Book excerpt: Only Love Matters includes eight best-selling favorites from J.D. Walker about men searching for a connection. Whether it's a jaded bus driver, mechanic, bookstore worker, or a stressed-out single parent, these men won't give up until they get what they want. Because in the end, only love matters. Contains the stories: Being Fitz: Fitz is worn out by users, an unforgiving bus route, and life, in general. When he stumbles over a dead body in the park, things can't seem to get much worse, until he meets Detective Holland Simms. Arrogant and infuriating, Fitz is at once at odds and intrigued by Simms, who seems to be interested in him, surprisingly. Can he make a new start? Deliver Me: Life for Daniel Carter is filled with teaching freshmen and delivering pizza. His one bright spot comes in the form of Julius Tanner, a nice guy who would never look at Daniel twice. When Julius needs help, Daniel steps in and finds out that Julius is even better than he could have imagined, and his dog is ridiculously cute. How can he ever measure up? So Into You: Llewellyn "Llew" Dane is a workaholic obsessed with paying off his student loans as quickly as possible. Even the luscious eye-candy presented by Marc Temple won't divert him from his goal. But working with Marc makes it hard to hide his feelings, and Llew's self-doubt almost ruins the start of something between them, because Marc is interested, too. It may be up to Marc to take the next step. More Than a Suit: Tobie: Tobie Mendez wants to make VP in five years and nothing will distract him from his goal. Except, perhaps, Malcolm Jones, the hunky new head of the Acquisitions department. Malcolm wants to train Tobie for a senior position, but he doesn't anticipate the attraction that flares between them. In the end, they have to decide if the risk to their jobs is worth taking a chance on each other. Crank Me Up: Marius tolerates Xavier only because his daughter is best friends with Xavier's niece. But when Uncle Cranky insults his intelligence, Marius snaps back. Xavier surprises him by offering an apology and an invitation to dinner. Marius decides to give Xavier another chance, and they end up with a lot more than they bargained for. Crank Me Down: Xavier McDay and Marius Rabineaux have been together for a year, and Marius wants to take things to the next level -- marriage. Sherie and Tonya, Marius' daughter and Xavier's niece, are definitely rooting for the men, too. When Marius proposes, Xavier happily accepts. Now all they have to do is find a house for four, plan the wedding, and survive the honeymoon. He's So Heavy: One look at Thorn Blackstone and Bill Cascade wants him for his own. Problem is, Thorn is trouble on two legs and Bill can recognize someone going downhill, fast. Hell, he's been there. Bill's offer of help is rebuffed by Thorn, but when he shows up on Bill's doorstep, he doesn't hesitate to help. Why? Thorn is the love of his life and Bill would do anything for him. Even let him go, if he had to. The Artist's Mechanic: Logan Winston poses as a model for an art class and meets Wayne Rodriguez, an art teacher who turns Logan's world upside down. Problem is, between low self-esteem and bad choices, mistakes are made and both men have a hard time making things work. Is friendship all they have, or will they find a love they never expected?