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In at the Deep End
Owen swore he’d never love again. Matt never got the memo.
Matt Daley thought the summer would be simple. A dissertation to finish, then figuring out what comes next after his master’s. When Owen Lane, his dad’s best friend from his university days, moves in next door and offers him a paid gig maintaining the pool and garden, it feels like an easy yes. What Matt doesn’t plan on is Owen himself—fifty-two, silver-haired, broad-shouldered, confident, and openly gay.
And Matt discovers very quickly that curiosity can be a dangerous thing when the man teaching you is this tempting.
Owen hires Matt for the help, not the way he fills out a pair of shorts or how the summer sun turns his skin golden. He did not expect Matt’s curiosity, or the slow burn of attraction that crackles between them as days stretch long and hot. Conversations turn intimate. Boundaries blur. Desire simmers just beneath the surface.
Until it doesn’t.
What starts as a summer job becomes an exploration of desire, trust, and firsts, and the more time Matt spends with Owen, the harder it becomes to pretend it’s only about sex.
One summer could change everything.
If they can survive what happens when casual stops being enough.
One summer. One pool. Two men about to dive headfirst into everything they want—but are afraid to claim.
Matt Daley thought the summer would be simple. A dissertation to finish, then figuring out what comes next after his master’s. When Owen Lane, his dad’s best friend from his university days, moves in next door and offers him a paid gig maintaining the pool and garden, it feels like an easy yes. What Matt doesn’t plan on is Owen himself—fifty-two, silver-haired, broad-shouldered, confident, and openly gay.
And Matt discovers very quickly that curiosity can be a dangerous thing when the man teaching you is this tempting.
Owen hires Matt for the help, not the way he fills out a pair of shorts or how the summer sun turns his skin golden. He did not expect Matt’s curiosity, or the slow burn of attraction that crackles between them as days stretch long and hot. Conversations turn intimate. Boundaries blur. Desire simmers just beneath the surface.
Until it doesn’t.
What starts as a summer job becomes an exploration of desire, trust, and firsts, and the more time Matt spends with Owen, the harder it becomes to pretend it’s only about sex.
One summer could change everything.
If they can survive what happens when casual stops being enough.
One summer. One pool. Two men about to dive headfirst into everything they want—but are afraid to claim.
- GenresM M Romance
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2026
About the author
K.C. Wells
152 books1,895 followersK.C. Wells lives on an island off the south coast of the UK, surrounded by natural beauty. She writes about men who love men, and can’t even contemplate a life that doesn’t include writing.
The rainbow rose tattoo on her back with the words 'Love is Love' and 'Love Wins' is her way of hoisting a flag. She plans to be writing about men in love - be it sweet and slow, hot or kinky - for a long while to come.
If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT
You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: https://www.kcwellswrites.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/k.c.wells
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-c-w...
And for those who like things a little hotter?
There's KC's alter ego, Tantalus, who writes gay erotica.
The rainbow rose tattoo on her back with the words 'Love is Love' and 'Love Wins' is her way of hoisting a flag. She plans to be writing about men in love - be it sweet and slow, hot or kinky - for a long while to come.
If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT
You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: https://www.kcwellswrites.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/k.c.wells
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-c-w...
And for those who like things a little hotter?
There's KC's alter ego, Tantalus, who writes gay erotica.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 18, 2026
I have to admit I read this in pieces between other books and I felt like there was too much conversation at the beginning that wasn’t between the MC’s so I jumped a bit ahead but not much. I finished the last half of the book today though.
I liked the budding relationship between Owen and Matt and even though there’s a huge age gap Matt is mature for his age and I never felt that age gap was an issue.
I think I had the most problems with outside interference from Matt’s dad. I’m glad there wasn’t a huge blowup here from Matt’s parents but I could’ve done without the parents being so involved.
September 12, 2026
This is a delightful romance between two kindred spirits who just happen to have a 27 year age-gap. Owen is a 52 year old man who was able to retire early after a successful career in the hotel industry. He lost the love of his life six years before to illness and he doesn't expect to find that kind of love again.
Matt lives next door and is a 25 year old man who is finishing his thesis for his Master's degree. His father was a college best friend of Owen, but they had lost touch over the years. When Owen mentions to his friend that he needs gardening and pool help over the summer, Matt is suggested as the perfect temporary employee.
The two men quickly feel very comfortable with each other and share many interests. Their journey toward love takes a few twists and turns, but is well worth it. Recommended!
Matt lives next door and is a 25 year old man who is finishing his thesis for his Master's degree. His father was a college best friend of Owen, but they had lost touch over the years. When Owen mentions to his friend that he needs gardening and pool help over the summer, Matt is suggested as the perfect temporary employee.
The two men quickly feel very comfortable with each other and share many interests. Their journey toward love takes a few twists and turns, but is well worth it. Recommended!
September 9, 2026
In At the Deep End by K.C. Wells. It is a sweet story about Matt and Owen. Owen believed that lightning only struck once when he married Ben and he did not think it should happen to him again. Matt, a student home from university to work on his dissertation, never expecting that a summer job would turn into something so life changing. I loved this story so much from the first meeting to the end you can feel the love that grows between them both so naturally and lovely. My heart sighed when Owen found out that lightning doesn’t have to strike twice but love can just settle in quiet and comfortable like a soft blanket. KC wrote a beautiful, love story showing all the parts of one’s life to bring them to a moment of surprise and happiness.
September 9, 2026
This was simply a wonderful story.
Not as fluffy as I expected but with real heart, emotional depth and fantastic well-developed characters. Plus a good dose of spice.
Age gap is one of my favourites tropes and K.C. managed that wonderful. I never had the feeling that the age gap between those two was too big, no matter if one of them was in their mid-twenties and inexperienced and the other quite experienced and in their fifties.
Matt was probably the character that surprised me the most. He was an old soul, you can't name it any other way. And I think that is the biggest reason why their relationship just worked. Two puzzle pieces that never knew they needed each other and yet made a beautiful picture together.
I loved how unapologetic and himself Owen was especially in regards to sex. And that he never saw Matt as beneath him or as a stupid kid because of his age or inexperience.
I was rooting for those two right from the start, no matter if it was just casual or not. I thought I recognised how perfect they fit and if they'd give it a chance how they would find something both hadn't expected – or known that they needed it.
There's a time where Owen made me want to shake him and try to get him to see sense. What helped me was remembering myself that I was reading a romance and needed to believe in KC and the way of the story XD
But I won't spoil it, it's best for you to discover it yourself.
This story managed something I love when reading: it caught my interest right at the beginning - when Owen moved and discovered an old friend was his new neighbour - and then held it. I did not want to stop reading and lost myself in this tale, happily skipping along and watching them discover freedom, happiness, friendship and yes, love together.
Definitely a recommendation from me!
Not as fluffy as I expected but with real heart, emotional depth and fantastic well-developed characters. Plus a good dose of spice.
Age gap is one of my favourites tropes and K.C. managed that wonderful. I never had the feeling that the age gap between those two was too big, no matter if one of them was in their mid-twenties and inexperienced and the other quite experienced and in their fifties.
Matt was probably the character that surprised me the most. He was an old soul, you can't name it any other way. And I think that is the biggest reason why their relationship just worked. Two puzzle pieces that never knew they needed each other and yet made a beautiful picture together.
I loved how unapologetic and himself Owen was especially in regards to sex. And that he never saw Matt as beneath him or as a stupid kid because of his age or inexperience.
I was rooting for those two right from the start, no matter if it was just casual or not. I thought I recognised how perfect they fit and if they'd give it a chance how they would find something both hadn't expected – or known that they needed it.
There's a time where Owen made me want to shake him and try to get him to see sense. What helped me was remembering myself that I was reading a romance and needed to believe in KC and the way of the story XD
But I won't spoil it, it's best for you to discover it yourself.
This story managed something I love when reading: it caught my interest right at the beginning - when Owen moved and discovered an old friend was his new neighbour - and then held it. I did not want to stop reading and lost myself in this tale, happily skipping along and watching them discover freedom, happiness, friendship and yes, love together.
Definitely a recommendation from me!
September 20, 2026
Owen, determined never to love again, finds his resolve shaken when Matt — his old friend’s son — takes a summer job caring for his pool and garden. What starts as curiosity and blurred boundaries turns into a slow, simmering connection neither man can ignore. One summer becomes a journey of desire, trust, and unexpected feelings, pushing them to admit that casual isn’t enough and that what they’re building might be worth claiming forever.
This was a lovely, slow‑burn romantic story, even if Owen and Matt had to cope with outside interference that fed straight into Owen’s fears. I really enjoyed that Matt’s gardening expertise balanced their age gap and gave them the perfect reason to spend long stretches of time together. Owen offering Matt a quiet space to finish his master’s dissertation was another gentle touch that made their growing closeness feel natural and earned. I especially loved how Owen created a safe, open environment for Matt to talk about his sexuality and learn about safe practices, while Matt focused on how things worked emotionally in a romantic relationship. The result was a thoughtful, tender connection between two men figuring out what they wanted and how to trust it. The story was full of emotions and feelings that were easy to understand and easy to feel right along with them — a warm, heartfelt read. This was an MM story with mature content.
This was a lovely, slow‑burn romantic story, even if Owen and Matt had to cope with outside interference that fed straight into Owen’s fears. I really enjoyed that Matt’s gardening expertise balanced their age gap and gave them the perfect reason to spend long stretches of time together. Owen offering Matt a quiet space to finish his master’s dissertation was another gentle touch that made their growing closeness feel natural and earned. I especially loved how Owen created a safe, open environment for Matt to talk about his sexuality and learn about safe practices, while Matt focused on how things worked emotionally in a romantic relationship. The result was a thoughtful, tender connection between two men figuring out what they wanted and how to trust it. The story was full of emotions and feelings that were easy to understand and easy to feel right along with them — a warm, heartfelt read. This was an MM story with mature content.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Don't be fooled by the blurb thinking this is a fun and steamy summer read. This book is a great love story with two characters who discover more than they ever thought they needed.
It's an age gap of 25+ years, so don't be surprised. It's also a slow burn, a journey of discovery for Matt who never thought of him being anything but straight with no real interest in a physical relationship and Owen who thinks that having loved once is enough for him.
Yes, it will be steamy, it's after all a K.C. Wells' book. But there is so much more than these two heating up the sheets (couch, desk, lounger...). She writes a young man with an old soul who is not afraid to ask for what he wants. Matt is still finding his way in life when Owen moves next door but he definitely is the one pushing for the attraction becoming physical.
Owen thinks casual is what he needs, a summer fling while Matt is at home, a chance to teach and to enjoy. But he didn't anticipate the feelings which sneaked in.
There is some angst and if these two and especially Owen would have talked, then I wouldn't have had to worry and wanting to shake some sense into Owen. But I knew the author wouldn't let me down.
There is acceptance, a group of friends I really want to know more about.
It's an age gap of 25+ years, so don't be surprised. It's also a slow burn, a journey of discovery for Matt who never thought of him being anything but straight with no real interest in a physical relationship and Owen who thinks that having loved once is enough for him.
Yes, it will be steamy, it's after all a K.C. Wells' book. But there is so much more than these two heating up the sheets (couch, desk, lounger...). She writes a young man with an old soul who is not afraid to ask for what he wants. Matt is still finding his way in life when Owen moves next door but he definitely is the one pushing for the attraction becoming physical.
Owen thinks casual is what he needs, a summer fling while Matt is at home, a chance to teach and to enjoy. But he didn't anticipate the feelings which sneaked in.
There is some angst and if these two and especially Owen would have talked, then I wouldn't have had to worry and wanting to shake some sense into Owen. But I knew the author wouldn't let me down.
There is acceptance, a group of friends I really want to know more about.
September 11, 2026
I love a good age-gap story with interesting dynamics and constructs, and that is what KC gives us here. A fresh start for a brokenhearted man (Owen) and a summer job for a student (Matt) turns into a beautiful romance in KC Wells’s latest release.
Owen is older, wiser, and a little jaded, while Matt is younger but truly an old soul. As their friendship/relationship progressed, it was easy to see how well they fit together. An unlikely friendship with unexpected openness and honesty was the hook here and I was definitely reeled in. I loved the path of them getting to know each other, and when their relationship crossed over into something more, I loved how they embraced their intimacy and dove in.
I did find myself frustrated with lack of communication and immature behavior on both parts when summer came to an end, but it did come from each of them wanting the best for the other, and it didn’t stop me from rooting for them, wanting them to work out in the end, and it certainly didn’t stop the big smile on my face when they figured it out and found their way.
With a wonderful, well deserved HEA, this one gets five stars from me and goes to the re-read pile.
ARC
Owen is older, wiser, and a little jaded, while Matt is younger but truly an old soul. As their friendship/relationship progressed, it was easy to see how well they fit together. An unlikely friendship with unexpected openness and honesty was the hook here and I was definitely reeled in. I loved the path of them getting to know each other, and when their relationship crossed over into something more, I loved how they embraced their intimacy and dove in.
I did find myself frustrated with lack of communication and immature behavior on both parts when summer came to an end, but it did come from each of them wanting the best for the other, and it didn’t stop me from rooting for them, wanting them to work out in the end, and it certainly didn’t stop the big smile on my face when they figured it out and found their way.
With a wonderful, well deserved HEA, this one gets five stars from me and goes to the re-read pile.
ARC
September 22, 2026
I liked the British spelling and I really liked Matt! He was such a likeable character, and I enjoyed watching his friendship with Owen develop. They had lots of similar interests, and I liked that they were genuinely interested in learning about the things the other person cared about, even when those weren't the same interests. That made it all the more frustrating when Owen started trying to put distance between them. Matt was way too good for him.
It was so frustrating that the second half of the book was just the main characters not communicating about what they wanted out of their relationship. I didn't like that so much of the book was their friends and family telling them what to do about the relationship, rather than offering constructive advice. I really disliked that Owen had a sex party after he and Matt had become close; that whole thing about his parties was an awful addition to the story and made me like Owen a lot less.
It was so frustrating that the second half of the book was just the main characters not communicating about what they wanted out of their relationship. I didn't like that so much of the book was their friends and family telling them what to do about the relationship, rather than offering constructive advice. I really disliked that Owen had a sex party after he and Matt had become close; that whole thing about his parties was an awful addition to the story and made me like Owen a lot less.
September 24, 2026
I’m not a huge fan of books with such a large age-gap (25+ years) but I loved this one. Matt’s father is the one who encourages him to work for Owen fixing up his garden and doing odd jobs around his property. The two of them never expected the undeniable attraction they felt for each other. This story touched my heart in ways that I didn’t expect. It has a wonderful HEA and lots of sexy time.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews