This is the culmination of the White Pine series, as the six lovers from the previous books reunite for a charity cause, bringing out past regrets, present loves, and future temptations.
Trent Rodgers returns to White Pine with his lover Angel Montero in tow, with a surprising bit of news. Austin Walker gets the shock of his life after saving a man from a burning building. Not to mention his sudden doubts about his lover Tucker O'Connell when an old flame comes to town for a good cause. Joey Silva, the burly, bearded hunk from the neighboring Honor Hills has tried to be monogamous with his new lover Nick Lynch, but a new temptation threatens their love.
Tossing these six lives into turmoil is celebrity photographer Ellis Van Pelt, who has come to White Pine to do a photo shoot with the firefighters, intent on producing a calendar with money raised for charity. But hidden secrets are about to be exposed, upsetting the delicate balance of their relationships. All is set around a series of mysterious fires that have claimed abandoned structures in town. Were they arson, and if so, why? Does the arsonist have a secret connection to one of the firefighters?
“Ready?” Angel asked.
Even had Trent said no, there was no stopping them as the car shot forth across the wide expanse, the canyon below opening to them, the waters of the Iroquois River flowing more than two hundred feet down. It was a breath-taking sight and Trent found his heart thrumming with familiar excitement. Damn but it was good to be home, and in seconds, he was, the road sign for White Pine announcing their arrival within the isolated village. They drove past Sally’s Dive, the Highway 50 Motel, and Shiner’s Diner, all White Pine staples. Trent directed Angel along the streets until they reached the block-like structure known as the medical center. Not quite a hospital, but for the needs of this little village, it did in a pinch.
Angel slid into an available parking slot and the two men unfolded themselves from the tight confines of the compact car. Angel was six foot, Trent just an inch shorter, but both men were built from solid frames, their jobs as firemen keeping them in top shape, and as such they were grateful after the long drive today to finally be able to get out and stretch.
Trent started toward the main entrance, Angel hovering back against the trunk of the car, the sun glinting off the windshield. He looked ready to tan himself, not that he needed it with his dark, mocha-colored skin. With a sharp intake of breath, Trent still couldn’t believe this sexy man was the center of his life. But he was, and if so, why then was he hanging back?
“Aren’t you coming with me?”
“You say hello first, I’ll come up in a few minutes.”
Trent walked back across the lot, sliding his hand into Angel’s. He tightened his hold, as though he were never intending to let go. Figuratively, he wasn’t. With his other hand, he set it on Angel’s shoulder, rubbing it up and down his lover’s muscled arm. Trent leaned in and kissed him, the taste of his dark goatee like chocolate, but that’s because they had stopped for a snack about an hour ago. Licking at his lips, Trent smiled.
“Yum, Snickers really does satisfy,” he said.
Angel slipped a wandering hand down and stroked Trent’s crotch until it began to grow hard inside his jeans. Neither man cared at the moment who witnessed what, but fortunately at two in the afternoon on this sunlit spring day there wasn’t much activity in the parking lot. “I’ll show you what true satisfaction is.”
“You always do,” Trent said, “but not now. Last thing I need is to walk into my mother’s room with a raging hard-on. All I want coming with me is you.”
“You sure?” Angel asked, a smile crossing his lips.
“Never more,” Trent said.
It was an exchange they had come to use whenever one of them doubted the words of the other, code to let them know there was no more debate. So Trent headed back toward the main entrance, Angel at his side. At the admissions desk they asked about Trudy Rodgers and were directed to the third floor, Room 312. Trent thanked the woman behind the desk, surprised he hadn’t recognized her. Had he been gone that long, or did White Pine change that quickly? It seemed unlikely, but if he could go through a major life change, he supposed it was inevitable the place he’d once called home could move on, too.
Did that include his mother? He feared she would look ... old, fragile.
Only one way to find out, his mind nagged him, and so they headed into the elevator and quickly made their way to the third floor and eventually his mother’s room. The door was open but he knocked anyway, since the television was on, the sound loud. Was his mother’s hearing going as well? He steeled himself for what he was about to see, squeezing Angel’s hand again as he did.
“Just go, I’ll be right behind you.”
Trent didn’t argue this time. He knocked again, and then entered.
“Hi, Ma,” he said, peering around the corner of the room.
The older woman in the bed had been staring at the television, some mindless talk show, and when she turned it was like years melted away from her wrinkled face, the smile gracing her features just as Trent had pictured, remembered. Her right leg being locked in traction, keeping her immobile had not been part of the image.
“Trent ...” she said. “I knew you’d show your face sooner rather than later.”
Behind him, Trent felt Angel’s presence. “Told you she’d know. Mother’s intuition.”
“And my Angel,” she said, her smile widening even further. “Oh thank the good Lord, my boys are home.”
