The 13th Month

Author

Pride Publishing books by Bailey Bradford

Single Titles

Breaking the Devil

Dark Nights and Headlights

Texas and Tarantulas

Belt Buckles and Cowboy Boots

Something Shattered

Yes, Forever

Southwestern Shifters

Rescued

Relentless

Reckless

Rendered

Resilience

Reverence

Revolution

Revenge

Reluctance

Renounced

Retrograde

Southern Spirits

A Subtle Breeze

When the Dead Speak

All of the Voices

Wait Until Dawn

Aftermath

What Remains

Ascension

Whirlwind

Love in Xxchange

Rory’s Last Chance

Miles To Go

Bend

What Matters Most

Ex’s and O’s

A Bit of Me

A Bit of You

In My Arms Tonight

Where There’s a Will

My Heart to Keep

Leopard’s Spots

Levi

Oscar

Timothy

Isaiah

Gilbert

Esau

Sullivan

Wesley

Nischal

Justice

Sabin

Cliff

Mossy Glenn Ranch

Chaps and Hope

Ropes and Dreams

Saddles and Memories

Fences and Freedom

Riding and Regrets

Broncs and Bullies

Hay and Heartbreak

Vaqueros and Vigilance

Spotless

Hide

Hunt

Home

Heart

Coyote’s Call

Off Course

In from the Cold

Blue Moon Rising

Valen’s Pack

Run with the Moon

Exodus

The Vamp for Me

My Life Without Garlic

Don’t Stake My Life on It

Sunshine is Overrated

Don’t Drink the Holy Water

The Trouble with Mirrors

That’s One Cross Vamp

City Shifters

Bearly There

Harey Situation

Mystic Tattoos

One Too Many

Power

Exchange

Submit

Dominate

Calendar Men

Mr. January

Mr. February

Mr. March

Mr. April

Mr. May

Mr. June

Mr. July

Mr. August

Mr September

Mr. October

Mr. November

Mr. December

Yes, Forever

Yes, Forever: Part One

Yes, Forever: Part Two

Yes, Forever: Part Three

Yes, Forever: Part Four

Yes, Forever: Part Five

Mossy Glenn Ranch

Chaps and Hope

Ropes and Dreams

Saddles and Memories

Fences and Freedom

Riding and Regrets

Broncs and Bullies

Hay and Heartbreak

Vaqueros and Vigilance

Antholgies

What’s his Passion?: Unexpected Places

What’s his Passion?: Unexpected Moments

Racing Hearts: The Lonely Ones

Calendar Men

THE 13TH MONTH

BAILEY BRADFORD

The 13th Month

ISBN # 978-1-78651-701-2

©Copyright Bailey Bradford 2019

Cover Art by Erin Dameron-Hill ©Copyright January 2019

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

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 2019 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

Book thirteen in the Calendar Men series

Marco’s ex destroyed him, but one man won’t let him give up on life.

Marco was the original photographer from the Calendar series. He’s almost died more than once thanks to his ex-wife, Evan. It’s been a struggle to survive, but Ezra, his best friend, has been by his side and isn’t disgusted by his scars.

And maybe it’s time Marco stopped fighting the feelings he’s had for his friend all along.

Dedication

To Cherri, may all our tears be ones of joy.

Trademark Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

The Princess Bride: Act III Communications

Google: Google, Inc.

Starbucks: Starbucks Corporation

Chapter One

Quantum, Inc. was bustling, the employees excited about all the new contracts and projects in various stages of development. As the owner of the company, Ezra Harrington should have been just as excited, should have been celebrating along with his employees and enjoying the catered lunch he’d had brought in.

Instead he was sitting at his desk, wondering how long he needed to stay before he could leave without causing too much of a fuss. He was the boss, after all, and he used to be at Quantum, Inc. more often than anywhere else. His company had been his home, but all that had changed when his friend Marco Chacon had almost died.

Ezra?

Ezra blinked, coming back to himself. He’d been staring out of the wall of windows behind his desk, though he hadn’t seen anything. His mind had been elsewhere. Turning around, he plastered on a smile he hoped looked sincere. When he saw Albert Washington standing in the doorway, Ezra didn’t have to fake happiness. Albert was one of his favorite employees. Albert, come in and have a seat.

Albert entered the office. His suspenders were a pale lavender, and he wore a matching bow tie. The baby blue color of his shirt went well with both. Maggie said you wanted to see me?

Ezra waited until Albert sat in the chair closest to the desk before replying. Yes. As you know, the motherboard you designed has put Quantum, Inc. at the top of the field. We have more contracts than we can handle, though HR is handling that issue, and financially, Quantum, Inc. is projected to be one of the most profitable companies in the United States next year. A lot of that is due to your contribution, so I wanted to offer you a promotion to development manager, and you’re getting a nice raise whether or not you want to accept the promotion. Merry Christmas.

Albert’s eyes were wide behind the lenses of his glasses. "A p-promotion? And a raise?"

Yes, Ezra said, feeling something that made him light up inside. It took him a moment to realize it was happiness. It had been a long time since he’d experienced that particular emotion without some trepidation attached to it. Yes, indeed. Thanks to you, this company is one of the most sought-after techs around. A ten percent raise is in order, and not unfair. You’ll also earn two percent of net sales on the motherboard you designed. If you accept the management position, there will be additional perks, including financial. I want you to take some time to think about the offer, though. You’ve got a week off with Lance. If you can give me an answer after that?

Albert bobbed his head. Yes, yes, I can do that. It’d be more hours?

Ezra winced. Well, yes, but you’d have more paid vacation days. I would do my best to balance that out for you.

Okay, I’ll talk it over with Lance and get back with you the first week of January. Thank you, Ezra, for everything. Albert cleared his throat then tugged at his bow tie. Um, how is Marco? I heard he had pneumonia again—but that came from someone in the office, and I wanted to ask you myself. You know how gossip goes.

Often wrong. Ezra leaned back in his chair. Not this time, however. Marco was in the hospital briefly. He came home six days ago and is still recovering, though he’s doing much better. It wasn’t pneumonia this time, but some bacterial infection that the doctors feared would lead to sepsis. Luckily, he’s going to be fine. I hope. God, please let him finally get to recover. It had been one health crisis after another for Marco for almost a year.

Good, good. You know, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I didn’t want to call Perry and ask about the rumor I’d heard, didn’t want to upset her, especially while she’s on that fashion shoot in Versailles. Albert smiled. She’s got contract offers coming in daily now that the charity calendar has been such a hit. Some of the guys have been contacted by talent agencies, too. The calendar itself has raised so much money for the children’s cancer fund, there are already plans to do another one. Well. Anyway. Thank you, Ezra.

You’re welcome. I hope you decide to do whatever is best for you, and if that happens to be what’s best for Quantum, Inc. that’d be great, but if not, we’ll be all right. Ezra stood and walked out from behind his desk as Albert got up. Thanks for asking about Marco and not just running wild with a rumor. He’s had a traumatic year, what with Evan trying to murder him twice, the skin graft surgeries then all the health complications from those surgeries and such. I hate that he’s the subject of gossip.

Any time I can be of help, let me know. Albert shook his hand, then left the office.

Ezra watched through the inside window, waiting until Daria got up and stood at a makeshift podium to start announcing the winners of the raffle drawings. The company holiday party was always fun to attend, but Ezra just couldn’t hang around this year. He slipped away without anyone noticing and drove home a little faster than he should have. This wasn’t the first time he’d been away from Marco—it wasn’t like he could stay by the man’s side twenty-four-seven—but the latest health scare had terrified Ezra. He felt like he’d been living on the edge of a deadly precipice for almost a year, and he was worn down in a way he couldn’t describe.

Except that there was no security or certainty anymore. He used to think he knew how his life would go—very successful businessman, good boss, good person, adventures few people got to take and, eventually, a love that would last through thick and thin—but now he knew nothing was set in stone.

Ezra focused on driving. One car