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    Jesse
    Jesse
    Jesse
    Ebook161 pages2 hours

    Jesse

    By M Tasia

    4/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Welcome back to Brighton, Texas. Where any man can find home.

    HEATING UP

    Royce Evans has worked as a paramedic in Brighton since graduating college. After the accident, though, his life seemed over. His husband died. Then he met Jesse. Handsome, brave, loving—the short-order cook is everything Royce desires. Everything he’d thought forever gone. Now Jesse’s tan, muscled body has brought him back to life, and nothing is going to shut that down. Not his own fears of heartbreak. Not Jesse’s past, or the fact that he ran from it. And definitely not Jesse’s crazy violent family, the Redemption Squad.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBoroughs Publishing Group
    Release dateJun 2, 2017
    ISBN9781944262785
    Jesse
    Author

    M Tasia

    Michelle M. Tasia is a paralegal and romance author who lives in Ontario, Canada. She is a proud member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapters; the Rainbow Romance Writers and the Toronto Romance Writers. Michelle is a dedicated people watcher who often uses what she sees around her in the creation of her characters. She likes to read romance as much as write it and is a firm believer that love is meant to be celebrated and shared. She is the author of the Boys of Brighton series and the new series Gates of Heaven. Connect with Michelle: website: mtasiabooks.com facebook: mtasiabooks twitter: mtasiaauthor instagram: m.tasia.author

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    Reviews for Jesse

    4/5

    18 ratings1 review

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    • 3/5
      Cute story. Needs editing. Not good when the wrong character's name is used in the middle of a paragraph. Also some minor grammatical errors.

    Book preview

    Jesse - M Tasia

    EVERYONE LOVES

    THE BOYS OF BRIGHTON SERIES!

    Sweet and unforgettable…a marvelous read. There’s suspense, action, and a love story that’s hard to beat.

    —Readers’ Favorite on Sam’s Soldiers

    I loved this book and I love this town. I hope there’s going to be more.

    —Melissa Lemons, Author of Decisions

    An amazing read that was filled with lust, love, crazy hot sex, danger, action and so much more. This is the first book I have read in this series, but I will definitely be reading more in the future.

    —Gay Book Reviews on Sam’s Soldiers

    I was crazy impressed that the author made me teary over the ending of a relationship that I shouldn’t have even been invested in. I didn’t yet know these characters yet the author made me hurt for them. That takes some mad writing skills!

    —Love Bytes Reviews

    "[Gabe] was a fantastically sweet love story. The characters drew me in right away, especially the swoon-worthy, alpha-male Gabe. I have to admit, I'm not an avid reader of M/M, but this highly exceeded my expectations. I couldn't help falling in love with the characters and cheering on their personal growth and blossoming romance."

    —Virginia Cantrell, Author of Devine Merit

    I loved this story from page one.

    —eBytes on Sam’s Soldiers

    READER REACTIONS TO THE BOYS FROM AMAZON, GOODREADS, AND ALL ROMANCE eBOOKS

    …Sweet and touching…hot and sizzling…

    The love, drama, and intimate scenes are all well written. I would definitely recommend this book to romance lovers.

    Loved this book! Great read.

    I loved it! I couldn’t put it down.

    Angst, sweetness, love and passion.

    Bear is the whole package.

    Came to this book expecting one thing and got so much more. Now can’t wait for book four!

    Welcome back to Brighton, Texas. Where any man can find home.

    HEATING UP

    Royce Evans has worked as a paramedic in Brighton since graduating college. After the accident, though, his life seemed over. His husband died. Then he met Jesse. Handsome, brave, loving—the short-order cook is everything Royce desires. Everything he’d thought forever gone. Now Jesse’s tan, muscled body has brought him back to life, and nothing is going to shut that down. Not his own fears of heartbreak. Not Jesse’s past, or the fact that he ran from it. And definitely not Jesse’s crazy violent family, the Redemption Squad.

    JESSE

    A Boys of Brighton Novella

    M. Tasia

    www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com

    PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.

    JESSE

    Copyright © 2017 M. Tasia

    Smashwords Edition

    All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.

    ISBN 978-1-944262-78-5

    E-book formatting by Maureen Cutajar

    www.gopublished.com

    This has only been possible with the love and support of my family.

    Love you Craig, Samantha, Katie and Jason.

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    Another shout-out to the talented Virginia and my amazing beta readers.

    CONTENTS

    Chapter One

    Chapter Two

    Chapter Three

    Chapter Four

    Chapter Five

    Chapter Six

    Chapter Seven

    Chapter Eight

    Chapter Nine

    Chapter Ten

    Chapter Eleven

    Chapter Twelve

    Chapter Thirteen

    About the Author

    Also by M. Tasia

    JESSE

    Chapter One

    The headlights were blinding, but Jesse didn’t dare pull over and stop on the side of the road. He pushed down harder on the gas pedal and picked up speed. He had to make it home before they caught up to him. They ran me out of my home over ten years ago, why can’t they just leave me alone? Fear snaked up his spine as he watched mailboxes fly by his window.

    Jesse had just closed up the diner where he worked as a cook and driven Sarah home. The waitress had been on her feet all night, and considering she was over sixty and still working five days a week, no way would he allow her to walk home no matter how nearby.

    Jesse had been staying at his boyfriend Royce’s house for the last few weeks, helping him recover from a gunshot wound he’d received in his shoulder while protecting their friends Bear and Rick as well as their nephew Josh from Josh’s biological father. Before then, Jesse had been living in an apartment above Bear’s diner since he’d arrived in Brighton, Texas.

    He thought he’d be safe here, that they’d never find him, but he’d been very wrong. The lights were catching up, and he didn’t dare go any faster on the rain-slicked roads. Jesse was beginning to panic, and he knew that was what they wanted, him to panic and make a mistake. Then they’d have him. How do they manage to always find me when I’m alone? Someone has to be watching me.

    The car jarred violently over a pothole, causing the undercarriage to squeal out in warning. Ghostly trees lit by his headlights flew by as the houses grew fewer and farther between. Royce’s house sat at the edge of town, only minutes away, but it might as well have been a hundred miles with the other car now kissing his rear bumper, pushing him to lose control. Jesse was honestly surprised he hadn’t already lost traction. Why were they doing this to him all over again? He’d left town, lost everything he’d worked for, and lost his family and friends. Wasn’t that enough penance for the sin of being gay?

    Another jarring hit vibrated through the entire car, but he held on tight and kept his vehicle on the road. Jesse could see the pole light outside the main barn on Royce’s property; he was almost there. There was a long driveway leading up to the little farm Royce had created, and Jesse was thankful for its length. He’d need a lot of room to slow down with how fast he was driving. The driveway had a soft curve leading off the road, so at least he wouldn’t flip, he hoped.

    Seconds later, he took his foot off the gas and veered onto the dirt driveway, fishtailing before he regained control over the vehicle. The lights in his rearview mirror disappeared, confirming that they had stayed on the main road, not daring to come near the house where there were witnesses. Jesse slowed the car, his hands shaking as he parked in his spot. His breathing was still coming out in gasps, and he couldn’t stop the tears that escaped his eyes no matter how hard he tried.

    He was just considering getting out of the car when his driver’s door opened, and Jesse instinctively curled into himself and protected his head with his large arms. Even though he was 6’2" and weighed 245 pounds, Jesse wasn’t a fighter normally. The only time he allowed himself to use force was when protecting someone else.

    Jesse, honey, it’s me. What’s wrong? What’s happened? Royce’s calming voice bled through Jesse’s fog of fear. Was it your family again?

    Jesse uncurled his body and looked up at the man he loved so completely and nodded his head. I don’t know why my cousin and his buddies won’t just leave me alone. It’s been so long, almost a year since the last time, why now?

    Royce leaned into the car and held Jesse close, helping him to settle even further. Even though Royce was three inches shorter and sixty-five pounds lighter than Jesse, Royce was the emotionally stronger and more dominant of the two, and Jesse was completely on board with that. Due to his size, many men assumed Jesse to be the dominant one in their relationship. But Royce knew what Jesse needed, which made Jesse feel free to be himself for the first time in his life.

    I don’t know why they’re coming after you, Jesse, but we need to step up our security until we find out or have enough proof to have them jailed, Royce answered. But Jesse knew how they worked; they never attacked him when someone else was around to witness the abuse or threats. That was how they’d stayed below the radar back home, and what led to Jesse escaping one lonely night ten years earlier.

    They never try anything when someone else is with me. They have to have someone watching me, because they waited until I dropped Sarah off before they attacked, Jesse explained.

    I’m going to call Chief Graham once we get you inside, and tomorrow I’ll drive you to work.

    What about your shoulder? Jesse asked.

    It’s healing up well enough, and I’m more than capable of driving safely. Even if I’m a shot-up paramedic on medical leave, I can still protect my boyfriend, Royce explained gruffly.

    Jesse smiled. He couldn’t help himself. He’d never had anyone protect him before. He’d caused indifference, disgust, hate, and even pity from the people in his old life, but never had he felt protected. Royce and Brighton had given him his freedom and peace; now he just had to figure out how to keep it.

    Thank you, Royce. I would feel better if you drove me. Jesse truly would. He hadn’t ridden his Harley since members of his parents’ fringe church showed up and demanded Jesse return with them to begin his rehabilitation for the sin of being gay. If he’d ridden his bike tonight, he could have been knocked off, which only brought out more questions. If they wanted to take him back, why would they try to physically harm him or worse? After the initial contact, he’d only seen his cousin and five members of the congregation from a distance. Why were they here now? Something is not adding up.

    Okay, that’s settled. Now let’s get you inside the house. Royce scanned the area. His left arm was still in a sling while his wound healed.

    It warmed Jesse’s heart to know he wasn’t alone anymore. Ten long years of living a transient lifestyle, never staying in one place too long, had taken its toll on Jesse. When he’d arrived in Brighton, he thought maybe he’d found his new home. After he met Royce Evans, he knew he’d been right.

    *****

    Royce got off the phone with the police chief, not feeling any calmer than he had before he’d called. They’d come and look at the dented bumper first thing in the morning and keep an eye out for the suspect’s car, but there was nothing more they could do. Without a witness or more evidence, it was a ‘he said, he said’ situation. Jesse was relaxing on the couch watching some sort of reality show while Royce made his calls. Royce knew all too well that the other car involved would be gone in the next few hours, never to be seen again without having some bodywork done.

    The chief had other crimes and issues to deal with, and stalking might not be top on the list of his concerns. Royce knew by the way the Redemption Squad—as he liked to call Jesse’s family and followers—had upgraded to straight-out violence, something had changed. Proving that hurting Jesse or worse was now an option.

    Royce couldn’t stop his thoughts from drifting to over three and a half years earlier when his world stopped turning—the day his husband died. They’d been high school sweethearts and married once they both finished college. That day Royce’s heart had been ripped out and his soul left ravaged and unrepairable—at least that’s what he thought, until he laid his eyes on Jesse working in the diner one morning before his shift.

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