Table of Contents
Legal Page
Title Page
Book Description
Dedication
Trademarks Acknowledgment
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
New Excerpt
About the Author
Publisher Page
Ascension
ISBN # 978-1-78430-781-3
©Copyright Bailey Bradford 2015
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright September 2015
Edited by Eleanor Boyall and Rebecca Scott
Pride Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2015 by Pride Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
Southern Spirits
ASCENSION
Bailey Bradford
Book seven in the Southern Spirits series
Conner Sutherland never thought he’d meet the love of his life in the afterlife.
Conner Sutherland has been alone for a long time. He can’t remember the last time he even felt the desire to be touched by another man. Some time before his death, when he’d still been Laine’s lover. But Laine had found Severo years ago, and if any two people were meant for each other it was Laine and Sev. Where that leaves Conner, he doesn’t know, other than feeling lost and out of sorts.
He doesn’t want to think about the way he feels when he sees Ro—Rogelio, Sev’s nephew. Conner’s seen Ro grow from a pretty boy into a handsome man, but wanting him is foolish and useless. Ro’s got a life to live, and even if he does things that hurt Conner, that’s not Ro’s fault. He doesn’t know he entranced Conner long ago.
Ro has only ever wanted one man for keeps. It’s a pointless want, though, because Conner Sutherland is dead and too busy pranking Laine and Sev to notice Ro anyway.
But life and death have a way of surprising you, as Ro and Conner find out.
Dedication
This one wrenched my heart a bit, but it also made me smile. I hope y’all enjoy it.
Trademarks Acknowledgment
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Stetson: John B. Stetson Company
L’Oréal: L’Oréal U.S.A., Inc.
Google: Google Inc.
Jell-O: Kraft Foods
Chapter One
“Hey, Ro, can you get the pot holder for me?” Severo asked as he opened the oven door.
Rogelio Martinez plucked the mitts from the counter top and handed them to his uncle Sev. The heat from the oven wafted out and Ro stepped back, swiping at his brow. “Are they ready?”
“I think so.” Sev pulled out the bubbling enchiladas. The spicy scent of them filled the kitchen and Ro’s stomach gurgled with anticipation. Between the enchiladas and the tortillas, both homemade, he was about to drown himself in drool. He swallowed and greeted Laine as he came into the kitchen. “Hey, Uncle Laine, how was work?”
Laine took off his Stetson and held it in one hand as he walked over to Sev. The kiss they shared was brief but the love between the two men was evident in the way they leaned toward each other, and in their expressions.
Rogelio’s heart pinched with something uncomfortably like jealousy. He didn’t want to be ugly, and he didn’t begrudge his uncles their love. He just… He wanted a love like that for himself. Well, and another man, duh. As he watched Sev and Laine, Ro’s mind wandered to his fantasy man. Ro had pictured him so many times since he’d realized he was gay. Thick blond hair, stocky, muscular build, and a smile that promised all kinds of mischief.
Ro blinked and shook his head. The image forming in his mind wasn’t one of a man he’d ever actually met. It was of a picture he’d seen years ago when, as a teen, he’d gone snooping into Sev’s past. It had twined with Laine’s, and Ro had been a naïve and romantic young fool, so entranced by Sev and Laine’s love story that he hadn’t been able to think of much else.
“You gonna help set the table, kid?”
Laine’s deep rumbling voice snapped Ro out of his thoughts. “Yeah, sure.”
Ro took the plain blue plates down from the shelf and placed them on the table. It didn’t take him long to lay out silverware and glasses of sweet tea. Laine made up a batch of guacamole while Sev finished up the salsa. They sat down at the table once everything was in place.
Laine arched an eyebrow at him and pointed at the enchiladas. “Two or three?”
“Three.” Ro was thin as a whip but he could and did eat anything he wanted.
Sev sniffed at him. “I used to have that kind of metabolism. It’ll catch up to you, trust me.”
“I doubt that,” Ro said as he scooped some guacamole onto his plate. He was starving, but he could spare a moment to pick on his uncle. “You’re still in shape, and you’re getting old.”
Sev hissed and kicked him under the table. “I am not old, smart ass. And Laine’s older than me, anyway!”
Ro nodded and managed not to grimace as his shin took another kick. “Yeah, but Laine has always looked…” Ro waited for Laine to glare at him, then he sent Laine his sweetest smile. “Dignified.”
Laine snorted and muttered, “Dignified, my ass. Sayin’ I always looked old is what you’re sayin’.”
Ro hitched up a shoulder and shoveled a forkful of enchiladas into his mouth. He closed his eyes and moaned appreciatively as the hot cheese almost
