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

“And do what?I’m a failure.I failed my daddy,my—”


“Stop it!”Calvin shook him.“You did the best you could.”


The two fell silent.Brock started to shake again,both from the cold and fromthe fact he didn’t know what to do.


Noticing this,Calvin pulled him back into a hug and held him tight.


Through the rear-view mirror Brock saw a set of headlights approach and slow down.The tow truck moved in front of them and parked.The driver got out of his cab and started toward them.Despite the passage of time,and the man’s increase in weight—his bulk barely contained by his grease-stained T-shirt—Brock recognized him instantly.


“Fuck!”Could this day get any worse?Mean Mitch Madison had come to tow them.Mitch was the baddest,meanest,most evil SOB of Parish Creek High during their time there.Brock disengaged from Calvin and climbed out of his truck.


Chapter 23