Jack's Way

By Em Woods

When a down-on-his-luck architect meets a closeted cowboy with a cranky horse, can they find common ground or will ghosts from the past destroy their future?

Ben Morillo, a prominent architect, has a good life. He works for one of the leading firms in New Hampshire, owns his flat and stays out of the lime light. That is until his ex-lover shows up at his work months after their violent break-up, making a scene that gets Ben fired.

Jack Marr, ranch owner and closeted cowboy, can't believe his bad luck when he has to pick up the handsome friend of his veterinarian. Convinced Ben won't stick around, Jack struggles to protect his heart before the attraction between them leaves him broken.

Ben and Jack must feel their way through an amused veterinarian, a cranky horse and too many misunderstandings, but in the end, will Ben be able prove that Jack's way is the only way for him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jul 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9780857156082

Book preview

A Total-E-Bound Publication

www.total-e-bound.com

Jack’s Way

ISBN # 978-0-85715-608-2

©Copyright Em Woods 2011

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright July 2011

Edited by Stacey Birkel

Total-E-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, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-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 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated Total-e-burning.

JACK’S WAY

Em Woods

Dedication

For Ms. Ava March,

Thank you for all your encouragement!

Enjoy the cowboy yumminess.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

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

Mustang: Ford Motor Company

Staedtler: Staedtler & UHL

Corona: Grupo Modelo

Levi’s: Levi Strauss & Co.

Chevy: General Motors

American Airlines: AMR Corporation

Chapter One

Benjamin. Joan’s urgent whisper scarcely made it out of the little black box on his desk.

He closed his eyes, wishing for the thousandth time that working for a high profile architecture firm in New Hampshire meant he could escape the big city drama. Setting his pencil down on his drafting table, he slid off his stool and pressed the two-way. Yes?

Christian’s here.

A loud crash from somewhere down the hall punctuated her statement. Ben’s eyes narrowed as he stared at his closed door. That’s not possible. He’s still in treatment.

He’s in treatment, all right, but it isn’t the one where you get any kind of help.

He blinked at the intercom, mute.

Ben? She was louder this time, more worried.

What are you talking about?

For God’s sake. He’s drunk. A second bang came from just outside his door at Joan’s desk. The line went dead.

Then, he didn’t need the open line to hear what his assistant was saying to his ex-lover. You nutcase! Look what you just did to my desk.

Where’s Ben? Christian’s drunken slur carried through the closed door.

He’s not here. Take your fool self home before I call the police. She was like a mother hen, all gossip and ruffled feathers. But don’t be the idiot who crossed her. She’d peck your eyes out.

His car’s in the lot. I know he’s around.

He didn’t want Joan caught in the middle of this. One thing had been consistent in his relationship with Christian—his ex was violent when he drank. Things usually ended in a nasty brawl because Ben wasn’t the pushover his ex liked to think he was. He had known after only two months of dating he wanted out.

It had taken another four to get it done.

When Christian had agreed to in-clinic therapy after yet another vicious argument, Ben had used the opportunity to make a clean break. That had been three months ago. He’d finally started to relax. Six months was a short-term relationship, after all, and Christian hadn’t so much as called.

Until now.

Ben was gripping the doorknob before he realised he’d even moved. He took one more deep breath before opening the door to take in the scene.

Joan’s back was to Ben and Christian wobbled on weak legs in front of her, poking her in the shoulder. He leaned in, momentarily losing his balance before catching himself on her arm. Where’s he at?

Right here. Ben leaned against the door jam, crossed one foot over the other. He cocked his head to the side. What do you want, Christian?

You left me.

Three months ago. Ben clenched his teeth. He hadn’t planned to officially out himself at work, but with half the office staff gawking from the hall, there was nothing he could do now. Damn it.

Christian slapped at his pants, finally pulling a shorty from his rear pocket and taking a long pull from the clear bottle. He swiped at the trickle that ran down the side of his chin. Are you sure it wasn’t yesterday?

I’m sure. Ben shook his head, straightened from his doorway. Time for you to go.

Not going anywhere. Christian hiccupped, whirled to face the growing crowd, bracing his hand against the wall when he lost his balance yet again. He waved his other arm in Ben’s direction. "If any of you ladies want to know how he is in bed—you’ve got a long wait coming. But if you’re rich, successful and have a dick…now that he’ll fuck in a heartbeat."

That’s enough. Ben stepped forwards, nodding in his assistant’s direction. Joan dialled the phone then kept her voice low as she spoke with security.

Ben noticed a slight movement at the edge of the crowd.