The Package Deal #5
A sexy and emotional story about two best friends that secretly fall in love, but struggle to keep a heartbreaking secret from tearing them apart.
When I met Greg Foster, the straight tight end for the Portland Pirates, the rookie needed a friend to bring him out of his shell. There was more to the shy twenty-two-year-old bookworm than met the eye, and I was the perfect person for the task. My roommate and best friend, Christian, was involved with the Pirates QB, so a new friend to hang out with was good.
I pushed down my attraction to him and became the best friend he ever had. We bar-hopped all over Portland and played video games in our apartments. We even loved the same indy band from Seattle.
Then we fucked up when we fell in love. And by fucked up, I mean we got married even though we knew our marriage had to remain a secret.
No one knew about us. Not even our closest friends. And every time they asked, we gave them the same line... we're just friends.
And ultimately, the reason for that secret would tear us apart. Now, here I was three years after meeting him, and wasn’t sure how to survive without him. He was the love of my life, and I was his.
Ineligible Receiver is a friends-to-lovers and bi-awakening story and Book 5 in The Package Deal Series.
When we got out onto the street, the mood shifted from flirty to sensual. It had started to rain, so we ducked under the awning to keep from getting wet. Like an idiot, I’d walked instead of driving my truck. We leaned against the wall as I plotted how we’d get to my place without being drenched.
“Well, what’s the plan, Captain? Where did you park?” Cooper looked around, trying to spot my truck.
“I didn’t drive,” I said, rubbing my neck. “I was kinda nervous, so I walked.”
Cooper grinned at me. “You walked after playing a game today?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s no biggie.”
He laughed. “Okay, are we running or getting a car?”
“Definitely a car.” I pulled out my phone and opened my rideshare app. “There’s one close by. It’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“Guess we have to wait it out here in the rain.” The heat in his gaze had me thinking all kinds of dirty thoughts. And our undeniable attraction to each other hadn’t waned an ounce in the two months we’d been apart.
I pocketed my phone and looked over at Cooper’s damp hair and raindrops on his long eyelashes. It hurt to think I might lose him, and I knew I was taking a chance with what I planned to tell him. But I couldn’t help it. The longer I was away from him, the more I missed him. And I was pretty sure I was in love with him.
“Why are you staring at me, Captain?” he asked as the rain picked up and the moment grew between us.
We’d both turned to face one another and the moment felt like we were in some kind of romantic movie, standing in the rain.
“I’ve missed you,” I said, then reached for his hand.
Cooper looked down at where our hands were joined and took a deep, ragged breath. He was nervous like I was.
“I’ve missed you too,” he murmured, the wind carrying his words away on the breeze.
I stepped forward and brought myself closer to him. He looked up at me and we stared at one another, slowly leaning in toward each other. Just before I made the decision to kiss him again, a car horn honked, breaking our spell.
Cooper turned his head and cleared his throat. “I think that’s our ride.”
“Yeah, that’s it. Let’s go.”
Saturday Series Spotlight
Rheland RichmondFor as long as she can remember Rheland's had her nose stuck in a book, getting lost in the world of someone else's creation (She still does). Her love for writing came from her love for reading. She could never have one without the other.
Writing has always been a hobby and a cathartic experience for her. There are many stories lost to the never to be completed or published pile but needed to be written at the time.
She's just a girl that loved stories so much she wrote hers.
Rheland would love to hear from her readers and learn more about Y'all. So if you get a chance... please get in touch.
She also writes Omegaverse as Skye R. Richmond.
Emerson Beckett is new to the publishing world. As an avid sports fan and lover of well-written M/M romance books, Emerson loves her new career as an author of gay romance. It’s even more fulfilling for her when she can combine the two.
The journey to becoming an author started with an idea while reading on the sofa. That idea became an email that ultimately resulted in Emerson using those teacher skills to edit novels for three phenomenal MM romance authors. The third referral led to an opportunity to co-write a book series with one of the most genuine and kindest people she’s ever had the pleasure of knowing- Rheland Richmond.
Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series, which includes The Quarterback Keeper, Pass Interference, Unnecessary Roughness, Two-Point Conversion, and three more upcoming books in the series. She will release her first solo novel in late spring 2023.
Besides being a retired teacher and author, Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 32 years. She is the mother of three beautiful adults, one of whom is proudly part of the LGBTQ Community and completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance. Even though the kids no longer live at home, they filled the empty nest with an Australian Shepherd, three cats, and a cute bunny rabbit.
Emerson Beckett
Ineligible Receiver #5
The Package Deal Series
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