look up to, someone to prove being a gay man doesn't mean casual sex in crowded clubs. He tries to keep his distance, both physically and emotionally, but Alex is sending some very mixed signals, and Jamie is getting pretty frustrated. As their friendship grows, Jamie becomes a part of Alex's life in a way neither expects.

Conflict of Interest

“Music’s cool. You like music, too?” He popped open another button,


revealing more of his smooth, muscled chest.


Not trusting himself to speak, Alex nodded. Somehow he thought


they had different tastes—he didn’t think the country he listened


to in the car on the way over here would suit Jamie well. But


still, it was some common ground at least. That and the fact


that we both like guys,he thought, but he wasn’t going to tell


Jamie that.“I work at Y95 downtown,” he offered, watching


as Jamie’s hand slipped into his shirt to tweak a pink nipple.


Jamie grinned. “Really? You one of the shock jocks on in the


morning?” When Alex shook his head, Jamie added, “Maybe one day you


can take me there, show me around. What do you say?”


I’d like to take you home, Alex thought, but he crushed that


thought before it went much farther. Shit, this isn’t going to work


out. I’m trying to be nice here and all he’s trying to do is turn


Chapter 4