From the farms of Tennessee, Beau Watkins had it all in high school: the cute girl, the popular jock lifestyle, a loving family. As a rising freshman at an out-of-state college, he's determined to find out who he really is behind the fake it 'til you make it attitude. He joins Rainbow Connection, the gay student alliance, hoping to find himself. Instead, he meets Vin Reyes. Raised by his grandparents and the heir to a prosperous company, Vin has been out of the closet since he figured out what that meant. He has it all: fashionable clothing, fancy cars, huge houses, and a real party lifestyle, even a bodyguard. Most of all, he has a secret. Uncomfortable with Vin's generosity, Beau fights his growing attraction for the president of Rainbow Connection, instead chasing a series of shallow affairs. Vin's never been denied anything he wants, though, and now he wants Beau. But it isn’t until an old rival puts Beau in the hospital that Vin realizes Beau means more to him than a simple affair. Can the two of them bridge the gap between their worlds and roll with the all the punches life throws at them?

On a Roll

“You know I’m not going to rain on your parade,” Beau said, then laughed at his own joke. “But let me see here.” He looked back in the bag, rooting through the throws. “Um, I don’t think you meant to have this in there.”


Vin snatched the flask away, unscrewed the cap and drank a few quick swallows. “That’s medicinal,” he protested. “In case you haven’t noticed, it’s cold as fuck out here.”


Beau cocked an eyebrow at him. “I’m the one from the south,” he said. “And it’s too cold out here to fuck. My aunt bought me that coat just two weeks ago because my jacket wasn’t cutting it, even just to get to class and back.” Beau was shivering, his jaw chattering around the words.


“Oh, come here, you idiot,” Vin said. He hauled on Beau’s sleeve and drew the younger man into an embrace, pulling him up against Vin’s side to share body heat and the coat’s wind-breaking ability. “Gyah! And I thought my hands were cold!” He squealed as Beau slipped icy fingers around his waist.


Chapter 22