Welcome to Lobster Cove

By Carol Lynne

When following your dream lands you in Lobster Cove, Maine, anything is possible.

After gaining custody of his younger brother, Boone Jensen moves to a unique LGBT community on the coast of Maine. There, he hopes to find work as a stonemason, heal his broken heart and give his brother a safe place to call home.

Life was good in New York City for chef Dante Madia, until his business partner betrayed him. Determined to trust only himself, Dante risks everything on a new restaurant venture in a small fishing village built on acceptance.

Neither man is looking for love, but in a town like Lobster Cove, secret dreams have the ability to become realities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: May 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784305147

Carol Lynne

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. While writing her first novel, Branded by Gold, Carol fell in love with the M/M genre. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. With well over one hundred releases, one thing is certain, Carol loves to keep busy writing sexy cowboys, shifters, bodyguards, vampires and everything in between. Although series books are her passion, Carol enjoys penning the occasional stand-alone title. As founder and President of GRL Retreat, Inc., Carol helps organize the annual GayRomLit Retreat. Now in its sixth year, GayRomLit is an annual retreat that brings together the people who create and celebrate LGBT romance for a one-of-a-kind, must-attend gathering of dynamic, informal, and diverse fun.

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A Totally Bound Publication

Welcome to Lobster Cove

ISBN # 978-1-78430-514-7

©Copyright Carol Lynne 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright April 2015

Edited by Sue Meadows

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. Unauthorized 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 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

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

Lobster Cove

WELCOME TO LOBSTER COVE

Carol Lynne

Book one in the Lobster Cove series

When following your dream lands you in Lobster Cove, Maine, anything is possible.

After gaining custody of his younger brother, Boone Jensen moves to a unique LGBT community on the coast of Maine. There, he hopes to find work as a stonemason, heal his broken heart and give his brother a safe place to call home.

Life was good in New York City for chef Dante Madia, until his business partner betrayed him. Determined to trust only himself, Dante risks everything on a new restaurant venture in a small fishing village built on acceptance.

Neither man is looking for love, but in a town like Lobster Cove, secret dreams have the ability to become realities.

Dedication

I dedicate this series to everyone searching for a place to belong.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

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

Thor: Paramount Pictures

X-Men: 20th Century Fox

Sam Adams: Boston Beer Company

Jack Daniel’s: Brown-Forman Corporation

Coke: The Coca-Cola Company

Jell-O: Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

Vulcan V60F: Vulcan Hart

Jolly Rancher: The Hershey Company

Chapter One

Boone Jensen pointed to the view out of the passenger window. What’s that?

Landon, or Laddy, as Boone preferred to call him, stared at the scenery. Water.

The Atlantic Ocean, Boone clarified before mussing Laddy’s light brown hair.

He’d known since Laddy’s birth that their mom would need help raising his baby brother, but no one could have predicted that their mother, Gloria, would die of a heart attack at the age of fifty-three. At first, he’d worried that he wouldn’t know how to handle a sibling with Down’s Syndrome, but other than a few obsessive-compulsive issues and a lower than average IQ, Laddy had quickly become the jewel of the family.

Cool, Laddy said, using his new favorite word.

Yeah, cool, Boone agreed.

The drive from Gary, Indiana, their hometown, had been long but it was almost over. Within half an hour he and Laddy would be able to start a new life.

For two years, Boone had begged his partner Michael to move to Cattle Valley, but Michael had refused to entertain the idea. After Boone’s mother had passed away and he’d gained full custody of Laddy, Michael hadn’t been able to get away from Boone fast enough. With nothing else tying him to Indiana, Boone had taken the plunge and applied for one of the few remaining houses in Cattle Valley. He’d waited almost two months, but he’d eventually received a call from Mayor Nate Gills. Nate had explained that a local billionaire, Asa Montgomery, had purchased a small town in Maine in hopes of making it the refuge that Cattle Valley had become. Better, the new LGBT-tolerant town, Lobster Cove, was in need of skilled carpenters and craftsmen.

Before the conversation with Nate had ended, Boone had agreed to make the move to Lobster Cove, a small fishing village on the Atlantic coast. He still wasn’t sure what he’d find when he arrived, but he’d seen the video Nate had emailed, and from the look of the place, there’d be plenty of work.

Boone returned his full attention to the winding road in front of him. It was July, which meant he’d need to check out the school before long. According to Nate, the council in Cattle Valley was working hard to weed through the applications in search of educators and other positions that still needed to be filled in Lobster Cove. Boone had discussed Laddy’s needs with Nate, and Nate had assured him they would keep Laddy in mind when interviewing teachers.

Shortly after Boone had turned up the radio and lost himself in the soulful sound of vintage Marvin Gaye, they came upon a large wooden sign that read ‘Welcome to Lobster Cove’.

We’re here.

Laddy sat up straighter as they rounded a sharp bend in the road.

When the small town came into view, Boone barely managed to keep a gasp from escaping. He pulled over to the side of the road and parked. Lobster Cove was laid out before them in all its glory. He’d noticed the brightly painted houses on the video, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight of them in person. His elation quickly turned to pain at the realization that he may never be able to afford one of them. Medical bills and funeral costs had wiped out not only his savings, but also the equity he’d received from the sale of his boyhood home. For the near future, he and Laddy would live in a small, one-bedroom apartment. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but he hoped he could find enough work to pay the rent and have some left over to put away for a down payment on a house.

Pretty, Laddy said.

Yeah. Boone rolled down his window before sticking his head out to inhale deeply. The smell of the ocean combined with freshly mown grass brought on a surge of emotion. Christ. He’d never had such a strong reaction to a place before. Yes, the town, with all its colorful houses and picturesque waterfront shops, was like something from a calendar, but in his heart, he knew it was so much more. He glanced at Laddy, wishing he had the means to give his brother the fucking moon. I found us an apartment to stay in for now, but maybe someday we’ll be able to live in one of those houses.

Okay. Laddy shrugged. Do you think they have candy here?

Boone grinned at Laddy’s one-track mind. I’m sure they do, but let’s check in at the rental office before we explore the town. Deal?

Laddy shrugged again, which meant he didn’t agree but either knew he wouldn’t win the fight or couldn’t come up with the words he wanted to say.

Boone put the truck into gear. It’s three now. We can get the keys to our new place and have the truck unloaded in time to walk downtown for supper. If we finish early, maybe we’ll take a walk along the dock. How does that sound?

Can I have grilled cheese? Laddy asked.

Sorry, buddy, you had grilled cheese for lunch. You need some meat and vegetables. Boone hated the role of food police, but if Laddy had his way, he’d eat nothing but grilled cheese and candy.

Boone drove slowly through town, keeping an eye out for the rental agency. Bluebird Café, he said as they passed a cute diner.

Laddy wrinkled his nose. I’m not eating a bluebird.

Neither am I, Boone agreed. Hopefully that’s just the name of the place, he teased, poking Laddy’s side.

Giggling, Laddy knocked Boone’s hand away just as Boone spotted the place he was searching for. He parked then turned off the engine. Are you staying here or do you want to go in with me?

Laddy peered up and down the street. You’ll let me stay here?

Boone smiled. Yeah. One of the reasons I wanted to move here is because I knew it’d be safe for you. He narrowed his eyes. But that doesn’t mean you can wander off.

Laddy gifted Boone with one of his heart-melting grins. I’ll stay here.

Boone left his window down. Knowing he could give Laddy a little more freedom than he was used to felt damn good. Once out of the pickup, he surveyed the sidewalk. A group of four teenagers walked toward them, three guys and a girl. It took everything he had not to insist that Laddy follow him into the agency, but Lobster Cove was being built on tolerance and he needed to believe that it extended to all members of the community.

Boone gave Laddy a nod before stepping into the narrow store. He paused just inside and watched the teens through the large plate-glass window.

Can I help you?

Without taking his gaze off the situation outside, Boone answered, Yes, I’m Boone Jensen. I’m here to pick up keys and sign the contract for the one-bedroom in the Victorian.

Boone held his breath when the group neared the truck. As usual, Laddy smiled and waved at the strangers. The boys pretended they hadn’t noticed Laddy, but the girl slowed and waved back. It wasn’t until she was closer that Boone realized the girl wasn’t a girl at all but a boy dressed in women’s clothing.

That’s Zander, although, he—she has started introducing herself as Lexie. Good kid. They all live at the Rainbow Youth Shelter down the street.

The girl said something to Laddy that Boone couldn’t hear before moving on to catch up with the other teens. He relaxed when he noticed the happy expression on Laddy’s face. He remembered Nate mentioning something about a group of gay teenagers who were being transferred to Lobster Cove from a shelter in Washington, DC. It wasn’t a topic that would’ve come up in normal conversation, but Boone had Laddy to think about.

Confident that Laddy was fine, he turned away from the window to face the agent he was supposed to meet. Clint Baker?

That’s me. Clint shook Boone’s hand then retrieved a contract from his desk. "Everything should be in order. The apartment is minimally furnished. If there’s anything you don’t need or want, just give me a call and I’ll make arrangements to have it