Built for Speed: Winter Sports, Book 1

by Declan Rhodes

  Epilogue - Lucas

  James and I hefted the large cardboard box onto the elevator in my apartment building. It wasn’t that heavy, but it was big enough to be awkward. I reached up and wiped sweat from my brow as I asked, “And what’s in here?”

  “Old hockey uniforms.”

  I stared at James as the elevator rose. “And why are you bringing them to Chicago?”

  “My mom didn’t want to keep them at their house. She was happy to see them go, and I can’t just throw them out. They’re history.”

  I could imagine what history James’ old hockey uniforms contained. I was a little surprised they weren’t crawling up to my apartment under their own power. I asked, “What about your everyday clothes?”

  “That was those two big suitcases we started with.”

  I thought about the size of those suitcases compared with the amount of space taken up by the oversized box of old hockey uniforms. I glanced at James and shook my head. “Let’s just say it’s a good thing that I love you.”

  It was move-in day for James. It was the last week of June, and his most recent month was potentially the most eventful of his young life. He graduated from college at the beginning of the month with a degree in architecture. He struck a deal with an NHL team later in the month, and he had an invitation to report for pre-season training in September.

  Finally, the most important event was our decision to move in together. It happened over a glass of champagne celebrating the NHL deal and my deal with a local art gallery for my first solo show.

  As we hauled the box through the front door of the apartment, I asked, “Do you have any regular stuff like books or maybe old photos or DVDs?”

  James asked, “Why would I have stuff like that? I can keep it all online. I’ve got a box down in the car full of hockey pucks. It’s not that big, but it is heavy.” James grinned, and my heart melted.

  The college extended my teaching contract in Chicago for the second year, but beyond that neither James nor I had any idea where we were likely to live next. We were considering moving to the city where James was playing hockey, but he still waffled on how long he wanted to play professional hockey. He was continuing his speed skating training, and he was excited about architecture. He was particularly interested in designing sports facilities. James had multiple options, and he was juggling them all at the same time. Somehow he managed to deftly balance all three and keep the relationship with me as the foundation.

  My choices were simpler. I knew that I wanted to continue my painting, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted a long career in teaching. I didn’t need to decide about that until later in the year.

  All that we knew for certain about our future was that we wanted to be together. The rest we were determined to make up as we went along.

  James turned toward the door to retrieve more items from his car. I stopped him and said, “Why don’t we stop carrying stuff for right now. I think we’ve got over half of it. You can park the car down in the underground garage, and we’ll take a break. We need to get ready for dinner at Sophie’s soon anyway.”

  James spun back around and wrapped me in his arms. He said, “That sounds like a perfect idea. The pucks and sticks will be fine down in the garage until tomorrow.”

  I stared into the face of the man that I loved and said, “We get to go to bed together and wake up every morning together for the rest of the summer. It’s like a dream come true.”

  “I think I had that dream just a few nights ago,” said James.

  Sophie’s condo was buzzing with activity when we arrived. She answered the door and gave both James and me big hugs. Jerry followed close behind and gave us both big, powerful man hugs.

  He asked, “How’s the moving process going, boys? Are you going to fit everything into that little apartment?”

  I said, “Between the hockey uniforms and the hockey pucks, I’m not so sure, but we’ll do our best. As long as James is there, we’ll figure out how to deal with the rest.”

  James stuck his nose in the air. He said, “Something smells amazing, and I think it’s coming from the kitchen.”

  Sophie smiled and said, “That’s because we have a special guest cook. She’s here all the way from Amsterdam.”

  I said, “And I need to give her the biggest hug ever. Has everything gone fine today? The last I heard was a text message from the airport.”

  Sophie said, “She’s a little jet-lagged, but she rejected a nap and told us she would sleep tonight. She can’t wait to see you, Lucas.”

  I didn’t make it to the kitchen. Anna heard all of the voices and joined us in the living room. She was wearing one of Sophie’s favorite aprons brought over from Amsterdam.

  “Lucas!” shouted Anna as we wrapped each other in a massive hug.

  I hugged her so tightly that I lifted her off the floor. I asked, “How long are you staying again?”

  “I’m here for three weeks, and Sophie and Jerry are so kind to let me stay here at their place.”

  Jerry said, “That’s what guest bedrooms are for.”

  Anna turned toward James and said, “I bet I know who this handsome man is.” She spread her arms wide and gave James a welcoming hug.

  James said, “You didn’t tell me your best friend was so beautiful.”

  Anna blushed. She said, “Thank you for being so flattering. I’ll make sure you get the best bowl of chili for dinner.”

  “That’s what I smell,” said James. “It’s that famous Dutch chili that Lucas keeps talking about.”

  While we all stood in the living room, we heard a buzz from the lobby. Sophie said, “We’re expecting one more guest, and it sounds like he’s here.” She spoke softly into the intercom and buzzed the person through.

  I wasn’t sure who it was, but I was keeping my fingers crossed. A few minutes later we heard the knock. Sophie opened the door, and Jordi, the man I wanted to see, joined the happy crowd.

  “Jordi!” exclaimed James. “I didn’t know you would be here.”

  Jordi handed Jerry a bottle of wine and said, “I didn’t know I would be either, but Sophie and Lucas sent me such a wonderful invitation. I decided that I couldn’t miss it. The car feels like it’s on its last legs, but it got me here.”

  I asked, “Are you planning to play hockey again next season, Jordi?”

  He said, “It’s going to be a tough decision. I had a fascinating meeting with my buddy Eric’s speed skating coach. We went over video of one of my races, and he found some major issues with my technique. I spent a couple of hours with him on the ice, and by the end, after doing my best to make adjustments, I was breaking personal best times left and right. I laughed and remembered you, James, when he told me I was built for speed.”

  “You mean you’re not going to take my forward position on the hockey team?” asked James.

  “I don’t know,” said Jordi. “That’s what Coach Collins wants me to do. He says we have a chance to make it back to the national championships. I’m too old for the NHL draft, but hockey is a lot of fun. Then there’s one more factor.”

  We all gathered around Jordi. I asked, “One more factor?”

  “Well, do you guys all remember that figure skater we saw in Millennium Park here in Chicago last winter?”

  I glanced at James, and I echoed the confusion in his eyes. I said, “Yeah, I remember him. He had a big crowd making space for him on the public rink while he was doing those jumps and spins.”

  “Well, I got his phone number, and I kept in contact,” said Jordi.

  James asked, “You’ve decided to become a figure skater?”

  “No,” said Jordi. “Let’s say we’ve become a little more than just friends.”

  My jaw dropped. “You didn’t…” began James.

  Jordi bit his lip and said, “I think I did.” He blushed beet red from his hairline to his neck.

  I said, “Well, I think we need to break out the champagne for Jordi! Can we have a round before dinner?”
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br />   Sophie said, “Of course! Jerry can do the honors, and we have so much to celebrate. First and foremost, the fact that we’re all here together. People that I love from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean are filling my home with happiness.”

  I heard the cork pop, and Anna passed around glasses. We held them out for Jerry to pour. Sophie asked, “Lucas, do you want to lead the toast?”

  I held my glass aloft and said, “To the most fantastic of futures for all of us, and may we gather together many more times as the years unfold sharing our lives with joy and good wishes.”

  “Amen to that!” shouted Jerry.

  Several hours later, I slipped naked between the sheets at James’ side. We were stuffed full of good food and drink and exhausted from the events of the day. James laughed and said, “This is all that I have the energy for right now.”

  He rolled over against my side and kissed my lips with a slow-burning passion that made my toes curl. I stared up into his handsome face and said, “On the day that I met you; if anyone told me we would end up where we are today, I would have been the happiest person in the world. I wouldn’t have believed them either. Now that it’s happened, there is no way I could be any happier and excited about the future. You are my world, James. It all starts and ends with you.”

  He said, “Aww, don’t get all mushy like that. Just give me another hot kiss and curl up so we can go to sleep.”

  Thank you for reading Built for Speed. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you.

  If you want to know what comes next in the Winter Sports series, sign up to receive the Declan Rhodes Newsletter and you’ll receive Two As One, a three novella boxed set free. You’ll never receive spam from me, but you’ll also receive notices about upcoming books, brand new releases, free stories, and recommendations of other great gay romance books to read. Just click the link below.

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  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.

  It looks like a perfect match until past memories and insecurities begin to creep into the picture. Marshall is haunted by memories of his first partner, and Jordan can’t let go of insecurities about his age and relative lack of life experience.

  Will Marshall’s teammates and Jordan’s teaching colleague Karen help them both understand that they just might be two uneasy pieces that are a perfect fit?

  Uneasy Pieces is a 50,000 word gay romance centered on a May-December romance. It contains steamy scenes and a happily-ever-after ending.

  Read Uneasy Pieces

  About the Author

  Declan Rhodes is an author of gay romance. He is fascinated by exploring male/male relationships in a world changed by worldwide progress in lgbtq civil rights.

  He is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and loves men, cooking for friends and family, travel, and long walks along the shore of Lake Michigan not necessarily in that order.

  DeclanRhodesBooks

  declanrhodesbooks@gmail.com