Open Road (25 page)

So Reece might have lost his mind a little bit. Just for a second. “You’re going to accept that he wants to get back with you and not even ask about the guy he cheated with? The guy he was engaged to?” Reece heard the desperation in his voice, and he hated himself for it.

“What difference does it make?” Angus wrinkled his eyebrows.

“How can you just take him back like that? Without even questioning the fact that he practically ruined your life over a fling?”

Reece pushed at his eyes with his left hand and tried not to cry. He also tried to squirm his way around Angus and out of the kitchen before he did any more damage, but Angus stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“What do you mean, ‘take him back’?” he asked. Angus stared Reece down like he’d always been so good at doing. He was
back
, he was Angus again, and personal heartbreak or no, Reece hated the idea of him disappearing into a lackluster and controlling relationship again.
Pick me….

“I thought…. You talked…. I don’t know.” Reece didn’t know what the hell to say. With every phrase, Angus stared harder at him, tightened his grip, narrowed his eyes.

“Reece.
Babe
. You can’t be serious.” Angus dragged his hand down Reece’s arm until their fingers tangled together. He squeezed hard. “I said no to him. Of
course
I said no. There wasn’t a single second that I even considered it.”

It took a few long, torturous seconds for that to sink in. “You said no?” Reece whispered. “Just the way you said…. I thought.
Fuck.
”

Angus pulled Reece closer. Reece stumbled and nearly took them both to the ground before he reached out with his free hand and caught himself on the counter.

“Sorry,” Angus said with a soft giggle. “I didn’t mean to be vague. You want to hear what I told him right before I walked away?”

“I’m not sure. Do I?” Reece asked.

“I think so.” Angus looked at him with huge eyes. “I hope so.”

“Okay,” Reece said hoarsely.

“I thanked him.”

That wasn’t exactly what Reece was expecting to hear. “Thanked him?”

“Yeah.” Angus reached up with his free hand and cupped Reece’s face. “I thanked him. I told him that if he’d never broken up with me I might not have figured out that the love of my life has been right in front of me the entire time.”

“Angus…,” Reece whispered.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to see the truth.”

“I’m sorry I never told you until last week.”

“Would you have? If Brad hadn’t broken up with me, would you have finally told me how you felt?”

“I hope so. I guess there’s no way to know.”

Angus reached up and kissed Reece soft and slow. “Just in case I’m not being clear, in case I haven’t said it enough times, I’m in love with you. Probably always have been and definitely always will be. You okay with that?”

“Yeah.” Reece chuckled to hide the swooping in his belly. “I think I probably will be okay with that for the rest of my life.”

“
Good
.”

Every gentleman has something to hide.

Meeting Heath Blackwood, a gorgeous English farmer, is probably the most exciting thing to ever happen to small-town landscaper Theo Brody, who has lived in quiet Maplehurst, New Hampshire, all his life. The sexy and secretive Brit shakes the foundations of his orderly world as they are swept up in a springtime romance neither can resist.

But Heath’s secrets run deeper than Theo ever imagined. He’s actually Heathcliff Pierrepont Blackwood, Duke of Kingston, in hiding from recent death threats. Suddenly there’s more separating them than the Atlantic Ocean, and Theo doubts he’ll ever fit in with English nobility. Though Heath and Theo are opposites in almost every way, their love might bridge the gap—if they’re willing to take the risk.

Corbin Ford, aka the Nightwatchman, named for the antique pocket watches he leaves behind at jobs, has been in the cat-burgling business for years. His father was. His grandfather was. His mother is still one of the most renowned thieves. Corbin likes his high-profile heists, priceless paintings from private collections, artifacts from museums, but his favorite? Jewels. Sparkly, beautiful jewels. If they’re famous, better yet.

Interpol agent Luke Eldridge has one goal and one goal only: to catch the Nightwatchman. Luke’s been after him for months, but getting the slip time and again is getting embarrassing. Luke has never even laid eyes on the bastard, but he’d happily strangle him. And then arrest him.

When Luke meets Corbin, the man of his dreams, he falls hard and fast… only to catch Corbin red-handed with his hand in a jewelry case at the scene of the highest-profile murder that’s rocked the international world in years.

He might be hard to work for, but he’s impossible to resist.

Sasha Sobieski has the perfect job working at legendary American fashion house Harrison Kingsley—or at least he used to. He just never thought he’d have to work for Harrison Kingsley himself. Harrison is exacting, difficult, cold, and hands-down the sexiest man Sasha has ever seen.

After years at the top, Harrison Kingsley knows what he wants, when he wants it, and exactly how he’d like it to be delivered to him. What he wants most right now? His new assistant. Sasha is mouthy, opinionated, and he drives Harrison mad. Problem is, Harrison can never tell if it’s with anger… or desire.

What Austin Lloyd lacks in academics, he makes up for in his love of the animals who frequent his pet salon. He’s not lucky in romance, though, and his family would like him to settle down with a good man. Austin—and his golden retriever, Maggie—couldn’t agree more.

Evan Partridge isn’t good at letting people in. His messy family life and the past that’s shaped him aren’t worth bringing up. But his pug, Dexter, sure likes the pet salon owner.

Austin and Evan get off to a rough start, but being friends soon turns into something more. Unfortunately, Evan’s secretive behavior nearly does the relationship in, and the budding love affair almost crashes and burns when Evan’s troubled sister shows up on his doorstep.

Not speaking to each other is killing them both, but Evan doesn’t know how to keep Austin and help his sister at the same time. He just knows he has to try. Winning back Austin’s trust back, however, is going to take a whole lot of work.

Jack Hunter is always on a quest for lost art, ancient manuscripts, and anything else that’ll romance the millions of viewers who watch his show each week. He hasn’t always hit pay dirt in his searches though, and a string of empty global treasure hunts has left his show on the brink of cancellation. Jack needs a white whale, a holy grail, nothing less than a miracle to revive his career.

Aloysius “Alo” Green likes his ivory towers. He’s content to study from the comfort of a university library and publish papers nobody other than academics will ever read. But coded letters pointing to hidden Nazi treasure fall into his hands, and while colleagues warn him to keep them to himself, Alo can’t stop obsessing. He makes a huge mistake and publishes a paper on his find, ignoring the danger doing so will bring.

Jack is sure he’s struck gold when his assistant brings Alo’s paper to him. Alo wants nothing to do with Jack or his televised treasure hunt. But after Alo is threatened, it appears Jack is his best bet to silence those who seek to use him to find the vast wealth first.

By trusting Jack, Alo might’ve saved himself… or made his worst decision yet.

Duke in Hiding

“I highly recommend it to those who enjoy a good old-fashioned romance between two very worthy opponents who become two very unforgettable characters.”

—Hearts on Fire Reviews

“This book was LOADS of fun, y’all! Sexy and sweet and swoony and romantic.”

—Diverse Reader

Pawsitively in Love

“…I’d recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of this author or is looking for a nice read, watching two guys go from a rocky start with amusing mishaps to friend and ultimately to lovers.”

—Joyfully Jay

“I love dogs. I love dudes who love dogs and I love dudes who love dogs who fall in love with other dudes who love dogs. In other words, I loved this story.”

—Oh My Shelves

The Millionaire Upstairs

“Grab this book, guys, you will read it in one setting like I did! Thanks, M.J., for a wonderful start to an exciting new line of books!”

—Bike Book Reviews

“…a well-written story, which makes a wonderful read on a cold winter day, reading about sunny beaches, hot men, and a heartwarming love story.”

—Three Books Over the Rainbow

M.J. O’SHEA
has never met a music festival, paintbrush, or flower crown she can stay away from. She loves rainstorms and a perfect cup of tea, beach days, music, bright colors, and more than anything a cozy evening with a really great book.