Ilias Hayes is coming to believe that there is truth to the saying ‘no good deed goes unpunished.’
Ilias Hayes was flattered when he was asked to pose in a charity calendar shoot. He was even more thrilled to participate when Perry invited his boyfriend, Terry, to pose with Ilias. Being one of the couples in the calendar would cement their relationship.
Except it doesn’t. Terry dumps him, and Ilias realizes just how warped that relationship was. He plans to focus on his career with San Antonio Police Department and work out why he stayed with someone who treated him so badly.
But a call from dispatch about a fight at a doctor’s office brings a very interesting, opinionated man into Ilias’ life. He isn’t sure if Doctor Torres is flirting or not, but Ilias wants to find out—if he can get past his own fears and escape someone who wants Ilias for themselves.
General Release Date: 5th June 2018
“Ilias, Terry, thanks so much for being such good sports. I know this charity calendar deal turned into a bigger hassle than we could have ever expected it to.” Perry swiped her bangs out of her eyes.
Ilias could see the sadness in them. “How’s your dad doing?”
“Yeah,” Terry piped up. “How is Marco?”
Perry frowned. “He’ll…get better. Things are rough right now. I hate that bitch who did this to him. Calling her an evil stepmother is an insult to evil stepmothers everywhere. I hope she rots in prison.”
As a police officer, Ilias had seen all kinds of horrible people, and Perry’s former stepmother wasn’t the worst, but she was pretty awful. “She poisoned a bunch of people, one person nearly died from that, then she tried to kill Marco. I don’t see her being a free woman any time soon.” And possibly never if Marco, who’d been the original calendar shoot photographer, died from his injuries—even if that happened months or years from now.
“Dad will be happy to hear that the calendar shoot is finally done. We had so much bad luck with this…” Perry waved at Albert. “Hey, you and Gregg are my ride today! Don’t forget me!”
“As if I’d ever do that.” Albert jogged over. “Hey, Ilias, Terry, how’s it going?”
“Great,” Terry answered, his smile wide and, Ilias knew, fake. What he didn’t know was why that was the case. “Can’t wait to see the calendar.”
“You’ll get a half-dozen copies at the release party in a few months,” Perry assured him. “And of course I’ll send you the proofs of the pic I decide to use for y’all’s month. I’m glad I had a couple for June, what with all the people that get married then. Though why anyone wants to get married is beyond me.”
Ilias’ parents had been happily married for over thirty years, and he wanted what they had. He glanced at Terry. Maybe… He’d expected sparks and insane sexual chemistry, but it was possible his expectations were too high.
“No offense.” Perry patted Albert’s shoulder. “I’m sure you and Gregg are going to be one of those rare forever and ever couples.”
Albert spluttered and Gregg, who had walked over to join them, blushed.
“Um.” Gregg scratched his chin. “We, er.”
“We haven’t been dating that long.” Albert held out his hand to Ilias. “I hope you’ll stay in touch. Both of you.”
Ilias wondered if it was his imagination that Albert seemed less enthusiastic about the ‘both of you’ part.
“We will.” Ilias shook Albert’s hand, then Gregg’s. They were good guys and he intended to keep in touch with them.
After Terry shook their hands and made a vague comment about contacting them in the future, Ilias started to slip an arm around Terry’s shoulders.
Terry jerked aside and scowled at him. “Cut it out. I don’t like that possessive shit and you know it.”
Ilias did know it, but Terry had never objected to Ilias touching him like that before. Rather than bicker about it, Ilias lowered his arm and made certain not to so much as brush against Terry as they walked to the car.
Ilias waited until he and Terry were buckled in—and until he wasn’t still stinging from Terry’s rejection—to put himself out there again. “Do you want to come over still?”
Terry rolled his eyes. “Yes, Ilias, I do. Just because I don’t want you exhibiting caveman tactics with me doesn’t mean I don’t want to fuck. I’ve been looking forward to your dick all day.”
If Terry had intended to arouse Ilias, he’d failed. For some reason, perhaps because Terry had been so snappish about a touch he’d always allowed before, Ilias wasn’t in the mood for sex.
A native Texan, Bailey spends her days spinning stories around in her head, which has contributed to more than one incident of tripping over her own feet. Evenings are reserved for pounding away at the keyboard, as are early morning hours. Sleep? Doesn't happen much. Writing is too much fun, and there are too many characters bouncing about, tapping on Bailey's brain demanding to be let out.
Caffeine and chocolate are permanent fixtures in Bailey's office and are never far from hand at any given time. Removing either of those necessities from Bailey's presence can result in what is known as A Very, Very Scary Bailey and is not advised under any circumstances.
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