Two men with nothing in common except friendship. One man is Darren Cameron, a cop who patrols the streets nightly. After his divorce -- because he revealed to his wife he was gay -- he gained full custody of his son, Jesse. Jesse is now twenty-one, living with his girlfriend, and trying to play matchmaker between his landlord, Malcom, and Darren. The other is Rob, a homeless war veteran living on the streets, who has adamantly resists all Darren's efforts to help him start his life over. When Rob is attacked, Darren finally has what he needs to help his friend get off the streets. Despite Rob's wariness, he moves into Darren’s home under the guise of protective custody ... much to Jesse's dismay. Can Darren and Rob handle what comes next, including their growing attraction for each other? Or will Rob ultimately reject Darren's help and return to his former life?

Lonesome Men

So had Darren, who asked, “Do we want dessert?”


“Naw. I’m good.” He flagged down the waitress, asked for the check, and declined more coffee, as did Rob. Darren paid, and then they headed back to the house.


When they got there, Smokey looked at them as if to say, “Where have you been? It’s been years.” Then he stalked to the kitchen, looking pointedly at his bowls. One was empty; the other was still half-full of dry food.


“Yeah, yeah, we’ve been starving you,” Darren said with a laugh as he filled them. “You’re going to eat me out of house and home.”


“I wonder if I can get an employee discount,” Rob said. “I’ll ask Sarah in the morning.”


“I almost forgot you have to work,” Darren said. “I guess I’ll rattle around the house until you get home and I have to go to work.”


“Uh-huh. You’ve always ‘rattled’, until I moved in. I think you’re used to it.”


“True. But it’s been nice to have company this last week or so.”


Chapter 35