Title: Inhale
Author: D.P. Denman
Genre: M/M Gay Romance
Release Date: July 20, 2023
Cover Design: AJ Corza
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What can you do with love takes you by surprise? Just breathe.
Cole Rinne is a model with an impossible problem. An invasion of his privacy ends up in the hands of a blackmailer and the details could go public any day. His only
hope is to ditch the spotlight and hide in the shadows. Then he meets someone with a solution.
Gage Marx is a PI who specializes in impossible problems. He's used to solving the unsolvable. The only thing he's ever declared a lost cause is himself.
From the start, Cole's case holds more surprises than Gage expects. The most shocking is that for the first time in over a year, Gage’s broken heart is showing signs of life.
Their plan to wade slowly into love comes apart when an unexpected opportunity threatens to turn it all into a long-distance relationship. Will occasional reunions be enough to keep them together or will their separate careers tear them apart?
A man in a black suit and white button-down shirt appeared around the corner. Tall and trim, with shoulder-length brown hair, and a dark stubble beard, Gage approached with a confident stride, his dark eyes pinned to Cole.
"Cole?" Gage asked.
"Yeah." Cole stood, all his practiced glib replies scattered by the thing flapping around his chest like an agitated sparrow.
He was used to hot guys. He worked with them all the time. He couldn't explain why that one made him feel as nervous and tongue-tied as a dorky kid on his first trip to a gay bar.
Nor could he explain how a guy who looked like that could ever pull off staking out anything unnoticed.
Cole dragged the reason for his appointment back into focus, using it to scatter the instant attraction that threatened to turn him into a babbling moron.
He followed Gage out of the reception area, where the retro look disappeared behind dark gray carpet and typical office furniture. They passed conference rooms and occupied offices to a space small enough to trigger anyone's claustrophobia. It wasn't the spacious corner office he'd expected.
"Cozy." Cole studied the colorful abstract print hanging on one wall.
"Have a seat." Gage ignored the comment and closed the door.
Cole pulled out a chair at the square table and sat.
He anticipated several things from that consultation, starting with a mild scolding about running away and scaring his family. He couldn't deny it had been stupid. He'd frightened people who didn't deserve it because he was too ashamed to face them. Too afraid the mystery blackmailer had already contacted them, giving him a taste of public humiliation as motivation to pay.
He'd considered telling them he was visiting a sick friend out of town, but anything he said would inspire questions. He wasn't a good enough liar to come up with something plausible enough to withstand Jessie's scrutiny. The truth was an equally bad idea, so he'd said nothing. The thought of her or his parents finding out turned a boa constrictor loose in his stomach.
"How can I help?" Gage asked.
The lack of accusation or even a mention of yesterday's conversation was both a relief and confusing. His family hadn't sidestepped that opportunity. They'd lectured him all last night and into that morning, disappointed and annoyed by his refusal to give details.
"I have a problem." Cole folded his arms and let his gaze drift along the back of Gage's open laptop, unable to look him in the eye.
"Okay."
"With a sex tape." Cole glanced at him.
He'd expected surprise, shock, judgment. He got calm professionalism.
"Revenge porn?"
"No. Hidden cameras. They have me doing everything from getting ready for bed to taking a shower."
"And having sex?" Gage asked, his tone as businesslike as his expression.
Cole found something comforting in his attitude, like he'd seen it all before, and wasn't impressed or intimidated by anything.
Cole nodded, pressing sweaty palms against his shirt. "If I don't pay them, they'll put it online and tag all my accounts. It'll be everywhere." The boa constrictor squeezed.
Gage slid a bottle of water Cole hadn't noticed closer to him. He unscrewed the cap and took a drink.
"And they're offering to keep it private if you give them money, right?" Gage asked.
Cole nodded again.
"How much?"
"20 grand."
Cole saw the first glimmer of surprise on Gage's face. "Do you have it?"
"No. I have until this afternoon to get it, and I don't know what I'm going to do."
"Do you recognize anything about the name on the email?"
"No. Not the company's name either."
"What company?"
"The one listed as the owner of the house."
"I think you'd better start at the beginning."
Award-winning author DP Denman wrote her first short story when she was eight and has been crafting fictional adventures ever since! You can usually find her with a cup of coffee in hand, contemplating her next story.
A covert romantic, she writes addictive, character-driven gay romance about damaged people who find the strength to put their lives back together. Her stories are gripping and dramatic -- guaranteed to hold you hostage to the last word!
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