Monarch Season

Devin Santos knows success is in the details: in the furrows of cobblestone abs, the thread count of Egyptian cotton sheets, the patina of iron window casements left purposely to rust. Add it all up, however, and something’s missing. The cracks are beginning to show in his relationship with domineering i-banker Charlie Doherty, and no amount of chalky Venetian plaster can obscure them. When a neighborhood admirer appears alongside his best friend Jude at the Pines ferry terminal, Devin is at first unimpressed. But Frank Duma is confident, clever, and shameless in his pursuit of Devin. The cat-and-mouse, hot-and-cold relationship that develops will change both their lives forever.

About the Author: Mario López-Cordero is a journalist and currently the senior editor of Veranda. His writing has appeared in New York, Travel + Leisure, and Martha Stewart Living; he previously held staff positions at Elle Decor, Harper’s Bazaar, and House Beautiful. He lives in New York City.