Along Comes a Man

By GA Hauser

Forty year old Freddie Oli and his longtime buddy, thirty-five year old, Barron Isaac, worked in the IT business together for years. When their company was bought out, Freddie and Barron decided to alter their career direction, and open their own landscaping business. In Southern California, the climate was changing quickly, and the need for drought-resistant plants had made their small company expand rapidly.
The two older men hired an ex-marine, Dirk Jameson, to help out. At twenty-eight, Dirk was eager to work, strong, and not to mention, gorgeous.
Although Freddie and Barron were gay, they never felt any chemistry between them, but their bond of friendship was powerful.
As Dirk begins to flirt with both men, Freddie worries that Dirk will be the demise of a good friendship and a budding business. The two longtime companions begin to unravel the complex young man they hired, each having an opinion as to what Dirk was searching for.
With the Christmas holiday approaching, the two older men are usually alone-together, they extend the invitation to Dirk, since, he too, is on his own.
A strong partnership is tested as the men are faced with a handsome stud who seems to want it all.
Will this trio have a happy ending? Or will jealousy and doubt creep into their lives?
For Barron and Freddie, things were smooth sailing, until, along comes a man...

• Language: English
• Publisher: GA Hauser
• Release date: Dec 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310607653

GA Hauser

About the AuthorAuthor G.A. Hauser is from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA. She attended university at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, and has a BA in Fine Art from William Paterson College in Wayne NJ where she graduated Cum Laude. As well as degrees in art, G.A. is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In 1994 G.A. graduated the Washington State Police academy as a Peace Officer for the Seattle Police Department in Washington where she worked on the patrol division. She was awarded Officer of the Month in February 2000 for her work with recovering stolen vehicles and fingerprint matches to auto-theft and bank robbery suspects. After working for the Seattle Police, G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began to write full length gay romance novels. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has penned over 200 novels and short stories. Breaking into independent film, G. A. was the executive producer for her first feature film, CAPITAL GAMES which included TV star Shane Keough in its cast. CAPITAL GAMES had its Film Festival Premiere at Philly's Qfest, and its television premiere on OutTV. G.A. is the director and executive producer for her second film NAKED DRAGON, which is an interracial gay police/FBI drama filmed in Los Angeles with the outstanding cinematographer, Pete Borosh. (also the Cinematographer for Capital Games)The cover photographs of G.A.'s novels have been selected from talented and prolific photographers such as Dennis Dean, Dan Skinner, Michael Stokes, Tuta Veloso, Hans Withoos, and CJC Photography, as well as graphic comic artist, Arlen Schumer. Her cover designs have featured actors Chris Salvatore, Jeffery Patrick Olson, Tom Wolfe, and models Brian James Bradley, Bryan Feiss, Jimmy Thomas, Andre Flagger, among many others.Her advertisements have been printed in Attitude Magazine, LA Frontier, and Gay Times.G. A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, and Best Author 2007.G.A. was the guest speaker at the SLA conference in San Diego, in 2013, where she discussed women writing gay erotica and has attended numerous writers’ conventions across the country.

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ALONG COMES A MAN

By

G.A.HAUSER

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © G.A. Hauser, 2015

ALONG COMES A MAN

Copyright © G.A. Hauser, 2015

Cover photographer: Dennis Dean

Cover model: Jawn

ISBN Trade paperback: 978-1517-3039-6-9

© The G.A. Hauser Collection LLC

This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events or locales is coincidental.

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WARNING

This book contains material that maybe offensive to some: graphic language, homosexual relations, adult situations. Please store your books carefully where they cannot be accessed by underage readers.

First The G.A. Hauser Collection LLC publication:

December 2015

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About the photographer

Dennis Dean Images

Dennis Dean continues to make his mark as an internationally known photographer. He is credited for his creative abilities, strong composition, and dramatic lighting. Dennis’s work has earned numerous awards and has been featured in several gay magazines and in a plethora of art publications, including G. A. Hauser erotic novels, as well as countless exhibitions, including two in London at the Adonis Art Gallery.

Also, look for his work of eye-catching images with the apparel brand, Ruff Riders www.theruffrider.com.

See more of his work at www.dennisdean.com.

Chapter 1

Standing on his front stoop, Barron Isaac looked up from his phone to see his business partner, Freddie Oli pull up in their work truck. Freddie hopped out, a baseball cap on his head, sunglasses on his nose, and a store bought cup of coffee in his hand.

Barron pocketed his phone as Freddie approached him.

Our guy show up yet? Freddie asked, sipping his coffee.

It’s still early. Barron looked at his watch.

After both of them had lost their job at an IT firm that was bought out by a larger company, he and Freddie started a landscaping business a few months ago. The small IT staff was let go, and the owner walked away with a tidy sum.

Barron, at thirty-five, had no idea what he wanted to do next. He had an associate’s degree in business, but liked working with his hands, not at a desk. He and his father used to rebuild muscle cars and motorcycles, years ago.

Freddie turned his head when a sedan drove by on the street in front of Barron’s house in Anaheim. It won’t look good if the first day he’s supposed to work for us he’s late.

Barron checked his phone for the time, since it was more accurate than his watch. He’s not late yet.

Freddie sipped his coffee, looking at the street. Ex-marine. You’d think he’d be early.

Will you lighten up? Barron shook his head at his partner. He’s twenty-eight. Not forty, like you.

Fuck you. Freddie shot Barron an annoyed expression. I’m in good shape. Better than you are.

A loud motorcycle engine made both men turn around.

A Harley parked behind the work truck.

There he is. Nice bike. Freddie walked over to him.

Barron followed, admiring both the gleaming motorcycle and the man riding it.

Dirk Jameson took off his helmet and smiled at the two men.

Freddie said, Right on time.

Barron rolled his eyes at his partner’s comment, and took a look at the bike. Nice ride.

Thanks. I just got it. Bought it from a friend. Dirk climbed off the motorcycle. Do you have a place I can park it?

Freddie said to Barron, Let him put it in your garage.

Barron looked back at his house. I don’t know if it’ll fit with my car in there.

Dirk held up his hand. It’s all right. He placed the helmet on the back of his bike.

Freddie spoke to Barron quietly, Let him lock it up in the garage. All you have in there is a fucking cheap hatchback.

Barron blew out a loud exhale and trotted to his front door, entering his house and walking through it to the garage. He opened the garage door. As it rose up, Barron spotted Freddie and Dirk laughing together near the Harley. He backed his older model hatchback out of the garage and said through the open window, Dirk, pull the bike in there.

You sure? Dirk asked.

Barron couldn’t hear Freddie but he could see him nodding and pointing to the garage. Barron watched the young, muscular man roll the motorcycle up the driveway and park it near the side of the garage wall. He then called to Barron, I think you can fit in beside it.

It’s okay. Barron shut off his car and got out.

Thanks. Dirk stretched out his hand to Barron.

Barron stared at how tight Dirk’s shirt was over his large pecs and deltoids. He shook his hand. No problem.

Let’s go! Freddie gestured to his work truck.

Barron entered the garage, closed the door, and exited through the house. He aimed his key fob at his hatchback to arm it, and then walked with Dirk to the truck.

Dirk said, It’s gonna be a tight fit.

Barron replied, It’s a big truck. We’ve had three in it before. Barron gestured for Dirk to sit in the middle. Dirk climbed into the high truck, and Barron got a look at his ass in his snug-fitting, faded jeans. He hopped in beside Dirk and shut the truck door.

Freddie put his coffee cup into a holder, and gestured to a clipboard on the dash. Let’s get ‘er done.

Barron read the list of homes they were scheduled to landscape, seeing it was long. That was why they hired Dirk. Trying to keep up with a growing business wasn’t easy. They had done a decent job at a few residences, so referrals began to flood in.

He brushed up against Dirk as the truck took a turn. Barron tried to hold onto the handle over the door. Dirk glanced at him.

Barron got a look at those blue eyes. He said, Sorry.

Don’t worry about it. I’m used to being around men.

Freddie glanced at Dirk as he drove. Ex-marine. Was it tough?

Dirk just laughed quietly, as if he didn’t want to talk about it.

Barron became lost on Dirk’s profile, his good looks. He shook himself out of his naughty thoughts and scanned the pages on the clipboard.

~

Freddie kept driving through the morning LA rush hour. I’m headed to Santa Monica, right?

Yup.

Freddie lowered his cap on his forehead. I’m trying to teach him how to do this so we don’t drive around all day.

Dirk chuckled.

Barron said, "You didn’t have to teach me. I know how to work on the schedule."

Dirk said, Uh oh. You two sound like an old married couple.

Barron coughed on his laugh. I’d have divorced him by now.

Freddie slowed for a traffic signal. Like hell. You can’t do shit without me.

Moron, Barron muttered.

Loser, Freddie laughed as he spoke the word.

Dirk held up his hands to stop the bickering. Guys. I haven’t had enough coffee for this shit yet.

I could hit a drive-thru. Freddie searched the street they were on. He glanced over at Dirk’s lap, at his large thighs in the faded jeans. The man was big, powerfully built. At least six-two or three. He towered over Barron who was about five-nine. He was just a touch under six feet, but still felt small compared to Dirk.

They had a few people interview for the ad they placed online and in a local flier for this landscaping job, but the minute he and Barron met Dirk, they both agreed, he’s the one.

Even though Dirk Jameson had an imposing appearance, he was soft-spoken and seemed very easy to get along with.

Barron pointed as he said, There’s a Starbucks.

Freddie put his blinker on and changed lanes.

You don’t have to do that. It’s all right. Dirk appeared shy.

I could use a refill. Freddie turned into the strip mall, making his way to the line for coffee.

No problem, Dirk.

Dirk said, Wow. You guys are cool. Thanks for hiring me.

Freddie glanced at Dirk and then caught Barron’s gaze. They gave each other a quick smile, and then Freddie pulled up to the window. What do you guys want?

Just a tall house blend with milk. Dirk tried to go for his wallet.

He leaned against Freddie in the process and Freddie tried not to think about the close contact. I’ve got it.

Barron said, Get me the same.

Okay. Freddie held out his hand to Barron. I’m not paying for yours.

When Barron sat up to retrieve his wallet, Freddie laughed at him. Shut up. I got it.

Asshole.

Jerk.

Dirk kept chuckling and shaking his head. Oh, boy. I’m in trouble.

Freddie gave Dirk’s body a quick onceover and then ordered three coffees for them. He pulled up to the window and took his wallet out of his pocket, brushing against Dirk as he did.

After he paid, Freddie was handed a cardboard tray, and Dirk took it. He waited for his change and then pulled out of the strip mall and back onto the main street.

Barron and Dirk took their cups out of the tray, and Freddie finished the remainder of coffee in his first one, tossed it on the floor near Barron’s feet, and said, Just drop it in there for me.

Dirk put Freddie’s coffee into the holder and Barron took the cardboard tray and also let it fall to the floor.

They sipped their coffees as they drove to the first house to be landscaped.

Freddie elbowed Dirk playfully. Better now?

Much. Thanks.

No problem. He reached for his cup, brushing against Dirk’s knee and sipped his coffee as he drove.

~

Dirk drank his hot coffee, resting a leg on each man, since it was tight for the three of them on the bench seat. He liked the idea of working outdoors, and even though he had a degree in engineering, the thought of being cooped up in an office didn’t appeal.

The two men who interviewed him, however, did appeal to him.

Barron Isaac, a fit, handsome man, who Dirk figured was in his early thirties, had incredible blue eyes. He wasn’t very tall, but his arms were sculpted and he had designer stubble and conservatively cut brown hair. On his initial interview, Dirk met both men. They’d told him they had been cut loose from an IT company that had been bought out, so immediately Dirk knew they were bright and eager to start their own business.

Since the IT world had become a clutter of winners and losers, landscaping in southern California was a good alternative. And in December, the rains had come; so the plants needed tending, and the lawns mowing. With the damaging summer drought, many residents were opting for drought-resistant plants or replacing sod with rocks.

Sipping his coffee, Dirk glanced at Freddie Oli as he drove. Dirk imagined Freddie was slightly older than Barron, but was, in Dirk’s opinion, the perfect older man fantasy. He had slightly graying temples, some laugh lines near his eyes when he smiled, and was also fit, and well built. Dirk couldn’t help but see the friendship these two men shared, and even when they teased each other, it was good-natured and fun.

Dirk liked them on sight.

And would love to fuck them. Both.

Neither man wore a wedding ring, no one spoke of wives or children, and up until this morning, Dirk assumed the men lived together. He wasn’t so sure about it now, now that Freddie had told Barron to let Dirk park his motorcycle in the garage. If Freddie lived there, wouldn’t he have just done it?

Dirk had thought he had a read on these men when he first met them. Now he wasn’t so sure. It didn’t matter.

He could certainly work for two straight buddies.

Dirk took a look at each man’s crotch, seeing the bulge in their pants.

But it sure would be fun if they were gay.

Dirk relaxed in the bench seat, letting his knees touch each man’s leg, and smiled.

~

Barron felt the heat of Dirk’s leg on his and didn’t move away. He sipped his coffee, thinking about having a hot hunk like Dirk working with them. Maybe it was silly but the minute Dirk Jameson showed up for an interview, Barron and Freddie exchanged looks as if already hiring the handsome man on sight. Sure, they asked him the standard questions, had him fill out forms, did a quick background and credit check, but the man wasn’t a liar. Everything he had told them was true.

Fresh out of the military, marine-tough, and damn fucking handsome. Sure, it was immature for him and Freddie to hire Dirk for his appearance and power, but hell, why shouldn’t they hire him? Barron was proud to have hired a vet. He just hoped Dirk wouldn’t grow bored. This was mostly grunt work. And just as he and Freddie made the change from office and computers to outdoor and physical labor, Barron hoped doing this kind of work was something Dirk would enjoy.

Freddie parked in front of their first home. At the moment, they had a client list of only residential property. But Barron would love to build their way up to condo complexes, or better yet, hospitals and office buildings.

Freddie adjusted his ball cap and said, Ready, boys?

As he did, Barron could see Freddie grab Dirk’s thigh playfully, giving it a squeeze.

Dirk tossed his empty coffee cup on the floor with the other trash and said, Let’s go.

Barron opened his door and wondered if Dirk thought it was uncomfortable to have Freddie do that. He tried not to over think it and opened the tailgate of the truck. He hopped on and began lifting up the mower and blower, handing them to the two men standing at the tailgate.

Freddie asked Dirk, Do you want to mow or blow?

Barron paused to see Dirk’s reaction to that question, which obviously had a sexual innuendo.

Dirk smiled. I’ll blow.

Oh, God. Chills rushed over Barron’s body at the sexy smile Dirk gave Freddie.

Barron handed Dirk the blower, a pair of goggles, and a paper mask, so he didn’t inhale the dust. Then Freddie rolled the lawnmower to the overgrown front lawn.

Barron held a pair of electric hedge trimmers and put goggles on his face. He hopped down from the truck, and as Freddie powered up the mower, Dirk began blowing the dead leaves and debris away from the house.

Barron started on one side of the home and clipped the shrubs, creating neatly manicured bushes, flat on top, and cone shaped.

Since everything they did was noisy, Barron ran the hedge clipper up the side of the shrub, getting blasted with the trimmings.

~

Freddie mowed the lawn in a pattern, so when it was finished it looked pretty. Sort of like a chessboard. He figured it was the little touches that would impress clients and get them more referrals. And now in December, when the rain finally fell, the lawns were coming back to life along with the weeds.

As he pushed the mower, he watched Dirk. It was the man’s first day on the job, and he didn’t seem to need instruction. After being a marine, how hard could blowing leaves be? Freddie hoped the work didn’t eventually bore Dirk. He knew Barron liked the handsome man, and so did he.

Once Freddie finished the front lawn, dumping the clippings into a burlap sack, he shut off the mower and rolled it to the fence on the side of the house, near where Barron was trimming hedges. Barron noticed him and lowered the trimmer.

Freddie tilted his head towards Dirk as the man blew the leaves into a pile. Over the noise, Freddie said, I can get used to looking at that every day.

You’re not the only one. Barron and Freddie watched Dirk for a moment, then Freddie reached over the gate to open it, and pushed the mower into the backyard.

~

Barron finished the hedges on one side of the house and moved to the front. Without a word of instruction, Dirk blew the clippings from the hedge trimming into the same leaf pile.

Barron did a quick touch up on the front shrubs, then hit the opposite side, hearing the lawnmower in the back.

The shrubs were few, so he turned off the trimmer, and brought it to the truck. As he did, Dirk blew the debris into a pile.

Even though it was only in the sixties, working outside physically was demanding. Barron took off the goggles and wiped his face with his shirt, then wrapped a tool belt around his hips to tend the flowering roses and other tender shrubs, that were not kept tidy by an electric trimmer.

He clipped the dying roses and other blooms that were wilting. The mower stopped running in the backyard and Barron glanced up to see Dirk helping Freddie lift the mower onto the truck after emptying the grass bag. Freddie pointed to the pile of dead leaves and Dirk nodded, taking a sack over to it.

Barron got lost on Dirk for a moment, then snapped back into focus. The man must have a girlfriend. He’s way too handsome to be on his own.

~

Freddie raked the dead leaves towards the sack as Dirk filled it. I have mulch for the area under the shrubs we just clipped.

Okay. Dirk waited for Freddie to rake the leaves into another pile, then he managed to get most of them into the sack before the breeze scattered them.

Freddie tied up the bag and tossed it into the back of the truck, then began hefting out