Finding love isn’t easy, and holding onto it can be even harder. In this anthology, harsh words and miscommunication between men aren’t helpful, and jealous lovers with well-meaning best friends always make things worse, except when they don’t. It could be a desperate cowboy seeking a home or a dorky associate with questionable fashion sense and self-esteem; a manager who sticks to his principles despite ridicule, or a cheating fiancé and a broken wedding. Can a jaded grocery store worker find satisfaction, or a bouncer forgive the bassist who tricked him into sex? Perhaps it’s the things we do that make our wishes and demands come true. Contains the stories: A Cowboy For Keeps: Slim Montagne stumbles over a bruised cowboy on his way out of town. Daniel "Danny" Crane is a world-weary drifter who has stopped believing in humanity. When Slim offers Danny a place to stay, he figures there’s nothing left to lose. Back at the ranch, Slim introduces Dan...hey end up arguing constantly at work, despite the sexual tension between them. Georgie decides it’s time for a change. Will Ry tag along for the ride? Romancing the Bouncer: Ben Pachowski is a bouncer at Throwbacks. Monty Mabuse, bass player for a popular band that performs there, wants Ben, but he won’t do anything but flirt. Monty plays dirty to get in Ben’s pants, and it backfires. Having alienated Ben, Monty has to figure out how to make amends. He has his work cut out for him, but a little romance could go a long way. The Best Man for Me: Royce Lummis' fiancé is a no-show at the rehearsal; worst of all, he sees him kissing another man. Heartbroken, Royce accepts the offer of a couch from Rodney Fanning—his best man and ex-boyfriend. Though they have history between them, Rodney is a good friend and Royce's heart slowly heals. It's almost too late when Royce finally realizes that Rodney is the best man for him. Will he get his man?

The Best of J.D. Walker Box Set

There were used tissues all over the floor, and I was sick of soup, but that was the only thing I had the energy for right then. And Liz had made a whole pot for me so all I had to do was heat up a little bit each day. She’d also left a box full of bottled water next to the couch.


Maybe I should shower soon, but I didn’t feel like it. My cell phone rang in the middle of an afternoon snooze. I fumbled underneath the snotty tissues to find it. “Hello?” I barely even recognized my own voice, it was so raspy.


“Can I come over?” Even with my fuzzy brain, I recognized the voice on the other end of the line.


I tried to clear the frog out of my throat. “Why, Titus?”


“Do you need anything? I wanted to check on you.”


“Because you think a pathetic do-gooder like me wouldn’t have friends to take care of him? Whatever game you’re playing, I’m not interested. Buzz off,” I yelled, then hacked up half a lung as I ended the call. That could have gone better.


Chapter 41