Centerville Muscle Series

Mick Ambrose owns and operates an auto restoration shop specializing in all things American Muscle. When the black 1969 Camaro Z/28 he years ago dubbed Onyx pulls into his garage, Mick forgets his first love in favor of her driver, Logan Gregg. Mick's interested and cruises Logan at a speed worthy of the cars he restores. Logan Gregg's plan to avoid entanglements in his life drives away when he stops at American Muscle to ask a few questions about restoring the Z/28 he's inherited from his uncle. The owner of the shop is smooth as a well-tuned V-8 engine and twice as hot. Logan is quick to shift gears and take a closer look at Mick Ambrose and the road ahead. When Mick wants to get too close, too fast, Logan backs off. His past holds painful memories he can't escape and the tattoos on his arms aren't just for decoration. Working on the Z/28 brings the men closer, but Mick makes a mistake when he confesses his knowledge of the past Logan wants to keep buried. Mick knows a man has to settle his past to step into his future. He'll stand beside Logan come what may, but Logan's unconvinced. To slay his personal demon, Logan will first have to look it in the eye. 

Jake Soames is the quintessential everyman. He survived a wild youth and grew up strong. The only thing missing from his life is that one special guy to tilt his world. A man to walk beside him without playing head games with him. With nowhere else to go, Memphis Wheeler knocked on the door of a former cellmate and found the refuge he'd been promised. His spirit is wounded, and he needs a place to rest and recover from years of physical abuse. He worries he'll never be able to allow another man to touch him again. When Jake meets his buddy's houseguest, he's instantly drawn to the shy, retiring younger man. Memphis doesn't say much and seems skittish around him, yet when Jake proposes they participate in a road rally, Memphis agrees to be his navigator. But there's no timed course to traverse to reach the future Jake envisions with Memphis. It'll take patience and understanding to help Memphis to move on from his past and say yes to more than an afternoon together. * * * Jake released him. "Maybe you'll let me hold your hand when they can't chaperone, huh?" He took a step back and finished ripping open the envelope. The man said to divide the money. He took fifty for himself and handed the envelope back to Jake. "And don't argue with me about the split. I don't want to hear it." "I wouldn't dream of. I think I've crossed a few too many of your boundaries for one afternoon." So he recognized that, did he? They were both still standing. Jake because his transgressions were minor and himself because… He liked Jake. Admitting that was a risk. The sky could fall or something equally nasty occur, but it hadn't happened yet. "Okay, Jake. Let me tell Logan I'll be home later, and we can go get me a phone and you can buy me something non-alcoholic and fizzy." Jake side-stepped him and waved his arm. "Logan! I'll have him home before midnight." Before Memphis could protest, Jake grasped his elbow and pulled him towards the car. Logan took two steps in his direction before Mick stopped him. Memphis waved and smiled, mouthing "it's okay" at the guys. He was going to have some explaining to do when Jake finally took him home.

Drew Bernard's life was shattered in a single, breathless moment. His one action made reconciliation with his family impossible. He can't change it, but he's determined to move his life forward and not be defined by a single, horrific moment. When a friend reaches out to him with the offer of a place to stay and a temporary job, Drew makes the move to Centerville. - Morgan Osborne made choices for the benefit of his son, but now the child is a grown man and determined to sever all ties with him – except for the monetary ones. When an unsuspecting Drew witnesses a particularly heated exchange, Morgan makes his apologies and ends up asking Drew to go out with him.  - Drew is drawn to Morgan, but he's afraid to trust his heart. His vision of his new life never included someone like Morgan, someone who would need to know the truth. * * * EXCERPT: All clean and shiny, I hoped to snap a quick nap before my dinner date. I expected a call or text from Morgan to let me know what time he'd pick me up. I didn't anticipate a knock on the door. I pulled on a pair of faded blue jean shorts and opened the front door to find Morgan standing there. He looked me over, his gaze going up and down and back up again. He finally looked me in the eye. "Wow. You have the nicest…eyes." I laughed in spite of myself. "It wasn't my baby blues you were looking at, Osborne. I know what you're really interested in." "Can't get much by you. Hey. Your eyes are brown." He narrowed his eyes and gave me a fake glare. "Okay. I get the joke. I, um, was driving by…on my way home… and I saw your car. Is six too early for tonight?" "How'd you know it was my car?" He grinned and flicked his thumb over his shoulder toward the driveway. "Pfft. Mick Ambrose wouldn't own something like that, that's how. And it has a Virginia license plate." I laughed. "Fair enough. So where are we going tonight?" "There's this little authentic Greek place over in Easton I like. It's very casual, but the atmosphere is great, and the food is even better." "Cool. I'd invite you in--" "No. No, I don't want to put you on the spot like that." We stared at each other for a moment, but neither of us spoke. Whatever Logan thought about the man it was obvious Morgan knew and wouldn't cross some imaginary line. The problem was I didn't want Morgan to drive away now that he was here. I rolled the dice. "We could start the evening early." I swear the man's ears pricked up like a collie. "I'll just wait in the truck while you get dressed." With that, he was down the steps, nimble as a mountain goat and twice as fast.