Middle-aged teacher David Grover is traveling home from a conference, but fatigue and bad weather force him to stop at a motel for the night. Unfortunately, the Marine ahead of him at the counter snags the last available room. But despair soon turns to elation when the studly Master Sergeant Bud Williams offers to share. Sharing a room also means sharing a bed, and their one night together turns into much more. Only later does David discover Bud is keeping secrets from him. Once these secrets come to light, their regular weekend trysts end, and David finds it hard to move on. Then David learns Bud volunteered for a tour in Iraq, only to be returned stateside after suffering extensive injuries caused by a roadside bomb. Forgiveness and healing doesn't come easily, but just as things start looking up, Bud's past threatens to pull them apart again. Both men face painful decisions if they hope to find a life together. It's a rough road to happiness -- as much as the rest of the world struggles to keep them apart, all Bud and David can do is battle to get back together since neither is complete without the other.

Rough Road to Happiness

“I’m so sorry you saw those tickets to Palm Springs. Hell, I would have taken you there, I’d have enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than with Lisa.”


“They were for you and Lisa, not another man?”


“Hell no! Since I met you, there’s never been another man. Since you, I’ve hardly ever had sex with Lisa. How could I when I’d experienced the ultimate with you?”


“Stop trying to bullshit me!” David began to rise from his chair.


Chapter 23