by B L Maxwell
He ducked his head and smiled. “Only about a million times, and I’ve loved you more for it every single time. Come on, or we’ll be late.” We put on our coats and walked out to the car hand in hand.
“Think it’ll snow this year?” he asked as we drove along.
“You never know, if it happened once, it can happen again,” I said.
“It was a miracle, a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Something that was meant to bring us together so you could save me.”
“You didn’t need saving, you just needed a hand up. You would have done it yourself if you hadn’t gotten sick.” We’d had this conversation many times since that night. Him always giving me all the credit, and me wanting him to know he was stronger than anyone I’d ever known.
We continued to talk until we drove up to the small house off Watt where Chloe’s brother and his family lived. It was covered in Christmas lights, and a large tree was visible through the window. I turned off the car and we sat there for a moment, just enjoying the silence and the closeness that always seemed to hum between us, along with the heat and desire that seemed to grow stronger every time we were together. His eyes met mine, and the desire in them was obvious. I leaned across the center console and was just about to kiss him again when a knock on the window startled us both.
“Hey, what are you two doing out here? Get in the house,” Chloe chided with a laugh.
“Oh my god, she almost gave me a heart attack. Pretty sure that took five years off my life,” I said and clutched my chest.
He slumped forward and laughed before getting out of the car and giving Chloe a hug. “Come on, let’s go be social so I can take you home and have my way with you,” he whispered in my ear as he held the door for me. I kissed him on the cheek and slipped my arm into his.
“You two are adorable, you remind me so much of Caden and Rio, hearts in your eyes and all that,” Chloe said before taking my other arm.
We all laughed and walked up to the door together. Zane raised his hand to knock, and the door flew open, startling us all.
“Chloe!” Her brother picked her up and swung her around before kissing her on the cheek. “I’m so glad you’re all finally here, come in. Zane, your parents are here, Eron is giving them the tour—and talking their ear off at the same time. He’s very interested in the way your parents are building their new house with renewable materials and all the solar and, well, everything about it. He’s become quite the environmentalist,” Caden said.
“Baby, get over here,” Rio said as soon as we walked into the kitchen. “I wasn’t sure which appetizers you wanted to put out, so I thought I’d be safe and wait until you came back. And look who you found outside. Hey, guys.” He shook both our hands, and when he stood in front of Chloe, he pulled her into a big hug before kissing her cheek. “There’s my favorite sister-in-law.”
She giggled, and after hugging him, gave him a playful shove. “I’m your only sister-in-law, but I’m glad I’m your favorite.”
“Jesse’s in the other room with Lisa and everyone else,” Rio said with a wink. We’d been here a few times now, and it never got old. The sense of family and love was so strong in this house, it was hard to miss, and harder to leave.
“Hey, kid, you made it,” Bruce said as he and John walked in from the back patio. It was covered and sealed, so during the winter months it was an extra room. A space heater made it comfortable, and the clear walls gave it the feeling of still being outside.
“Sorry, I told Zane we needed to hurry, but he kept trying on different shirts. You know how he is,” I teased, and pulled him closer to me. Zane still lived a very minimal life. He didn’t buy what he didn’t need, and he never wasted anything. They both knew he didn’t have a lot of clothes to choose from, and it was by his choice, not by his circumstance. John laughed at that and patted him on the back.
We walked out on the covered patio, and there were Zane’s parents, in a conversation with a very animated Eron.
“I want to know how you’re going to start your hydroponic gardens, it’s fascinating to me,” Eron said, his curiosity part of his natural charm.
“Well, first—sorry, Eron, I need to say hello to my son.” Jude, Zane’s dad, walked up to us and hugged us both at the same time before kissing us both on the cheek. It was the same every time we saw him. “How’re my boys doing? You two staying warm out there? It’s a cold night.”
“I’ve seen colder,” Zane said, meaning it as a joke, but his dad couldn’t hide the shadow that crossed his expression for a moment. Zane noticed and put his hand to his dad’s cheek and forced him to look at him before he smiled. “It’s a cold night, Dad, but we’re staying warm.” Jude patted his hand, and like his son, bowed his head for a second.
“Tommy, if your boyfriend is going to ignore his mama, get over here and give me a hug,” Glenna, Zane’s mom, joked. Where his dad was the emotional one, his mom was the funny one who held their family together with humor and lots of love.
“Yes, ma’am!” I said with a salute and walked over to hug her tight. “How are you, Glenna?”
“I’m perfect, Tommy, I’m just perfect.” Just as she finished the words, there was a crash in the kitchen, and a brown Labrador retriever came running out to the enclosed patio, followed close behind by Adana, Rio’s younger sister.
“Chaos, come here, boy. I know you didn’t mean to, but you’ve got to calm down and act like a big boy at some point,” she said.
Rio had told us how he’d bought the dog for Caden for Christmas one year, and he’d chosen to be Adana’s dog whether she liked it or not. Behind Adana followed a little boy; his dark hair and bright blue eyes stood out and made him so beautiful, he was hard to look away from. He looked around the room until he saw Chaos, then he screamed, the most high-pitched, horrible scream in all the history of screams. Everyone covered their ears, and Chaos ran into the other room, followed close behind by Jesse, Rio and Caden’s son. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he was scooped up by Caden, who held tight while he struggled to be let down.
“Down, Daddy, down,” he demanded, the way only a two-year-old could.
“Not now, buddy, it’s almost time to eat, how does that sound?”
“Eat, Daddy,” he said, still wriggling to get down.
Rio walked up next to them and put his arms around them both. “What’s all this fuss I hear out here? How’re my boys?” The look on Caden’s face was exactly as Chloe had described it: hearts in his eyes. And when I looked at Rio, I saw the same look reflected in his. “Love you, guys,” he said, and kissed Caden before blowing a raspberry on Jesse’s cheek, causing him to laugh so hard, everyone else in the room joined in.
“Okay, everyone ready to eat? Let’s get this party started,” Rio said and kissed Caden once more before walking back into the kitchen.
This was our life, and now this was my family. We’d both been alone, or thought we were, but we weren’t—we just hadn’t met our family yet.
* * *
The End
About the Author
BL Maxwell grew up in a small town listening to her grandfather spin tales about his childhood. Later she became an avid reader and after a certain vampire series she became obsessed with fanfiction. She soon discovered Slash fanfiction and later discovered the MM genre and was hooked.
Many years later, she decided to take the plunge and write down some of the stories that seem to run through her head late at night when she's trying to sleep.
Contact
[email protected]
Also by BL Maxwell
The Valley Ghosts Series
Ghost Hunted
Jason Thomas had always been obsessed with the ghost stories he'd watched on television from the time he was a kid. He'd always dreamed of visiting those haunted places, and playing amateur ghost hunters with his best friend Wade. As they grew older, Jason's fascination with ghosts grew as well, and he'd drag Wade along to different haunted houses or hotels, always ho
ping to see an actual ghost.
Wade Rivers loved spending time with Jason, even if it meant he'd have to endure another creepy, supposedly haunted location. Friends since they were kids, and always inseparable, Wade's feelings for Jason deepened from friendship into something more. Unfortunately, so did his fear of the places Jason wanted to explore.
The chance to spend a weekend alone in a famous haunted house was too much for Jason to resist, and almost too much for Wade to endure. He knew going to the deserted house was everything Jason had ever dreamed of, so Wade tried to put his fears aside. But when paranormal things start to happen, admitting to Jason how he feels suddenly isn't the scariest thing Wade will encounter.
Ghost Haunted (Valley Ghosts 1.5)
Wade Rivers finally has what he’s always wanted, his best friend Jason Thomas as his boyfriend. Their first date, hopefully the first of many, starts out with a simple dinner, but Wade has a surprise in store for Jason. They end up at a haunted house exhibit for Halloween.
Wade finds out that Jason loves investigating the paranormal, but he’s not as enthused about the other attractions. When they meet up with a fellow paranormal researcher, Jimbo, their fun night gets more frightening with each room in the haunted house.
From the beginning to the end, they’ll visit every nightmare imaginable, and they’ll all find out some truths about each other they never thought would come to light.
Ghost Trapped (Valley Ghosts 2)
Wade and Jason are back. They’re settling into their new relationship, from friends to lovers, and trying to navigate the paranormal business they now find themselves in. And Jimbo has joined the team too.
It seems Sacramento has a wealth of restless spirits needing a nudge to move on their way. Taking a job in Old Sacramento, they soon realize there’s a more than average haunting at The Hitching Post restaurant. Built over the old tunnels and hidden under many of the businesses, they find a world of spirits that have been forgotten. Until now.
Jason is excited to take on one of their first big jobs as an official paranormal research group. Running Scared Paranormal is open for business, but this case is different than anything they’ve encountered before. He reaches out for help from someone connected to the spirit realm who has first-hand knowledge on what it’ll take to ensure their safety and complete the job, but will it be enough?
Wade is thrust into a world he’s tried to stay on the edges of. He’s been to haunted houses with Jason in the past, but he doesn’t consider himself an expert. His newfound abilities will be tested in ways he never imagined, and only he knows how much he can handle, both physically and mentally. After being injured, he once again faces the fact that the spirits he’s always feared have the ability to hurt them. In this situation, the person who can help the most, may not be a person at all.
Ghost Hexed (Valley Ghosts 2.5)
Jimbo and Dean found their way back each other after many years apart, and they’re both excited to finally start a new relationship without the fear of the spirit world invading their lives. Jimbo, or James, as Dean calls him, decides it’s time for them to have a real date, and takes Dean to a local fall event. The beautiful weather, colorful leaves, and crisp air all add to the perfect day full of new experiences and time alone.
As night falls and it’s time to leave, things change. The local spirits reveal themselves, and Jimbo and Dean end up on an adventure neither is prepared for, unsure how to handle the unbelievable events that happen over the course of the evening. What was supposed to be a romantic day, soon turns out to be a life-threatening experience they’re ill-equipped to handle. They’ll need help from the team to solve this mystery and put the spirits to rest once and for all.
OTHER TITLES
Stone Under Skin
Ankit has lived many lifetimes. Once, long ago, he was made of stone, and marked with symbols and sigils meant to safeguard him and allow him to protect and serve others. He’s a living gargoyle now, cursed to live as a human; always watching, at all times aware, and constantly searching for his fated one.
While walking home from his job as a librarian, Ethan Lewis is beaten and robbed. Ankit stumbles upon him, and instantly recognizes him as the man he’s fated to. He helps him back to his apartment, and after tending his injuries, watches over him.
Fate has woven their lives together for centuries, but in every lifetime, they could never live freely, or love each other as Ankit has often dreamed of. To change their destiny, they’ll fight together with other gargoyles, and a young watcher, who is unaware of the tremendous power she possesses. This will be the last battle against their creator, and they’ll either die fighting for their freedom, or survive to live the life they’ve always yearned for.
Better Together
Since being thrown out of his home by his parents, Caden has been struggling to survive on the streets.
He lives in constant fear, stresses over his next meal, and dreads trying to find a safe place to sleep at night. He eventually finds an unlocked car and settles in to sleep, but is soon interrupted when someone steals the car. With little choice but to ride along, Caden soon learns that first impressions aren’t always correct.
Seventeen-year-old Damario has been raising his little brother and sister by himself since his parents were deported. He never knew how hard it was going to be paying the bills and making sure there was always food on the table. Or how hard it would be to hold his family together when they all depended on him to do it. He finds himself stealing cars to make ends meet, but he never expected to find someone sleeping in the back of one of them. And he really didn’t expect this stowaway to change his life.
When Damario brings Caden home, it was supposed to be just for a shower and a hot meal, but he can hardly kick him out onto the streets again. There is no way he could have seen that by saving Caden that night, he was also saving himself. When Damario’s world starts to fall apart, they both realize that the answer to all of their problems is helping each other, and although the world tries to drive them apart, they really are better together.
Ride
Kace Hallard leaves Sacramento, bound for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, something he and his father had always planned to do together. When his father realizes he won’t be able to make the trip, he makes Kace promise to go on his own.
He takes off, not sure he’s up to the challenge. When he has mechanical trouble a few hours away from home, he questions his choice even more.
Striker Johnson is just out buying lunch for the guys at the shop when he notices the handsome stranger in the parking lot checking over his Harley and looking confused. He approaches him and offers his help.
The next few hours fly by, and Kace asks Striker to join him.
It’s the trip of a lifetime for them both, one man looking to ease his grief, the other riding toward emotions he has no hope of controlling. One way or another they’ll have to decide if they ride together or separately, when life throws them one more curve.
Salt and Lime
Sal Hutton books a trip to Cancún on a whim. Needing some time off from work, he sees an opportunity to go and takes it—alone. After a red-eye flight and full of excitement for what he might experience over the next week, he strikes up a conversation with the handsome taxi driver who gives him a ride to his hotel, and hopes their paths cross again.
Derrik Green came to Cancún for a vacation, and two years later is still here, after falling in love with the city and its people. He’s working as a taxi driver and is happier than ever. After dropping off the man named Sal, he can’t stop thinking about him, and hopes that eventually he’ll call, even if it’s just to hire him for a ride or private tour.
Soon their wish comes true and they’re spending time together, enjoying all the sights and adventures Cancun has to offer.
Sal and Derrik weren’t looking for love, but maybe they were meant to meet here, half a world away from their regular lives, and right in the middle of a tropical paradise. With so man
y people behind them, they might just get their happily ever after under starry nights and surrounded by the beautiful blue Caribbean.
Cake Clash
Finn Leighton loves owning his bakery and tries not to dwell on the boyfriend that was the love of his life in culinary school. When his co-worker sends in an application for him to compete on the reality baking show, Cake Clash, he’s nervous but also excited for the opportunity. Even if he secretly wishes he was competing alongside Josiah.
Chef Jos, one of the youngest, renowned celebrity chefs, and a notorious recluse, is surprised when he’s asked to be a judge on the reality television baking show, but takes the opportunity as a fresh start. He’s blown away when he recognizes Finn as one of the contestants.
The years separated from Finn have transformed him from Josiah Stevens to Chef Jos, and seem to disappear in the presence of his first love. Can they make up for lost time, and reconnect for love on the rollercoaster ride that is Cake Clash?
Check Yes or No
Sam and Reese exchanged valentines when they were children, neither realizing how much those simple cards would impact their lives. When fate brings both together again as adults, what started as a friendship grows into more. They celebrate every year on the day that brought them together, Valentine’s Day by reading from their first Valentine’s and looking back on all the events that have shaped their lives as a couple. Valentine’s Day brings them more love and happiness than they could ever have imagined all those years ago