Click on image to enlarge.

Category: Erotica/Gay-Lesbian Erotica/Romance
Description: When Gray Latham's uncle Will, dies unexpectedly, Gray travels to Connecticut to pay his respects to both Will's memory and Will's long-time girlfriend, Eva Monroe. Imagine his surprise when Eva turns out to be Evan--tall, lean, too attractive and completely in mourning Evan Monroe. Evan's expecting a quick visit from his lover's uncaring nephew, but when Gray shows up at his door he finds much more than that. Between the instant attraction and an ill-advised, Margarita-fueled kiss, Evan isn't sure what to make of the Montana rancher, especially with Bill so recently and suddenly gone. With emotions running high and interfering friends and family sticking their noses into things, can the two men find a way to accept life's lemons and make lemonade?
eBook Publisher: Torquere Press/Color Box, 2009 www.torquerepress.com
eBookwise Release Date: March 2010

37 Reader Ratings:

Great	Good	OK	Poor

Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [115 KB]
Words: 25843
Reading time: 73-103 min.

The bell rang, a cheerful little tune Bill had found somewhere or other, and it pulled a small sob from Evan's lips. He swallowed the next one and turned away from the big gold-framed mirror, deliberately pushing the memories of Rome and the shop they'd bought it in from his mind. He wasn't ready to remember their last vacation yet. Some day. But not yet.

"I'm coming," he called out, and he sounded cross, even to himself. "I'm coming," he called again, modulating his tone. After all, he might resent the hell out of having anyone else--even Bill's nephew--in their home, but that was his own issue, not the kid's.

"You must be Gray," he said by way of greeting as he opened the door. He was afraid, Evan realized then. Afraid to look. Because if Bill's nephew looked like Bill, Evan thought he might... God. Suddenly turn into one of those gay men Hollywood liked to use as caricatures. He might topple over and shriek and start crying again, right there. Hell.

"Yeah," he heard and the voice sounded a little bit... puzzled, Evan decided. The guy had some nice boots, though. At least, Evan thought they were boots. A bit worn at the toes but not dusty, really. Not even old or ragged. Just brown leather with stitching across the tops in a dark gold color that went well, and jeans that looked new, judging by the sharp creases that covered the probably-boots down to the ankles and the dark shade of the denim. "Uh, I'm lookin' for Eva Monroe."

Evan blinked, surprise jerking his eyes from the man's feet and... oh, thank God. Nothing like Bill. Oh, the coloring was similar, but nothing that was enough to hurt much. Bigger, too. Taller. More... solid. A tiny likeness around the eyes and the same slightly higher left ear that Bill had hated having, but... "I. Sorry. Um, it's Evan. Evan Monroe. Not, um. Eva."

If he'd been any less separated from the world around him, Evan thought he might have been offended by the sudden realization in the eyes of Bill's nephew. As it was, he just sighed and shrugged, then stepped back, opening the door wider. "Come in, I guess. I... the guest room upstairs is ready. Have you eaten? I can throw something together if you're hungry. I... I'll have to see what we..." Evan closed his eyes for a brief moment at his own still-automatic we, then swallowed hard and opened them again. "Sorry. I'll see what's in the kitchen."

"Think I'm good for now," the man said, and Evan didn't know why he'd been expecting someone younger, but he had. Gray, because the man said he was Gray, and Evan couldn't think of any reason for him to lie about that, looked close to Evan's age, for God's sake. "Might could use a shower, if you don't mind, though."

Well, of course he could, Evan thought as he led the way up the stairs and down the left-hand hallway to the guest room. Traveling and so on. "The bathroom is right across the hall," he said simply. "I put fresh towels in there earlier. If you need anything, just let me know. I'll... yeah. I'll see about dinner."

He wasn't hungry, himself. Hadn't been since... just since. Even so, Bill would want him to be a proper host. And Evan would be. He would even try to act like he didn't mind having Bill's nephew there. It was just the polite thing to do.