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

“Come in,” Mum called, her voice faint.


I pushed open the door. She was sitting up in bed, a crocheted throw over her legs, her eyes red and her fingers knotted around a handkerchief. My heart lurched. “What’s wrong, Mum?”


“It’s you.” She blotted her eyes and blew her nose before sinking back on her bed. “Thank God.”


Micajah hurried to her side and took her wrist between his elegant fingers.


“What’s wrong?” I demanded this time, terrified.


“I was afraid it was your uncle. He came up earlier—”


“Are you all right? What did he want?”


“He kept haranguing me, demanding to know what Dr. Autry is to you. I finally told him nothing more than your professor. I know that might not be strictly true, but if I said anything else, he’d give you nothing but grief.”


“Your pulse is a little fast,” Micajah said.


“I’ll be fine.” She drew her wrist from his grasp and turned her gaze to me. “I didn’t expect you back so soon.”


Chapter 30