Table of Contents
Books by Bailey Bradford
Title Page
Legal Page
Book Description
Dedication
Trademark Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Epilogue
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About the Author
Pride Publishing books by Bailey Bradford
Single Books
Breaking the Devil
Dark Nights and Headlights
Texas and Tarantulas
Belt Buckles and Cowboy Boots
Something Shattered
Yes, Forever
The Jasper Soul
Southwestern Shifters
Rescued
Relentless
Reckless
Rendered
Reverence
Revolution
Revenge
Reluctance
Renounced
Retrograde
Southern Spirits
A Subtle Breeze
When the Dead Speak
All of the Voices
Wait Until Dawn
Aftermath
What Remains
Ascension
Whirlwind
Love in Xxchange
Rory’s Last Chance
Miles To Go
Bend
What Matters Most
Ex’s and O’s
A Bit of Me
A Bit of You
In My Arms Tonight
Where There’s a Will
My Heart to Keep
Leopard’s Spots
Levi
Oscar
Timothy
Isaiah
Gilbert
Esau
Sullivan
Wesley
Nischal
Justice
Sabin
Cliff
Mossy Glenn Ranch
Chaps and Hope
Ropes and Dreams
Saddles and Memories
Fences and Freedom
Riding and Regrets
Broncs and Bullies
Hay and Heartbreak
Vaqueros and Vigilance
Spotless
Hide
Hunt
Home
Heart
Mystic Tattoos
One Too Many
Valen’s Pack
Run with the Moon
Exodus
The Vamp for Me
My Life Without Garlic
Don’t Stake My Life on It
Sunshine is Overrated
Don’t Drink the Holy Water
The Trouble with Mirrors
That’s One Cross Vamp
Calendar Men
Mr. January
Mr. February
Mr. March
Mr. April
Mr. May
Mr. June
Mr. July
Mr. August
Mr September
Mr. October
Mr. November
Mr. December
The 13th Month
Wild Ones
Destined Prey
Destined Predator
City Shifters
Bearly There
Harey Situation
Fire and Flutter
Dragon Dreams and Fairy Wings
Wyvern Ways and Elven Magic
Coyote’s Call
Off Course
In from the Cold
Blue Moon Rising
Power
Exchange
Submit
Dominate
Intrinsic Values
Artifacts
Antiques
Anthologies
What’s his Passion?: Unexpected Places
What’s his Passion?: Unexpected Moments
Racing Hearts: The Lonely Ones
Hooked on You
IN DEEP
BAILEY BRADFORD
In Deep
ISBN # 978-1-83943-150-0
©Copyright Bailey Bradford 2021
Cover Art by Claire Siemaszkiewicz ©Copyright September 2021
Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz
Pride Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2021 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.
Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book”.
Book one in the Hooked on You series
Titus wanted a summer fling—then he wanted more…
Titus Eisenhower loves his job as an elementary school teacher in a small Texas town. Sure, he has to be careful, but not being out is fine with him since he’s not interested in dating another man after his last relationship went so badly. But now he’s got the career he’s always wanted, a safe place to be and friends. Isn’t that everything he’s dreamed of?
But when he meets a man he can’t resist, Titus realizes he’s stifled a part of himself…and a part of his dream. He can’t trust another man ever again, but he can manage a little summer fling, right? Wrong—everything about the mysterious Draven calls to him, and the two share a connection Titus has never dreamed of.
That’
s already mind-blowing, but learning the truth about Draven is world-shattering. With evil threatening, and old enemies closing in, Titus will have to believe in things he didn’t know were possible if he and Draven are to stand a chance…
Dedication
To everyone who wants a summer romance that lasts a lifetime
Trademark Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Moana: The Walt Disney Company
Holiday Inn: InterContinental Hotels Group
Prologue
“Come on, kids, let’s see if we can find any shells!” Titus Eisenhower nodded to the parent volunteers forming a human wall between the Pre-K children and the ocean, keeping the kids from getting in past their ankles. The annual field trip to the beach was one of the highlights of the school year for the kids and teachers alike.
Seeing the children’s faces lit up with joy, hearing their shrieks of—mostly—laughter, watching them run and splash in the bit of water they could reach…it made his heart swell every single time he got to take part in this trip, and this was his fifth with one of his classes.
The other teachers were at his sides, vigilant, but when it came to children and water, all parents, all adults, needed to be watching the whole group.
This year’s parents were great. He’d only had one pissed-off dad who had refused to let his child go since he couldn’t just hang out with his kid. Other than that, there’d been plenty of parent volunteers, and, wonder of wonders, they got on well, too. Last year, two of the dads had gotten into a fist fight over some perceived insult. That had been a disaster.
“God, I bet we don’t ever get such a great group of parents again,” said Stacy Evans, his best friend and colleague. She’d been hired the same year he had, and they’d become fast friends. Stacy’s bright-orange hair was all over the place as the beach breeze whipped it about. She shoved uselessly at several flapping strands. “Why, oh why don’t hair ties work for me?”
“Honey, that hair can’t be tamed any more than you can,” quipped Michelle Ochoa. She was older than Titus and Stacy, but not by too many years. “You’re as wild and powerful as the wind.”
Michelle was also Stacy’s girlfriend, though no one but Titus knew that.
Stacy laughed. “Whatever. When I’m blinded by my own hair, then what’ll I do?”
“Mr. Eisenhowew, I finded a shell!” Little Bobby Garza hopped in place as he waved a sandy glob in the air. “Wook!”
Titus grinned and jogged over to Bobby before squatting so he could be eye to eye with the boy. “Hey, you did! That’s awesome! Want to dip it in the next wave and see if we can get the sand off?”
“Yes!” Bobby’s delighted shriek made Titus’ ears ache, but the rest of him filled with sheer wonder and delight. He loved his job, and he loved the kids, loved seeing them grow and learn. It made him less cynical every time he saw the world shine in a child’s eyes.
“Then let’s do it.”
Titus got the other kids to show their treasures. A couple were upset that they didn’t find good shells, but, overall, everything was going surprisingly well.
After they’d got the kids lined up—and allowed the parent volunteers to take their kids home in their own vehicles, rather than making them ride the buses—Titus took a moment to look back at the ocean. The waves were slight, which was normal for this area of the coast. It was only one-thirty in the afternoon, so the sun was high and bright, the reflection on the water exquisite in its beauty.
“Just think…next weekend, we’re going to be here in our own beachfront condo, partying—or relaxing, more likely—for a whole seven days,” Stacy said, her soft voice breaking into Titus’ quiet appreciation of the view.
Not that he minded. He grinned at Stacy. “You and me and some margaritas,” he promised.
Stacy nodded. “Darn right. I’m so looking forward to it.”
“Me, too.” Titus and Stacy had started their beach tradition their first year at the school. Michelle and Stacy hadn’t been dating then. They’d fallen for each other a little over two years ago, but Michelle didn’t come to the beach vacations. She had prior commitments with her family in Michigan that took her away.
Titus privately thought Michelle didn’t want to intrude, and he had mixed feelings about that. He didn’t want to be a third wheel, but he hated to think Stacy might regret Michelle not being there.
“Stop brooding,” Stacy said, poking his arm. “You’re going to get wrinkles all over your forehead and around your eyes before you hit thirty if you keep doing that.”
“I wasn’t brooding,” Titus protested, immediately trying to smooth out his features.
“Yeah? Then what were you frowning at?” Stacy asked.
“Y’all need to hurry up—we have to get on the road,” Michelle called out to them.
“Oops, we’re holding everyone up.” Titus grinned, relieved at being saved from having to answer Stacy’s question.
“I’ll keep bugging you until you answer me,” Stacy promised as they rushed to the buses.
Titus could have protested, but he knew better. Besides, all he had to do was tell Stacy the truth—he didn’t want her to feel like Michelle wasn’t welcome.
But he’d keep the other truth to himself—that he was lonely, and when he’d looked out over the water, that sense of loneliness had permeated his happiness, and now, melancholy lingered in the place where joy had been. Yes, I’ll definitely keep that secret.
Chapter One
“Maybe we should look for jobs here.” Stacy gestured with her margarita.
“At Captain’s Cove?” Titus asked, knowing full well that wasn’t what she’d meant. “But that’d be a waste of our teaching degrees.”
“Probably make more money, though.” Stacy sipped her drink.
Titus grunted. She kind of had a point.
The server arrived with their entrees.
“Can I get another margarita?” Stacy tossed back the last quarter of her drink. “Please.”
The server grinned. “That’ll be your third. Your boyfriend’ll have to carry you out of here if you drink it as fast as you did the first two. Those suckers sneak up on you. One minute, you’re clear-headed, the next, you’re trying to dance on the tables, except you can’t stand up.”
“You calling me a lightweight?” Stacy arched a brow at the server.
He laughed. “Nope, just telling you the truth. Doesn’t matter what size you are, what your tolerance of liquor is. The tequila in our margaritas will kick your ass.”
Only at the beach would an employee talk so casually to customers. Titus approved.
“Eh. He can drag me out by my ankles if he needs to,” Stacy decided. “And he isn’t my boyfriend, but he could be y—”
“Could you bring some ketchup and sliced lemon please?” Titus cut in, desperate to stop Stacy from outing him. The coastal area they were at was more laid-back than the small town they lived in, but that didn’t mean it was safe to be outed, nor was it Stacy’s place to do so.
Stacy blinked. “I was saying, he could be Yolanda’s boyfriend if he’d just ask her out. My sister has the biggest crush on him.”
Nice save. Stacy was an only child.
The server, who lacked a name tag, rolled his eyes at Stacy. “Sure, that’s what you meant.” Then he winked at Titus. “Same team, bro. I’m taken, though.”
Titus refrained from pointing out that he hadn’t made a pass in the first place. “Congratulations.” He hoped he sounded sincere.
The server grinned. “Thanks. I’ll be back with the liquor, lemons and ketchup.”
Stacy reached across the table and touched Titus’ arm. “Sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have the third margarita. You drink it.”
“I haven’t even finished the first, and…” He sighed. “It’s fine, Stace.”
Stacy shook her head. “No, no it isn’t. I almost�
��” She glanced around, leaned closer, then whispered, “Outed you, and that’s bullshit! Especially after—”
“Here we go.” The ketchup and lemon slices were set on the table. “The margarita is going to take a few minutes. We’ve got about a half-dozen in front of you.”
“Just cancel it.” Stacy sat back. “I think the second one is kicking in anyway.”
“Loose tongue, huh?” The server nodded and hustled off.
Stacy glared in his direction. “You know, he’s kind of a smart-ass, isn’t he?”
Titus laughed. “Stace, eat your shrimp before I snatch them from you.”
“Hey,” she protested as Titus made a grab for one. “Eat your own damn shrimp!”
They laughed, and Titus was glad to distract her from their previous conversation. Stacy knew almost everything about him, including the one subject he’d told her he never wanted to talk about again. And he was fairly certain she’d been on the verge of bringing it up. Usually, Stacy wasn’t such a talkative drunk, but then again, her margaritas were most frequently made with wine, not tequila.
The rest of their meal together was pleasant, and Titus made sure to leave a good tip. He and Stacy walked back to their condo, strolling along the moon-lit beach, chatting about inconsequential things. When they reached the foot of the steps leading to their rented place, Titus stopped. “I think I’m going to sit out here and watch the waves for a bit. Want to join me?”
“Nah, I think I’m going to go in, call Michelle, then pass out. Sheesh, my head’s spinning.” Stacy grabbed the banister.
“Let me help you upstairs.”
It was proof of how intoxicated she was that Stacy didn’t protest. He helped her get settled on her bed—she could undress herself once he was out of the room. “Call me if you need me. I’ve got my phone.”
Stacy grunted, and Titus left her to make her call. He trotted out through the door and down the steps, sighing as he reached the last one. He took his shoes off, set them on the flat part of the rail, then leapt off the last step and dug his toes in the sand. Something skittered off to his left. Titus figured it was a little sand crab. If it wasn’t, he didn’t want to know what it was.