Kindly His

By Shawn Lane

Back in high school. Damian Lamonte had a crush on fellow student Arthur Kindly that never went anywhere. He hadn’t known then that Arthur was bisexual.

Years later Damian, now a paramedic, is called to the office of Arthur’s father during a medical emergency. Soon, Arthur is asking Damian out, setting them on a course for the romance Damian never dreamed of when he was younger.

But just as things are getting serious, Arthur’s interfering family might make Damian change his mind about how serious he can be. Or will he, in the end, be Kindly His?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: May 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781646567881

Shawn Lane

Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romance. She lives and works in Southern California. She has been published by Loose Id, Amber Quill Press, Evernight Publishing, MLR Press, JMS Books, and Ellora’s Cave. For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.

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Epilogue

Chapter 1

The first time I met Arthur Kindly, I was already in a relationship and so was he. That was high school.

Arthur had a girlfriend, Peggy, who was on the cheerleading squad. He was much more popular and good looking than I was at the time. Everyone knew, because Arthur never failed to tell anyone who would listen, that he hated his name, but that his mother loved the Arthurian Legend, and thus he was named after it.

I had a boyfriend in high school, though admittedly we pretended to be only the best of friends. Carl and I were much more than that, of course, but that was a time when something like that would not have been readily accepted.

When high school ended, so did my relationship with Carl, and any direct knowledge of Arthur for a few years.

Later I learned that his relationship with Peggy went the same way mine with Carl had, and he had moved on to someone else.

In high school I had believed Arthur was firmly heterosexual, and it wasn’t until I met him again, years later, I learned he was bisexual.

I was at a bar with a few friends, enjoying drinks after a long grueling shift as a paramedic in the Los Angeles Fire Department, when I spotted a guy sitting at a booth with another guy. The second guy I didn’t know at all, but there was something vaguely familiar about the first one and I found myself looking over there now and again.

Damian.

My friend and partner paramedic, Marcos Valenzuela, nudged me with his shoulder. Dude, you’re staring.

Am not.

He grinned. Are, too. And from the looks of it, he’s taken anyway.

Well, Marcos wasn’t totally wrong about that. They did look pretty cozy. It wasn’t a gay bar or anything, but it was a bar that was friendly to everyone. It’s why we all liked it. None of us felt unwelcome for any reason.

I just…I think I know that guy from somewhere.

Marcos followed my gaze. Ex?

I rolled my eyes. Nah. I haven’t had so many that I can’t remember ‘em.

Speaking of not remembering, your current one is walking in the door. You might want to stop ogling someone else.

I glanced toward the door and spotted the guy I had been dating for about five weeks, Richard Stevens, entering the establishment. He worked at a garden center not far from the bar and had agreed to meet me there after work.

I liked Richard, but honestly, I didn’t really see us going anywhere long-term. Prior to us meeting, Richard had a partner he’d split with, in a clearly devastating-to-Richard end to their relationship.

Order him a drink for me, would you? A merlot.

Marcos frowned. What are you doing?

I’m going to see if that guy is who I think he is.

I slid off the booth, waved at Richard, then turned to approach the booth where the guy and his likely date sat together.

The guy was very handsome in a classical way. Sandy brown hair, warm brown eyes, and a slight dimple in his chin.

I guess I had my doubts that it was really Arthur because of the guy he