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Willow Bend

Willow Bend, now available in ebook and print formats from Samhain Publishing!

Click the book cover or links above for purchase info! Print book also available from local Asheville bookstore Malaprop's.

Excerpt

By noon, he had the bed of the truck loaded up with everything from an easel to an air conditioner. The rumble in his stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten anything since the evening before. After a moment’s thought, he decided to go get some lunch before heading to the grocery store. He locked the camper top that covered the back of the pickup and set off down the street again.

A tip from the sweet-faced elderly woman at the hardware store counter led him to a restaurant on the edge of town. The sign out front read Uncle Charlie’s Porch. A wide covered porch ran all the way around the large, rambling log building. The parking lot was packed, but the place was so big that Paul only had to wait a couple of minutes for a table. He lowered himself into the sturdy wooden chair with a sigh and gazed out the window at the creek winding its way through the marsh grass.

“Hi,” said a voice at his side. “I’m Cory, I’ll be your server today.”

Paul turned and looked up into the biggest, greenest eyes he’d ever seen. The eyes twinkled above a snub nose dusted with freckles and a wide, sensual mouth. Chestnut curls streaked with sun-bleached copper brushed the curve of the boy’s shoulder. Paul stared.

The young man smiled, showing deep dimples. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Uh.” Paul gazed up at the green eyes, feeling a little flustered. “Um, tea, please.”

“Hot or iced?”

Paul blinked. “What?”

Cory’s smile widened. Paul shocked himself by wondering if the boy’s slender body had the same golden tan as his face. “You can get tea either hot or on ice here. Sorry, I figured you’re from up north someplace. Some people from up north have never heard of iced tea. Sort of depends on where they’re from, I guess.”

“You’re partly right.” Paul grinned, relieved at having found his voice at last. “I’m from Washington, but I know all about iced tea.”

“Washington State, you mean?”

“Yeah. Spokane.”

“Wow. Long way to come for a vacation.”

Paul took a deep breath. “I’m not on vacation. I just moved here.”

Cory’s eyes locked with Paul’s, and Paul felt a thrill go through him. Something in that sharp gaze said that maybe, just maybe…

Paul shook himself. Even if Cory was interested, he wasn’t. Couldn’t be.

“Well, I sure hope you like it here,” Cory said. “So, what about that tea, huh?”

“Let me have the iced tea. Unsweetened.”

“Got it.” Cory gave Paul a look he couldn’t quite figure out. “Be right back.”

Cory turned and strolled off. Paul couldn’t help watching the graceful way his body moved, the muscles of his thighs and ass bunching in the tight black pants. Feelings he’d thought long dead stirred at the sight. It had been so long since he’d touched a man. So long since he’d been touched, or kissed. So long since the last time he and Jay had made love, the afternoon before that fateful night. Before that drunk driver had taken Jay’s life, and left Paul’s shattered.

“Here you go.”

Paul started at the sound of Cory’s voice. Cory grinned as he set down a tall glass full of iced tea. “Oh. Thanks,” Paul said. He gave Cory a shaky smile.

“Sure thing.” Cory pulled a pad out of his pocket. “You ready to order, or you need a minute?”

Paul glanced down at the menu he hadn’t even opened yet. “What would you recommend?”

Cory’s eyes narrowed in thought, plump lips pursing. Paul swallowed.

“The crab salad sandwich,” Cory said. “It’s the best you’ll find anyplace.”

Paul smiled. “Sounds great.”

“Yeah.” Cory held Paul’s gaze for an endless second, then turned and walked off.

 

*****

 

“Crab salad sandwich.” Cory tore the top sheet off his order pad and slapped it onto the counter. The chef waved at him without turning her attention from the sauce she was stirring.

Cory poured himself a glass of ice water and drank the whole thing in one breath. He felt a little off kilter. Uncle Charlie’s Porch was the most popular restaurant for miles around. Everybody ate there, and he’d waited on some pretty hot guys before without getting all worked up about it. But this one… Damn. This one was something else. Tall and slim. Smooth, olive-toned skin. Jet black hair falling carelessly around a thin, serious face softened by thoroughly kissable lips. Eyes so pale blue they were almost white, fringed with lashes like black lace. Something in those eyes tugged at Cory’s heart and captured his mind like nothing else had in a long time.

“Hey, Cory!” Alicia Trask bounced up, giving him a big grin as she set her order on the counter. “What’s up?”

“Nothing. Just taking a little breather.” He grinned back at her.

She widened her clear brown eyes at him. “Oh, please. Who is he?”

“Who’s who?”

“Whoever’s got you all hot and bothered.” Alicia nodded toward Cory’s section, brown pigtails bobbing. “That him, the one with the black hair?”

Cory started to deny it, then decided, what the hell. Alicia would figure it out anyhow. “Yeah, that’s him.”

“Pretty.”

“Tell me about it.” Cory stared at the man’s profile, admiring his sculpted, almost classical beauty. “Think he’d go out with me?”

Alicia chuckled as she filled glasses and set them on a large round tray. “You know anybody who wouldn’t?”

“C’mon, I’m serious. You think he would?”

“I’m serious too, stupid. Every straight girl and gay guy in town wants to get with you. Hell, I’d go out with you if you didn’t have that thing between your legs.”

Cory laughed. “Dyke.”

“Better believe it, boy. Give me the fairer sex any day.”

Cory stared thoughtfully at the side of the man’s face. “Doesn’t matter anyhow. He’s probably straight.”

“Why don’t you find out?” Alicia raised her eyebrows at him as she headed out to serve drinks.

“Maybe I will,” Cory called after her. He filled a plastic pitcher with water, and another with iced tea, to make the rounds of his tables and refill the glasses. “Yeah. Maybe I will.”

*****