Ernie Boudine -- early thirties, still lives at home with mom -- has never had sex, hasn’t even been kissed. In his mind the only guys who get in on the action are the muscled-up bodybuilders he worships on his computer. But Ernie knows to attract such a god He’ll need to transform his current blob of soft muscles covered with an ample layer of fat into body beautiful. Personal trainer Butch Noonan discovers his boyfriend has been cheating on him. Troy is the last straw. Butch decides he’s done dating bodybuilders with their self-centered and egotistical attitudes. Butch longs for a relationship with someone who believes in romance, togetherness, and fidelity. Joining a gym, Ernie feels like a kid in a candy store. So many beautiful men working out, so much hard muscle to ogle. Ernie is disappointed when Butch is assigned as his personal trainer. Despite the man’s name, the other trainers have bigger and buffer bodies. Soon, however, Ernie begins to appreciate Butch’s sexy, compact body and what’s more, the man genuinely seems to care for and about Ernie. Much to both men’s surprise, a tentative relationship begins to blossom, but then into the gym strolls Butch’s former college roommate. Bill is a serious bodybuilder and Ernie is immediately captivated by the man’s huge muscles and confident swagger. Can Butch stand idly by and watch Ernie make the same mistakes he has? Or will Ernie wise up in time and realize true relationships are about more than muscle?

More Than Muscle

Butch went straight to Ernie’s locker, hoping to catch him before he left and find out what was going on. The man was nowhere in sight. He looked up and down the other aisles. Bill seemed to be gone as well.


“You looking for someone?” Stan asked, setting down his bag as he came up to Butch.


“Yeah, Ernie Boudine, you seen him?”


“Ernie, the guy you met the other night when he was here for his first visit.”


“Oh yeah. He was just heading out the door when I came in. Looked like he was in a big hurry. Say, I saw Bill Bixby. Didn’t know he was back in town. Haven’t seen him for a long time. He left just after Bernie did. Seemed like he was in a rush, too.”


“I don’t know. Hope not,” Butch responded. “Have a good workout, Stan.”


Butch walked back onto the workout floor and shook his head. Damn it, Bill Bixby! Why did you have to show up tonight? 10


Chapter 32