Calvin Hamilton reluctantly returns to his home town of Parrish Creek, Texas, to sell his parents' house. Finding the place in need of repair he hires John "Brock" Brockwell to renovate the house before putting it on the market. Brock bares a passing resemblance to Gary Cooper, especially as he often wears western clothing. Calvin has always had a weakness for cowboys.<br><br>Time has reversed the two men's fortunes. In high school Brock was the big man on campus, his popularity allowing him to hide his true nature. Calvin was a nerd, bullied by most of the jocks for being perceived as gay. Now Calvin is a successful New York advertising executive, and Brock is a divorced father with a teenage son who faces financial ruin, unable to pay his late father's hospital bills.<br><br>Can Calvin put past bitterness behind him and help the cowboy with whom he is rapidly falling in love? Will the deeply closeted Brock be able to admit he has feelings for Calvin? Or will pride, fear, distance, and the past prevent them from building a future together?

Calvin's Cowboy

“I’ll show you.”Calvin pulled away from Brock a little and resumed what he’d been doing,this time on Brock’s chest.


Calvin spoke the letters aloud as he drew them.“B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L.”


“Why?”Brock asked in a small voice.


“Why are you beautiful?That’s down to your genes,I guess.”


“No.”Brock sounded close to tears.“Why are you bein’so nice to me?There are other folks out there you could have got to fix up the house,other men you could have brought here to your bed.Why me?”


“Why not you?”Calvin kissed the top of Brock’s head again.“It’s true back in high school I couldn’t stand you,but I’ve grown up since then,and so have you.Now I see what a great guy you are.”


“Great or not,I’m flat-assed broke.”


“Okay,you’ve got some financial troubles—”


“Why not?”Calvin repeated.“Don’t you think you deserve a break?”


Chapter 20