Bent Oak, Texas Series by Bix Barrow

Foster: Most cops would say flirting immediately after you’ve flashed your badge at a guy is a bad idea. But I can’t resist Craig, the pet resort owner I’ve come to interview. I mean, look at him in his wet jeans and… is that dog hair all over his chest?I’m dying to ask him out, but first I have to do this favor for my great aunt—okay she bribed me—and go on a blind date with the grandson of her frenemy... moreFoster: Most cops would say flirting immediately after you’ve flashed your badge at a guy is a bad idea. But I can’t resist Craig, the pet resort owner I’ve come to interview. I mean, look at him in his wet jeans and… is that dog hair all over his chest?I’m dying to ask him out, but first I have to do this favor for my great aunt—okay she bribed me—and go on a blind date with the grandson of her frenemy. But guess who shows up to rescue me with an outrageous cover story and a rhinestone dog collar? Craig: My last not-even-a-relationship ended badly. Like, go-to-therapy-for-two-years badly. But I can’t stop thinking about the hot cop who told me to call him if I had any questions. Trust me, there was an innuendo there.Running into Foster and helping him get out of his blind date reminds me how much I miss going out and having fun. And kissing. Really, the kissing. I think I’m ready to risk my heart and date again. But is Foster ready for the reputation he gets around the police station after my dog collar stunt? And am I ready to have his PITA grumpy best friend move into my guest room with no end date? And are either of us ready for how fast this relationship is moving? One thing I know for sure is that neither of us are ready for the guy with a gun in my house. Heart Me Up is a 62k MM romance filled with meddling friends, hurt/comfort, game nights, an uncomfortable couch, and dog accessories not used for their intended purposes.Heart Me Up takes place before the events in the rest of the Bent Oak, Texas series and can be read as a standalone. less

What happens when a smoking hot retired rock star finally decides to take a walk on the bi side?I have no idea. I panicked and tanked our date before I could find out.When I accidentally overheard Jake Lord, womanizing rock god with a d**k of legendary proportions, say he wanted to come out as bisexual, I never imagined I’d be the first man he’d ask to dinner... moreWhat happens when a smoking hot retired rock star finally decides to take a walk on the bi side?I have no idea. I panicked and tanked our date before I could find out.When I accidentally overheard Jake Lord, womanizing rock god with a d**k of legendary proportions, say he wanted to come out as bisexual, I never imagined I’d be the first man he’d ask to dinner. What could a famous musician want with me—a guy who’s so freaked by what happened on my last job that I’m working as a gardener to try to forget?I should’ve turned him down immediately, but he was so adorable—all nervous and awkward—I couldn’t stop myself from accepting his invitation.But after decades of the rock and roll life, Wesley doesn’t want to be “Jake Lord” anymore. He’s ready to be a dad, a homebody, a guy who rescues kittens. A man like that needs someone who’s got their s**t together. And that’s definitely not me.So I bailed before I was in too deep.Oops. Too late.I Touch Hoses is part of the Bent Oak, Texas series but is written so it can be read as a standalone. In the series timeline, this story takes place between Head Over Feels and We Don’t Need Another Santa.I Touch Hoses was formerly a bonus story offered to Bix Barrow newsletter subscribers. The story has not been changed. less

An MM Holiday Hitman Romance with Humor, Pets, and SuspenseOne retired hitman, one actor just out of rehab, and a Santa sack full of complicationsEven though I don’t need to pose as a third-grade teacher anymore, I stuck around to keep Seth, one of my students, and his brother Robin from being abused by their slimy stepfather... moreAn MM Holiday Hitman Romance with Humor, Pets, and SuspenseOne retired hitman, one actor just out of rehab, and a Santa sack full of complicationsEven though I don’t need to pose as a third-grade teacher anymore, I stuck around to keep Seth, one of my students, and his brother Robin from being abused by their slimy stepfather. It’s their lucky Christmas Eve when I find out Robin accidentally killed the jerk while protecting Seth, because who better to help them dispose of the body than a retired hitman-slash-operative?But Santa also delivers the boys’ uncle, famous actor and tabloid headliner Lucas McCord. I’m trying to decide if I can trust him with the boys’ well-being—and possibly my cold, withered heart—when an ill-timed photo has the press announcing I’m Lucas’ boyfriend and the key to fixing his reputation.The skills I honed in my former life are strangely useful navigating the perils of Hollywood, but when I come face-to-face with an enemy from my past, I’ll use every weapon in my arsenal to keep Lucas and the kids safe.We Don’t Need Another Santa is a low-angst, humorous holiday romance featuring a retired hitman, an actor trying to turn his life around, two kids in need, stray dogs, an inconvenient body, barbecued brisket, and beaver onesies.We Don’t Need Another Santa is a novella continuing the hitman’s story from What’s Santa Got to Do with It but can be read as a standalone. less

A bubbly audio narrator finally meets his crochet-influencer crush. If only he’d used his real voice...​Talk about a tangled web. Look, it wasn’t my fault – I wasn’t expecting to run into Mitchell.Okay, I was totally hoping to run into Mitchell, I just wasn’t prepared for it.He was sooo gorgeous, and he was right there in front of me. And while I’m great behind a mic, in real life, well, my brain got all spun up and I spoke in my character’s voice. My character’s high-pitched, squeaky voice... moreA bubbly audio narrator finally meets his crochet-influencer crush. If only he’d used his real voice...​Talk about a tangled web. Look, it wasn’t my fault – I wasn’t expecting to run into Mitchell.Okay, I was totally hoping to run into Mitchell, I just wasn’t prepared for it.He was sooo gorgeous, and he was right there in front of me. And while I’m great behind a mic, in real life, well, my brain got all spun up and I spoke in my character’s voice. My character’s high-pitched, squeaky voice. And when Mitchell asked for my name, I kind of told him the character’s name instead....[face palm of the century]I’m shocked Mitchell wants to date me, squeaky voice and all. I have to tell him the truth before things get even knottier.You think that’d be simple, but every time I try to tell him who I really am, my plan unravels. And the more I get to know the sweet man behind the videos, the more I’m hooked.But what if I tell Mitchell and he thinks I’m just spinning yarns?Voices Harry is a low-angst comedy of errors featuring a secret identity, a fanboying cat, meddling friends, inappropriate crochet projects, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.Voices Harry is related to the Bent Oak, Texas series and a few side characters have appeared in previous books. In the series timeline, the main action of Voices Harry occurs after We Don’t Need Another Santa. However, this story was written as a standalone.This story was originally published in the 2024 Candy Hearts Anthology. It has not been changed and is currently a bonus story offered to subscribers of Bix Barrow's newsletter. less