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

Father Leopold laughed, patted Matthew’s knee, and said, “I’m obligated to make statements like that. It’s in the job description. Designed to put the fear of eternal damnation into you.” He laughed again.


“Now that that little formality is over and if my memory serves me correctly, and at my age you can’t always depend on it’s doing so, we’re to talk this morning about the topic for that annoying master’s thesis we require you to do.”


Matthew liked the man. He was easy to be with. To Matthew he was the model for all priests: kind, able to laugh and joke, and non-judgmental.


“You’re right. I was supposed to come with a topic in mind.”


“Yes. I’d like to do a series of hagiographies on a group of saints I’ve come across.”


Father Leopold looked thoughtful. “Hagiographies of most of the saints are quite plentiful. In order to qualify for your master’s thesis there must be some unique aspect to your linking these saints together.”


Chapter 7