Big, burly CEO Abe Behr is furious to discover someone -- probably a relative -- is embezzling from Behr Construction, a family-run business in the Sierra Nevada foothills outside Lake Tahoe. To confirm his suspicions, Abe takes the unprecedented step of hiring a non-family accountant, handsome Jeff Mason, to go over the books and help find the culprit. As they talk to Behr relatives and visit construction sites, Abe and Jeff are drawn to each other, bringing out new, softer emotions in workaholic Abe. Since he has sacrificed romance all his life to build the construction business, Abe’s surprised by his feelings for the handsome Jeff. He’s even more shocked when they come face to face with homophobia in the small foothills community where generations of Behrs have called home. Abe had always thought Stone Acres was a live-and-let-live kind of town. As he and Jeff get closer, he finds out how wrong he is when he comes out to both family and a community who think he’s making a big mistake. Will being the head of a large, powerful family and a pillar of the community be enough to win Abe his happily ever after with Jeff?

Behr Facts

“There’s been talk about Behr Construction befriending gays, working with gays, and generally being on the side of gays. I just wanted to get this straight for anybody who might be concerned about the rumors. Behr Construction is gay friendly and hate free.” In the wake of silence, a little wave of talk started up. “You’ll get your say in a minute. I just wanted to make the company’s stance clear from the start.


“I also want to remind you of my father’s will. I am the head of this company. I answer to no one. The buck really does stop here. If any of you want to quit and form your own company, more power to you. Just remember, you can’t use the name Behr in any combination for your new company unless you start the company at least two hundred and fifty miles away.


Chapter 22