Hooked On You Read online

  Hooked on You

  K. Evan Coles

  Wicked Fingers Press

  Copyright © 2021 by K. Evan Coles

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book contains erotic material and is intended for mature readers.

  For information contact:

  http://www.kevancoles.com

  Book and Cover design by K. Evan Coles

  Edited by Beth Greenberg

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Bonus Scene

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by K. Evan Coles

  Summary

  What’s a straight guy to do when he falls for his new friend?

  Paramedic Connor Devlin is a stressed-out tower of a man. Hoping knitting will help him unwind, he visits a local craft shop, where he’s overwhelmed by the yarn selection but more so by his feelings for shop owner Judah.

  Judah Bissel is tired of falling for unavailable men. He can’t help his crush on Connor, though, or wanting to get closer to the big, gentle bear. And that just might spell trouble because pining for straight guys is not Judah’s style.

  As a blizzard pummels the city, the men hunker down together to wait out the storm. When the spark between them ignites, will the revelation that Connor feels more than friendship for Judah bring them together or tear them apart?

  Hooked On You is a 72.8K friends-to-lovers MM novel. It features a stressed-out paramedic who’s figuring out he’s not quite straight, a yarn shop owner with a bad habit of falling for unavailable guys, lots of knitting and snowdrifts, and a sweet, happy-sigh HEA.

  For my son, who makes me laugh every single day.

  Enormous thanks to Helena Stone, Randall Jussaume, Beth Greenberg, and Shelli Pates, who generously donated their time to help fix my words and improve my cover, and Barb Payne Ingram, proofreading ninja. You people give me life!

  All you knit is love.

  One

  Thursday, January 3

  You are in way over your head, buddy.

  Connor Devlin had never seen so much yarn. Literal boxes of it, cubbies stacked floor to near ceiling on the walls of Hook Me, a knitting supply shop in Boston’s North End and only a few blocks from Connor’s apartment. He’d walked by the shop dozens of times on his way to work but had never been inside it until tonight. And he had very little idea of what he was looking at other than so. Much. Yarn.

  Eyebrows drawn together, Connor peered into the cubby nearest him and its neat stacks of wooly bundles, vibrant hues ranging from deep rose to shocking pink. Movements tentative, he fingered one of the bundles, his frown growing deeper as he considered the colorful, organized chaos. Where the hell did he start?

  “Do you have a particular pattern in mind?”

  Connor almost jumped out of his skin. For a guy who stood six-foot-four, he’d always been easy to startle, a personality flaw many of his co-workers exploited with great glee. Forcing himself to take a breath and peel his shoulders down from around his ears, Connor turned to the guy who had appeared at his side. Still, his surprise must have shown because the guy’s face immediately scrunched up in a wince.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said to Connor. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

  “You’re fine,” Connor murmured, blinking rapidly as the guy’s lips quirked into a smile.

  Oh, crap. Fine was an understatement.

  This guy was nothing at all like the caftan-wearing ladies Connor had imagined working in this store. Mr. Hook Me was maybe five years younger than Connor’s thirty-two, with striking gray-green eyes and a Pride pin attached to the collar of his black shirt. He’d been behind the counter when Connor had walked in and Connor’s attention had been on the yarn. No chance of ignoring the guy now that they stood only a foot or two apart, however, especially with Mr. Hook Me smiling at him. Connor was abruptly glad he’d exchanged his Boston EMS uniform shirt and jacket for street clothes before leaving the station.

  Wait, what? What difference did it make what Connor wore?

  “I noticed you’d been standing here for a while,” the guy said, then gestured toward the wall of cubbies. “I thought I’d check in, make sure you were finding everything you need.”

  “Thanks.” Connor pushed his hair back over his shoulder, his cheeks on fire as he caught himself staring. He hoped his beard hid at least some of his blush. This guy looked like a film actor for crying out loud, all slim and sleek, his form graceful compared to Connor’s meaty body. Not that Connor should be thinking about Mr. Hook Me’s body. Or any man’s. Except he was. And why?

  Ugh.

  Shifting his focus back to the wall of cubbies, Connor cleared his throat. “I’m, um, honestly not sure what I need.”

  “Is that why you were talking to yourself?”

  “Say what now?”

  Mr. Hook Me’s smile grew a little wider when Connor glanced back, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “You said ‘Where the hell do I start?’ A question I hear often, by the way. People talk to themselves all the time in this store. I suspect it’s a knitter thing.”

  “Oh, I’m not a knitter,” Connor said. He looked away again, his face blazing hotter. He was making himself sound awfully stupid. Not to mention talking out loud to no one in a public place. “Or at least not yet. I wasn’t kidding when I said I have no idea what I need, though. I’ve never even held a pair of knitting hooks.”

  “They’re called needles,” Mr. Hook Me replied, his tone easy. “A hook is what you’d use for crochet, which is different from knitting entirely.” An encouraging expression crossed his face when Connor met his gaze. “Or maybe that’s what you want to do instead?”

  “I’m … not sure.”

  With a shake of his head, Connor glanced at the door. He could leave. Call this outing what it was—a mess—and go home and fix himself a sandwich for dinner. He’d only come in here because his coworker Olivia was convinced that a hobby would help wrangle some of Connor’s anxiety. He could find a different yarn shop. Maybe do some googling before he ventured in, and hope it was staffed with safe, caftan-wearing ladies who didn’t make Connor’s insides go both tight and melty when they smiled.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Mr. Hook Me said, his voice soothing. He cocked his head at Connor. “Can I ask what brought you in here tonight? That might help me understand what you’re looking to do.”

  Connor gave a terse nod. “Right. Well, like I said, I’ve never knit or done crochet before, so I guess I’m more looking to get started than anything else.”

  “That makes sense.” The guy’s forehead puckered, and a thoughtful air came over him. “Is there a project you’re looking to work toward once you understand stitches and the mechanics of needlework
?”

  “Yeah, actually. How did you know?”

  “Lucky guess. A lot of people have an idea in mind when they decide they want to learn to knit, be it a scarf or socks, or even a winter hat.”

  “I want to knit a baby blanket,” Connor blurted. He drew a rectangle in the air with his index fingers, then almost rolled his eyes at himself—what the hell was wrong with him tonight? “I’m not really sure what size would be best, though.”

  “No problem. We’ve got books of patterns that could be of help if you’d like to look through them.” Mr. Hook Me tipped his head in the direction of the counter.

  “That’d be great, thanks.”

  “Of course. Knowing what you’ll need to create your final project may help me too, so I can direct you to the right yarn or recommend specific stitches. I also have plenty of suggestions about how to get started with the learning part. Oh, man.” Bowing his head slightly, Mr. Hook Me set a hand over his heart. “I’m being super rude. I’m Judah and this is my place.”

  “Nice to meet you, Judah.” Connor shook the hand Judah extended. This guy was something. Confident but genuine, too, and so good at not making Connor feel like a big oaf. “My name’s Connor. I’ll take any advice you can give me on the learning and the blanket and whatever else I might need to know about knitting. Or crochet. Hah.” He huffed out a breath. “I’m sure I sound like a complete dope wandering in with zero idea of what I’m doing.”

  Judah gave a soft chuckle. “Not at all. People walk in here all the time with an idea of what they’d like to make and no concrete knowledge of what it will take to get there. It was a daily occurrence in the run up to Hanukkah and Christmas! That’s where I come in.” He gestured Connor toward the counter. “How about we get started with the patterns and go from there?”

  Thirty minutes later, they’d come to the agreement that Connor wanted to learn to knit and not crochet, at least for the time being. Judah had settled Connor in a big, overstuffed chair near the counter at the back of the store and Connor was paging through a book of patterns. Glancing up, Connor caught sight of Judah talking quietly with a customer, his expression bright and interested.

  It’s nice in here.

  Connor blinked, aware then of how heavy his eyelids had become. What the heck? Clearly, he was overtired, but he was in a yarn store, for crying out loud. While it might be cozy, what with the comfy chair and the chill house music, it was no place for a nap.

  Sitting up straighter, Connor flipped the page of the pattern book and stopped, sure he’d found exactly what he wanted. He got to his feet and walked to the register, intent on showing Judah the pattern once the man was free to talk, when an abrupt increase in noise drew his attention to the door. Several women of varying ages trooped in, chatting among themselves. They waved cheerily at Judah, calling out greetings as they approached him and his customer, but the conversations stuttered when they spotted Connor. The women’s eyes went wide then, and sudden smiles crossed their faces, two or three giving him a none-too-subtle once over. Connor quickly glued his gaze back on the book of patterns, heat licking along his cheeks again.

  “Please go on in and make yourselves comfortable, everyone,” Judah called out, much closer to Connor than he had been only moments before. “There is plenty of coffee and tea as well as some very nice cookies from our favorite bakery, and I’ll be down in a few minutes. How are you doing over here, Connor?” he asked in a quieter tone as he walked behind the counter.

  “Doing okay,” Connor said over the chatter rising from the women once more. Glancing up, he watched them head through a door to the right of the register and disappear from sight. A quick look around told him the rest of the shop was now empty and Connor checked his watch. Quarter to six? He’d been in Hook Me for nearly an hour. “What time do you close?”

  “Officially, we close at five-thirty,” Judah said. “We host classes and social circles in the basement most evenings, however, including tonight from six to eight. That’s what everyone who’s come in for the last five minutes is here for—socializing while they knit or crochet.” He raised his hand in greeting as another trio of women entered with a man just behind. The women did the same deer in the headlights upon noticing Connor, who turned his attention right back to the knitting pattern. “I’ll be right with you,” Judah said to the new arrivals.

  “Damn, I didn’t mean to stay so late.” Connor could almost hear Judah’s shrug as he replied.

  “No worries. You couldn’t have known and, obviously, other customers have been in. Besides, you were busy with your pattern hunting. Did you find one you like?”

  “I think so, yeah. What do you think?” Spinning the book around, Connor nudged it closer to Judah and watched him eye the pages with a smile.

  “This is an excellent choice. The garter stitch is not difficult to master at all—it’s the first stitch you’d learn as a knitter and once you’ve got it down, this pattern will go quickly. That said, you’ll be using two strands of yarn, so the blanket will be soft and squishy and super warm when it’s finished. Perfect for a baby.”

  “Great. I really like all the colors.” Connor ran his fingertip over the photo in the book, then pursed his lips. How the heck did you get purple, lilac, and pretty, soft green into one blanket? Before he could ask, the young man who’d just entered peeled off from the group and joined them, his eyes very like Judah’s though more brown.

  “Hey, bro,” he said to Judah. “Just wanted to say hi. Who’s your Viking friend here?”

  The tips of Judah’s ears turned pink. “This is Connor,” he said in a tone that held a lightly chiding note. “He came in tonight to shop for knitting supplies.” Judah looked almost abashed as he glanced back to Connor. “Connor, this is my brother Levi.”

  “Hello.” Connor nodded but Levi surprised him by quickly pulling off his gloves and thrusting out a hand.

  “Hiya.” Levi gave Connor a firm shake before letting him go. He tipped his head toward the nearby door as the women he’d walked in with disappeared through it. “You going down to hang with the knitting nerds, Connor? I keep telling Judah it’d be nice to have some dudes around on these nights to break up the estrogen-fest.”

  Connor made himself return Levi’s smile. “Uh, no. I don’t actually know how to knit yet.”

  “Meh, that’s okay. You could just join in for coffee, cookies, and gossip because, seriously, that is what the stitch-and-bitch is all about. You should sign up for the Knitting 101 class.” Levi gave Connor a knowing look. “People come in here all the time who can’t knit for crap, but once Judah and Molly get a hold of them, they find their inner skills.”

  Judah sighed. “I’m not sure you’re doing a good job of selling it, bro.”

  “Says you.” Levi made his eyebrows go up and down in an exaggerated manner that made Connor chuckle. “Anyway, I have homework and you should get down there before the circle goes all Lord of the Flies, Jude. You know what they can be like when you’re not around to make sure everyone plays nice with the cookie platter.”

  Judah let out a laugh. “I do. I’ll see you for dinner, okay?”

  “You bet.” Levi turned for the exit again but called back to Connor as he headed out. “Good meeting you, Connor—I’ll see you around!”

  “See ya, Levi.” Connor watched him go, then set his hands on his hips with a small frown. “Judah? How many classes does a person have to take if they want to master Knitting 101?”

  “There are four classes in the course, and each is two hours,” Judah replied. “Most people can knit a garter stitch proficiently by the end of their first class, though, and I know plenty who’ve taught themselves to knit by watching YouTube.”

  Connor bit back a groan as the door opened once more, admitting a twosome of teenaged girls, one of whom let out a noisy “damn” as she ogled Connor.

  “Jeez.” Judah looked as though he was trying not to lose it laughing and waved them on. “I’m sorry about that,” he said to Connor.
“As Levi said, we don’t get a lot of men in the circle, particularly not guys like you.”

  Connor pursed his lips, his stomach going tight. “Guys like me?”

  Judah’s expression softened. “You know you look a little like a real-life Thor, right? And the fact you might be even remotely interested in needlework … well, you must see how that might make an impression on a group of crafting nerds.” His small smile cut right through the awkwardness that threatened to overwhelm Connor.

  “Fair.” Connor said. “It’s not the first time someone’s …”

  “Admired you?” Now Judah smirked. “Yeah, that tracks.”

  Way to make yourself sound like a conceited ass.

  Connor chewed the inside of his cheek. He knew he wasn’t a bad-looking guy. He’d never understood why any woman would want to ogle him, though, and every time it happened, he just felt mystified and vaguely uncomfortable. Luckily, Judah seemed completely unfazed by the whole thing.

  “Back to your question about knitting class,” he said now to Connor. “New sessions start this week if you’re really interested in attending.”

  “I’m interested. I think it’d be good for me. I want to finish the blanket before my partner’s baby is born and I’m not sure I’ll be able to do that by watching videos.” Granted, Olivia wasn’t due for another five months, but Connor had no idea how long it’d take him to knit a potholder, never mind an entire blanket.