Hard Pressed (Calm and Chaos #2)

Can absolution arrive in three little words?

When one man has the worst of reputations and believes any misfortune befalling him is deserved, it’s hard to feel worthy of love. Can absolution arrive in three little words? Journalist, Phillip Drake, is beginning to doubt the career he’s chosen, his motivation, his whole existence. Despite attempting a change of direction, his paper has informed him that’s not the sort of reporting they want. When an assignment arises -- to trail up and coming, and coming out, actor, Gary Caldwell, he’s well aware it’s his duty to dig for dirt… and when Caldwell seems less than co-operative, Phillip half-convinces himself he’ll be happy to do so. For Gary, the interaction is surprising -- Drake is not all that he seems. Despite trying to be cautious, Gary has always been attracted to the reporter and finds it difficult to maintain a distance. Something is going on with Drake -- not least of all the surprising revelation when Gary realises Drake is gay, and the attraction is mutual. After an intimate encounter, Drake disappears and Gary sets out to unravel a mystery that not only involves tracking down the reporter’s whereabouts, but may also explain why Drake has done the things he has, why Drake harbours more than a little self-hate and more than emotional scars, and why the one thing Drake doesn't believe he deserves -- love -- is the one thing he’s worthy of.