Dario Russo grew up on the road. The son of itinerant workers in California, he had no friends, no stability, and no concept of a normal life. Until the age of sixteen, when he meets Reverend Waters’ son, Billy Ray. The relationship is short lived, but it haunts Dario for the next thirty years. At the age of forty-six, he has the opportunity to return to Crows Landing, California, and the chance to track down the man who had meant so much to him.<br><br>But what he finds in Crows Landing is the last thing he expects. So wrapped up in his hopes for a second chance, he almost misses the very real interest from a local, Shawn Pederson. Shawn might not have the past working in his favor, but he’s willing to offer the future Dario always wanted.

Son of a Preacher Man

“I aminterested in getting to know you,” Shawn said. “It wouldn’t have bothered me so much yesterday if I wasn’t. I just didn’t know if I could like you this much and still be okay if you decided later on your life was better before.”


“I can’t tell you that risk doesn’t exist, as much as I wish I could. But I can tell you that I’m old enough and smart enough to avoid the mistakes I’ve made before.”


Carefully, Shawn stood and wiped his hands off on his jeans. “Would that mean no more ducking out without saying good-bye?”


“That’s exactly what that means. No more packing up and leaving at a moment’s notice. No more sneaking out in the dead of the night.”


“Well, I can always do something about that.” A playful twinkle appeared in Shawn’s eyes. “Like stealing the rotor button off your truck so you’d have to walk if you tried to leave again.”


Dario arched his brow. “Somehow, I don’t think you’re joking about that.”


Chapter 24