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

“At the radio station?” Jamie asked. “Can I come? You


“I have to see,” Alex replied quickly. “I’ll ask tomorrow.


It should be okay, but I just want to make sure, you


“Yeah.” Jamie picked at the hem of Alex’s sleeve; every


now and then his fingers brushed along Alex’s skin, leaving fire in


their wake. “So what about the next day?”


“I have to work, Jamie,” Alex replied, moving back


slightly. Jamie’s hand fell away and in the growing dusk he


“We’ll see,” Jamie echoed softly. When Alex nodded, he


scowled. “So that’s it? You do your good deed for the week, take


the poor kid out to lunch, and when he asks if you’ll be back you


Alex shook his head. “No, Jamie—”


“You’re busy tomorrow,” Jamie pointed out, his voice


hardening with anger again. “You’re busy the next day. You’re


leaving now. Shit, Alex, don’t play me like this. If you don’t


Chapter 13