Title: Fire and Onyx
Author: Andrew Grey
Series: Carlisle Deputies #5
Genre: M/M
Contemporary Romance/Law Enforcement
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Press
Release Date: Jan 14, 2020
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
A Carlisle Deputies Novel
Undercover sheriff’s deputy Evan Whittaker is close to
infiltrating a vicious local gang. He just needs to find an opening. Instead,
he finds Wes Douglas, a web designer who is raising his irresponsible brother’s
son. Wes agrees to help with a stakeout, but he pays the price when his home is
destroyed in a shootout.
Evan’s always been a loner, but when he invites Wes into his
home, living together feels right, and the two men only grow closer as they
adapt to each other’s lives and rhythms. A future as a family looks brighter by
the day, but all of that could collapse when Wes’s brother—and his connection
to the drug dealers—crashes into the life they’re carefully building.
The Carlisle Diner, where his mother worked, was three
blocks to the west of where they lived, and he walked in that direction. The
food was inexpensive, and Wes knew most of the people who worked there. All the
servers loved Greyson, and they usually gave him free apple juice. Wes also
knew that he was just as likely to not receive a bill when he ate there, and
that went a long way with his budget.
“It’s going to be getting too cold to make this walk pretty
soon,” Wes told Greyson as the stroller rolled along the sidewalk. Greyson’s
eyes were already drooping as they reached the diner and went inside.
“Isn’t he just precious?” Nadine said as she rushed up,
leaned over the carriage for a second, and then met Wes’s gaze. “We’re packed
tonight. I don’t have a table right now, but hopefully I will soon.” She
hurried away, and it seemed everyone in the restaurant was being run off their
feet.
The door behind him opened, and Wes turned to determine who
it was, surprised to see the deputy from earlier.
“They’re a little busy right now,” Wes said, and he nodded.
“Still out for a walk?”
“I took Greyson home to feed him, and now I need to eat
myself,” Wes explained as Nadine returned.
“You can have that booth.” She took him to a table two in
from the door. Wes sat down and got Greyson out of the stroller and set him in
the high chair next to him with a teething cookie.
The deputy was still standing by the counter, and as far as
Wes could tell, the tables weren’t turning. “God, we’re busy,” Nadine said when
she stopped for his drink order.
“I’ll have a root beer and some water. And if he wants to
join us, that would be fine,” Wes said, indicating the deputy.
She went to the desk and spoke with him briefly, and the
deputy came over and slid into the booth across from him.
“Thank you,” he said, smiling.
“I’m Wes.”
“Evan,” he said.
Nadine brought his drink and asked Evan what he wanted. He
answered quickly, and she hurried away. Wes knew what he wanted but noticed
that Evan didn’t open his menu. He seemed to be looking over Wes’s shoulder,
but Wes wasn’t sure if he should also look or not. Once Nadine returned, he
ordered, and Evan just asked for the same and finally broke eye contact with
whatever was so fascinating.
“Sorry.”
“Is this a stakeout or something?” Wes asked.
“No. Everything’s fine.” Evan smiled at Greyson, who handed
his cookie across the table. “Is that good?” Evan asked, and Greyson shoved the
cookie back in his mouth with a grin. Evan lifted his gaze, and once again he
seemed intent on what was going on behind Wes. This time Wes glanced around and
then turned.
“Has someone done something wrong?” Wes asked. “They don’t
want any trouble here. This is where my mother works, but she’s off today.” He
realized he was talking just to talk, but he was a little nervous now. What if
something happened and he and Greyson were in the middle of it?
“Not yet. There are some people that I’d like to see, but I
don’t necessarily want them to know what I do for a living.”
Wes nodded. This was exciting. “Sort of an undercover
assignment,” he said quietly. “Okay. I can do that since I owe you for earlier.
Just pretend you’re with us.” What could it hurt? At least if something did
happen, he was with his very own policeman.
Dreamspinner Press
