Positive Raleigh

The Lonely Heroes Series, #5

Raleigh 'Nemo' Wallis

"Positive."

That was the first thing I remembered when I thought about my time in the Navy as a SEAL on Team Two.  There were many missions and assignments during my time in service, but that one word would define my Navy experience and shape the course of my life until I finally died.* *

In the beginning, I didn't think my death could come soon enough. After I thought things through, I made the decision to live a celibate life so nobody had to hear the word for themselves because of me and one stupid decision I'd made years ago I couldn't take back. Some things were irreversible.  It was a hard lesson to learn, but I swallowed the bitter pill and tried to move on.* *

I'd suffered a lot of loss in my life, and for so many years I felt as if I was the black cloud in everyone else's lives, so I did my best to stay detached from people, while still effectively doing my job.  That was until I was hit with the dreaded "dying wish" from one of the few people I allowed into my heart.

That wish was the reason I became reacquainted with Benji Hoffman, a family friend from years ago.  I had no clue when I began protecting him while he was on the campaign trail he would be the one who would make me rethink my solitary life.  One question I couldn't reconcile in my mind was how I could love him and not kill him?

o-0-o

Benjamin Hoffman

Running for the U.S. House of Representatives wasn't a childhood ambition.  I was a lawyer by trade because it was the family business, but the opportunity to run for the General Assembly came up, and my best friend and partner-in-crime from our childhood encouraged me to run.* *

When I won the seat, I thought that would be as far as I'd go in politics.  Unfortunately, a sitting representative in the House was accused of spanking a member of his staff, and the man was forced to step down, retiring under the auspices of failing health.  Once again, I found myself on the campaign trail, only this time, it seemed as if someone was working behind the scenes to undermine me.

My financial director detected issues with my campaign account, and when my campaign office in my hometown went up in flames, I knew I had a problem on my hands.  Getting my backside kicked at a quick stop after a campaign rally had me saddled with something I never thought I'd need…a bodyguard in the form of my childhood crush, Raleigh Wallis.  How could I survive being with that man every day and not die of longing for him?

Raleigh had the stone-cold persona down, but he took my safety seriously.  Was it because he actually cared about me, or was it because someone he loved cared about me?  If I could get him to trust me enough to open up, maybe we could be friends?  God knew I wanted a lot more, but it seemed as if I was alone in my yearning.  I knew I loved Raleigh Wallis from the time I was fifteen.  Were his protective instincts toward me based on something more than a self-inflicted sense of obligation?

Please Note: This book contains material which may be offensive to some readers, and deals with difficult themes including character deaths and HIV/AIDS.  It includes graphic language, violence, adult situations, and descriptions of sexual activity between two, consenting adult males.  This fictional story is intended for adults over 18 and is approximately 96,000 words in length.  It is the fifth book in "The Lonely Heroes Series." I hope you enjoy it.