Bill Hawkins owns a bed-and-breakfast in the small mountain town of Middleton. He loves his life, his family, and his friends. The only thing missing is someone to call his own. A man he can love who will love him in return.<br><br>Erik King takes off when he catches his boyfriend in bed with another man. He's looking for somewhere away from that city. Perhaps a small town where life is less hectic and the people are friendly. What he is not looking for is a new man in his life.<br><br>When a winter snowstorm lands Erik at Bill's B&B, he finds the younger man too interesting, and goes on the run, again. The question becomes, will he realize he can't run from his feelings and return in time to celebrate Thanksgiving—and admit to Bill that he cares for him -- giving them both a reason to be thankful?

Bill and Erik

“There you go again, demeaning small towns as if everyone who lives in one must be a bigoted redneck, or close to. We’re not.”


“I never…” Erik shook his head. “Okay, maybe I did and I should know better. The question still stands, though. Does anyone else in town know?”


“Mattie and Norene do. You haven’t met them yet. They work for me and are good people. Other than that?” Bill sighed. “I haven’t told anyone else I am. It’s really none of their business.”


“Then you are afraid of how they’d react.”


“Aren’t all of us, at least to some degree?”


Erik nodded. “When we first figure it out? You bet. Some people never come out. Others make no bones about it after they accept themselves for what they are.”


A knock on the office door stopped Bill from replying. Especially when his mother called out, “You’d better not be working, young man. Get out here and join the fun. We’re going to watch your favorite movie.”


Chapter 13