Title: Rules of Play
Series: The Script Club #2
Author: Lane Hayes
Publisher: Lane Hayes
Release Date: July 16, 2021
Length: 53K
Genre: Romance, Brother’s Best Friend, Geek/Jock, Friends to Lovers, Bisexual-awakening, Contemporary MM Romance
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Synopsis
The genius, the mechanic, and a new playbook…
George-
My brother’s friend is hot. If you’re into flannel-wearing lumbersexual former jocks who eat donuts for dinner and still scribble to-do lists on their palms. I’m not. I’m a serious scientist in my final of grad school. Okay, I admit I have few quirks of my own. I also have a broken truck and a boss who thinks I can help him find love. I’m in over my head. Help!
Aiden-
A few quirks? Really? George the weirdest dude I know. He wears capes in public, brings a book everywhere he goes, and loves all thing spooky. He’s also the smartest person on the planet—who somehow thinks I can help him write a How-To-Get-A-Date playbook for his boss. Yeah, that sounds suspicious. I know baseball; I don’t know anything about love. But I can’t say no. I’ve always had a soft spot for George. I just didn’t count on falling for my best friend’s nerdy brother. This is against the rules, isn’t it?
Rules of Play is an MM bisexual awakening story where opposites attract and shenanigans ensue!
“Why not do this the easy way? Tell Susie that Newton likes her and wants to ask her out.”
George frowned. “We’re not in junior high, Aiden, and I’m no matchmaker. Besides, I never see Susie at the lab. We work different shifts. I signed up for helpful hints to land a date. That’s it.”
“You’re very wise.”
“Am I, though? Look at me. I’m eating a hot dog and freezing my ass off at a baseball game,” he snarked.
“And you love it. Admit it,” I cajoled, tickling his side.
George grumbled but didn’t put up much of a fuss when I wrapped my arm around him.
He leaned against me with a contented sigh that made my heart lurch in my chest as if I’d just crested the top loop of a rollercoaster. The potent combination of thrill and fear rendered me speechless.
Which was probably how the coach felt when the first baseman dropped a fly ball, setting up a scoring opportunity for the other team. The stands erupted as the runner rounded second and raced toward third base.
And me? I sat as still as possible, soaking in George’s warmth.
George sat up, crinkling his brow in bemusement. “What is happening?”
Talk about a loaded question.
I smiled, noting his messy mop of hair and pinkened cheeks from the evening chill. His goth-slash-science-nerd vibe was always strong, but at that moment he looked so damn…sweet and sexy. I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair, pull him against me, and ravish him. I wanted to be naked and sweaty. I wanted to feel his cock, I wanted his mouth on mine, and yeah…I wanted to fuck him.
But we were at a baseball game, taking notes for someone else’s date. We were in the midst of a dance I didn’t know the moves to. We didn’t have a groove or a rhythm yet. We were careful with each other and trying not to be, but I could tell I wasn’t alone in this.
“The pitcher threw a wild ball and while the catcher was scrambling for it, the runner on second stole third base.” I was pretty damn distracted by him at the moment, so I was honestly somewhat amazed at my observational prowess.
“You lost me after pitcher and catcher,” he snorted, snuggling closer to me for warmth.
“That was how I felt when I was googling gay sex,” I replied, unthinking.
George jolted upright. “Ahh. You mean like…”
“Who bottoms, who’s on top.”
I made a lewd hand gesture in a last-ditch effort to cling to adolescent humor as if my residual immaturity were an excuse for my awkwardness. Casually discussing sex with the guy I’d been obsessing over was a bad move. I scanned the field, hoping to come up with a topic change just as George cleared his throat.
“Ahh. And um…what role could you maybe see yourself playing?”
“Definitely a pitcher.”
“Would you ever be a catcher?”
I stared at the pitcher, intently watching as he pulled his throwing arm close and lifted his left leg, coiling his body as he prepared to spring into action. Strike one.
“Maybe. Which do you prefer?” I rasped.
“Catcher.”
“Ah. I see.” Gulp. My jeans were already constricting my balls, and now I was aching all over. But I couldn’t seem to shut up. “Why…catcher?”
“ ’Cause I like dick,” he replied matter-of-factly, meeting my eyes with that familiar mischievous look that turned me inside out.
We held a long stare. Challenge, heat, desire, and need rippled between us. The usual thread of easy humor was present too, ready and waiting. I could bail at any second. I could make a joke, he’d go along with it, and we’d be safe again.
Fuck safe.
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Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, and 2018-2019 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a not quite empty nest.
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Did you miss book 1 in the series? Get Following the Rules at Amazon
The geek, the jock, and a new set of rules…
Also available in Audio
