Trouble in Threes

By Gavin Atlas

Handsome Kurt Eden loves nothing more than the tiny art museum left to him by his aunt. However, the museum is decidedly unimpressive and losing money fast. Worse, college sex scandals have made him the center of unwanted attention in his remote, conservative town of Egbert, Texas. Furthermore, Kurt’s required to repay the owners of two artworks stolen from the museum or face the loss of his home.

When Max, a man Kurt has helped come out through dating app conversations, arrives in Egbert, Kurt is smitten. Max already knows the younger man’s fantasies, and he’s eager to satisfy them. But will Max’s secrets and surprises help Kurt find happiness with not one, but two men? Or will the town ruin everything?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jan 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685500214

Gavin Atlas

Gavin Atlas has lived in New York, Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Virginia; and now lives in Houston with his boyfriend, John. He has been published in anthologies from Ravenous Romance (How the West was Done), Alyson Books (Ultimate Gay Erotica 2009, Island Boys) and Cleis Press (Hard Hats, Surfer Boys). His short story “La Playita” (Lethe Press) is available on All Romance Ebooks. He can be reached at www.GavinAtlas.com, and he has a blog at http://gavinatlas.livejournal.com/.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Kurt looked at the new reviews of the Egbert Museum with trepidation.

The Egbert Museum of Art rains down humiliation upon its hometown. It is an abomination Dante couldn’t bring himself to write about.

Not a single parent would place a ‘work of art’ found in the Egbert on their refrigerators had their children been untalented enough to create them.

I’d thought The EMU (Egbert Museum of Ugh) would have been good for a laugh, but now I pine for the thirty minutes of my life I will never get back.

Kurt shook his head, put his phone back in his pocket, and continued sweeping up dust. Did everyone who toured the museum review it? He could remember only three visitors, not counting Mrs. Nibbs or Mrs. Parks, who’d stopped by in the past few days. Apparently all three hated every minute. He flexed his wrist in frustration.

He heard the door open behind him. Maybe someone who will actually enjoy the exhibit? He turned to see Officer Leonard Brown, the entirety of the Egbert police department, headed in his direction.

Howdy, Kurt.

I promise I’m innocent, Officer Brown.

The policeman let out a nervous laugh. Fat chance of that. He lowered his voice. When it’s just us, you can call me Leo.

Yep, yep, yep. What’s doin’, Leo? Kurt had a feeling he knew why the policeman was being so friendly.

Leo rubbed his hands together and looked down. Still no word on the missing items, Kurt. I don’t know what to tell you.

Kurt narrowed his eyes. It had been a year since The Painting and Paperweight Capers were all the town talked about—unless they were talking about Kurt’s sex life. The fact there was no headway couldn’t be why Leo was here. At least the security cameras you suggested have kept history from repeating.

Leo still refused to make eye contact with Kurt. Even though Leo was seven years older, he looked like a sheepish boy about to confess he’d done wrong.

About the wedding, Leo began. I really am sorry. It’s not that Charlotte and I wouldn’t love to have you.

This was closer, but Kurt felt the officer was still avoiding the real subject. I know it’s not you, Leo. Reverend Tock would boot me out the church door.

Yeah, I wish everyone didn’t know about…um…

Kurt felt himself flush. What happened in Beaumont?

Yeah, Kurt.

Yep, yessiree. Me, too, Leo. Me, too.

Now the policeman’s voice dropped to a whisper. Listen, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you keeping…stuff…to yourself.

Here it was. They hadn’t been together since Leo met Charlotte last year, but Leo was worried.

The police officer scratched his neck. I just want everyone to see me as a good husband and, uh, someday a father, you know? I hope you…um…

I promise I’ll never breathe a word, Leo. Leo had no idea how lucky he was no one had caught them. Egbert had more prying eyes than the FBI.

Leo exhaled in relief. And I’m sorry if I treated you…like…well…

Like a piece of meat? Kurt thought for a moment. It certainly hadn’t been a relationship, but he’d been treated far worse. What matters is that you love Charlotte.

I do. I love her with all my heart.

Kurt bit his lip and smiled. Well, then, lucky guy, I wish you the happiest marriage on Earth. I’ll be rooting for you both. I promise.

I owe you a big favor. I won’t forget. Leo cleared his throat and took out his notepad. No progress on stolen art pieces, he said as he wrote. Gotta have a reason to be here, you see.

After Leo was gone, Kurt felt a wave of loneliness wash through him, draining his energy. Leo wasn’t the only man in Egbert who needed an excuse, some official reason, to be seen with Kurt. He chuckled.

Yep, yessiree. Whose secret will I be next? he asked. Then he shook his head. Why, after what happened in Beaumont, did he still want wild, submissive sex? It was a terrible idea. He shook his head. As if I’d be outgoing enough to be on the prowl in the first place.

* * * *

Thirty minutes later, Kurt kept busy by drooling over paintings available on eBay and 1stdibs. There was a Jacopo Bassano from the 1500s for offer at nearly three-hundred fifty thousand dollars. Holy crow. Even something from the circle of someone named Gortzius Geldorp cost three thousand. It was a pretty, oval portrait of a female saint, but boy, almost the whole canvas was black with dirt. Kurt frowned. That portrait seemed like the best deal on an Old Master he could find. Even it was out of his price range.

An hour passed. Kurt still hadn’t had a visitor since Leo. How can I be so lonely in my own hometown? And how will I keep my museum open with no visitors? I need a new painting. He sighed and browsed the online collections of other Texas museums. He saw a museum in Dallas had renovations scheduled. Perhaps he could request a piece on loan when they couldn’t display their works anyhow. No, it was useless. Who would trust the Egbert with anything after what happened?

Wait a minute. Leo’s visit did matter. Kurt had been given a year to recover the objects. As of now, he was liable. Dagnabbit. He’d planned to pay back Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Nibbs if the authorities never found the