Bridge has been thinking about and dreaming about Eric since the rodeo season ended. With the next season about to begin, when Bridge sees Eric again, he knows he wants to explore what might be between them. Eric is afraid to believe Bridge is interested in him in any permanent way. He thinks Bridge might only be curious. But the two begin to explore what is the heat between them. Will it work out? Is Bridge only interested in exploring? Can Eric let go of his past?

I enjoyed this story. I liked Bridge and Eric. I wish Eric were not so stuck in his past as it will mess up his future. I liked the acceptance Eric found with the friends and can appreciate him not wanting to lose it if things don't work out with Bridge. I was not happy with the pain Eric inflicted on Bridge. I was glad I got my HEA, it was fraught for a while there.

Looking forward to reading the next book. ( )

The second book in [a:L.C. Chace]'s Pickup Men series tells the story of Pickup Man Bridge Sullivan and EMT Eric Palmer.

Bridge, despite a single male hookup in collage he brushes off as an experiment, has always been straight, but ever since he met Eric, he finds himself drawn to the man. When he starts having erotic dreams about Eric, he starts to seriously consider the possibility that he could be gay, or at least bi-sexual. The next time he sees Eric at a rodeo function (they do not live in the same area) he plans to discuss this with him.

Eric, who has always been gay, has a big 'ol "everyone who has ever said they loved me has left me" chip on his shoulder. When Bridge expresses his feelings, Eric must decide if the possibility of losing Bridge's friendship, along with the friendship of their five man tight-knit circle of friends, is worth being Bridge's "gay experiment."

There it all is in a nutshell. We get to watch as Eric introduces Bridge to the joys and wonder of seriously hot gay sex, and let me tell you, it was smokin'! Bridge was almost too perfect, but damn, gotta love a sweet, hot, well mannered cowboy who only has eyes for one man. Eric's woe-is-me attitude grated on my nerves a bit, but I understood that plot point to move the story forward and bring these boys to their explosion of angst, which was painful and heartbreaking, but made their HEA taste so much sweeter.

I did read the first book in the series, but I honestly don't think you'd need to read it to understand what is happening here. As long as you understand that Bridge, Marty and Kent all grew up together on neighboring farms and are best friends that work the rodeo together, you'll be fine. And here is an explanation of a pickup man.

I can highly recommend this book to M/M romance readers, especially those that enjoy gay-for-you and cowboys. This one was delightful, romantic and the epilogue was sappy sweet perfection. ( )

3.5 ( )