“But you need to—”
“No. I don’t. My career… it’s not the most important thing, not by a long shot. And it’s not like I’d be moving to Antarctica. It’s s a bit much for a daily commute, but if I have to go down to the city for a couple days a week, I can do that no problem.”
“And Tristan’s going to agree to that?”
“I doubt it. But I think that’s okay. I’ve walked away from that firm once. I can do it again.”
“But your projects….”
“I’m getting really interested in residential design. It’s not as glamorous, not as high profile, but there’s a lot of room for creativity. And I was thinking about doing some writing too. Like, helping people understand architecture with coffee table books or whatever. I like photography. And you can travel over the summer—I could work on getting my photography up to standard this winter, and next summer we could travel together. Take pictures of buildings. That’d be fun, right?”
“Like Terry,” Uncle Calvin said, and Richard nodded in agreement.
Liam frowned. “Terry?”
“Terry Franks,” Ben said. Was it possible? Could this work? “He died earlier this year? Oh, yeah. You were kind of at his funeral. But before he died, he was based in North Falls but he traveled pretty regularly. He wrote antique books.”
“Books about antiques,” Uncle Calvin clarified. “Not old books.”
“How could he write old books?” Seth asked. “I know he traveled, but unless someone thought he time traveled, I’m not sure how his books could be old.”
“Terry Franks?” Liam said. He seemed to be talking just to Ben, now, which was really just as well. “I thought he was—damn. I actually thought of how small his life must have been, how—I don’t think I actually used the word pathetic, in my mind, but I might as well have. But now I’m hearing…. Wait. Am I hearing that he wasn’t all that pathetic, or am I hearing that I’d be just like him if I moved back to North Falls, and that’d mean I would be pathetic?”
Of course Uncle Calvin couldn’t stay out of the conversation for long. “You’ve got a pretty high opinion of your opinion, son.”
“What?” Liam asked.
“You think Terry Franks gave a shit whether you thought he was pathetic or not? Sixty years from now when you’ve lived a full and interesting life, you think you’re really going to care what some snot-nosed kid thinks about you? I certainly hope you won’t.”
“Wait,” Liam said.
But his father was involved now, and waiting didn’t seem to be an option. “You need to live your own life, Liam. You need to do what’s right for you, not what other people will think is impressive.”
“Screw other people!” Uncle Calvin crowed.
Seth leaned in. “Not literally. Don’t go screwing other people just because Calvin said so. He was speaking figuratively.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Liam replied. Then he turned to his father. “But—isn’t it—don’t you want—”
“Liam. Do you remember when your mother and I told you we were getting a divorce?”
“It was only a couple months ago. Yeah, I remember.”
“I told you we weren’t looking for your approval, or even your opinion. And that goes both ways. You need to live your life for you. You and Ben, maybe. But not for me, or your mother, or the people you went to school with or your neighbors or the world. Just you.”
“Terry Franks lived that way,” Uncle Calvin said. He seemed serious, although of course there was no way to be sure. “And Terry had a pretty damn good life.”
“So—” Liam looked blankly at the people around the fire, and Ben fought the urge to step in, to help out, to do whatever he could to make Liam less confused. Possibly this was something Liam should figure out for himself. “I was already going to move to North Falls.” He turned to Ben. “Not in with you, necessarily. If you think it’s too soon, that’s fine. But the town? Yeah, I was going to move that far. And I knew it might hurt my career. But I was okay with that, more or less. So—this conversation hasn’t really changed anything. But—I feel like it has. What’s that about?”
“Maybe now you know you don’t have to be ashamed,” Uncle Calvin suggested.
“More than ‘not ashamed,’” Richard said. He beamed at his son. “You should be proud. You’re not quitting anything. You’re not running away. You won. You’re a principal in a major New York architecture firm. You’ve made it. Walking away now? You’re walking away with pride, looking for a new challenge.”
“Living with Ben,” Seth said. “Yup, that could be challenging.”
“Shush,” Ben told him. Then he turned to Liam. “I’m not proud of you.”
“Uh—what?” Uncle Calvin leaned forward. “That’s not quite the feel-good message we were shooting for, hoss.”
But Ben ignored him. “I’m not proud of you because ‘pride’ makes it sound like I’m taking some kind of credit for things. I’m not proud of Elon Musk for combining entrepreneurship with environmentalism, and I’m not proud of you for having a great career or for being ready to walk away from that career. But I’m—” Ben squeezed Liam’s hand. “Damn. I’m impressed. Whether you go on and build artistic skyscrapers or cozy, functional houses for people to raise their families in, I’m impressed. And whatever you do with your career, if you’re in North Falls? If you’re with me? I’m happy. More than happy. And if you’re proud of yourself? That makes me happy too.”
“I think I might start cooking meth,” Liam said. “Just as a sideline to see me through, financially. Anyone got any objections to that?”
“A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do,” Uncle Calvin said.
“Your mother worked hard to teach you to cook. I’m sure she’d be pleased to see you putting it in practice,” Richard said. Ben honestly wasn’t sure if the man knew what meth was or not.
“I’ve never tried meth,” Seth said. “Would you be offering free samples? Or maybe some kind of pyramid marketing scheme?”
“I’d still love you,” Ben said. “I’d kick your ass and throw you out and yell at you a lot. But I’d love you.”
“Okay,” Liam said slowly. “I’ll put the meth idea on the back burner, but I’m sticking to the idea that we should do more. Like—live even deeper, even richer than we are. You, Ben. You and me? I want that for us.” He leaned back and the firelight danced across his face. “But all of us. My dad, my friend, my—” He stopped, glanced at Calvin, then said, “My uncle. By blood or not, I don’t care. You’re mine, whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t object,” Calvin said.
“Okay. So, all of us. We can all live deeper and richer together. Does that sound possible?”
“It sounds like something Dinah’s likely to kick my ass over,” Seth said. “Can you give me some details before I commit to anything?”
“Nope. No details. But no long-term commitment either. For now?” Liam stood up. He pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the sand. “For now, we swim. The sharks should know better than to mess with us. And if they don’t, we’ll teach them a lesson in manly fashion. Who’s with me?”
Ben stood up. He hadn’t needed to think. Of course he was with Liam. Always.
Seth was the next to rise. “I’m not gay. I don’t have to worry about pleasing the damn picky male eye. I’m sorry if I’m not as ripped as you guys are.” He pulled his shirt over his head and slapped his belly. “But I’m a good floater, and I’m ready to go.”
Uncle Calvin looked at Richard. “This younger generation,” he said. “They don’t understand what it’s like to be a little older.”
Richard nodded. “They don’t know about sore joints.”
“Low energy.”
Richard stood up. “Failing eyesight and hearing.”
Uncle Calvin stood up as well. “Increased craftiness,” he said, and he and Richard took off together, sprinting for the ocean, barely stumbling as they pulled off their shirts and tossed them to the breeze.
Seth ran after them, whooping so loudly it might have been heard up at the house, if anyone was awake to listen.
Ben turned to Liam. “Do you actually want to swim, or were you just trying to get rid of them?”
“I want to swim. I don’t want to get rid of them.” Liam pulled his own shirt over his head. “But since we just so happen to have a moment to ourselves….”
His lips were salty from the sea air, his skin warm compared to the cool night breeze. He was Ben’s. He’d been gone for too long, but now he was back. And he was damn well not getting away again.
More from Kate Sherwood
When mercenary Jack Hunter stumbles upon Christian Manning servicing a client in a back alley, it stirs feelings he’s kept deeply buried. Hunter becomes Christian’s knight in shining armor when he rescues him from an attack and takes him to his secluded cabin to heal.
Being stuck in the cabin over the winter gives both men a chance to get their lives in order. Christian is struggling to break his heroin addiction, and Hunter needs to get away from the organization he helped start years before—a group of people who don’t appreciate being told no. It’s a toss-up which goal is more difficult. Their new starts spark a relationship between them, but nothing good comes cheap. Despite the complications, Hunter wants more, but Christian is resistant to making that commitment. When Hunter’s private security company threatens them, only nurturing the fragile trust they formed at the beginning of their love affair will save them. But for two men with very dark pasts, relying on each other might be easier said than done.
At first glance, Cade and Aiden hardly seem like a match made in heaven. Their worlds couldn’t be further apart. Cade is quiet, serious, and determined to succeed; Aiden’s a party-loving frat boy. Cade comes from a rough home and worked hard to get the scholarships that make it possible for him to attend college; Aiden’s had it all thrown in his lap by supportive, kind, and wealthy parents. Cade wants nothing to do with Aiden, but from the moment they meet, Aiden is determined to find a way to bring their different worlds together.
Aiden manages to persuade Cade he’s a decent guy, and a tentative friendship becomes much more. But a trip to Aiden’s family cottage puts Cade in the path of a ghost from his past, and a dark secret he never expected to face again. Cade did what he had to do to escape his dead-end life, but now he sees he didn’t leave it as far behind him as he thought.
Against the Odds: Book One
Adam Challoner was born a member of the wealthy elite, but he can’t forget that his power and comfort come from the suffering of the vast underclass—people oppressed by the very regime that keeps him safe. Living with that knowledge is uncomfortable to say the least. When Adam meets Remy Stone, his discomfort becomes intolerable.
Get in, seduce his target, give him all he could ever dream of, then get out—that’s Remy’s assignment. No man has ever been able to resist Remy before, but Adam Challoner is unlike any of Remy’s previous clients. In a world where Big Brother is always watching, Remy needs to perform his assigned duties in order to survive, but Adam seems to be as oblivious to that as he is to Remy’s charms.
Luckily, Remy’s determination to accomplish his mission piques Adam’s interest. But just when Remy’s hard work starts to pay off, a rebel bomb attack interrupts their would-be tryst. Unforeseen circumstances force them apart, then throw them back together. And just as they discover new reasons to live, they realize some things are worth dying for.
Every relationship leaves something behind. Dumped by his sugar daddy, part-time model Scott Mackenzie somehow ends up owning an abandoned church in rural Ontario. He dreams of using it for gay weddings, even if he’ll never have one of his own.
Joe Sutton is trying to keep his family together after his parents’ deaths. Between the family ranch, his brother’s construction company, and commitments around town, he doesn’t have time for a relationship. But Mackenzie is hard to ignore.
As both men fight their growing attraction, challenges to Mackenzie’s business threaten their relationship. If he can’t make it work, he’ll have to crawl back to the city in defeat. But the only solution involves risking the ranch Joe loves, and each man has to decide how much he’ll sacrifice for the other.
Sequel to The Fall
Joe Sutton and Scott Mackenzie have ridden off into the sunset, but they wake to the cruel light of reality. Joe loves his family, even with the addition of three neighbors orphaned by a house fire. He loves the land that has supported them for generations. While there’s plenty of room left in his heart for Mackenzie, Joe must make room for him in his life.
Tired of taking and determined not to depend on another sugar daddy, Mackenzie returns to modeling in the city, but the wild clubs he once loved aren’t home anymore. Yet things aren’t right back at the ranch either. Joe is no longer the man he knew. Before the love of his life reaches his breaking point, Mackenzie must convince Joe he’s not lazy if he takes a break and not weak if he needs a little help. Finding the balance between give and take might leave them time for happily ever after.
Readers love Kate Sherwood
In Too Deep
“This story captured my attention immediately and I was completely immersed until the very end.”
—It’s About The Book
“This is an intense and truly magnificent novel… This is a story that touched my heart, and it’s definitely being added to my favorites.”
—Rainbow Book Reviews
Chasing the Dragon
“Chasing the Dragon by Kate Sherwood is an intense emotional ride. A story of twists and turns and heart stopping moments that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go.”
—Prism Book Alliance
Riding Tall
“It was beautiful and I was completely satisfied.”
—Boys in Our Books
KATE SHERWOOD started writing at about the same time she got back on a horse after a twenty-year break. She’d like to think she’s far too young for it to be a midlife crisis, but apparently she was ready for a few changes!
Kate’s writing focuses on characters and relationships, people trying to find out how much of themselves they need to keep, and how much they can afford to give away. She tries to find a careful balance between drama and humor—she wants readers to have an intense experience and feel drawn into the book, but she also wants them to enjoy the time they spend reading.
Website: www.katesherwoodbooks.com
Email: [email protected]
Blog: www.katesherwoodbooks.com/?page_id=451
By Kate Sherwood
All That Glitters
Beneath the Surface
Chasing the Dragon
The Fall • Riding Tall
In Too Deep
Lost Treasure
More Than Chemistry
Shying Away • New Tricks
AGAINST THE ODDS
The Pawn
The Knight
DARK HORSE
Dark Horse
Out of the Darkness
Of Dark and Bright
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All That Glitters
© 2018 Kate Sherwood.
Cover Art
© 2018 Adrian Nicholas.
[email protected]
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any
means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-525-5
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64080-526-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018930562
Digital published June 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
All That Glitters Page 22