Available: Mischief Book Corner
BLURB:
Finally home after
graduating from uni, Lucas arrives in time for Christmas. The one present he
wants more than anything is the one that's been forever out of his reach, his
dad's best friend, Mitchell.
Mitchell has watched Lucas
grow over the years into a smart, sexy young man. Falling in love with his best
friend's son was never in his plans. The early Christmas present Mitchell
receives will change his life forever.
EXCERPT:
Lucas knew just where to find his father. The
end of the work week had arrived, and Friday night meant Benjamin Winters would
be down at the local pub with his best friend, just as he had been for so many
years Lucas had lost count. It was a tradition that had started when he was
younger; Lucas thought it might be because his dad was lonely, but he couldn't
be sure. Ted's Place was nothing special; however, they did serve the best
steak in town.
Lucas couldn't wait to see his father again,
but more than that, he couldn't wait to see his dad's best friend, Mitchell
Morgan. His dad and Mitchell had grown up together, living on neighbouring
stations in far north Western Australia. His father, Ben, had never wanted to
work the land, instead he'd become a police officer and loved his job. His dad
had been born to serve and protect others. With Lucas being too young at the
time to inherit the land, his grandparents had sold up when they retired and
moved to the east coast and cooler weather.
Mitchell had been a constant in his father's
life since grade school. He had been there the day Lucas came into this world,
his mum and dad being only seventeen at the time. Lucas was the result of
teenage hormones, one too many drinks and a lack of protection that didn't seem
all that important in the heat of the moment. Boy, were they wrong.
Lucas had been lucky though, he could have
been given up for adoption or even aborted, but his parents had wanted to keep
him. Instead he grew up, every day knowing he was loved and wanted. Three years
after Lucas had been born, Mitchell stood as best man at his dad's wedding.
However, not even five years later, Mitchell had had to do the impossible and
help his dad keep it together after Lucas's mum had passed away from breast
cancer.
Mitchell had been there for all the important
parts of Lucas's life. The most difficult of which, being when he came out to
his father at age sixteen. He'd had a crush on Mitchell since he was fourteen
and started to suspect he might be gay. Everything about Mitchell drew Lucas in
like a moth to flame.
Mitchell had black, wavy hair that always
looked like he had just gotten out of bed, when he wasn't wearing his Akubra.
He had a strong chiselled jaw that seemed to Lucas like it had a permanent five
o'clock shadow and the most amazing silver/grey eyes Lucas had ever seen.
Also the man looked drop-dead gorgeous in a
pair of Wranglers with his boots and cowboy hat. He had thick muscular legs and
arms that Lucas wanted to be wrapped up in more than anything. Lucas had been
jacking off to fantasies about Mitchell for the last nine years of his life.
He had, however, never gotten up the courage
to do anything about his fantasies. Lucas saw the way Mitchell would look at
him occasionally when he didn't think anyone would notice. Lucas's heart would
beat rapidly and his imagination would run wild with thoughts of the pair of
them together, all hot and sweaty in sated bliss. His thoughts never lasted
long though, as he was sure Mitchell would never act on whatever feelings he
might have towards Lucas. The sexy cowboy was too honourable to ever do
anything that might cause Lucas's father a moment of grief.
Lucas had thought about those sly looks
constantly and decided he needed to know once and for all if the love he had
for Mitchell was reciprocated. And yes, Lucas meant love. His feelings may have
started out the same way any teenage crush had, but they soon grew into
something much more. Lucas thought constantly of the stubborn cowboy and often
wondered what he was doing or if he was happy.
Being anywhere near the man would have Lucas
sporting wood within seconds of Mitchell's scent hitting him, even if that
scent was earned by a full day of work out in the sun riding horses and herding
cattle. Mitchell's scent was wild and masculine and entirely his own. Lucas had
never smelled anything as good and thought if he were able to bottle it, he
would make a fortune.
Pulling into the parking lot, Lucas prepared
himself to turn his car off, and with it, the semi-working air conditioner. He
couldn't wait to get inside and cool down. Shutting off the engine, Lucas
resigned himself to the wet heat outside as he quickly got out and locked the
doors. He raced to the entrance of Ted's as fast as he could, wanting cool air
to once again surround his body.
He sighed with relief when he stepped inside
the pub. Lucas enjoyed the feeling of being hit upside the head with a blast of
cold air. His hot body started to relax as it slowly cooled. Looking around, he
noticed all the Christmas decorations and the giant tree in the corner with
presents underneath for all the kids in the area. Finally he spotted his dad
and Mitchell sitting at their regular table, a couple of beers in front of
them.
Lucas stood there and stared at the man who
had meant everything to him for so long. After being gone for most of the last
four years at university, Lucas couldn't get enough of looking at the gruff
man.
Working the land and raising cattle seemed to
be in Lucas's blood, unlike his father's. Lucas had worked on Mitchell's
station, the Double M, during the school holidays every year since he'd turned
sixteen, even after he went off to uni. His love for the land had directly
affected what he studied at uni, and he had walked away with a Bachelor of
Animal Science from Murdoch University in Perth. The one thing he hadn't
counted on when he left for uni had been how much he would miss Mitchell. The
ache had been both physically and mentally debilitating for a time.
He'd thought about Mitchell when he was alone
in his bed at night, every night. Lucas had hated being away at college. Yes,
he had experimented with other boys his age, but it was always Mitchell's face
he saw when he was with anyone else. He had hoped in time his feelings would
fade away, but instead they had increased toward the older man, frustrating
Lucas at times.
Still standing just inside the door, Lucas
continued to look his fill. Mitchell was pushing forty these days, but Lucas
thought the man had never looked better. He startled when right in the middle
of the conversation Mitchell was having with Lucas's dad, he stopped talking
and his gaze immediately zeroed in on Lucas.
