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Category: Erotica/Gay-Lesbian Erotica/Romance
Description: Jamie has it all--he owns a ritzy car repair shop, his own home on the beach. But he's lonely. His last lover, Ben, has moved on and Jamie's been carrying a torch for him. When a business meeting puts him in Le Grande Louisienne at Ryan's table, he is immediately drawn to the waiter and leaves his name and number, but Ryan doesn't call, so Jamie has to make other plans, finally convincing Ryan to meet with him. Ryan's last partner died, and while it's been a long time, he's still hesitant to start a relationship with anyone else. Jamie almost gives up, but then Ryan agrees to a date, and to tell Jamie about his ex-lover, Mark. After being burned that bad, Ryan is very skittish, and Jamie can't really blame him. With all of that out in the open, their relationship can start to progress. It's not always easy. Between Jamie's ex showing back up, and Ryan's old lover's family, there's always something keeping them on their toes. Can Jamie get what he needs from Ryan? Find out in this sequel to Jumping the Fence.!
eBook Publisher: Torquere Press/Top Shelf, 2008 www.torquerepress.com
eBookwise Release Date: September 2008

70 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [217 KB]
Words: 47825
Reading time: 136-191 min.

Alexa Snow, author of Clear Cut and Sleeping Stone, write: Jamie MacPherson runs a highly successful business, but when it comes to his love life, he's definitely falling down on the job. He's alone and none too pleased about it, still nursing a broken heart after his last break-up, when he meets Ryan Van Alstyn. Ryan's a waiter who isn't interested in dating--or so he thinks. But Jamie is persistent, and Ryan discovers that he's willing to be convinced. As they slowly negotiate the boundaries of their relationship, they learn things about each other that they hadn't been expecting. Will their love be strong enough to get them past the hurdles that life and history have put in their path? This story is every bit as well-written as Ms. Vaughan's previous gem of a novel, Jumping the Fence, in which Jamie makes his first, peripheral appearance. The characters in Crossing the Line might be even more compelling. Ryan's back story is spun out gradually over the course of the work, Jamie's insecurities brought to light with a deft and delicate touch. Beautifully written, with fantastic characters and wonderful dialogue. This is a rich, complex story you'll read again and again.

"I just want you to know I'm over you."

A faint thump as a clumsy hand fumbled the receiver was followed by a sleepy voice. "Huh?"

"I'm totally over you. I hope you and the twink are happy, you selfish fuck."

Silence. Then, "Hold on." The sounds were fainter now and muffled. "Ben, I think it's for you. I think it's Jamie."

Shit. The background noise in the nightclub kept Jamie from noticing that it wasn't Ben who'd picked up. Didn't it just fucking figure it would be Kevin who answered? In the middle of the night. Twist the God damn knife some more.

"Jamie?"

God damn it, it wasn't fair.

After all this time, just the sound of Ben's voice shouldn't still do this to him. Shouldn't wash over him and make him feel like he'd been wrapped in the biggest, warmest blanket ever made. Jesus, why couldn't he just let go and move on?

"Yeah." Jamie couldn't hide the bitterness he felt. "I just called to say--"

Ben cut him off. "Yeah, I know. It's one o'clock. Jamie, are you drunk?"

"No." It wasn't a lie. A pale, off-white shade of the truth, maybe, but not an outright lie. Because the truth was, he couldn't drink enough to make him forget how he'd felt for those few amazing months when he'd had Ben in his life. "I only had a couple martinis."

"Jamie, you're drunk. If you want to talk, call me when you're sober."

The band finished its number and the applause from the club-goers drowned out whatever Ben said next. "Ben, could we just..." The applause died away and Jamie could hear the dial tone now. The fucker had hung up on him.

Fuck.

The vodka he'd drunk swirled as Jamie's stomach rolled over. The same sick feeling he got whenever he let himself think about Ben for too long settled over him.

What a dumbass. Why had he come to a jazz club, anyway, if not to torture himself with memories of better times? Times when he and Ben had been together. At the time, Jamie hadn't recognized the feeling for what it was. He'd been too crazy for Ben, and all it had taken was one look from those warm, hazel eyes for Jamie to be hard and ready for him.

His hand hurt and Jamie opened his clenched fist to find the cell phone he still clutched digging into his palm. He shoved it into a pocket and leaned his head back against the wall outside the men's room door. Closing his eyes, Jamie banged it against the wall behind him. He didn't worry about hurting it. It was too thick for that, too thick to get much of anything through it. How else could he explain calling Ben in the middle of the night?

That fucker Kevin had answered.

Pretty little bastard.