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

“Where you from?” a young guy sitting on a stool on the other side of Erik asked.


“Denver, for the last few years.” He was getting too warm, so he slid off his jacket, hanging it over the back of the stool.


It took Erik a moment to realize the guy asked because of the Denver Avalanche logo on his sweatshirt. “I’m not a big fan, but I’ve gone to a couple of games with friends.”


“Honestly, I’m not that into sports.”


The guy grinned. “Me, neither. Put it there.” He held out his hand. “I’m Ken. I work at one of the shops in Studio 25.”


“Erik,” he replied, shaking Ken’s hand. “You’re an artist?”


“Naw. The place I work carries antiques. Real ones, not the knockoffs you see in big cities. What do you do?”


“The last job I had was as a bartender. Right now, I’m between jobs.”


“Sorry about that. Like old man Smith said, around here there’s not much to offer until next spring when the tourist season picks up again.”


Chapter 16