What could an ex-con and a parole officer possibly have in common?
Nearing the end of a suspended jail sentence should unlock a brighter future for CJ Davis, only the chip on his shoulder is as hard to shift as his bad reputation. Born into a family of career criminals who live down Davis Road, an address the cops have dubbed Davis Row, his name alone is like a rap sheet that makes optimism impossible.
Brand-new parole officer Noah Huxley is determined to see the good in men like CJ. After all, he knows firsthand that bad things can happen to good people. His colleagues mock his doe-eyed optimism, but Noah soon sees CJ’s bad attitude and bravado are weapons he uses to keep people at a distance.
Both men know one simple mistake can change a life forever. At first glance, they might seem to be polar opposites. Yet underneath, they’re not that different at all.
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“So? Are we doing this?”
CJ chewed the inside of his lip like he was trying not to smile. “Yeah.”
I pushed away from the fridge, where he’d had me pinned earlier, and stepped in front of him. I leaned in as if I was going to kiss him but whispered in his ear instead. “You just made me very happy.”
I went to pull back but he had a hold of my shirt. He still had his head down but he pulled me against him and wrapped both arms around me. It wasn’t a hug that was leading to something more physical. It was one of those soul-soothing hugs that I didn’t reckon he got too often. So I slid my hands over his back, letting him feel my touch as much as I could, and he sighed into me. “You made me pretty happy too.”
I smiled into his neck and neither one of us were in any hurry to move. “I never thought I’d like the smell of cigarettes, but on you, it mixes with something else. I dunno what it is, but I like it.”
He chuckled, his breath warm on my neck. He still didn’t want to let go of me. “I really like how you smell. I’ve always had a thing for guys who smell nice and it was the first thing I noticed about you.”
“Is that so?”
“Mmm.” His arms tightened around me. “This is nice. Hugs are good.”
I chuckled. “Hugs with you are particularly good.”
He rested his forehead on my shoulder. “Are you gonna hound me to quit smoking?”
“Nope.”
“Good.”
“As your unofficial boyfriend, I accept all your dirty, stinking, cancer-causing habits.”
He snorted. “Gee, thanks.” He pulled back now, and with his hands on my hips, he met my eyes. “I wish I could stay, but I should probably get home.”
I sighed. “Yeah.” I cupped his face, and begging be damned, I pressed my lips to his.
Noah Huxley is a brand new parole officer and ready to make a difference. Having had tragedy with his own family where he failed like his sister was failed, he wanted to help people like she wasn’t about to be helped.
Then, we meet CJ Davis, born to the well known Davis family on Davis row, everyone knew them to be the trouble makers they are. Their dad being the absolute worse, but his brothers not any better.
When Noah met CJ, he was hostile and defensive. He was on parole, a 2 year suspended sentence on a crime that he got caught red handed doing. They just didn’t know the reason for what he done the thing that he done… I know there is no justifiable reason to break the law, but when your desperate and someone in your family is in need…. Someone, the only someone in life that cares about you or that you care about… it would be hard not to do what you could to help them…. And that’s exactly what Cj was doing the night he caught caught…. Sadly, because he was a Davis, nobody gave him the benefit of the doubt and painted him with the same brush they did all the Davis’s.
Not Noah, though…. Noah saw what everyone else refused to see. Everyone accept the two people who knew Cj and knew the kind of person he was- his boss and the guy who raised him, pops. They know hes a good guy who just got dealt a bad hand.
When Noah helping Cj turns into attraction that turns into something else…. They both know its against the rules, at least for the next couple weeks until Cj is off parole. Its tough, but Noah does what he can to help Cj in the meantime… helping him get his life together and do things to better his situation that nobody cared to help him with before.
I loved that about Noah. He was patient and understanding. He was honest and so sincere in the way he wanted to help, not just Cj, but everyone he could. I did get a little ticked at him for forgetting the person he knew Cj to be and my heart broke for Cj once again that things just kept going wrong for him… He was forgiving though and Im glad it didn’t cause more problems than it could’ve. I can imagine how badly that would’ve hurt. Especially because Cj had enough going on with his dad out of jail… he was a terrible, terrible person and I felt for him so much.
Overall, I knew it would be a great read because I’m a fan of the author, but the whole story just sucked me in and gripped me in a way that once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it back down! I love when that happens!!!
4 pieces of eye candy from me!
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.
She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words. She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.
She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.
She’s been writing ever since…
Contact N.R. Walker
Email: nrwalker@nrwalker.net
I have some special items from NR Walker-signed too!-that I will give to two lucky winners. Just comment on this blog post and you will be entered!
“Damn you, Josh.”
