COVER REVEAL
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Maria Fanning
Pre-order Release Date:
7/28/2016
Official Release Date: 8/31/2016
Genre: Contemporary
Series: States of Love
Length: 35,659 Words
Rating: Adult/Mature
Blurb
Devon fled Wyoming as soon as he turned eighteen, leaving
behind his high school love, Levi. After six years in the big city, Devon
returns to his hometown. Not much has changed, except that Levi is no longer in
the closet. He’s also single and living his dream—managing the local wild horse
population. Both of them are very interested in picking up where they left off,
but Devon is no more ready to reveal his orientation than he was as a
teenager.
No one is going to shove Levi back in the closet—not even
Devon. For a relationship to work, they’ll have to put the past behind them and
find the courage to face the future as who they really are—a couple in love.
But Devon doesn’t know if he’s strong enough. Maybe Levi would be better off
without him—and his hang-ups.
States of Love: Stories of romance that span every
corner of the United States.
Excerpt
Devon sank down on his couch as exhaustion swamped him. Most
of it was from moving in, but the change in elevation didn’t help. He’d gotten
used to being closer to sea level, so going back to the dry air at over six
thousand feet was going to take some getting used to.
Bloody noses had become the norm while he stayed with Blake. Devon didn’t want to deal with them repeatedly and considered getting a humidifier until he managed to acclimate.
He looked around his living room. Boxes were scattered everywhere,
and he should be unpacking, but he was too tired. At least he hadn’t had to
carry everything in himself. Blake, Travis, and Seth were waiting for him when
he pulled into the apartment complex. They shrugged off his objections and
insisted they had nothing better to do. Devon appreciated it, but he wasn’t
comfortable around them anymore. He managed to be a proper host, but damn, he
was glad they left after a couple beers each. They made noise about getting
together again soon, but Devon had used getting settled in as an excuse to keep
from committing to anything.
He stood and wandered into his small kitchen. He didn’t bother opening the fridge or any of the cupboards. He knew they were empty. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten for a while. Devon dug his keys out of his pocket and headed for the door. He’d get something to eat and then maybe stop at the store to pick up a few staples. Paper plates, sandwich fixings, some chips, and he’d be good for a couple of days. At least it would give him time to get a few things—like pots and pans—unpacked. Then he could do a full grocery shop.
An hour later he was comfortably full from a greasy burger, fries, and a shake. He’d never eaten a lot of fast food, but he had few other options. He headed to Walmart, determined to stick to his list of sandwich stuff and maybe some eggs. Surely he could dig out some pans before the food expired. He headed to the chips first and scanned for the familiar bag of Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles. They were his all-time favorite, though he also knew he’d want something else after a day or two. So he grabbed a couple of other bags and headed for the eggs and then the freezer aisle.
Sandwiches and chips would get old fast. He found some frozen breakfast sandwiches he could microwave, tossed them in the cart, and moved on. Frozen lasagna quickly joined the few other items in his cart, followed by some potpies, a few TV dinners, and a bag of chimichangas. So what if he wasn’t sticking to his mental list?
He was more focused on getting groceries for the next few days than on the people around him.
“Devon.”
He froze when a familiar voice spoke his name. He closed his eyes briefly, ducked his head, and steeled himself. He knew it would happen eventually, when he found out Levi still lived there. He thought he’d have more time to prepare. He swallowed—hard—and turned to face the man who had at one time meant everything to him. The man he’d risked being found out for. He lifted his head and gazed into the moss-colored eyes.
“Levi.”
He stood and wandered into his small kitchen. He didn’t bother opening the fridge or any of the cupboards. He knew they were empty. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten for a while. Devon dug his keys out of his pocket and headed for the door. He’d get something to eat and then maybe stop at the store to pick up a few staples. Paper plates, sandwich fixings, some chips, and he’d be good for a couple of days. At least it would give him time to get a few things—like pots and pans—unpacked. Then he could do a full grocery shop.
An hour later he was comfortably full from a greasy burger, fries, and a shake. He’d never eaten a lot of fast food, but he had few other options. He headed to Walmart, determined to stick to his list of sandwich stuff and maybe some eggs. Surely he could dig out some pans before the food expired. He headed to the chips first and scanned for the familiar bag of Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles. They were his all-time favorite, though he also knew he’d want something else after a day or two. So he grabbed a couple of other bags and headed for the eggs and then the freezer aisle.
Sandwiches and chips would get old fast. He found some frozen breakfast sandwiches he could microwave, tossed them in the cart, and moved on. Frozen lasagna quickly joined the few other items in his cart, followed by some potpies, a few TV dinners, and a bag of chimichangas. So what if he wasn’t sticking to his mental list?
He was more focused on getting groceries for the next few days than on the people around him.
“Devon.”
He froze when a familiar voice spoke his name. He closed his eyes briefly, ducked his head, and steeled himself. He knew it would happen eventually, when he found out Levi still lived there. He thought he’d have more time to prepare. He swallowed—hard—and turned to face the man who had at one time meant everything to him. The man he’d risked being found out for. He lifted his head and gazed into the moss-colored eyes.
“Levi.”
About the
Author
Renee Stevens first started writing in her teens but didn’t
get serious about being an author until her mid-twenties. Since
then she’s written a number of contemporary stories, as well as delved
into the
paranormal. When not writing, or spending time in the
outdoors, Renee can usually be found working on GayAuthors.org in her
capacity of Admin, Blog Coordinator, and
Anthology Coordinator.
Renee resides in Wyoming with her wonderfully supportive
husband and a menagerie of four-legged critters. Making the most of the
nearly constant negative temperatures and mounds of snow, Renee
spends much of the winter months in hibernation with her laptop, the voices
in her head
keeping her company while her husband works.
When she needs a break from writing, Renee takes to the
sewing machine to design, and make, beautiful quilts. When the snow
finally disappears, usually around May or June, Renee can be found
in the great-outdoors. She spends her time on the mountain, at the
lake, and just anywhere that she can do some camping, take some
photos, and ride the four-wheelers with her hubby. Once back at home, it’s
back to writing.
