Forever Family Trilogy
Favor
Never fall for straight guys--especially when they're friends with your brother.
Jeremy knows that. Honest! All he wanted was a little work done on his house.
That was it. Nothing too complicated.
And if he can get it done cheap because some guy owes his brother a favor? Even better!
The last thing he expected when Declan knocked on his door was to find the hottest man he'd ever seen. Or for that person to barely be able to speak to him or look him in the eye.
Why would his brother even be friends with a 'phobic dudebro?
By the time the renovations are finishing up, Jeremy's prepared to let Declan's favor to his brother be paid in full and forget about the guy's shy smile and ripped body.
But his interfering brother has other plans.
Favor is a 30k word novella featuring a busybody older brother, piercings in fun places, a very suggestive sculpture, spackle used as a flirting technique, a not-so-straight contractor, and an audiobook narrator who's had a bit of dry spell and is sure he's imagining the way the hot contractor is looking at him.
Read an excerpt:
“Um…” Jeremy looked up from his computer, brows furrowed, and tried to figure out why Declan was hovering in his office doorway, making a concerned face. Jeremy pulled his reading glasses off and ignored the tight jeans, painted-on T-shirt, and tool belt that actually did get worn. He reminded himself for the hundredth time in the last week that the man was named Declan and could barely look at Jeremy most of the time. No way was he into men. And while normally Jeremy could look at straight guys and not get hung up on them, there was something about Declan that tugged at him. He found himself wanting to stare and ask personal questions and find more projects for him to do around Jeremy’s house. Which was dumb and would only lead to either an awkward conversation or possibly worse. Though he hoped that, despite Declan’s problems talking to Jeremy, Jake wasn’t actually friends with some guy who’d get violent if a queer hit on him. “Did you need something?” Jeremy asked when it became apparent Declan wasn’t going to say anything. Jeremy did his best to keep his tone polite but distant. That was his mantra when it came to Declan. Polite, but distant. He didn’t want to cause a conflict with his brother, but he also didn’t feel particularly inclined to be super nice. Not only did he not want to risk catching feelings for a straight guy, he was also still a bit miffed about the whole not-talking-to-him thing. Though his annoyance had lessened when he’d realized Declan really was going to do the work for free and only charge Jeremy for materials. It was kind of hard to stay mad when faced with that kind of generosity, even if he was only doing it because he owed Jake. “Um…” Now Jeremy was getting worried. Was there a problem with the wall or something? A massive hornets nest? Exposed electrical wires? Water damage that had ruined the house’s foundation? Okay, none of those were probably likely, but Declan just standing there not saying what was wrong was freaking him out a little. Last Saturday, he’d returned downstairs a few hours after he’d left Declan standing in the kitchen to find a handwritten quote and no sign of the contractor. A teeny, tiny part of him had been disappointed because he’d been hoping his rudeness at just leaving Declan to fend for himself would push the man to react in some way. But that part of him was a troublemaker, and he tried to ignore it. Mostly he’d been relieved to see the estimate because he’d been really hoping to get the project done for cheap. Had there been some doubt in his mind that Declan would actually return? Most definitely. Even after he got a text Wednesday evening from Declan to confirm if it was alright that he begin work at seven thirty on Saturday morning, Jeremy had still kind of expected him to back out last minute. When Declan had shown up bright and early that morning, Jeremy had been a little surprised. And a little impressed when Declan had looked him square in the face and told him good morning. Though he’d squashed that feeling, along with the urge he’d had to return Declan’s shy smile and offer him coffee. When Declan began scuffing his work boot on the floor of Jeremy’s office, he started to wonder if his day was about to get complicated. Tossing his glasses somewhere on his cluttered desk, he stood and shoved back his chair, moving around the desk. “Is there an issue?” Pausing a few feet away from Declan, he crossed his arms over his chest and then frowned down at himself. Shit, had he been shirtless all morning? He realized in horror that he was in thin, ratty sweats that were riding so low he could damn well almost see his pubic hair. He ran a hand over his face and suppressed a groan. He deserved this after the leering routine he’d done to Declan the first day. It was Declan’s fault though—Jeremy was not awake enough at seven thirty in the morning to remember to do his mirror check, and then he’d let himself get lost in work, figuring he might as well use the extra time to get ahead. Declan cleared his throat, and Jeremy lowered his hand to only cover his mouth and chin, raising his brows in silent question.
Easy
Who knew a chipped tooth could lead to love?
Simon is ready for the real deal when it comes to relationships—unfortunately, his libido hasn’t gotten the message. After a string of disastrous hookups, he finds himself frustrated, annoyed, and missing part of a tooth.
Enter Dr. Jackson Allbrook.
Simon is pretty sure dentists aren’t supposed to be as good-looking as Jackson is. Though the recline of the exam chair is pretty convenient…
Things heat up quickly between the two of them, but Simon’s hesitant to believe he’s actually found his Mr. Right. Jackson’s never been with a man before, so what happens if he decides to go back to playing for the other team?
A standalone novella in the Forever Family Trilogy featuring a hotter-than-sin dentist experiencing a bi-awakening, a graphic designer who considers the term “easy” to be a compliment, a game night that gets a bit out of hand, and no piercings in fun places thankyouverymuch.
Read an excerpt:
“I’m not slut shaming you. You know I don’t care how many guys you sleep with, but you told me like two weeks ago you were done with meaningless hookups. You said you wanted something real. And now you’re at the dentist because some rando fucked up your tooth.” His amusement drained away. He had said that, and he’d even mostly meant it. He was almost thirty and was ready to find his perfect someone like Jeremy had. But… “I do want that. I want a guy to sweep me off my feet like Declan did you.” “But?” Simon huffed out a breath. “But I can’t just give up on going out and hooking up on the off chance my dream guy will fall into my lap. Not all of us have big brothers whose friends we can pilfer. Besides, you know how I get if I don’t get boned down—” “Ew.” “—regularly. Last summer, I went into that fugue state and ended up in Canada after six weeks of celibacy.” “That wasn’t a fugue state! That was too much weed on top of three days of binging frozen margs with those sorority girls you somehow befriended.” He waved a hand in front of himself. “Regardless—I befriended them and made poor choices on my consumption of tequila and cannabis because I hadn’t had a dick inside me for six weeks. Six. Weeks. I’m not made for a life like that.” Simon shuddered just at the reminder of what it had been like. His skin had felt like it was shrinking, and his thoughts had gotten so damn loud he’d just wanted to drown out the noise. “I need my guts regularly rearranged, or I start to make poor choices.” “Start?” “Shut up. That is the last time I let someone from that bar down on Sixth pick me up though. The last guy was a fucking weirdo too. Remember? The dude with the ferrets?” Jeremy made a pained sound. “Oh my god, yes. I remember—please don’t repeat what happened. I had nightmares for a week after that.” “You? You had nightmares? I’m the one who almost had a live animal—” “Ahem.” A ball of dread slammed into Simon’s chest, his whole body jolting in shock and then stiffening in terror at the quiet throat clearing behind him. Jeremy was in his ear, begging him not to tell the ferret story and laughing, having not even noticed that Simon had swallowed his tongue and perished on the spot. He wasn’t sure what to do. If he turned around and saw Tracy’s boss, that meant it was real and the guy had overheard at least some of what Simon had been saying to Jeremy. But there was no way for him to leave without going past him. He was stuck, frozen in mortification. If it had been some random person, he maybe would have been able to brazen his way out of it. It wasn’t like he was ashamed of his sex life or anything, but Tracy was his friend, and she was going to kill him for embarrassing her like this, he just knew it. No one wanted their boss to know about their friends’ sex lives. “Simon? Simon, what’s happening?” Jeremy was saying, starting to sound concerned at the continued silence. “I have to go,” he said slowly, still not looking over his shoulder. “Um. Okay. I’ll talk to you later.” Jeremy was obviously confused but disconnected without another thought. Which… Simon was clearly in distress! What kind of friend just hung up? He’d worry about that tomorrow if he didn’t die from humiliation when he finally made eye contact with Tracy’s boss. And he was going to. Any second now. “I don’t know what to do here,” Simon finally said, barely above a whisper. “Should you just walk away so I can sneak out, and then we pretend this never happened? Oh shit, but Tracy will probably notice my tooth is still all fucked-up…” A soft sigh, and then a deep, smooth voice said, “That isn’t necessary. We’re both adults, and I’m a professional. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” “Oh god.” Simon covered his eyes and collapsed against the exam chair once more. “The fact that you felt the need to say that means you heard something embarrassing!” “Mr. Hill—” “Please call me Simon. You just heard me tell my friend how I need to get dicked down regularly.” He couldn’t do anything about how high-pitched his voice was getting. He was never going to live this down. He’d be lucky if Tracy even spoke to him again. “The formality seems a little ridiculous, don’t you think?”
Faker
Falling for your straight best friend while he pretends to be your boyfriend is something not even Samuel would be foolish enough to do.
And yet...
All Samuel wanted was to not show up to his ex's wedding alone, but his friend Will has a better idea: go as fake boyfriends to make him jealous.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, for starters, Samuel’s ex knows Will isn’t gay. Of course, Will has a solution for that too.
They’ll just have to convince him. By whatever means necessary.
As the big day approaches—and he and Will keep practicing how to pull off their charade—Samuel’s not sure he’ll make it through the wedding festivities without losing some of his dignity.
And maybe his best friend.
Faker is the final installment in the Forever Family Trilogy but can be enjoyed on its own. It features a 30-something former marine who maybe likes pretending more than he should, a 20-something social worker trying his hardest not to forget none of it’s real, practice dates with more PDA than sense, and the use of praise in very creative ways.
Read an excerpt:
“Isn’t TJ gay?” Will asked, sounding overly nonchalant. “Um, I think maybe pan. Why?” Will shrugged and pushed upright but kept his eyes on the card on the counter in front of him. “I was just wondering if maybe he was trying to ask you if you wanted to go with him.” “TJ?” Samuel couldn’t picture that. The man wasn’t Samuel’s type at all. A total twink—adorable, but not what Samuel was looking for. He liked men who were bigger than him. They didn’t have to be taller—most weren’t since he was six and a half feet—but well muscled. Stronger. Maybe a little too possessive. And protective with the ability to defend themselves and others. And whiskey-colored eyes he could fall in—oh, wait. “I don’t think so,” Samuel said, shaking off his thoughts and turning back to their dinner. “And he’s not exactly the subtle type.” “It’s called flirting,” Will said, chuckling. “We both know you’re not great at recognizing when that’s happening.” He rolled his eyes at the hamburger mixture. “That was one time.” “Twice. Just since we started living together. I bet it happened at college all the time and you were oblivious.” “Um, no. I was a total string bean for most of college, remember?” He still kind of was, but thanks to years of weight training with Will and Declan, he’d managed to bulk up a little. “So?” “What do you mean so?” Will was next to him, leaning a hip against the counter. “So,” he drawled out, “you still had that pretty-boy face and Bambi eyes.” Heat flushed all the way through Samuel’s body, from his scalp all the way to his toes. Pretty. God, how that word made his blood sing through his veins. He loved and hated it in equal measures. Wished Will didn’t say things like that and ached for more all at once. “I don’t have Bambi eyes,” he muttered without looking at Will. He knew he’d be grinning in that devastating way that made Samuel’s heart race every single time. “My eyes are blue.” “It’s not the color, and you know it.” Will’s voice was softer, gentler, than he was expecting. And closer, much closer. He glanced over and found Will leaning into his space, chin nearly resting on his shoulder as he peered down at the simmering food. Holding his body completely still, he tried not to notice the heat from Will’s body or the way his cedar scent was competing against the onions and garlic, making him salivate in a completely inappropriate way. Clearing his throat, Samuel refocused on the food, giving it a quick stir and reaching for the jar of pasta sauce. “Either way, I don’t think TJ was flirting with me, but he did remind Brad of my existence, and now I have to decide what to do.” Will’s overwhelming presence disappeared, and he muttered something that sounded like “Good,” but Samuel decided not to ask, focusing instead on trying to catch his breath. His pulse was thumping in his wrists and ears, his hands sweating. But it would stop. It always stopped.