Making His List

By Devon Rhodes

When his young niece Bailey moves in, Cory knows he needs to end his casual fling with Ken. Bailey’s had enough upheaval in her short life, and Cory doesn't want her to get attached to a “friend” who won't be sticking around. Even so, Cory finds himself continuing to let Ken into his life, but a one-night-stand gone serial isn’t what Cory wants, and so he makes The List: his requirements for the perfect partner.

Helping out during a difficult time, Ken finds himself being pulled into the family unit despite Cory’s previous emotional distance. He hopes he's finally breaking through, on the verge of convincing Cory to make their relationship more than a casual one. Then, while helping Bailey write to Santa, he finds Cory's list and takes it as his cue to bow out—just when Cory needs him the most.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Dec 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781615817641

Devon Rhodes

Devon started reading and writing at an early age and never looked back. At 39 and holding, Devon finally figured out the best way to channel her midlife crisis was to morph from mild-mannered stay-at-home mom to erotic romance writer. She lives in Oregon with her family, who are (mostly) understanding of all the time she spends on her laptop, aka the black hole.

Book preview

Chapter One

I THREW up.

The quavering voice brought Corbin jackknifing up out of a sound sleep, struggling to get his bearings.

Oh, for Christ’s sake. This in a disgruntled, groaning whisper from Ken on the other side of the bed.

Well, that helped settle who the participants were. And apparently something was going to have to be done about Ken—soon—but first things first. He pulled Bailey into a sour-smelling and unfortunately damp hug, resting his cheek against her extremely hot temple. Oh man.

Where’s your mom?

Don’t know. I threw up on my bed. The tears were starting, and God knew that wouldn’t help matters any.

Do you want to sleep with the throw up or should I change your sheets?

A watery giggle. Change them.

Are you sure?

Yes! Uncle Corrrry….

Okay, okay. He stood, glad that he’d had the foresight to put on his pajama pants after he’d fielded the booty call-turned-sleepover Ken probably now wished he hadn’t insisted on. Picking Bailey up—man she was scorching all over—he walked her into the hall bathroom, trying to remember what his mom had done for them when they were sick.

He flipped on the light, and then turned it back off again when Bailey winced and cried out. Turning the hall light on instead, he saw that there would definitely need to be a wardrobe change. He grimaced at the damp spot on his shirt. For both of us. He carefully pulled the nightie over her head backwards, taking care not to get any throw-up from the nightie into her hair or anything and tossed it in the sink for lack of a better plan.

Do you think you could take a bath?

Don’t know. I’m cold.

She was anything but cold, but she was shivering, so he wrapped a towel around her. You sit here on the rug. He sat her on the floor in front of the toilet. I’m going to change your bed and get another nightie, okay? I’ll be right back.

Becky was nowhere to be seen. Must’ve gotten a phone call of her own, he thought, and then cringed. He so did not want to think of his little sister in drunk dial terms. He hustled to strip the bed and remade it with the last sheet. Looking at it dubiously, he added a few beach towels for layers. At least if she continued to throw up, she wouldn’t get to the sheet until—he counted—the fourth time.

Arms bundled full of the abused bedding, a clean nightie dangling from his one clean finger, he almost ran into Ken coming down the hall. Fully dressed and apparently fleeing the scene.

Cory felt a swell of anger, even as he recognized it was unrealistic—after all, why would Ken stick around? Sex was obviously out for the rest of the night, and that was the sum total of their relationship to date. He ruthlessly suppressed the vulnerable twinge at being abandoned and kept walking. Good riddance. Guess now that Bailey was living here, he was going to have to add Likes Kids to The List.

Ken reared back to avoid the collision. Whoa.

Cory didn’t even stop, just veered around him. See ya.

Hey! What’s your problem? Ken actually sounded like he believed he was the injured party. Amazing.

Just a puking kid in my bathroom, and an asshole in my hallway.

He caught snippets of the defensive response but tuned it out, dumping his armload in the laundry room sink. A thought occurred to him, and he went back out to the hallway.

Hey, can you go to the all-night drugstore for me?

Ken’s jaw dropped. Are you joking? You just called me an asshole.

Cory ignored the hint of hurt in the other man’s eyes, defiantly covering his guilt with bravado and purpose. What can I say? You’re acting like one. I need ginger ale and some kinda sports drink. And crackers, the soup kind. And, uh, kids’ Ibuprofen, fever reducer—whatever kind they have for a five-year old.

Ken was just staring at him and Cory stared back for the count of three before throwing his hands up in disgust. Fine. Would you rather stay here with her while I go?

That jolted his guest out of his trance. What? No. I’ll go. He looked a bit surprised at his own response, and Cory helpfully steered him toward the front door.

Keep your cell phone on in case I think of anything else I need. Oh, and popsicles. Hurry back. He turned on his heel and headed back to the ominously quiet bathroom.

Poor Bailey was curled up in a ball on the bathmat, shivering under the towel. Wetting a washcloth, he gently bathed her, trying to simultaneously clean her up and cool her down. An unmistakable rumble preceded a violent heaving, and he neatly turned and supported her, holding her hair back while she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

Once she quieted, tears streaking down her face, eyes glassy with fever, he sponge-bathed her once again and helped her into the sleep shirt. His phone rang in the other room. He propped a quiescent Bailey against the tub and hurried to grab it. Ken.

"I’m about at

Reviews for Making His List

[serenayates · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is not just a wonderful Christmas story, but also a multi-layered journey of discovery.

Cory knows that he wants a permanent partner. He is taking care of his niece, Bailey, since his sister pretty much refuses to acknowledge her. Cory wants a man in his life who will accept his role as an almost-parent, and he knows exactly what that partner should be like. He has even made a list. The only problem is that reality doesn't agree with the list. His discovery is all about finding out what is really important in life - and about seeing the truth rather than hiding from it.

Ken has been trying to get Cory to agree to become more than a fuck-buddy. Ken wants more, but has no idea how to go about it. He is the quiet type, but discovers that there are situations where this will work to his advantage. He also discovers an unexpected liking for kids.

Bailey isn't on a conscious trip of discovery - but, nevertheless, by the end of the story she has made her own decisions and discoveries.

I loved the whole setup, the characters were lifelike and made me smile, and the tension as to what was going to happen with Bailey and her mother kept me glued to the pages. A great read, Christmas themed, but about so much more than the holiday. I loved it!