Rule number one: Straight military men will always be straight, no matter how much you wish otherwise.

Rule number two: Being a billionaire won’t change that (probably).

Rule number three: The whole thing between you when you were in high school? It was only fantasy.

Rule number four: One-sided fantasy.

Rule number five: God, how great would it be if it was a two-sided fantasy?

Rule number six: Okay, getting off track.

Rule number seven: Hiring your hot high school crush is totally okay.

Rule number eight: If you don’t let your feelings get in the way, everything will be fine.

Marshall Lloyd is about to be very not fine. Not only is his high school crush back in his life, but he’s matured into a gruff, brooding, drop-dead gorgeous specimen of a man who makes Marshall’s wet dreams seem about as exciting as drying paint.

The only problem? Fox Fraser, the individual in question, is straight.

Super straight.

The kind of straight that would make a ruler jealous.

But if what Marshall sees when he looks in Fox’s eyes is to be believed, he’s broken, too. There are scars inside of him that no one notices. No one but Marshall. It’s not wrong to want to help him, is it? To hire him to take care of things around the house so he can get back on his feet? It’s just work. Work that leads to lingering looks. To prolonged touches. To...mmph.

It’s better not to think about it.

Marshall’s fantasies aren’t real. A guy like Fox would never pin him to a wall and do things to him like that.

Maybe.

Probably.

Right?

After the Crash is the first book in the Small Town Hearts series, which features heroes scattered across the rural United States who find love where they’re least expecting it. In addition to explosive chemistry, you can expect sneezing bushes, tea that tastes like hay, and a wet wrestling match that's just boys having fun, Mom.