Here For You

By T.K. Paige

When James falls for the new guy at the station is he just setting himself up to be burned?

Welcome to Deacon, Oklahoma. Straight population—seven hundred and ninety-six. Gay population—James Hara. Except it really isn't that bad, because when he came out to his hometown, something wonderful happened. They still loved him...most did anyway. The only problem is the lack of a dating pool.

Then he meets the new firefighting volunteer and he has a bigger problem. Mason is gorgeous, friendly and straight. Soon James is doing his best not to fall for his new friend. Hard to do when Mason is everything he dreams of, with his humor and flashes of vulnerability.

But after a set of stressful events, he finds that maybe it is not impossible after all. If he can be patient with a man wounded by his past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jul 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781784300999

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A Totally Bound Publication

Here for You

ISBN # 978-1-78430-099-9

©Copyright T.K. Paige 2014

Cover Art by Syneca Featherstone ©Copyright June 2014

Edited by Jennifer Douglas

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Simmering and a Sexometer of 1.

HERE FOR YOU

T.K. Paige

When James falls for the new guy at the station is he just setting himself up to be burned?

Welcome to Deacon, Oklahoma. Straight population—seven hundred and ninety-six. Gay population—James Hara. Except it really isn’t that bad, because when he came out to his hometown, something wonderful happened. They still loved him…most did anyway. The only problem is the lack of a dating pool.

Then he meets the new firefighting volunteer and he has a bigger problem. Mason is gorgeous, friendly and straight. Soon James is doing his best not to fall for his new friend. Hard to do when Mason is everything he dreams of, with his humor and flashes of vulnerability.

But after a set of stressful events, he finds that maybe it is not impossible after all. If he can be patient with a man wounded by his past.

Dedication

For Kimberli Paige who laughed her ass off when I told her what I was writing, I miss you, Sis.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Tardis: BBC

Doctor Who: BBC

Jack Daniels: Brown Forman Corporation

The Bachelor: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Bud: Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company

Crown: The Royal Crown Company

Kleenex: Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Tide: The Procter & Gamble Company

Snoopy: Peanuts Worldwide, LLC

CW: The CW Television Network

Taser: Taser International

Fed Ex: Federal Express Corporation

Chapter One

James, quick it’s the Tardis! You better run for it!

I turned and looked at Tosh, my best friend since college, like she had lost her freaking mind. Because apparently she had.

I raised one eyebrow at her, a skill I had and she didn’t—and didn’t she just hate that.

Don’t look at me like that! The way your eyes were glued to the new guy’s ass I figured that Doctor Who was the only thing that might get your attention. ‘Cause I am not mopping this floor again if you drool all over it!

I winced. Saw that, did you?

I’m not the only one. Tosh smirked at me.

I closed my eyes. I really didn’t want to know. Who else?

Jake, Kent—she paused for dramatic effect—and Sam.

I looked at her horrified. Sam saw! I’m invisible to him, he never sees what I do unless I’m in fire gear at a scene. I could dance naked for his attention and he still wouldn’t see me.

"He’s afraid that you are going to dance naked for his attention and that’s why you’re invisible to him. As if, she said, her pixie face twisted in disgust. Even you have better taste in men. Unless you’re even more hard up than I thought."

I looked at her deadly serious. If I ever get that desperate, you must kill me. It’s in the Best Friend Ever Handbook. I believe it’s listed right before the rule ‘Never let me dress myself while drunk and horny’. I still can’t believe you let me wear that.

Oh give it a rest, James. It was once, and it was over eight fucking years ago!

Yes, but it’s the reason we wrote the freaking handbook so it must be mentioned occasionally so we never forget the horror of that night.

Point taken. She grimaced with the memory.

I waited a few minutes, concentrating on organizing my volunteer fire gear in my locker after checking everything over. Checking very carefully. I really hate pain. And burns are the worst. Then I gave in and asked, I was drooling that badly?

If Kent had looked at me like that, I would be pregnant again.

I thought you were on birth control pills? I cocked my eyebrow at her again, just because I could.

She smirked at me. Yes, and it wouldn’t have made a bit a difference. In fact, your eye fucking was so intense he could be preggers now. You might want to go over and introduce yourself to your baby daddy.

I rolled my eyes at her.

Seriously, James, you need to go over and have Kent introduce you two while Sam is cleaning the brush truck. You might be able to make a good impression on him before Sam warns him about your nefarious plot to convert all the good Christian boys to gayness.

As if I want Sam’s nasty ass. If I could convert anybody, it would be your brother Kyle. He’s a fellow nerd and he’s pretty hot. I laughed at her.

She brightened up. Really? His last break up was so bad he might go for it. Remember when he tried to cheer you up by saying if he went that way he would be all over you?

I think that was more of a threat to your mother because she was trying to fix him up again, I said dryly.

Yes, and he about choked to death when Mom said that was fine with her, but she thought you were too good for him.

God, I love your mother! And I did. I loved that whole family.

And you are stalling. Pull up your panties, you cross-dressing freak, and go over there.

It was one Halloween, woman, give it a fucking rest!

And if you get your ass over there in the next minute, I will swear never to say one word about it to the new guy!

I wasn’t stupid, it took me less than five seconds to get over to the pump truck.

The guy was talking with Kent about the types of calls our little rural fire department got and about how often it happened. I stood a little ways off from them, politely waiting for Kent to introduce us when they finished up. And if I took the opportunity to covertly look the guy over, who would know?

He was about six feet tall, which made him an inch or two taller than me. He was also a bit broader than me, and it was definitely a bigger bone frame that gave him the size. His white T-shirt was a little tight and wet, clinging to him in such a way it proved beyond a doubt the guy was fit. He wasn’t in any way close to being a freak of nature, or body-builder type of muscle bound. But he was definitely built. I was so glad that today was truck washing day.

His face was turned partially away from me so I couldn’t see his eye color or the exact shape of his face without tipping everyone off to what I was doing. So I just took in the dark brown hair with a little bit of a red tint to it. Cut a little long and shaggy, it looked casual and I liked it. It was a nice length. Just long enough to hold on to while you… Better stop that train of thought before certain parts of me prove that they still function in spite of the ‘dating drought’. If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up giving Tosh more ammo for later.

Too late. My phone gave the message tone assigned to only her texts. I mentally kicked myself for picking that particular one when I was ticked at her the other night.

Kent turned and asked, Is that a braying donkey?

I sighed. Yes.

Let me guess. That’s Tosh texting you. He didn’t say it as a question, just assumed it was his wife.

I nodded.

You didn’t use the crazy bitch one?

I sighed and explained for the new guy’s benefit. I was annoyed, not pissed off this time.

It looked like it took some effort, but Kent managed to choke down his laughter and turned back to the newbie. Poor guy was looking a little confused at the thought of a volunteer having those ringtones set for the fire chief’s wife.

Kent took pity on him and explained, This is James Hara. He is my wife’s best friend. Has been since they went to college together. James, this is Mason Sullivan. He just moved to the area and wants to help out.

While I traded hellos with him, I finally had the chance to look him fully in the face. I just about swallowed my tongue.

He was beautiful. It was the only way I could describe him. Don’t get me wrong. He didn’t look beautiful like a woman does in any way at all. He had a completely masculine face, strong and a bit square. A nicely proportioned nose, a wide mouth with what I consider perfect lips. Not thin, not full, just enough plumpness to catch in my teeth… Umm, okay moving on from that thought.

But my favorite part was his eyes. They were a little large with a hint of an almond shape to them. Now I love the eye color described as laser blue and until this moment, I would have sworn that was my favorite eye color of all time. Not. Any. More.

My favorite color was now what I could only describe as tropical blue. Usually it’s a little more blue than green or more green than blue. Nope, not his eyes. It was a perfect merger of the two in a color so strong and bright I think lead would be needed to keep anything from his view.

With my curly, sandy colored hair and my brown