Chiseled Wood [Cedar Falls 19] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Read online

  Cedar Falls 19

  Chiseled Wood

  Welcome to Cedar Falls, a small North Carolina town nestled among the Smokey Mountains. Where the people are friendly and the men are hot.

  Kyler Prince is determined to find his place in this world. But with only the sheltered commune he grew up in as experience, his hope of finding somewhere he can fit in seems impossible. That is, until he ends up in Cedar Falls.

  Aaron Garnett has dark desires. After he meets Kyler, he fears the innocent man will run if Aaron ever shows him what he truly wants in a lover. But Aaron's just not sure he has the strength to stay away from Kyler.

  Can Kyler convince Aaron that his desires run just as dark, or will Aaron feel the risk is too high to give him a chance?

  Warning: Interference from well-meaning friends may lead to uncontrollable laughter, especially when a mini-Jesse is introduced.

  Genre: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Contemporary

  Length: 43,151 words

  CHISELED WOOD

  Cedar Falls 9

  Shea Balik

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  CHISELED WOOD

  Copyright © 2017 by Shea Balik

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-302-3

  First Publication: May 2017

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  Everything in my life has led me to you. My choices, my heartbreaks, and even my regrets. Everything. With you, my past was worth it. For, if I had done one thing different, I never would have met you.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Shea Balik has always had a vivid imagination with stories running around in her head. Often her stories are taken from observations of other people with her own spin. Traveling is one of her favorite ways of fulfilling her passion of people watching. You never know, one day you may spark her imagination for her next book.

  Whether at home or traveling, she is usually in front of her computer writing or curled up with a good book.

  E-mail:

  [email protected]

  Blog:

  www.sheabalik.blogspot.com

  Facebook:

  www.facebook.com/shea.balik

  Twitter:

  @BalikShea

  For all titles by Shea Balik, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/shea-balik

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  About the Author

  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

  Epilogue

  Landmarks

  Cover

  CHISELED WOOD

  Cedar Falls 9

  SHEA BALIK

  Copyright © 2017

  Chapter One

  Pieces of white paper napkins littered the table like snow as Kyler Prince anxiously waited for an interview he just knew would end in the same disastrous way all the other interviews had. He just didn’t understand what was so wrong with him that he couldn’t manage to get a simple job.

  This time, if he didn’t get hired, Kyler honestly wasn’t sure what he’d do. He’d spent his last dime getting to Cedar Falls, North Carolina from Southern California. He was starting to think his mother was right; he wasn’t meant to live out in the world.

  Then again, the small commune he’d grown up in didn’t seem to fit either. That seemed to be the central theme running through Kyler’s life—not fitting in.

  The commune promoted thinking about the community as a whole when pursuing a job. That had never sat well with Kyler. He wanted his own life. To live on his own, make his own decisions, get a job that didn’t entail giving back to the community and, most importantly, finding that one person who would always put him first.

  The bell above the door rang out and Kyler’s anxiety rose even higher in fear. He didn’t know what Jesse Grant looked like, so anyone entering the bakery where they were to meet could be him.

  “Thank God there isn’t a line,” a man said, stumbling in wearing the highest platform boots Kyler had ever seen. He was wearing a bright cobalt blue coat that went to his mid-thigh, matching the boots perfectly. Kyler was used to bright, bold clothing as most of the residents of the commune liked to express themselves with what they wore.

  What startled Kyler was the way the man seemed to fall onto the counter with enough drama to command the attention of everyone within the bakery. There were times he wished he could be as expressive, but Kyler had always been too much of an introvert to pull it off.

  “If I don’t get my caramel macchiato in the next sixty seconds, I just might die,” the man said.

  Kyler wasn’t sure if he was serious or not, as he certainly seemed about ready to collapse. Yet, it seemed unlikely anyone would actually die if they didn’t get coffee. Didn’t it?

  The woman behind the counter laughed. “You aren’t going to die.” But Kyler noticed she went to work making the dramatic man’s drink.

  “Yes, I am. Lily has an ear infection and was up all night screaming her head off.” The guy started gesturing with his arms, but because his upper body was still sprawled across the counter, his hands kept hitting the glass top. “I swear that girl has a set of lungs on her that could shatter glass.”

  Brenda, if Kyler had remembered the woman’s nametag correctly, shook her head. “Speaking of glass, if you break that glass you’re lying on top of, Zane will never forgive you for ruining all those pastries he spent the morning making.” Brenda gestured to the display case with just about every assortment of pastry one could dream of that the man was resting on.

  If Kyler had more than five dollars to his name, he would have ordered one as they had set his mouth to watering with their enticing aroma.

  “Less talk, more making my macchiato,” the man said.

  Brenda set the cup on the counter close to the man’s head. The guy inhaled deeply, a smile forming on his lips. “Ahh,” he said. “Heaven.”

  After a sip, the man said, “I’m supposed to meet someone
here for an interview. Is there anyone from out of town here?”

  Oh God. This is Jesse Grant.

  There was no way someone as carefree and ostentatious was going to like Kyler. He was too straight laced and uptight. He tried to hold in the groan of dismay, but it was too strong to keep silent.

  Jesse turned at the sound and stared at him. Black mascaraed eyes highlighted with blue eye shadow narrowed on him. Jesse took another sip of his coffee, making slurping noises that seemed a bit much. When he was done, Jesse gave a big sigh that seemed to fill the entire bakery.

  As if he were an actor in a play, Jesse pasted a smile on his face and sauntered over to Kyler. “Are you Kyle Price?”

  Kyler started to nod, but then realized Jesse got his name wrong. “Kyler Prince,” he corrected automatically as he stood to greet Jesse.

  Jesse waved a hand as if dismissing Kyler’s correction. “Close enough.” Then Jesse stuck out the hand not holding his coffee cup, palm side down.

  Kyler had no idea what to do. He’d never seen anyone shake hands like that. In the end, he slid his hand into Jesse’s and awkwardly shook it. Instantly a look of disappointment crossed Jesse’s face.

  Great.

  It had taken less than a few seconds and he’d already blown it. Not only that, but once more Kyler had no idea what he’d done wrong. When was he going to catch a break?

  If only he had the courage to ask. But Kyler was just too timid. Another reason he hadn’t fit in the commune. Everyone there had purpose and would do whatever it took to succeed, while Kyler had none. The only thing he was good at was plants. There was nothing he couldn’t grow.

  He also had a knack for arranging flowers. Which was why running a flower shop would be perfect for him. He knew his flowers, having grown up tending the commune’s gardens, and Kyler had a flair for arranging them into artful displays that had sold well at the various craft fairs where the commune sold their handmade goods.

  “Did you want a coffee?” Jesse asked when he noticed Kyler only had a cup of water in front of him. “I assure you, Sweet Buns makes the best coffee you’ve ever had.”

  “I actually don’t like coffee,” Kyler admitted.

  Jesse had been in the process of taking off his coat and froze to stare at Kyler in horror. “I’m sorry. Did you just say you don’t like coffee?”

  “Yes,” he told the stunned man.

  Kyler’s shoulders dropped. Strike two. He should have just said he hadn’t wanted any right then, or he’d already had one, something, anything other than admitting the truth to a man who had clearly loved coffee.

  “Please tell you aren’t one of those British tea drinkers, are you?” Jesse said with a hint of desperation in his voice.

  Kyler wasn’t sure why it was so important to Jesse that he didn’t drink tea, but thankfully he didn’t. He shook his head. “No. I’ve never had a taste for anything but water or fresh squeezed juice.”

  That had been mostly because of his mother. She used to talk for hours about the damage putting any kind of chemical, including caffeine, into his body. They were only allowed fresh fruits and vegetables along with meat from the animals they had raised at the commune. Nothing processed or inhumanely slaughtered was allowed to be consumed by anyone at the commune. Although, Kyler had seen some of the members indulge in fast food when they went to the craft fairs where they sold their goods, but he’d never told his mother.

  “Oh,” Jesse nodded a little too enthusiastically. “That’s okay then. Just so long as you aren’t one of those pretentious tea drinkers, we should be fine.”

  Kyler had no idea what Jesse meant by that, but at least he had one of his strikes back.

  When Jesse took his coat off, he revealed a cobalt blue long sleeved T-shirt that matched his coat perfectly. Kyler had no idea how the man managed to get his boots, coat, and shirt in matching shades of blue. Then he read what was on the front of Jesse’s shirt in stark white lettering and frowned. “Sweetie, leave the sarcasm and insults to the pros. You’re gonna hurt yourself. Go play in traffic.”

  He didn’t get it. Before he could stop himself, Kyler asked, “Why would you suggest anyone play in traffic?” Too late he realized his mistake in speaking before thinking.

  Jesse’s mouth dropped open as he stared at Kyler as if he were some sort of alien. Maybe he was. It would explain why he never seemed to know what to say or do around others.

  Then Jesse started laughing, his hand slapping the table in front of him, nearly causing his coffee to slosh over the sides. “Oh, that was funny.” One of Jesse’s hands reached across the table to take a hold of his forearm. “I can tell I’m going to like you.”

  Kyler wasn’t sure what to think of Jesse’s statement. No one had ever said that to him. Most just rolled their eyes in disgust and sent him on his way. As Jesse continued to laugh, Kyler found himself smiling back. He still wasn’t sure what had caused Jesse to like him, but Kyler was happy it had happened.

  “Come on,” Jesse said as he stood and put his coat back on. “Let’s go over to Nice ‘N Rosy and see what you can do with floral arrangements.” Jesse gave him a wink. “Assuming those pictures you sent were really yours, I’m making you my new manager.”

  Kyler frowned. “Who else’s pictures would they be?”

  Jesse’s laughter started all over again. “Oh, Kyler, you are too funny,” Jesse said as they headed out of Sweet Buns.

  As glad as he was that Jesse seemed to like him, Kyler really wished he knew what he said that was so funny. But when Jesse grabbed hold of his arm and started tugging him across the street, Kyler had no time to worry about what he had or hadn’t said. He was just terrified for his life as horns started to blare and tires squealed when angry drivers had to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting them.

  Suddenly he began to wonder about Jesse’s sanity. Between the shirt and racing across Main Street not even caring that there were cars coming, it was obvious Jesse didn’t seem to understand the dangers cars could create. As if to prove his point, Jesse waved at the cars with a big smile on his face as if the honking horns were greeting him instead of warning him to get out of their way.

  “Hey, Jesse.” A man with long hair that cascaded down his back and the cutest dimples when he smiled came out of a shop right next to the one Jesse stopped in front of. “I figured those had to be for you. I don’t suppose you noticed if Zane had any cinnamon rolls left?”

  “You know how people like saying hello to me, Kit,” Jesse said as if he really believed those horns had in fact been a greeting.

  The guy had to be delusional. It was the only explanation. Kyler wasn’t sure if he should run as far away as he could or stay. If he had any other options, he would most likely have chosen the former, but without money or prospects, he didn’t have much choice but to stick it out. Plus, he had the added advantage of Jesse seeming to like him. How often in his pathetic life had that happened?

  “But I’m not sure about the cinnamon rolls. I was practically dead until I got my first sip of coffee.” Jesse took another sip from his cup with a relieved sigh.

  Suddenly, Jesse seemed to remember he was there. “Oh, I almost forgot. Kit, this is Kyler. He’s going to manage Nice ‘N Rosy. Kyler, this is Kit. He is the best hair stylist around.”

  Jesse eyed Kyler critically. “He could probably even fix that mess on your head into something more presentable.” Then he turned back to Kit. “You should make Kyler an appointment as soon as possible. Maybe even stay late tonight so he doesn’t feel embarrassed when he meets the rest of the gang.”

  Maybe Kyler should have been upset at Jesse’s statement about his hair, but he’d learned long ago he was as plain as they come. He wasn’t ugly, but he also wasn’t pretty. His thick dark hair had some red highlights in it that should have looked nice, but instead made him appear…well, blah. It didn’t help that his hair refused to cooperate when anyone tried to style it.

  Then there were his glasses. He’d tried to wear conta
cts a few years ago, but he found himself unable to stick his finger in his eye, no matter how hard he tried to make it work. The fact was, Kyler had accepted his average, boring looks long ago, so Jesse’s words didn’t hurt—much.

  Kit scowled at Jesse. “Kyler has great hair. He just needs a trim and, lucky for him, I just had a cancellation for four this afternoon,” Kit told Kyler. “Why don’t you come in then?”

  If only he could. “I spent all my money just to get here for this interview. I don’t have enough to pay you.” He hated having to admit that, but Kyler didn’t believe in lying either.

  Kit waved him off. “Consider it a welcome to Cedar Falls gift.”

  Kyler opened his mouth to refuse, but Jesse changed the subject. “You can always call Sweet Buns about those cinnamon rolls if you don’t want to walk over there,” he told Kit.

  But Kit shook his head. “It’s probably better if I don’t. It’s taken me a long time to shed those fifteen pounds. I wouldn’t want to put them back on.” Kit turned to head back into the door he’d come out of, but called over his shoulder, “I’ll see you at four, Kyler.” Then he was gone before Kyler could stop him.

  “Come on,” Jesse said as he unlocked the door to his store. “Let’s see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

  Kyler was confused. “But I thought I was going to arrange flowers?” This was an interview after all.

  He only ended up more confused when Jesse laughed once more as if he’d just heard the funniest joke. “You and I are definitely going to get along just fine.”

  Kyler wasn’t sure that was true, but if it meant having a job he could only pray Jesse was right. He just wished he knew what he kept saying that was so funny.