Two years after his father's death, Brandon is still grieving, running his father's store, watching his sister grow more depressed. Until Ramon saunters into his life bringing sunshine, blue skies, and an injured hawk. But Ramon has issues of his own to deal with, an abusive lover who won't take no for an answer.<br><br>If Ramon can wriggle free of the ex, can Brandon take a chance on loving again?

Feathers

Brandon and Ramon broke apart, grinning. “Sorry, sis,” Brandon said. “I wasn’t in the loop on the sex in the kitchen policy here.”


They all laughed and the afternoon settled into an easy camaraderie. 


After lunch, a group of people started playing target Frisbee. They cleared the backyard and set up paper plates as targets on the fence, the railings, a few chairs. Ramon was dreadful; he knocked over a squirrel statue on his second throw and sent the Frisbee sailing over the fence into the neighbor’s yard on his fourth. But he laughed at himself, getting the group to make fun of him, and Brandon was charmed at how well he fit in. Ramon was one of the youngest in the crowd but he kept up with conversations.


Once the pre-Derby races started, most of the guests crowded into the family room, sprawled on the sofas or on the floor. Brandon hit the bathroom, washing his sweaty face and wiping down his arms.


Chapter 12