Even the nicest of guys can decide to cut loose at some point, especially if he's at college and a frat brother invites him to a party. Unfortunately, that can end quite badly. Luckily for Dante ap Owen, it doesn't -- until he keeps needing to piss every few minutes and he sees blood in his urine. Another stroke of luck for him is the substitute professor, also a medical doctor he’s been crushing on, who happens to be there when he passes out in class and pushes him to come to his clinic.<br><br>But Dante and his beloved, critically ill mother are under the control of his bitter uncle, who also provides health insurance. If his uncle finds out Dante is being treated for anything, let alone what Dante fears is an STD, he's ... Dante doesn't want to think about that. So he flees the clinic before he has to make a follow-up appointment.<br><br>The good doctor shows up at his uncle's farm when phone calls do nothing. And when Dante's uncle invites the doctor to dinner and serves a meal worthy of Medea, the doctor urges Dante and his mother to leave. But will they? And will Dante realize the doctor wants him as much as he wants the doctor?

So Let Us Rejoice

I didn’t mind dealing with string beans. I snapped off the stem, broke the bean in two, and tossed both ends into a bowl. Every once in a while, though, I’d have one for myself.


Mum came onto the porch from the house just as I stuffed a string bean into my mouth.


Phew. “Who is it?” No one I knew ever came out to the farm. Ever.


“You know, I don’t usually have this effect on people.” Dr. Autry stood in the doorway, a faint smile on his lips, which were as gorgeous as his eyes. A full lower lip, a perfect Cupid’s bow of an upper lip…I was so screwed.


“What…” I cleared my throat and finally managed to get the words out of my mouth. “What are you doing here?”


“Yes. You’re a hard man to get in touch with.”


Chapter 21