The Pretend Husband: Romance In the City, Book 1

by Declan Rhodes

  Alex and I both stared across the park at Mark and his conversation partner. I considered whether we should approach, but then I turned to Alex, and we both shook our heads no. I said, “There will be plenty of time for that. It’s best now to let the romance blossom on its own. There’s nothing better early in a relationship than the time you spend alone together without anyone asking for the details of the configuration of your bond.

  30

  Alex

  Both Liam and I were wrapped tight in winter coats. The air temperature hovered around thirty-five degrees, but the wind was blowing at over twenty miles per hour, and a few drops of drizzle hung in the air. Liam parked the car in the beach parking lot, and we slowly walked toward the water. It was still mostly dark out.

  Liam said, “It’s frigid down here.”

  “But it’s still beautiful. Look at those waves. There are whitecaps, and they are crashing against the shore. I can hear them from here.”

  “I do have to admit it’s still pretty, but most of my friends would think we’re nuts to be down here.”

  I said, “Aren’t we both a little nuts? I’m sure when our story gets passed down in the family, they will remember us as the ones who did ridiculous things. Now take off your shoes.”

  “Why do I have to do that part?” asked Liam.

  “Because you’re humoring me.”

  I don’t know where I came up with the idea, but I wanted to visit the Lake Michigan shore with Liam at least once in every season. I also wanted to dip our toes in the water in three of the four seasons. I agreed to eliminate that part from winter visits if there was ice along the shore.

  I watched as Liam tugged off his sneakers and then wiggled his bare toes on the hard sand. He complained, “My feet are already cold. This sand is damp.”

  While tugging off my shoes, I said, “It’s only going to take a few minutes, and we’ll feel connected. We’ll feel connected with each other and everything in the world. This water flows out to the Atlantic Ocean, and from there it goes everywhere.”

  He said, “I was connected with you this morning when I cuddled up next to your naked body in bed where it was warm.”

  I wiggled my bare toes on the sand, grabbed Liam’s hand and jogged forward splashing into the edge of the water. He wasn’t kidding about how cold it would feel.

  “Oh fuck!” yelped Liam. “You could have warned me that we were going to move.”

  As the water splashed around his ankles, I said, “It was easier that way. Now just give me about thirty seconds and look out at the horizon.”

  I wrapped my arm around his waist, and we both stared over the waves just in time to see the first sliver of the bright red-orange morning sun peek up on the edge of the horizon. “Okay, yeah, I admit, Alex, that is beautiful.”

  Liam leaned his head back to trace the streaks of purple, pink, and orange that spread across the morning sky. I said, “And it’s so beautiful that you forgot about the cold.”

  He pulled one foot up, put it down, and pulled up the other saying, “No, I haven’t forgotten that. I think my toes are already numb.”

  I said, “Okay, let’s go back to the beach.” I turned around and tugged Liam with me back to the dry sand.

  He asked, “Can I put my shoes on?”

  “You can put your shoes on. And I’m celebrating that I’ve made a little progress south. Just think how much warmer this would be if we were waking up in Arizona or New Mexico.”

  “And during the day it would be downright hot.”

  I asked, “Can we put the Southwest on our long-term agenda?”

  “Do we have a long-term agenda?” asked Liam.

  “I think we have one item on it.”

  He gave up pulling on socks and tugged his sneakers onto his bare feet. “What would that be? I’m having a hard enough time keeping my schedule sorted out for the next month.”

  I said, “Me with you. That’s the long-term agenda.”

  He wrapped his arms around me, and we kissed with our heavy coats making a crunching sound as they pressed together. Liam asked, “How about we settle here in Milwaukee for a few months, and then we talk about the Southwest next year.”

  We turned our heads to look at the horizon and see the sun even higher beginning to blaze and shimmer in the sky. I said, “I think I can handle that. Besides, I don’t think home is only one place. I figured that out when I decided not to go back to St. Paul.”

  “Where is it then?”

  “It’s wherever you are, Liam. It’s in the person, not the place.”

  Epilogue - Liam

  Dean Fetterson almost looked like a different person dressed in a navy blue suit and black leather wingtip shoes. He beamed when I walked up to him with my arm wrapped around Alex. I said, “Dean! It’s so wonderful to see you.”

  “I’m happy you invited me, young man,” said Dean. “Are the two of you a couple now?”

  Alex grinned and said, “We’re married.”

  Dean said, “That doesn’t surprise me. You were comfortable with each other when you visited the homestead. Thank you for inviting me to the museum. I brought Amelia with me when the new wing opened, but I haven’t been to Milwaukee since she left.”

  I said, “Today’s event is all due to the generosity of the Lintons. It’s also part of the museum’s celebration of spring. The Lintons wanted this special reception for the formal addition of your hearts to the collection. The piece will be in place when the museum opens to the public tomorrow.”

  He stared at the glass case that held the work for viewing at the reception and shook his head. “It looks larger than life in that glass case. Amelia would be proud, and I think this is a piece of her and will help people understand what a work of art I had in my bride.”

  Alex reached up and wiped at his right eye. He said, “That is beautiful, Dean. I’m sure she’s looking down at us with a big smile on her face.”

  “As long as that’s where she went.”

  Both Alex and I opened our mouths in shock at the comment.

  Dean laughed and raised a hand with gnarled fingers saying, “Oh, it’s okay. She would be laughing. I’m sure my Amelia is up in heaven, but we often talked about our bad deeds through the years. Nobody is perfect, and neither were we.”

  We heard a hush fall over the small gathered crowd and quickly situated ourselves on nearby chairs. Hubert Linton stood at a podium with Beatrice at his side.

  He began by saying, “I would like to welcome you all to a joyful day for us. We’re able to celebrate the work of a man who is still with us through the installation of this stunning new piece representing the unique artistic talents of self-taught artists across the state of Wisconsin.” The small audience applauded.

  Hubert detailed the story behind his first acquaintance with Dean. The comments about the Lake Michigan rescue elicited more than a few gasps from the audience. He spoke eloquently about the role of outsider art in a contemporary museum, and he mentioned me as a curator of the collection.

  As Hubert wound down his comments, he gestured to Dean and asked if he would like to say a few words. Dean stood up to acknowledge applause from the gathered crowd, but he shook his head to turn down the offer of speaking.

  Hubert said, “He’s a very humble man, too.” Hubert completed his remarks by praising the entire museum and its role in the community. I applauded heartily when his speech ended.

  The crowd stood and continued social conversations. I turned toward the door while Alex excused himself to check out the refreshments. I saw a familiar figure rush past the security guard with a smile and an unfamiliar man at her shoulder. As she approached, Sarah exclaimed, “Liam! I made it. I wanted to meet the artist after everything you said about him.”

  I smiled and said, “I’m sure Dean will be happy to meet you. Maybe you can introduce me to your guest.”

  Sarah glanced over her shoulder at the tall, thin man and she said, “Oh, you know all about Scott even though you haven’t me
t each other yet.” As he reached out a long arm to shake hands, she said, “You already know all of his little secrets.”

  While I shook his hand, I said, “She’s only kidding about that. Let me take the two of you to meet Dean.”

  Sarah instantly struck up a cheerful conversation with Dean. Then she pointed across the room and asked, “Who’s that talking with Alex?”

  I saw nearly ten heads turn and I whispered, “It’s not polite to point.”

  Sarah and Dean both laughed. Dean said, “He’s having a grand time laughing with a teenager.”

  I said, “Oh, that must be one of his students. I’ll be right back.”

  Alex was trying to catch his breath from so much laughter as I stepped up close. He said, “Oh, Liam, let me calm down.” He stood up straight and rubbed a hand down the sports jacket he was wearing as if the gesture would calm everything. He said, “This is Ella Reynolds. She is one of my best students. We were just talking about a funny thing that happened when my predecessor taught To Kill a Mockingbird. It was a hilarious story.”

  I politely introduced myself to Ella and said, “You must be a good influence. I rarely get to see Alex laugh so hard.”

  Alex wrapped his arm around my waist and said, “But you get to see me smile every morning when I wake up next to you.”

  I nodded in agreement and said, “I smile back because every morning I wake up next to you is a good day, and my first thought is that I have thousands of those good days to come.”

  Ella spoke up saying, “I’m inspired. You’re a perfect couple. I hope someday I’ll meet the woman who is just as perfect for me.”

  * * *

  Thank you for reading The Pretend Husband. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you.

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  Also by Declan Rhodes

  The League

  Complete Game

  A Second Glance

  Always Waiting

  Uneasy Pieces

  Baseball

  Catching the Pitch (Eric and Theo)

  The Imperfect Game (Linc and Hudson)

  Home Run Holiday (Nathan and Drew)

  The Last Out (Kyle and Duncan)

  The Wedding Season (Eric and Theo)

  Making the Cut

  All-Stars

  More Books

  Fit To Be Married

  Late Night Means Love

  Order Up

  Two As One Box Set (Books 1-3)

  Complete Game - The League Book 1

  Reviews

  “Declan Rhodes has done it again. A great feel good romance that will warm your heart.”

  “The supporting characters were richly drawn, and I look forward to reading more about them in future books. If you love baseball and solid romance, I can't recommend Complete Game enough.”

  “I like all the books Declan Rhodes writes. They're always fun to read. There's a bunch of smoking hot men who know how to heat things up in bed and out. I want to read about the rest of the characters who are the background of Complete Game. It will be a great series.”

  * * *

  It was just a kiss, his first from a man, but it led to a moment of distraction, a wrong step, and a bone-shattering injury that put an early end to his baseball career. For Blake Powell, it was also the beginning of a new life.

  While nursing his injury, he met his new next-door neighbor Ian Chapman, a player-manager of a local gay softball team. Their first meeting is brief, but six months later, neither has forgotten that first encounter.

  His baseball career is over, but Blake is soon a new star on Ian's softball team, and Ian is teaching him new lessons about loving men. The future looks exceedingly bright until the game of baseball comes calling once again and Blake considers leaving his new life behind.

  Complete Game is a 55,000-word gay romance novel with a happily-ever-after ending. It is the first book in the series The League, but it can be read as either a standalone story or an introduction to the series.

  * * *

  Read Complete Game

  A Second Glance - The League Book 2

  Reviews

  “This story tugs at your heartstrings. Amid the drama, the friendships between all of the characters makes it seem like one big family. Connor and Reggie are both sweet, vulnerable and engaging.”

  “Declan Rhodes has done it again. Another sweet love story with hot men and smoking hot sex.”

  “This book has a hotness to it, that'll singe you, if you get too close. Connor feels he's finally found his Prince Charming. His immediate attraction and take down of Reggie's guard, is so strong and confident, it's a real turn-on. Poor Reggie's so stunned, he's definitely NOT used to that kind of attention from someone so hot and confident, that he barely knows how to react.”

  * * *

  As he stood on third base, leaning toward home, ready to score, Reggie Wolf couldn’t believe what he heard from the third baseman. “After the game…you and me alone…drinks.” Reggie wasn’t a stranger to first dates. He had a long dating history from humorous to nearly catastrophic. But none were ever as ruggedly handsome as Connor.

  For Connor Ryan, it was all about Reggie’s face. He got lost in it every time their eyes met. Reggie wasn’t traditionally handsome, but his gaze drew Connor like a moth to a flame. He had to find out more.

  After a fiery round of dating, the relationship crumbled when Connor’s fist met someone’s jaw at the Toolbox Bar. Both believed that was the end, until they crossed paths again on the softball field two years later. Neither was sure if a second glance could really lead to a second chance…but they knew that they had to give it a try.

  A Second Glance is a 50,000-word second chance gay romance with steamy scenes and a happily-ever-after ending.

  * * *

  Read A Second Glance

  Always Waiting - The League Book 3

  Reviews

  “This was my first book by this author and was it a doozie and it will not be my last. I adored both Lowell and Sven and their friendship to lovers journey.”

  “Declan Rhodes writes very good believable characters. Sven and Lowell, the main characters in this book are no exception. There are some very amusing scenes that will have you chuckling for sure. There are moments of insecurity that just make this story believable.”

  “This is an excellent addition to the series. Declan always describes his characters so well so you can see events unfolding in your mind's eye.”

  * * *

  Lowell Baker is convinced that life is random at best, and good things rarely triumph in the end, but that doesn’t mean that life excludes exhilarating moments, like the one when Sven literally knocked him off his feet and landed sprawled across his body face-to-face and almost mouth-to-mouth. Those moments just required taking a few extra risks to bring them about.

  For Sven Paulsen, there is safety in the predictable and expected. He’s the handsome, strong, sturdy guy on everybody’s side. He has endured a string of bad luck, but he’s certain that sticking close to well-worn paths will right the ship and send him sailing off toward a comfortable horizon.

  In fact, that was the plan until Sven literally collided with Lowell at second base on the softball field. Face-to-face once more, their shared history is recalled, but it leaves the path forward uncertain. Sven is comfortable as friends, but Lowell wants a little more…even
if it ultimately requires convincing Sven to take a leap from more than 10,000 feet off the ground.

  Always Waiting is a 50,000 word gay romance with friends becoming lovers and a touch of second chance. It contains steamy scenes and a happily-ever-after ending.

  * * *

  Read Always Waiting

  Uneasy Pieces - The League Book 4

  Reviews

  “I was proud of Marshall and Jordan both not backing off with the speed bumps put in front of them. With Marshall's age, there was bound to be a past and I was happy with the way, in the end, that they handled it. Great book and cannot wait for more from this author!”

  “Great way to look at life and relationships. The friendships that developed among these people were outstanding. You had friends that called you on your bullsh*t, and others and some of the same to help you deal with it.”

  “The book is beautifully and sympathetically written and the characters are very real and hard not to fall in love with. It's a great read!”

  * * *

  Can a May-December romance provide a young teacher with a solution to his bad luck dating crass and shallow men his own age? And if so, how can he find the man that stirs his heart, body, and mind?

  For second-year high school math teacher Jordan Vaughan, that man might just be Marshall Easterling, the 46-year-old left fielder for gay softball league defending champions the Soft Serves. They meet when Marshall’s teammate Blake Powell applies for an open coaching job at Jordan’s school.