Black Sheep: Gallant Hearts, #1

By Jesse Loring

Ren Worthington is a black sheep of a powerful family, an image he cultivates for a reason. Growing up in his brother's shadow with the expectation that he will eventually work in his grandfather's company is not a life Ren wants and he will drag his feet to keep from fulfilling his destiny. Being alone isn't optimum, but it beats being yoked to a destiny he doesn't want.

Detective Chad North simply longs for a quiet life. Preferably with someone else. Sadly, he has no prospects. Wanting more than the one-night stands that the casual dating scene offers, he'd rather pour himself into his work and live his life quietly than ride the dating merry-go-round that ends up in frustrated failure.

When Ren's arrested for disturbing the peace, Chad's life takes an interesting turn as he finds he's attracted to the distant, rebellious heir. Ren follows him home and now Chad doesn't want him to leave. Can they opposite personalities find a common meeting ground to both get what they desire or will Ren's destiny and Chad's reluctance force the two apart?


This standalone 16k word short story has a spoiled rich boy with a smart mouth who pushes too hard, a patient nice-guy cop who uses cuffs to get his point across and a HEA.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jesse Loring
• Release date: Mar 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386261308

Jesse Loring

Jesse Loring spent many years cutting her teeth on M/M romance in the old school anime fandoms of yore. Those yaoi conventions which first drew her to writing fanfiction have carried over into her original fiction endeavors as she branches out into LGBT romance. She'll always be a yaoi fangirl at heart. <3 Sign up for her newsletter for information about new releases. http://eepurl.com/cBpDBv Read more from Jesse Loring The Gallant Heart Series Black Sheep Favorite Son Good Neighbor

Book preview

1

REN

A re you sure it’s okay I stay here for the night? Ren turned onto his stomach and scrolled through Facebook on his phone. He was mindlessly sharing everything because, well, bored.

Veronica shrugged, flopping onto the couch to channel surf. Do whatever, dude. My roommate isn’t due back until Friday. But I don’t get why you’re not going home. Is your brother being a shit, again?

Ren rolled over onto his back, propping his feet onto the sofa cushion so that his legs draped over her thighs. "Saying again means there are times when he’s not being a shit."

I think you’re just too hard on him.

And I think you want to suck his dick, just like everyone else in my grandfather’s company.

Well, she jiggled her legs to just to irritate him. He is one of the hottest guys there, he’s single and he’s next in line to run the place once your grandfather retires.

You’re disturbingly up-to-date on my family and their business.

Can’t let a dick like that go to waste, Ren.

The doorbell chimed, a plaintive sound. With a soft sigh, Veronica dislodged Ren’s legs and went to peek through the peep hole.

Ren, she said in a loud whisper from the door. It’s your brother.

Ren sat up. Seriously? Jesus, how the hell did know where to find me? How did he even know where you live? It’s not like I talk about anyone when I’m home.

That’s because you’re never home. He knows we’ve been friends since high school. I’m sure he has people who follow you and know every move you make. What do you want me to do?

Don’t answer it? Ren was on his feet.

Now that’s just rude. I’ll try to make him go away. Go…hide or something. Veronica jerked her head to the bedroom. Ren barely had time to clear the room before he heard her open the door to greet his brother. Marcus! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here.

Ren wasn’t going to wait around for his brother to muscle in the door to try to drag him home. Not this time.

He quietly opened Veronica’s bedroom window and slipped out on to the fire escape. Once his feet hit the metal grill of the platform, he remembered that he was not only barefoot but that his shoes and jacket were still in the living room.

He’d have to come back because he couldn’t get them now.

It was only two stories down and once Ren was at street level he heard his brother shouting for him the bedroom window. Ren stayed close to the shadows and kept low and quiet as he headed for the end of the alley.

Then he was around the corner and gone.

Being impetuous could be fun.

Not thinking things through made it less than fun.

Ren stepped quickly down the sidewalk to put as much distance between Veronica’s apartment and him. He was doing so without shoes and jacket.

The chill in the late night air reminded Ren that this was not one of his brighter moves.

Once Ren felt he was safely away from his brother finding him, he paused in the doorway of a closed storefront. At least he had his phone. He pulled his sleeves down over his hands as he started thumbing through his contacts. There had to be someone who was still up, who could come get him and hide him from his brother. Surely Marcus didn’t know every one of his friends.

He dialed up his sometimes good friend, David.

Hey man, he said, the moment David answered. I need a favor.

Love to help you, dude, but I’m in the middle of something right now. David’s voice dropped to a whisper. He sounded shaken. Cops are here and they’re executing a search warrant.

Cops? Ren scrubbed his face as he leaned against a building. At least the street light worked and he wasn’t standing there in the dark. What the fuck?

No idea. They just showed up. I think it was my roommate who triggered this.

Who do you think tipped them?

Dunno. Sorry man. Gotta run. And David’s line went dead.

Ren blinked stupidly at his phone. Damn it. It appeared his brother knew more about his life than he first realized. Was he hitting all of Ren’s friends?

That fucker.

Hey, a voice called out to him. It startled him that the guy was so close and Ren never heard him come up. Or smell him, although when he turned he could smell the guy now. The man looked like a bum and reeked of stale alcohol and cigarette smoke. Hey, you looking for some company?

Ren was far from clueless. He had a sinking feeling what this was