Hotel owner and part-time musician Zeke Bandy is too busy for love. His plate is full running the historic Bandy Hotel and upholding his family’s tradition of offering refuge to strays and runaways. For fun two nights a week, Zeke also plays and sings traditional folk music with his rewritten gay lyrics at the Stonewall Saloon and for occasional celebrations. Then at a gay wedding, Zeke meets Victor Longbow, who just might be the man of his dreams. However, Vic isn’t looking for love either. In fact, because of his upbringing in a strict, white foster family, Vic’s not sure he believes in love. He’s in Stone Acres to open a branch office of a national brokerage firm. He also hopes to track down a vintage photo of what might be his Native American ancestor. After their paths cross, they become friends. Connected by their experiences as orphans raised by flawed fathers, Zeke and Vic wonder if their future could possibly hold love and family or if they are destined only to be lifelong friends.

Relative Best

“I’m deciding whether to put together an art gallery here,” Hayden added, though I barely heard him.


At that, Fredi sat up. “Where? Are you looking for artists?”


Hayden briefly glanced at him. “Oh, I know all about you, Mr. Zimmer. I’ve had my eye on you and your work for quite a while.”


When Fredi leaned across Vic to talk to Hayden, Vic got up and gestured to his brother to switch seats. Suddenly, I was sitting next to the intense Vic, who turned his body and rested a hand on the back of my chair. My natural instinct to clam up in the face of incredible charisma threatened to overtake me, while my dick pleaded with me to ignore my innate shyness.


From my other side, Jimmy leaned a little over me to ask Vic, “When do you start work? Are you looking for clients? Guy and I want to put our portfolios together.”


Chapter 3