Never a Hero
Page 15
Acupuncturist Michael Whitman is a single dad striving to make ends meet, and his landlord just hiked the rent. When new patient Jason, a referral from a mutual friend, suggests a roommate arrangement could benefit them both, Michael seizes the opportunity.
Getting a roommate might be the best idea Jason’s ever had—if it weren’t for his attraction to Michael, who seems to be allergic to wearing shirts in the house. Still, a little unresolved sexual tension is a small price to pay for pain and financial relief. He’ll keep his hands and feelings to himself since Michael is straight… isn’t he?
A Tucker Springs Novel
Paul Hannon flunked out of vet school. His fiancée left him. He can barely afford his rent, and he hates his house. About the only things he has left are a pantry full of his ex’s kitchen gadgets and a lot of emotional baggage. He could really use a win—and that’s when he meets El.
Pawnbroker El Rozal is a cynic. His own family’s dysfunction has taught him that love and relationships lead to misery. Despite that belief, he keeps making up excuses to see Paul again. Paul, who doesn’t seem to realize that he’s talented and kind and worthy. Paul, who’s not over his ex-fiancée and is probably straight anyway. Paul, who’s so blind to El’s growing attraction, even asking him out on dates doesn’t seem to tip him off.
El may not do relationships, but something has to give. If he wants to keep Paul, he’ll have to convince him he’s worthy of love—and he’ll have to admit that attachment might not be so bad after all.
A Tucker Springs Novel
Sometimes you have to get dirty to come clean.
When muscle-bound Denver Rogers effortlessly dispatches the frat boys harassing grad student Adam Ellery at the Tucker Springs laundromat, Adam’s thank-you turns into impromptu sex over the laundry table. The problem comes when they exchange numbers. What if Adam wants to meet again and discovers Denver is a high-school dropout with a learning disability who works as a bouncer at a local gay bar? Or what if Denver calls Adam only to learn while he might be brilliant in the lab, outside of it he has crippling social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Either way, neither of them can shake the memory of their laundromat encounter. Despite their fears of what the other might think, they can only remember how good the other one feels. The more they get together, the kinkier things become. They’re both a little bent, but in just the right ways.
Maybe the secret to staying together isn’t to keep things clean and proper. Maybe it’s best to keep their laundry just a little bit dirty.
A Tucker Springs Novel
Welcome to Tucker Springs, Colorado, where sparks fly when opposites attract—but are some obstacles too great to overcome?
When tattoo artist Seth Wheeler meets his new neighbor, it’s like a revelation. Darren Romero is everything Seth wants in a man: hot, clever, single, and interested. For a minute he seems perfect. Then Darren drops the bomb: he moved to Tucker Springs to be a pastor at the New Light Church.
As a gay man whose parents threw him out, Seth has a strict policy of keeping believers at arm’s length for self-preservation. But Darren’s perseverance and the chemistry bubbling between them steadily wear down his defenses.
In a small town like Tucker Springs, Seth can’t avoid Darren—or how much he wants him. Which means he needs to decide what’s more important: protecting himself, or his feelings for his neighbor.
More from Marie Sexton
Can a man who loves his small hometown trust it to love him back?
Jared Thomas has lived in the mountain town of Coda, Colorado, his whole life. He can’t imagine living anywhere else. But Jared’s opportunities are limited—the only other gay man in town is twice his age, and although Jared originally planned to be a teacher, the backlash that might accompany the gig keeps him working at his family’s store instead.
Then Matt Richards moves to town.
Matt may not be into guys, but he doesn’t care that Jared is. A summer camping and mountain biking together cements their friendship, but when Matt realizes he’s attracted to Jared, he panics and withdraws, leaving Jared all too aware of what he’s missing.
Facing Matt’s affair with a local woman, his disapproving family, and harassment from Matt’s coworkers, Jared fears they’ll never find a way to be together. But for the first time, he has the courage to try… if he can only convince Matt.
Meant to Be
Jared has simple goals for his freshman year of college: make friends, lose his virginity, come out, and maybe fall in love. He doesn’t anticipate getting caught between his friend Bryan and Bryan’s flamboyant ex. Through the awkwardness, Jared learns love doesn’t always mean sex and the most meaningful connections might have nothing to do with romance.
Readers love the Tucker Springs series
Where Nerves End
“Warm and fuzzies, right here! I really enjoyed this!”
—Divine Magazine
“Where Nerves End was a breathtakingly beautiful story, full of angst, passion and coming out… I loved this story.”
—TTC Books and More
Second Hand
“I loved this book and am so glad I got to spend time with El and Paul.”
—Diverse Reader
“This was an enjoyable read with a very satisfying happily ever after. I loved seeing Paul come into his own and choose El above all others.”
—Open Skye Book Reviews
“I can always count on Marie Sexton and Heidi Cullinan…. If you’re in the mood for something sexy and sweet, a feel-good romance with humor and a great message, this is the novel for you.”
—Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter
MARIE SEXTON is the author of over thirty published works. She’s written contemporary romance, science fiction, fantasy, dystopian fiction, historical short stories, and a few odd genre mash-ups. The one thing they all have in common? They all feature men falling in love with other men. Her first novel, Promises, was published in January 2010 and is considered a classic in the gay romance genre.
Marie is the recipient of multiple Rainbow Awards, as well as the CRW Award of Excellence in 2012. She was also a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award in 2017. Her books have been translated into seven languages.
Marie lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.
You can find her at mariesexton.net, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mariesexton.author
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarieSexton.author
Twitter: @MarieSexton
By Marie Sexton
With Heidi Cullinan: Family Man
Lost Along the Way
Tales of the Curious Cookbook
CODA
Promises • Putting out Fires
A to Z • The Letter Z • Paris A to Z
Strawberries for Dessert • Fear, Hope, and Bread Pudding
Shotgun
The Letter Z & Paris A to Z Anthology
TUCKER SPRINGS
By L.A. Witt: Where Nerves End
With Heidi Cullinan: Second Hand
By Heidi Cullinan: Dirty Laundry
By L.A. Witt: Covet Thy Neighbor
Never a Hero
WRENCH WARS
By L.A. Witt: Last Mechanic Standing
Normal Enough
By L.A. Witt: Wrenches, Regrets, and Reality Checks
Making Waves
With L.A. Witt: Wrench Wars Anthology
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Never a Hero
© 2019 Marie Sexton
Wish You Were Here
Words and Music by Roger Waters and David Gilmour.
Copyright © 1975 by Roger Waters Music Overseas Ltd. and Pink Floyd Music Publishers, Inc.
Copyright Renewed
All Rights for Roger Waters Music Overseas Ltd. Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC
Cover Art
© 2019 Reese Dante
http://www.reesedante.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Mass Market Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64108-129-0
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64080-908-6
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-907-9
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019930012
Digital published July 2019
v. 2.0
First Edition published by Riptide Publishing, May 2013.
Printed in the United States of America