Our Boys

by Trina Solet

  Until he had permanent custody of Zane, he felt pulled in different directions. But once the decision came down, Trevor was able to finally pull himself together, share his whole heart with Diego. He remembered the moment that the judge spoke the words, the elation he felt and how tightly he and Diego hugged each other.

  With that worry behind him, Trevor had all the time in the world to fixate on a perfect date for Diego. He had never planned a date like this. It meant so much to him that he had someone he wanted to do this for. It was nerve-racking but it was also wonderful to have Diego in his life, so he could obsess about having the perfect date with him.

  Lance was in charge of the kids that night. Trevor and Diego dressed up then met up at Diego's place. As always, Diego looked stunning in a suit. It reminded Trevor of that happy day when Diego went to court with him.

  "And you're still not telling me where we're going?" Diego said while eying Trevor with a gleam in his eyes.

  Trevor only shook his head. They kissed the kids goodnight and headed out.

  When they got to Diego's car, he threw the keys to Trevor. "I don't know where we're going. I guess you better drive."

  With Trevor at the wheel, they arrived in front of La Feuille Rouge restaurant. The place was Lance's idea. He said, "It's not too expensive, but the food is fantastic. Used to be trendy for a while, but it's calmed down now. Henry used to go there and took me a few times. The place is pure class."

  That sounded perfect to Trevor. He just hoped Diego would like it. "Nice," he said as they went inside the restaurant with its subtly elegant décor and intimate lighting.

  The staff was attentive and welcoming and their table was near a window that looked out at some flowering trees on the quiet avenue outside. In the darkness of late evening, those flowers seemed to glow.

  An old, soft-spoken waiter smiled the whole time he was taking their order. Maybe he was just in a good mood. That's what Trevor thought, but then the waiter turned to Diego and asked, "If you don't mind me asking, are you Diego?"

  "I am."

  Now the waiter had another question. "And is your son Henry Carter's grandson?"

  "He is," Diego told him.

  "I thought so," he said and smiled again. "My name is Dominic. Before Henry... departed, he used to come here. He often showed me pictures of his grandson, Jamie. He was so proud of him. And then toward the end, he showed me pictures of you with his grandson and told me who you were."

  "Wow. It's really nice to meet you," Diego said and shook his hand. "This is my boyfriend, Trevor."

  Trevor shook his hand as well.

  "It's a pleasure to serve you. I'll be back with your drinks," he said.

  "That was something," Diego said. "Looks like Jamie made me famous."

  "I guess I picked the right place," Trevor said. "Lance told me Jamie's grandfather used to come here."

  "This is the kind of place I wanted to take you to," Diego told him leaning across the table a little.

  "I hope that means you like it," Trevor said.

  "I do."

  "Good. I wanted to surprise you. I asked Lance for advice. That's why the two of us were so chummy when your parents were here," Trevor confessed. He wanted to give Lance full credit.

  "You planned it that far back?" Diego said with wonder.

  "I did, but then I got so nervous about the custody decision. That's why I put it off until now. I wanted to give you my full attention, not be caught up in worrying about Zane." As Trevor explained himself, Diego reached across the table and took hold of his hand.

  "That was good thinking. This was worth waiting for. You are worth waiting for," Diego told him and kissed his hand.

  Soon after that, Dominic arrived with their drinks.

  "Would you like to see some pictures of Jamie?" Diego asked him.

  "I would love to," Dominic said and Diego got out his phone. After a little while Dominic spotted another face he recognized. "And that's Lance."

  "It is. We're best friends and he still helps me take care of Jamie," Diego told him.

  "He's a wonderful young man," Dominic said.

  "He's the one who recommended this place when I asked for somewhere special to take Diego," Trevor told him.

  "He came here with Henry a few times. A delightful young man. And who is the little one?" Dominic asked.

  "That's my cousin Zane," Trevor said.

  "Trevor is going to adopt him and then we're going to be one big happy family," Diego bragged.

  "Jamie will have a little brother. Wonderful. I'm so glad that you came here tonight," Dominic told them.

  "Our boys were destined to be brothers," Diego said as he gave the picture a fond look then gazed at Trevor like he saw their future in his eyes.

  Their dinner arrived and the duck confit was the best thing Trevor ever tasted. Diego had pork in apple brandy and cream sauce. He said he could die happy now. After dinner, Dominic brought over champagne, which Trevor hadn't ordered. Diego wasn't surprised though.

  "Champagne?"

  "That was my idea," Diego confessed.

  "When did you order that?" Trevor wondered as bubbles tickled his nose.

  "I wrote the order on my phone when I was showing Dominic pictures," Diego said and he smiled wickedly.

  "Sneaky," Trevor said and wondered why Diego needed to be sneaky about ordering champagne. "This night was supposed to be arranged by me for you," Trevor reminded him.

  "And it was perfect, but I want to make it unforgettable." Diego stood up and came over to Trevor. He took his hand and got down on one knee. "I want a love so strong that it will never fail me, never let me down. And you want the same, I know you do."

  Trevor was too teary eyed and choked up to speak. He only nodded to let Diego know that it was true.

  Diego continued. "Trevor, I need you in my life forever. I need your strength, your love, everything you are. Will you marry me?"

  Trevor wanted to say yes, but he was too overcome to speak. At the thought of being with Diego forever, he was so overjoyed, he could hardly breathe. How the hell did Diego manage to surprise him like this? Since no words would come out, Trevor only nodded then finally whispered a "Yes."

  He heard applause break out around them and his head started spinning. Good thing Diego wrapped his arms around him and kissed him.

  Diego stole his breath away, and Trevor felt like he would never recover. He sat in a daze even when Diego went back to sit across from him. Dominic congratulated them and wiped a few tears from his eyes. "I'm so happy for you both," he said.

  "Thank you," Diego told him then he took Trevor's hand and vowed, "I'm going to make this beautiful man so unbelievably happy."

  "You already did," Trevor said. He could still only whisper and felt like he might be on the verge of sobbing. Trevor was so happy, he didn't know how to keep from crying.

  Diego knew what to do. He leaned over the table and kissed him. "Let's get out of here," he said.

  They paid the bill and then went to the car with their arms around each other. Trevor collapsed on the passenger side. There was no way in hell he could trust himself to drive.

  Diego sat behind the wheel, but he didn't start the car. He turned and cupped Trevor's face in his hand. "I was afraid to fall in love again, but I did it anyway. I couldn't help myself. Thank you for coming into my life." Now Diego kissed him deeply while Trevor wrapped himself around him to hold him tight.

  Eventually they tore themselves out of that embrace and drove home where Lance and the kids waited. The kids were asleep and Lance was lounging in the living room.

  "I'll go look in on them," Trevor said.

  "I hear you were Trevor's accomplice in arranging this date," Diego said to Lance.

  "Guilty," Lance admitted then he leaned in as if he was going to whisper, but he spoke loud enough for Trevor to hear. "You know what he said? 'I don't want just any nice restaurant. I want some place Diego would really like. I want him to know how much he means to me.' Tha
t boy is in love with you." As he finished speaking, Trevor came over to glare at him.

  "Then it's a good thing I proposed to him," Diego told him and Lance's eyes went wide.

  "You what?"

  "Keep your voice down," Trevor told him. "Diego proposed and I said yes."

  Lance covered his mouth so he wouldn't scream then he hugged both of them. "I help you arrange one little date and you come back engaged?"

  "Thank you for that," Trevor told him.

  "You're a great best friend," Diego said and hugged him again.

  "You say that now, but I'm so going to get passed over. You're going to make Jamie your best man, aren't you?" Lance complained.

  "That's an idea. Jamie and Zane can be our best men," Diego said to Trevor.

  "I'll have to settle for being something borrowed," Lance grumbled.

  "How's that?"

  "Trevor borrowed me as a best friend, remember?" Lance reminded him.

  Diego was on board with that, and he even took it a step further. "We'll put you in a vintage, powder blue tux and you can be something old and something blue too."

  "You're evil," Lance told him.

  Trevor liked the picture Diego painted of Lance on their wedding day. "That's an awesome idea."

  Lance wheeled on him. "You're supposed to be the good one, but you're evil too."

  "What's the problem?" Diego asked. "You'll be a great conversation piece and everyone will want to take a picture with you. You'll have more fun than anyone."

  Lance just shook his head. Maybe the idea would grow on him before the wedding. Lance was happy for them though and gave them both a kiss on the cheek before he left.

  Alone, or almost, Trevor and Diego stumbled to Diego's bedroom, kissing the whole way. They fell into his bed. Suddenly insatiable, they stripped each other of their clothes. Trevor felt like he was living a dream as they indulged in endless kisses and devoured each other.

  Engaged and in love, they took pleasure in each other knowing they were with the one they belonged to forever. Diego was his and Trevor felt it with every feverish kiss. Their loving words mixed with low moans until they came.

  Slow caresses took the place of frantic groping and they lay contented in each other's arms.

  "For the rest of my life, I want to open my eyes to the sight of you," Diego said as he moved to hover just above him, naked and so beautiful. "These eyes," he said and kissed Trevor's eyelids. "This skin." Diego now kissed his shoulder. "Every morning I'll wake up and know that every inch of you is mine." Stroking his hair, Diego kissed his face, his neck, his shoulders.

  "Keep telling me stuff like that, and we'll never leave this bed," Trevor warned him.

  "Good. That's how I want it," Diego growled low in his throat and Trevor pulled him down on top of him.

  This was the best night of Trevor's life. Basking in the heat and hardness of Diego's body and in their love for each other, Trevor never wanted to let go. Their life together was only beginning, and it was going to be bright and beautiful.

  The end

  The Forever Manny

  Marshall Bowen is more comfortable sitting in a boardroom, but now he has his baby niece, Tessa, to take care of. Until very recently, Marshall didn't even know he had a sister, and the baby is a complete shock to him. He's out of his comfort zone and doesn't know the first thing about taking care of a baby. But he'll have to learn fast.

  He does have some help. Cody is his late sister's best friend, and he has become incredibly attached to the baby. After he and Cody meet, Marshall is determined to keep the young man around. It's only for Tessa's sake, of course. He would never indulge in his budding attraction to the baby's manny.

  Cody is glad to help Marshall take care of Tessa, but it's only a temporary arrangement. Once Marshall gets the hang of parenting, Cody will go back to his old life. He can't stay Tessa's manny forever, can he?

  But what will happen when Cody wants more? Will Marshall want a future with him?

  A Bookworm for Christmas

  Miles is not looking forward to a lonely Christmas when a chance encounter with his ex boss changes his prospects.

  When Miles worked at his bookstore, Gavin was a strict boss and a secret crush. Gavin's life has changed since Miles saw him last, but he still seems unattainable.

  Miles can't stay away from him though and ends up spending time with his little boy too. Benji is the big change in Gavin's life, and being a dad suits him perfectly. But will he see Miles as someone who can join their family, or will his misgivings win out in the end?

  The Professor and the Manny

  Ned needs a babysitter for his daughter, Mina. When he hires Jeff, he ends up with a manny and so much more.

  Mina is a vulnerable child who has endured too many losses. Ned has given her a new life, but she doesn't come out of her shell for just anyone.

  When Jeff comes into their lives, he wins her over and starts out babysitting for only a few hours a day. That's long enough for him to realize that he's incredibly attracted to Ned.

  Ned feels the same way, but he's a professor and Jeff is a student at his college. Ned is determined to keep his distance. That only lasts until he learns that Jeff has been keeping something from him. When Ned finds out that Jeff has no place to live, he invites him home and hires him as Mina's manny.

  There's no turning back now. Living in the same house, neither man can deny his feelings for long. But when danger disrupts their happy life, Jeff blames himself. Can Ned convince him to stay? The next time danger strikes, Jeff might be the only one who can protect what's most precious to them both.

  Key To His Heart

  Phillip Morton is a disciplined and self-assured young executive, but that's only on the surface. His heart is in turmoil. He has just discovered that his late brother might have left behind a child. This child is only a rumor, a possibility, but Phillip sets out to find him.

  To help him with his search, he brings along Leon, his assistant. Leon is very young and new to his job. Phillip doesn't want things between them to turn too personal, but he needs Leon to keep him sane.

  Even as he searches for his nephew, Phillip is afraid to hope. After the heart-wrenching loss of his estranged brother, it seems too much to expect that this child could be real.

  It turns out that Ant, short for Anthony Morton Junior, is very real indeed. He is a sweet three-year-old living in precarious circumstances with an elderly relative. Phillip has found them just in time.

  As Leon lends a hand with all the new challenges in Phillip's life, the two of them are growing closer every day. If only Leon can free himself of the demons from his childhood. While Leon's past still haunts him, he and Phillip can't rush into anything.

  Will Phillip's love and patience win out in the end so they can all become a family?

  A Christmas Boyfriend

  "Can you get me a man for Christmas?"

  When he said those fateful words, Ben didn't know what he was setting in motion.

  Ben is a busy dad to a four year old little girl. He doesn't have much time for a social life, but he wasn't serious when he asked for a man for Christmas. His daughter, Maya, doesn't know that. She is determined to play Santa and get her dad the gift he asked for.

  The man she picks for her dad is her preschool teacher, Jason Kenney. Neither Jason nor Maya think he's the right man to be a present for Ben, so why is he standing there on Christmas Eve with a gift bow in his hair?

  Smarting from a recent breakup, Jason isn't looking forward to the holidays. Despite his reservations, Jason gets tangled up with Ben. There is something about Ben that he just can't resist. As their feelings intensify, will spending Christmas together turn into something more?

  Pizza for Thanksgiving

  Mack and Enzo are roommates and nothing more. While sharing the same apartment, they live separate lives. Enzo is sweet but painfully shy. Mack is gruff and kind of intimidating. He's had a hard life and doesn't let his guard down easily.


  Now Mack is anticipating a lonely Thanksgiving dinner, but Enzo won't let that happen. When he hears that Mack is going to be all alone for Thanksgiving, he gets up the courage to make him an offer. But things don't go as planned in more ways than one.

  With the best of intentions, Enzo has woken up something in Mack that he might not be ready for. Can Mack stop hiding and holding back? When Enzo asks for too much from him, can he say yes anyway?

  A Midnight Thanksgiving

  Alex and Vaughn have been frenemies for a while, but they never spent any time alone together. That all changes on Thanksgiving night. When they become concerned about a friend in crisis, Alex and Vaughn are thrown together as they go in search of him.

  The guys make an unlikely team. Alex thinks Vaughn is too uptight and would never be interested in a carefree guy like him. Vaughn thinks Alex is irresponsible, but being around him breaks down his resistance. The more time they spend together, the closer they get. By the end of the night, they can't keep their hands off each other. But will they admit how they really feel or will it all be over when their mission ends?

  Staying True

  Freshly out and with no experience under his belt, Troy just wants to have fun. His roommate is the first guy he has been with.

  When he and Spencer get together, it's strictly casual, or so they tell each other. But the truth is that with every kiss and every touch, they are becoming too close.

  Spencer doesn't have a ton of self-confidence. There is no way a skinny nerd like him can keep a guy like Troy all to himself. But how long can Spencer pretend that his heart isn't set on Troy?

  And how is Troy supposed to get the experience he craves if all he can think about is Spencer?

  In the end, maybe all the experience Troy needs is the love of one man.

  His Winter Heart

  Wes is living a lonely, stark existence when he meets Colin, a lively young guy in desperate circumstances. Wes is so taken with him that he has to have him. His decision to invite Colin to spend the night is going to turn his quiet life upside down.