This version is no longer available; new lightly-edited version released Nov 14, 2021 Tony Hart's life has been quiet lately. He has good friends and a rewarding teaching job. Then the murdered body of another teacher falls into the elevator at his feet, and Tony's life gets a little too exciting. Jared MacLean is a homicide detective, a widowed father, and deeply in the closet. But from the moment he meets Tony's blue eyes in that high school hallway, Mac can't help wanting this man in his life. However Mac isn't the only one with his eyes on Tony. As the murderer tries to cover his tracks, Mac has to work fast or lose Tony, permanently.

_alternate cover edition of [ASIN B005DOWX8U](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/000000) Please note: This edition only contains 1 short story._ In Life Lessons, MPD detective Mac and high school teacher Tony decided that a closeted relationship was worth the risks and difficulties. Now they are briefly separated for the holidays by Tony's trip to visit his family. Tony on a Florida beach contemplates the joys and stresses of their hidden life, while Mac in the Minnesota snow handles a murder case that hits close to home. And in the evening, over the phone, they try to touch each other with words.

Re edit and rerelease of two Life Lessons short stories in a combined edition. In Life Lessons, MPD detective Mac and high school teacher Tony decided that a closeted relationship was worth the risks and difficulties. These stories follow that first book. And to All a Good Night - story 1.5 - The guys are briefly separated for the holidays by Tony's trip to visit his family. Tony, on a Florida beach, contemplates the joys and stresses of their hidden life, while Mac, in the Minnesota snow, handles a murder case that hits close to home. And in the evening, over the phone, they reach out to each other with words. Getting It Right - story 1.8 - For Mac, noticing Valentine's Day has meant buying his little daughter Anna something pink, and then forgetting about it. So he's blindsided by the thought that maybe Tony feels differently. Maybe Tony thinks they should do something for each other on Valentine's this year. But Mac has no clue what. Tony is trying to teach Mac about being a couple, one detail at a time. And for Tony, Valentine's Day may turn out to be an opportunity for another interesting lesson.

This free short story comes between "And to All a Good Night", and "Breaking Cover." For Mac, noticing Valentine's Day has meant buying his little daughter Anna something pink, and then forgetting about it. So he's blindsided by the thought that maybe Tony feels differently. Maybe Tony thinks they should do something for each other on Valentine's this year. But Mac has no clue what. Tony is trying to teach Mac about being a couple, one lesson at a time. And for Tony, Valentine's Day may turn out to be an opportunity for another interesting lesson.

For homicide detective Mac, it's been a good year. Having Tony to go home to makes him a better cop and a better person. For Tony, it's been hard being in love with a man he can't touch in public. Evasions and outright lying to friends and family take a little of the shine off his relationship with Mac, but Tony is determined to make it work. As the Minneapolis Police Department moves into a hot, humid summer, Mac is faced with a different challenge. A killer has murdered two blond women, and the police have no real clues. Mac hates to think that another murder may be the only way they'll make progress with the case. But when that murder happens, it hits close to home for Tony. And suddenly Mac faces an ultimatum: come out into the sunlight and stand beside Tony as his lover, or walk away and live without a piece of his heart.

Mac and Tony thought the hard part was over. They’re together openly as a couple, sharing a home and building a life with their two children. It’s what they dreamed of. But daughter Anna struggles with the changes, Ben is haunted by old secrets, Mac’s job in Homicide still demands too much of his time, and Tony is caught in the middle. It’s going to take everything these men can give to create a viable balance between home and work. Especially when the outside world seems determined to throw obstacles in their way.

This is a Life Lessons short story, occurring a week after Home Work (\ contains spoilers for Home Work\). Mac, Tony and the kids have had a long complicated year. Each of them has dealt with fears and losses, joys and triumphs. As December 31st approaches, it's time to look forward to the new year, and what may be in store. Mac and Tony figure whatever happens, they can handle it, as long as they go through it together

Mac is afraid he'll never recover enough to go back to being a cop, while Tony is afraid that he will. Three months after being shot, Detective Jared MacLean is healing, but he's afraid it may not be enough to go back on the job. He won't give up, though. Being a cop is written deep in Mac’s bones, and he'll do whatever it takes to carry his badge again. Tony used to wish he could have Mac safely home, but watching his strong husband battle disabilities is far from Tony's dream come true. When Mac is asked to consult on a case involving one of Tony's students, both men will have to face old demons and new fears to find a way to move forward together.

A short Life Lessons coda posted on the author's site. note: This short story is also included in [The Distant Hills and Other Stories](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77535194.TheDistantHillsandOtherStories "The Distant Hills and Other Stories")._