I find it somewhat strange that I, a woman over 60 years old, really enjoy stories about college age men and women, but that’s the way it is and I loved Out in the Deep. I have several books by Lane Hayes in my digital TBR pile (I’m a one-click addict) but this is the first one by her that I’ve read.

Derek and Gabe both love water polo and they play for different schools so they have a somewhat adversarial relationship going on. When Derek learns that Gabe is transferring to his school and team he’s not happy. Derek’s coach makes certain that he understands he has no choice but to get along with Gabe; as team captain it’s his responsibility to set a good example for the other players.

When anger gives way to something else the explosive chemistry between the two of them can’t be denied. Neither of them really wants to come out. Derek is afraid that it will hurt Gabe’s Olympic goals and he’s also not really ready to deal with the fallout that might happen.

Lane Haye’s writing is wonderfully descriptive. I could feel the tension between Derek and Gabe when they were adversaries and I could also feel it when their relationship changed and went through its various stages.

I love a story that gets all of my emotions involved and Out in the Deep did just that. I shed more than a few tears for these two guys who were afraid to let their feelings for each other show. I also love a good epilogue and Lane Hayes delivered that as well.

I am really looking forward to reading the next story in this series. Out in the Deep is a complete story with an HEA. There were good secondary characters but none that seemed likely to need their own story; I suspect that the remaining books will also be standalone stories.

Reviews for Lane Hayes

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Maybe I just needed a good night’s sleep. It had been a long day. And a weird one. I could never have dreamed up a scenario featuring Gabe Chadwick in my house after this morning. But here he was.I gave him a thorough once-over as he walked into the kitchen. And again, the first thing that crossed my mind was, “Wow, he’s really fucking hot.”

“Nice place.”

“Thanks. Do you want some water or something?” I asked, awkwardly pointing at the fridge.

“No, thanks. I’ve had enough tonight,” Gabe replied with a laugh.

I should have said good-bye then and escorted him to the door, but I had a strong desire to keep him talking and maybe dispel the weird admiring thoughts going through my brain. Yes, Gabe was a good-looking guy, but I shouldn’t be fixating on his long eyelashes and the way the kitchen light framed him in a halo of sorts. I couldn’t let him go until my brainwaves returned to normal, and he was the same annoyingly smart and talented opponent I’d played against occasionally for years. The thing was, I didn’t really know him and at that moment, I wanted to.

“Where do you live?” I asked.

“About fifteen minutes away. I scored an apartment by campus. I have one roommate. Brent’s a volleyball player. We might get a third to cut expenses, but I don’t want to share a room, so that’ll be up to him.”

“Sharing a room gets old fast. Evan and I knew we wanted to live together, but I’d probably smother him in his sleep if I had to listen to him snoring every night a few feet away from me,” I said in a lame-ass effort to keep him talking.

Gabe chuckled. “That would be rough. Evan seems like a cool guy. Is he as neat as you? This house is spotless.”

“No, that’s all me. I can’t help it. I have a thing about order. Evan’s a slob. You should see his room. At least he tries in shared spaces. I don’t bug him about his unmade bed, scattered clothes, and random dishes he leaves on his nightstand as long as he keeps the bathroom and kitchen tidy. He’s been on the receiving end of a couple of classic Vaughn meltdowns,” I said with a self-deprecating shrug.

“A Vaughn meltdown,” Gabe repeated. “That must be a version of what I experienced this morning when you tried to drown me.”

“Fuck off.” I laughed, then looked away quickly when a rush of heat flooded my cheeks. Oh, my God. Please don’t let me blush. Not now. He’ll know something’s wrong with me.

Gabe stepped closer to me and cocked his head. “Are you blushing?”

Great.

“I don’t blush.”

“Whatever you say.” He winked and gave me a mischievous smile that turned me inside out.

This couldn’t be happening.