Aaron

When I’m running on fumes while driving on what feels like the loneliest stretch of road in California, I worry I’m in trouble. Luckily, I happen upon Aqua Vista, a sleepy coastal town with the only pump for miles, and the grumpy owner who is more gorgeous than he has any right to be. When I’m told I’ll need more than fuel to disable the check engine light on my dash, I figure there are worse places to be stuck while my car gets needed repairs.

Jack

After driving the handsome city dweller to a local motel, the last thing I expect is the hot hookup that happens afterward. As soon as his car is ready, he’s on his way home, so imagine my surprise when he shows up a couple of months later with an offer to buy my business. No way I want an out-of-towner to own part of what my family has built here. Even if I’m not always fulfilled by it. Besides, it belonged to my parents, and it’s all I have left of them.

When Aaron decides to spend several days in town, I figure it’s to soften me up to his proposal. I shouldn’t hook up with him again. Or spend time showing him around…but I do. Before I know it, the charming, attractive visitor starts to feel familiar, almost like he belongs here. Like he’s woven himself into the very fabric of Aqua Vista. I’m fooling myself, of course, and it’ll certainly sting when he hits the road. Outsiders never stay, and though I secretly wish he would, I’m no stranger to heartache.

What do you do if you’re stuck in a hot, dark space in Vegas with a hunk of a closeted, professional athlete? Offer him one hell of an elevator pitch.

Graham doesn’t know what he’s in for at his best friends’ Vegas wedding, but when he steps inside an elevator with a gorgeous stranger, he doesn’t expect to lose power and get trapped together.

Caleb is amused that Graham doesn’t know who he is let alone follow professional hockey, because Caleb sure as hell is familiar with Graham and his online cooking show.

With nothing but time on their hands, talking leads to confessions, touching, and kissing, and suddenly the minutes they have left just doesn’t feel like enough.

PLEASE NOTE: This short story was first featured in the limited edition print version of the Vegas, Baby Anthology.

BISHOP SULLIVAN

I've always known what my future had in store: inheriting the family ranch and having myself a wife and kids to carry on the Sullivan name. Porter Dixon never factored into those plans. We may have spent our teenage years sneaking away to lose ourselves in each other, but he always held me at arm's length…until the day he up and left without so much as a goodbye.

PORTER DIXON

After everything I've lost in my life, it's important that I keep myself tightly guarded. Especially around Bishop Sullivan. Dad would be rolling in his grave if he found out I was shacking up with a Sullivan, given the bad blood between our families. But eleven years after leaving, I'm back in Laurel Springs with something to prove: I don't need the Sullivans, nor their land.

Except, damn it all, Bishop has this way of burrowing under my armor. The magnetic draw between us is still too hard to ignore, and what starts out as boss and ranch hand quickly turns into stolen moments and simmering encounters that make it hard to stay angry.

I want to think that love can conquer all and tame my wild heart…but the past isn't so easy to forget.

CW: References to familial history as well as a side character dealing with alcoholism

Confessing feelings for your best friend takes being tongue-tied to a whole new level.

AUSTIN

Dex has always been my best friend, so it's no surprise that we attend Franklin U together. We're complete opposites. Dex is charismatic and outgoing. Me? Let's just say I wish I could infuse some of his confidence into my veins. Making friends is hard enough, but trying to meet guys? Even with Dex's help? I'm useless. Maybe it's because Dex is all about hooking up, but I want my first time to be straight out of the pages of the romance novels I read.

DEX

After a string of mishaps, I swore off helping Austin land guys. But when he asks me to show him the ropes with practice sessions, I get the feeling he's desperate. Our dates are pretend, so why am I getting so into them? I want to make Austin happy, but the line between friendship and something more is getting really damned blurry. The fluttery feeling, that electric energy every time we touch…it's addicting. I'm getting overprotective, not only of my time with Austin, but with douchebags who might break his heart.

Eventually, the pretending has to end so Austin can strike out on his own. But how do I tell him I'm not ready to let him go, when every attempt at confessing leaves me tongue-tied?