Rory Brown grew up in care but found a home, friendship, and a much-needed sense of security working on the Double J ranch. As far as Rory is concerned, fellow cowboy, Zane Fox, is perfect. Zane is strong but gentle, kind, big, ruggedly handsome ... and straight. Rory works alongside Zane, eats alongside Zane, and when an ice storm causes a power outage, he sleeps alongside Zane ... for warmth. Inhibitions lowered after getting drunk on his twenty-first birthday, Rory Kisses Zane and confesses his feelings for the man. The next day, when Rory learns his father is dying, although estranged from the man, Rory feels obligated to see him one last time. Zane follows Rory to Kansas and confesses he has feelings for Rory, too. After learning his father has died, Rory and Zane set off for home in Zane's old truck. However, bad weather and a mechanical breakdown mean they have to hole up in a guesthouse. Rory doesn't mind, it gives him a chance to explore things with his hunky new boyfriend. And there's a lot of Zane to explore. Life on the ranch is little short of idyllic, Zane is everything and more Rory could want in a lover, protector, and friend. A tiny part of Rory knows he should brace himself for if/when the other shoe -- or cowboy boot -- drops. Rory is thrown when evidence of Zane's heterosexual past reveals itself, leaving him totally devastated. Are Zane's feet made of clay, or can he redeem himself and once again become Rory's rock?

Rory's Rock

“Can I come in?” Zane asked after a few seconds of silence passed between them.


“Uh, sure.” Rory stepped aside, watched Zane enter, closed the door, his mind still in a fog. “I don’t understand.”


Zane smiled. “I thought you were the smart one and me the dumb one.”


Despite the unreality of the current situation, Rory was about to tell Zane, yet again, that he wasn’t dumb, but Zane beat him to the punch.


“You kissed me cause you like me. Right?”


Rory nodded. It went way further than likebut Rory could work with that for the moment.


“And I kissed you back just now because I like you, too.”


No, maybe he couldn’t work with likeafter all. “Zane, I’m gay. You’re straight. I like you very much. You’re kind, gentle, strong, nice, decent…” He struggled for the right words and was failing miserably. “You make me feel safe. Special.” He might as well put it all out there. If this was a dream—although Rory was increasingly sure it was real—it didn’t matter anyway. “I’m gay. I—”


Chapter 37