A Game of Hearts

By Deirdre O'Dare

DeVore lost the love of his life ten years ago, left his seven-figure career with a huge financial firm, and became a recluse. He now indulges a hobby of photography which has become his new vocation. At one of the few social functions he attends, he meets an amazing young man. Can he find new life and new love? The game of hearts is always risky, but what if a part of your first love now lives in another body?

Tim was a preemie and always frail. Later, an organ transplant was the only thing that could save him. Now grown, he still struggles to break restrictive family ties and find a purpose. It’s a thrill to meet the charismatic DeVore, an idol whose powerful photographs move many. But is this attraction his own, or coming from the stranger’s heart now beating in his chest?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jun 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781634864152

Deirdre O'Dare

Deirdre writes gay romance channeling a prior life’s gay male twin she calls Danny. Fascinated by love’s diverse shades and guises, she explores and experiences a range of attachments. She still believes in happily ever after, that Love is the One True Thing and genuine Love is never wrong. For more information, visit deirdredares.blogspot.com.

Book preview

A Game of Hearts

By Deirdre O’Dare

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2017 Deirdre O’Dare

ISBN 9781634864152

* * * *

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission from the publisher, with the exception of excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

* * * *

This one is for my ‘baby’ brother Alex, another young man who died too soon and became an organ donor. I will never know who was helped by his bequest but it eases my sorrow now that several years have passed to know someone may see with his eyes or live with some other part of him instead of dying also.

I am a committed organ donor myself and I endorse this with all my heart. Please consider it; we do not know how long we have or if a tragedy may end our life abruptly, but if we can give a gift of life or quality of life to another through our departure, we cannot say we died in vain.

I’ve often wondered just how much a recipient may be affected when part of another person functions in their body, and this tale is a result of that curiosity.

* * * *

A Game of Hearts

By Deirdre O’Dare

Prologue

Baltimore, Maryland

Spring 2004

You know money’s no object, Dr. Wesley. Can’t modern medical science do something? I’ll cover any cost, any experimental effort.

DeVore took another look at the chart hanging at the foot of Steven’s ICU hospital bed. Then he glared at the doctor who’d just given him the worst possible news. He could not weep, could barely act at all. He felt as if his whole being had turned to ice as the doctor’s words sank into his psyche.

Steven is brain-dead, irretrievably departed, leaving only a hollow shell. The unique spark that once animated him has gone out. Only a complex of machinery keeps his heart pumping, his lungs and other organs working. While that could go on for years, the soul and vitality of the man is no more. He will never wake up.

The doctor’s next words recalled him from floundering in black despair.

There’s no cure for a crushed brain, Mr. Weyrick. That’s one organ we cannot yet transplant. I’m sorry, more sorry than you can imagine. I knew this man, knew his potential and his very special combination of incredible skills and human compassion. He was going to be an exceptional doctor, but the fact remains, none of that is going to happen now.

DeVore looked down at the unmoving form of the man he loved more than life itself. They’d been together for six years, planning a wedding after Steven completed his residency. This was so wrong. He still could not believe it. When he spoke again, his voice came out rusty and ragged.

Give me a few minutes, Doc. After that, you can do what has to be done. Of course, I’ll give permission to take anything from his body that can help another person’s life. I know that’s what Steven would’ve wanted. He was all alone in the world, as you know, and had given me power of attorney and next-of-kin authority. He had an organ donor card in his wallet when… Then he had to stop, unable to finish the words, as if not saying fatal accident could somehow erase the last twenty-four hours’ events.

The doctor touched DeVore’s arm with a gentle half-pat. "Take as much time as you need, Mr. Weyrick. There’s no