He’s a cop tangling with the most dangerous man in town…
“As long as he knows the deal, it’s fine. He hates cops, so it should make for some pretty rough scratch-your-back sex.”
Chief of police Jamie Allen is
smitten by the new arrival in his remote Alaskan town of Barrow until he
realizes Ephram Welles comes with baggage—he’s an ex-con.
Any liaison between them is strictly
forbidden. Jamie would be risking his job and reputation if he tangles with a
convicted felon.
But Ephram isn’t easy to resist. He’s everywhere Jamie turns, and the mutual chemistry between them is sizzling hot, just waiting to explode. Jamie’s willing to risk everything for just one night of passion with Ephram, but can he stop there?
“I could disappear, and no one would notice.”
Ephram’s running from his past and his own loneliness since he lost everything in one moment of madness. He’s come thousands of miles to an isolated community to start again and the last thing he needs or wants is a cop prying him open inch by inch but that’s exactly what Jamie seems hell-bent on doing. Ephram doesn’t need this complication. He’s tormented by memories of prison and he hates cops with a vengeance. But Jamie’s a different proposition from anyone he’s ever met before. He’s the sort of guy Ephram’s been looking for all his life, even though he knows he should throw him away...
Possible Spoilers:
Themes:
enemies-to-lovers, guilt, love at first sight, loneliness, drama, angst,
hurt/comfort
Genre: Dark and gritty contemporary romance
Warning:
Scenes of violence. Mentions of abuse and rape. Strong language and sexual
scenes.
Excerpt:
The wind was howling, and blowing snow
threatened a white-out. Jamie left his car outside and hurried in. Kanen sat
alone at one of the tables near the door, drumming his fingers on the lace
tablecloth. Jamie greeted him and slung his coat over the back of the chair. He
knew the menu so didn’t bother to look. Kanen called the waitress over, and
Jamie ordered a glass of water and wished, as he did every time he came out to
eat, that he could have a glass of wine with his meal.
Jamie regarded Kanen—Native American, a
tall, massively-built guy of forty-something with a handsome, roguish face and coal-dark
eyes. He owned a craft shop where he sold his driftwood carvings and shell sculptures.
He also made jewelry using anything he could find on the beach, handling the
delicate tools of his trade with a dexterity belying his large hands. His
beachcombing activities had led to the scar down the left side of his face from
a polar bear attack. Still, Kanen bore the animal no ill will. Everything had a
place on the planet, and every life was sacred. Everybody and everything had to
get by, he said, and good luck to the polar bear, who these days had it harder
than most. He was a spiritual man who looked on the experience as one more
learning process in life. That wasn’t to say that he exuded peace and
contentment with his lot. Far from it. The scowl on his face was permanent and
his silences were legendary. He didn’t like many people and Jamie wasn’t sure
how they’d become friends because they’d never had many actual conversations.
He knew less about Kanen than the people he worked with. And yet, he liked the
guy’s company more than he could ever say.
Kanen regarded him with a solemn expression.
“You looked stressed.”
Jamie shrugged. “It hasn’t been the best
of days.” He couldn’t believe Kanen could see that he was still troubled. Maybe
Kanen was more intuitive than he’d realized or maybe Jamie was an open book. It
was funny, when he was younger, in his twenties, nothing much bothered him. Now
he seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders and found it hard
to ever feel truly relaxed and happy.
“What happened?”
Jamie looked around while he contemplated
how appropriate it was to tell Kanen about Ephram. Not appropriate at all. He
scanned the other patrons, and then his gaze was riveted to the back of the
room. The lights shone down on the only golden head in the place.
For
fuck’s sake.
He should have known Ephram would come
here to eat—after all, they were only a few minutes from his home on Brower
Street.
“Jamie?”
“He
happened,” Jamie muttered, gesturing. “Don’t look!”
“Don’t be silly, how can I not look?
Good-looking guy, who is he?”
Jamie reddened. He glanced again at
Ephram. The guy had his head down, attention fixed on his phone, oblivious to
being studied. “He’s a convicted felon from Florida.”
“Oh,” Kanen said. “Right.”
Jamie fiddled with the salt shaker for
want of something better to do.
“You like him,” Kanen said.
Jamie’s gaze darted to his and he felt his
face becoming even hotter. He hadn’t exactly told Kanen he was gay, but Kanen
had obviously figured it out for himself even though he’d never alluded to the
fact.
Jamie
scowled. “Of course not. How wrong would that be?”
Kanen shrugged. His eyes gleamed in the
low light. “We can’t help who we like.” He held Jamie’s gaze for the longest
while and Jamie looked away, uncomfortable.
“If
he’s done his time,” Kanen said.
Jamie’s eyes jerked back to his friend’s.
“Listen to you!” he hissed in an undertone. “I’d lose my job if I…” He stopped
when Kanen smiled.
“So you do like him?”
Jamie closed his eyes and sighed. He
opened them, his gaze drawn back to Ephram. This time the guy was studying him
in return, his face closed and unreadable.
“Shit.” Jamie turned his attention to
Kanen. “I heard a new guy was working at SmartShop. I went over to say hello
before I found out who he was. He was less than polite.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
The waitress came over with their drinks then,
and they both ordered. Kanen drank diet Coke. He had once had a drink problem,
like so many people here, but had been dry the last few years. It was a topic
he didn’t raise much with Jamie.
Jamie drank some water. He felt Ephram’s
eyes boring into him.
“He’s checking you out real good.”
Jamie kept his head down. “I can assure
you it’s not through any interest on his part. More likely he’s working out
ways to kill me.”
“Did
he kill someone?”
“Yeah.”
“And he’s served his time.”
“Yeah.”
“Then it’s done.”
“It’ll never be done. He’s on parole.”
Kanen shook his head. “He’s not a prisoner
any more. He’s paid, and it’s in the past. If you wanted to get involved with
him, you could.”
Jamie looked at him in horror. “Are you
serious? First, he clearly hates cops, and second, I can’t have a relationship
with someone with a criminal record. I’d lose my fucking job.”
“Who said anything about a relationship?”
“What?”
“What about a winter fling? Something to
keep your bed warm, say once or twice a week for a few weeks, then you call it
off. Or just a one-night stand might do you. Take the edge off your
frustration.”
Jamie stared at him. His frustration? Was
it that obvious he needed to get
laid? “I can’t believe I’m hearing
this.”
But his treacherous loins twitched at
Kanen’s words because as much as he wanted a relationship, he was also a man
who liked no-strings sex when the mood took him, and no-strings would be all he
could ever have with Ephram. He knew he was a hypocrite for even contemplating
it when he had sworn off having a one-night stand with someone from town.
Kanen smiled beatifically. A smile from
the behemoth was rare indeed but showcased Kanen’s amazing pearly teeth. Jamie
doubted they were veneers, but still, they looked too bright against the guy’s
olive skin.
“You know it makes sense.”
Jamie shook his head.
“Yes. As long as he knows the deal, it’s
fine. And like you say, he hates cops, so it should make for some pretty rough
scratch-your-back sex.”
Jamie cheeks heated to lava proportions.
“Tell me you didn’t just say that.”
“I did just say that. Do you want me to
invite him over, or what? Never thought I’d have to match-make for a
forty-year-old dude, but if you’re incapable…”
“No, I fucking don’t! Will you stop? Is
there vodka in that Coke or what?”
“I wish.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“That’s me. Enjoy the chase. Just don’t go
and fall in love with the guy, okay?”
“Christ, Kanen, I don’t even know if he’s
gay.”
“Then your gaydar’s lousy. I just told you
he’s not even subtle about checking you out.”
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