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

“Well?” Jamie asked, leaning into the car again. “Can


“Can you what?” Alex couldn’t remember what they were


talking about but right now? Anything Jamie wanted, he could have.


Jamie sighed, exasperated, and rolled his eyes. “Can I


Alex grinned at the eagerness that shone across his face. Why


“Sure,” he said, getting out of the car. Jamie laughed and


slid across the hood like a movie stunt man, his leather pants


squeaking along the paint. “Can you even sit in those


Jamie winked at him. “I like tight pants,” he said, easing an


For a breathless moment Alex watched him lean closer, and he


thought maybe Jamie would try something, a kiss, a hug,


something,and he wanted that more than anything else right


But then Jamie’s hand closed over the door handle and Alex


stepped back as he opened the door. “They rub against you,” Jamie


Chapter 23