Title: Starting Strong

Author: Lou Kelly

Publisher: Kindle Unlimited

Release Date: November 1, 2023

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 265

Genre: Romance, MM Romance, Sport Romance

Synopsis

Can a closeted football superstar and a small-town sheriff make their relationship work?

When Kieran McKinney moves from being a third-string backup to becoming the starting quarterback for the Birmingham Hammers, he thinks all his dreams have come true. He finally has the support of his team, and he’s moved from being despised to becoming a fan favorite. But being cast as the face of a franchise comes at a cost. Kieran must work with a new, cut-throat PR specialist who’d like nothing more than to come between Kieran and Travis, and the more popular Kieran gets, the more his position places him in the spotlight. As the season progresses, the stakes only get higher both on and off the field. Will success in his career cost Kieran what he values most?

Travis Harris loves his boyfriend and he’s thrilled when the rest of the world finally catches on to what Travis has known all along: Kieran is incredible. He’s kind, talented, and drop-dead gorgeous. Now that Travis has come out to his family, there’s nothing to keep them apart, right? When the pressures of fame impact Travis’s family, their support starts to erode. Add in a national scandal, Kieran’s emotionally abusive grandfather, and too much time apart, and the strain threatens to destroy what once seemed unstoppable.

• This MM Romance is a sequel to the novel Backup Plans, but it could be read as a standalone. It has a HEA and no cheating. This book features an older/younger couple, hurt/comfort themes, found family, kitten rescues, fanatic football fans and a hot couple experimenting in the bedroom!

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Travis Harris was daydreaming. Again.
He’d learned the hard way that it was quite possible for his body to exist in one world, carrying out his duties as town sheriff, entertaining his large, raucous family, or taking care of tasks around his lakefront property, while his mind wandered someplace else entirely. Someplace that didn’t hold the constant ache of missing his boyfriend.
He imagined Kieran was upstairs in bed, his naked body sprawled out, languid in an afternoon nap. He’d be sleeping face down, his gorgeous ass on display, his soft lips parted, and his blonde hair tousled against the pillow. It would be easy for the fantasy to lead to sex – Travis kissing his way down Kieran’s back until he could trace the crease of his ass with his tongue.
Kieran’s soft moan as he woke, his back arching and legs spreading just enough to let Travis inside …
Instead, Travis imagined kissing the corner of Kieran’s mouth, soft and gentle, while running his fingers through his lover’s hair. He imagined Kieran waking with the soft smile that was reserved just for Travis. Imagined whispering an endearment that would make Kieran melt, and the way Kieran would pull him down for a real kiss. The way his eyes would crinkle in the corners afterwards as he grinned.
He missed the sex – god, did he miss the sex – but it was the softness he missed the most.
Those moments when it was just the two of them in their own private world. That’s what he was longing for when he heard the familiar ringtone that he’d designated as Kieran’s. He hit the green button so fast the phone nearly flew off the kitchen counter.

“Hey Babe. I was just thinking about you.”
“Travis?” Kieran’s voice was breathless on the other end. “It’s me!”
Travis had been shaping burger patties for his family barbecue the next day, but now he stopped, wiped his hands, and chuckled. “You think I don’t recognize your voice after almost a year together? I’ll admit it feels like forever since you left for training camp, but –”
“No. I mean … wait. Hold on. I’m in the locker room. Let me get someplace quieter.” There was a shuffling noise, and then Kieran was back again, sounding even more excited than before. “What I meant was … it’s me. I’m the starting quarterback!”
For a moment, Travis couldn’t form a response. His boyfriend was going to be the starting quarterback for the Birmingham Hammers NFL team for a second season? Kieran had been battling with the previous year’s first round draft pick, but Travis hadn’t actually thought that Hammers management would choose him. Not that he didn’t have faith in his boyfriend’s abilities, but Darryon, Kieran’s rival, was so polished. He’d been a college football star, a first-round draft pick, and he was a favorite with both the fans and the press.
Kieran? Not so much. “Travis? Are you there? Did you hear what I said?”
Travis shook himself. “Yes! I heard you. I just … baby, that’s incredible! When did you find out?”
“Just now. Coach called me into his office. He said they’ve been impressed with my performance during the pre-season. Londre and I synch together on the field, and Darryon has been struggling after the injury. I’ve been working my ass off, and now with Quinton gone …”

Kieran sounded exuberant, and Travis wished he were there to scoop him into his arms. Swing him around. Kiss the hell out of him. The perpetual ache in his gut was back, but a laugh bubbled out nonetheless. “That’s amaz–”
“Travis,” Kieran breathed. “I thought for sure they’d go with Darryon. The press adores him; the fans root for him. Why the hell would they choose me?”
“Whoa. Enough of that,” Travis said. “They know talent when they see it, and no one reads the field like you do. You can run the ball, your arm is incredible.” He paused. “Along with many other parts of you.”
Travis could clearly envision those parts, bare and sweaty after they’d worn each other out, but he suspected those memories were far from Kieran’s mind. In the background, he could hear voices, laughter, and loud music. The noise made it hard to feel like they were connecting.
Could Kieran even hear him? “Where are you?” Travis asked, pushing the burgers aside and leaning his large frame against the kitchen counter.
“Locker room. I just got out of the meeting. I haven’t even told Londre yet. Wanted to call you first. Coach is going to tell the team.”
“I’m so damn happy for you. This is your year, Kieran, and you’ve earned it.” In the background, Kieran’s response was muffled by nearby voices. “Sorry? What was that?”
“I said you’ve earned the starting position. I’m proud of you.”

He could imagine Kieran’s bashful grin, hair sweaty from a day of practice, his blue eyes shining with excitement. Travis’s throat caught and he swallowed hard.
“I miss you.” Kieran’s voice was quieter now, trying not to be overheard by the other players in the locker room.
“Miss you, too. I love you. I know you can’t say it back right now, but I still want to say it. I love you, and I can’t wait until you’re home.”
“Same.” There was a long pause, and then Kieran cleared his throat. “I have to go, but I’ll talk to you more tonight. There’s going to be a press conference tomorrow, and then we break camp after that.” God. Those words were music to Travis’s ears. Felt like an eternity since he’d held Kieran in his arms. His fantasy from earlier made him ache even more, and he had to shut the images out before they took his breath away. His house had never felt so lonely, and considering he’d been on his own for seven years prior to meeting Kieran, that was saying something. He cleared his throat. “Good luck with the press conference. I’ll get the family together to watch. We’ll be cheering you on.”
Kieran groaned. “I don’t know if that’s a smart idea. You know I’ll fuck it up, just like I always do.”
Travis’s one-eyed cat, Peyton Manning, jumped up on the counter and swished his tail, trying to lick the hamburger. “You’ll be fine,” Travis said, moving the cat. “This is a happy occasion. The media won’t be there to ambush you.”

“Yeah right. They’re always out to ambush me.” Kieran huffed. “Did I tell you our PR firm didn’t renew their contract for this season? They probably got tipped off that I would be the starter. Me as the face of the franchise? I’m sure that was their idea of hell.”
“I doubt it had anything to do with you.” “Sure. Because PR firms walk away from multi-million-dollar contracts all the time.” A crash sounded in the background. “Anyway, the Hammers have hired this new firm, and everyone says they’re total sharks. The guys are making bets as to whether they’ll be able to turn around my sorry reputation. Odds are against me.”
“Hey, don’t–”
“What?” Kieran hollered to someone. “Okay. On my way.” Then he was back with Travis. “Sorry, but I really do have to go.” “I heard. Congratulations. Can’t wait to celebrate with you.”
“Me too. Not long now.” “See you soon.”
The call ended and Travis was left standing alone in his empty house. Well, not quite alone. The cat and his hound dog, Brett Farve, were there for company, but that hardly compared to having Kieran in his arms. Travis might be a tough town sheriff, but he missed snuggling.
Missed the younger man’s head tucked perfectly under his chin when they stood chest-to-chest.
Missed his boyfriend’s warmth beside him in bed. During the off season, Kieran had kept his apartment near the stadium in Birmingham, but he’d spent almost all of his time at Travis’s home in the deep woods. Travis’s property was private and spacious with acres of land and a gorgeous view of the lake. They’d gotten used to taking long, evening walks together and sleeping late on the weekends when Kieran took a day off from working out and studying film.
The idea that football players did nothing during the off season might be accurate for other players, but it hadn’t been true for Kieran. The only real difference was that he’d done his workouts and studied film on his own time instead of at the stadium. And no games, of course.
Still, it had felt luxurious not to have the pressure of the season.
No traveling. No media.

But then training camp had arrived and Kieran had packed his bags and driven off for a month of seclusion with his team. They’d agreed it would be easier if Kieran stayed at the hotel during his day off each week – he was exhausted and slept all day anyway – and Travis had opted not to attend any of the practices that were open to the public. It would be torture to finally see his boyfriend but then have to stand around pretending to be nothing more than buddies while the other men kissed their wives and girlfriends. Too risky given the tiny window of time it would have bought them.
Besides, Travis knew how important it was for Kieran to earn the starting position, and he understood that would take complete focus and total dedication. So, they’d sacrificed. They’d stayed apart and Travis had watched the pre-season games on television like everyone else. He’d supported his boyfriend from afar, and now it had paid off.
Travis ran one hand through his short hair, then over the dark stubble on his jaw. The cat jumped back up on the counter and Travis scratched under its chin. “Guess what? Kieran’s going to be starting quarterback.”

The cat purred.
“You miss him, don’t you? I know, I know. That’s okay because he’s going to be home soon and then life can get back to normal.” Beside him, Brett Favre woke with a start and let out a loud woof. “Yup. I know. You miss him, too. This hasn’t been the greatest month, has it? But that’s about to change. One more day and then training camp is officially closed. We can make it one more day, right boys?”
Peyton Manning jumped off the counter and batted Brett Favre on the nose. The dog was mostly blind, so his attempt to bark at the cat resulted in him bonking his head on the kitchen cabinet.
Travis sighed. One more day until Kieran was back in his arms

Lou Kelly loves a good romance. Having honed her skills as an author through a decade of writing and publishing, she discovered m/m fiction and fell in love. What does she like best? The slow burn.

“No insta-love for me. I adore a well-developed full-length novel with characters who are believable and sympathetic. My favorite relationships are the kind where suppressed desire sizzles with sexual tension struggling for release. Give me a strong Alpha male who has to fight for his mate, or enemies who are shocked when hate turns into love, or a mysterious stranger who doesn’t want his secrets revealed … I crave books that keep me up past my bedtime.”

When she isn’t writing, Lou Kelly loves to travel. Sadly, most of her traveling these days happens between the pages of books, but top on her wish list is a trip to Greece. Followed by New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, and Iceland. *sigh* Someday she hopes to explore them all. Until then, you can find her reading!

Lou Kelly loves her fans, so please visit her on Goodreads: Lou Kelly or Facebook: Lou Kelly

Or e-mail your questions or comments to: loukellyromance@gmail.com

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