Memphis: Centerville Muscle, #2

By KC Kendricks

Jake Soames is the quintessential everyman. He survived a wild youth and grew up strong. The only thing missing from his life is that one special guy to tilt his world. A man to walk beside him without playing head games with him.

With nowhere else to go, Memphis Wheeler knocked on the door of a former cellmate and found the refuge he'd been promised. His spirit is wounded, and he needs a place to rest and recover from years of physical abuse. He worries he'll never be able to allow another man to touch him again.

When Jake meets his buddy's houseguest, he's instantly drawn to the shy, retiring younger man. Memphis doesn't say much and seems skittish around him, yet when Jake proposes they participate in a road rally, Memphis agrees to be his navigator. But there's no timed course to traverse to reach the future Jake envisions with Memphis. It'll take patience and understanding to help Memphis to move on from his past and say yes to more than an afternoon together.

* * *

Jake released him. "Maybe you'll let me hold your hand when they can't chaperone, huh?"

He took a step back and finished ripping open the envelope. The man said to divide the money. He took fifty for himself and handed the envelope back to Jake. "And don't argue with me about the split. I don't want to hear it."

"I wouldn't dream of. I think I've crossed a few too many of your boundaries for one afternoon."

So he recognized that, did he? They were both still standing. Jake because his transgressions were minor and himself because…

He liked Jake.

Admitting that was a risk. The sky could fall or something equally nasty occur, but it hadn't happened yet.

"Okay, Jake. Let me tell Logan I'll be home later, and we can go get me a phone and you can buy me something non-alcoholic and fizzy."

Jake side-stepped him and waved his arm. "Logan! I'll have him home before midnight."

Before Memphis could protest, Jake grasped his elbow and pulled him towards the car. Logan took two steps in his direction before Mick stopped him. Memphis waved and smiled, mouthing "it's okay" at the guys.

He was going to have some explaining to do when Jake finally took him home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: White Deer Enterprises/White Deer Books
• Release date: Nov 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393287315

KC Kendricks

KC Kendricks calls herself an accidental writer. After completing her first novel writing as Rayne Forrest, she was urged to submit it to a publisher, and everything snowballed from there. Today, the author has had over seventy books published. In July of 2021, she tried to retire but her employer offered her a deal to work at home. She accepted. Now she balances work, writing, and hearth and home in a controlled chaos. A native of scenic western Maryland, the author enjoys most activities that don’t include snow. In warm weather she might be found walking the dog, biking on the C&O Canal towpath, planting delicacies in her garden for the deer to munch on at night, playing in the creek, or lazing on the patio with her Kindle reader or laptop. She recently began to research her family history and can't drive past a cemetery without stopping to search for family sites. Her mission is to photograph old tombstones before the elements erode the stones and the names are lost to time. For more about KC Kendricks and Rayne Forrest’s writing life, please visit the Between the Keys blog at http:kckendricks.blogspot.com . If you’d like to know more about the author’s country lifestyle and her daily activities full of simple country pleasures (and a lot of work), please visit the Holly Tree Manor blog at http://hollytreemanor.blogspot.com . KC can be reached through her blog, Between the Keys. All comments are strictly moderated by the author and personal messages are treated as such. Follow the author on Twitter for up-to-date announcements at Twitter.com/KCKendricks.

Book preview

Memphis

by

KC Kendricks

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This book is a work of fiction. While references to actual places or events may occur,

the names, characters, incidents, and locations are from the author’s imagination

and any resemblance to anyone, living or dead, is coincidental.

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Copyright © 2019 KC Kendricks

Cover art © 2019 KC Kendricks

All Rights Reserved

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All rights reserved. Reproduction of this digital e-book for file-sharing or selling, regardless of whether any type of currency is exchanged, other than what the author grants in writing, other than brief excerpts for professional review, is strictly prohibited by law. Piracy is a crime.

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This book contains sensitive adult material and is intended for mature readers.

Published in the United States of America

A short excerpt

He liked Jake.

Admitting that was a risk. The sky could fall or something equally nasty occur, but it hadn’t happened yet.

Okay, Jake. Let me tell Logan I’ll be home later, and we can go get me a phone and you can buy me something non-alcoholic and fizzy.

Jake side-stepped him and waved his arm. Logan! I’ll have him home before midnight.

Before Memphis could protest, Jake grasped his elbow and pulled him towards the car. Logan took two steps in his direction before Mick stopped him. Memphis waved and smiled, mouthing it’s okay at the guys.

He was going to have some explaining to do when Jake finally took him home.

Jake opened the car door for him, again. He flashed him a smile and dropped into the passenger seat.

Where are we going for this phone, Jake asked as he started the engine.

Cheapest place in town, please. I need to start small until I actually get a job. That was embarrassing to admit, but he didn’t have a choice. His small allowance from the government wouldn’t go far or continue for too many months.

Jake put the car in gear and headed toward Centerville. I think I know where to go.

In only a few minutes they arrived at a shopping center with a big box store on the north end located on the outskirts of town. An hour later, Memphis had a basic phone and a cheap monthly plan. He pushed buttons as Jake guided him back to the Camaro. It didn’t have many frills, but it would do.

He leaned against the car as Jake fished his keys out of his pocket. Thanks, Jake. Tell me your number and you can be my first contact and call.

Jake unlocked the car door and straightened. He put his hands on Memphis’s shoulders and closed the distance between them. His focus on his new toy, Memphis realized his intention a split-second too late. He licked his lips to speak but never got the words out as Jake’s lips touched his.

Everything inside him froze. Blinding white panic welled up inside him but bled away as Jake’s soft lips moved over his. He inhaled sharply, breathing in the scent of the man beneath his soft musky cologne. Jake’s heat reached him a moment before his arms drew him into a loose embrace. He did the only thing he could do.

Praise for the writing of KC Kendricks

KC Kendricks never disappoints!"—Fallen Angel Reviews

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..beautifully moving in all the right places...KC Kendricks gives us a well-crafted tale- The Romance Studio

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Good to the last word....- Sensual Reads

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...Seriously entertaining and totally engaging...- Joyfully Reviewed

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...solidly written contemporary romance...-Jessewave

Dedication

To my friend, the late author Chris Grover. You are missed every day.

Books by KC Kendricks and Rayne Forrest

For current availability, please visit KC’s bookshelf at

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne_3.html

Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove Series

Double Deuce

Deuce of Diamonds

Ace, Deuce, Trey

Circle of Steel

Steel Wheels

The Sundown Saga

The Back Stairs

Beneath Dark Stars

River Walk

Moon Dances

Fly By Night

The Southern Cross Series

Netting Neptune

Taming Triton

Poseidon’s Pleasure

Between The Moon and the Deep Blue Sea

Catching Fireflies

The Men of Marionville Series

A Hard Habit to Break

Open Roads

What You Don’t Confess

Your Whisper in the Dark

A Cat Named Hercules

Leather Jackets

Station to Station

Dreams to Sell

The Right Brew

Where There’s Smoke

Bourbon and Blues

Twice Removed From Yesterday

Centerville Muscle

Bored, Stroked and Blueprinted

Memphis

July Heat

Levi & Stacy

Shining Victory

No One But You

––––––––

Single Titles (not part of a series)

A Friendly Neighbor

A Perfect Hire

December Promise

Desert Snow

Devilishly Delicious Dane

Doors of Time

Eye of the Beholder

Give Me One Night

Hey, Joe

Highway Nights

Hot August Comes

Kentucky 98 Proof

Lick Me (Must Love Dogs)

Lightning Shifts

Passion’s Victory

Please Use the Door (a ghostly romance)

Ride Your Luck

Riding Against the Wind (sequel to Ride Your Luck)

SABRE

Seducing Light

September Morning

Shine A Light

Surrendered Victory

Tango in the Night

The Ghost at the B & B

The Quest

Undeniable

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Titles Written as Rayne Forrest

Science Fiction:

A Hero’s Bargain

Across Time

The Curiosity Shoppe

Science Fiction Series:

The Rea Cheveyo Chronicles: Kiana

The Rea Cheveyo Chronicles: Talyss

The Rea Cheveyo Chronicles: Reza

Futuristic Elements:

After the Sea Sprite Ball

Mischief at Midnight

Money Back Guarantee

Step Into Tomorrow

To Bed a Spy

Paranormal Elements:

Beyond the Night

A Hidden Heaven

Contemporary:

Loving Luke

One Summer

Right From the Start

Table of Contents

Memphis

A short excerpt

Praise for the writing of KC Kendricks

Dedication

Books by KC Kendricks and Rayne Forrest

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

A bonus read from July Heat

A bonus read from Kentucky 98 Proof

About the Author

Dear Readers,

Chapter 1

There are events in life a man can’t anticipate. The unexpected happens. The rabbit hole opens beneath his feet and he falls, sliding down to a dark bottom. Circumstance robs him of the chance to run, or fight, or even pull himself up straight when no help can be found. Sometimes it takes grace to rise back up. 

Memphis Wheeler stared at the worn slip of paper in his hand. The address was all but faded away, but it didn’t matter. He’d memorized the street name and number. He had no real hope of refuge, but he couldn’t let go and slide farther down the rabbit hole. Not quite yet.

He hitched the strap of his duffel bag a little higher on his shoulder, raised his head, and walked up the driveway to the tidy white house situated behind a freshly painted white picket fence. The garage doors were open, and he was certain the nineteen-sixty-nine Camaro inside was the car Logan had told him about. Something akin to hope swelled inside him and quickly died, having nothing to hold fast to.

Memphis climbed the porch steps and stopped in front of the door. Should he pray before he knocked? No, prayer hadn’t been of much help in the last ten years. He fisted his right hand and rapped his knuckles on the door. Inside the house, he heard a muted coming a moment before the door opened, and he stared straight into unfamiliar eyes.

Can I help you, friend? the man asked.

He wouldn’t want to take this fellow on in a fight. He was tall, muscular, and had the stance of a street fighter. Memphis took a quick breath.

I’m looking for Logan Gregg. I thought this was his place.

The man looked him up and down before calling over his shoulder. "Logan. There’s a...?

Memphis Wheeler.

There’s a Memphis Wheeler here to see you.

He heard movement inside the house and a voice he knew growing closer.

Memphis? What the hell? Logan nudged the man who’d answered the door aside and stared at him, a shocked expression on his face. Good Lord. Memphis.

Hey, Logan. It sounded stupid to his own ears, but it was all he could manage to say.

Logan stood back and motioned him to go inside. Mick, this is Memphis. We were, um, down south together. Memphis, this is Mick Ambrose. My partner.

Mick reached for his duffel bag. Nice to meet you, Memphis. Here, let me take that before it pulls you over. Logan, get him to the kitchen and get him something to drink. I’m right behind you.

It happened too fast. Before he had time to think, he was at Logan’s table with a glass of iced tea and a sandwich in front of him. Did he look