Howie Bosley has very strict rules about dating men. Get to know him, fall in love with him, then -- and only then -- go to bed with him. But, as Howie’s friends frequently point out, his rules aren’t working because he’s still single. Just when Howie is about to ease up on his rules, he meets an Adonis at the gym who goes by the name of Matthew Timmons. Matthew is also looking to get to know someone before hopping into the sack. Is this destiny? But Matthew had planned a very different life path for himself, one that didn’t involve falling in love. Conflicted, he makes the painful decision to cut off all contact with Howie. What is Matthew hiding? Suddenly Howie’s fairy tale romance has taken an abrupt turn, and he doesn’t know if there’s anything he can do to get it back on track. Isn’t their happy ending meant to be?

Meant To Be

“That’s my job tonight, Sweetie,” Jerome said, massaging Kelly’s shoulders and smiling at Howie.


“We’ll have a little discussion about who screws who later…er…Jerome…is it? See you guys,” Kelly said as he got up to leave.


“Jerome is kinda cute, don’t you think?” Ernie asked Howie as he watched Kelly and Jerome go.


“Maybe he isjust a lonely guy lookin’ for love in all the wrong places,” Ernie said.


“Well, if things don’t work out with your cucumber-stroker, you can give Jerome a whirl when Kelly’s done with him, and he will be after tonight, you know,” Howie said.


“Hmm. I just might do that,” Ernie said.


“Christ, Ernie, I was only joking,” Howie said, “You wouldn’t really, would you? He’s just a kid!”


“Oh, come on, the guy’s a pick-up slut.”


“Ah-ah, judge not lest ye be judged. You can never tell what’s in a man’s heart until you get to know him. You can’t tell a book by its cover.”


Chapter 3