Recent graduate Dr. Fenton Miller takes December off to decide which job offer to accept. Then he meets his landlord, sous chef John Barton. Suddenly, thinking about his career becomes his last priority. A better option might be a month-long roll between the sheets with John. While John is attracted to Fen and might even agree to his plan, John has got more pressing matters to worry about. His past has arrived in tiny Stone Acres from San Francisco and is intent on sucking him back into a life he hated. Promising to help John and shelter him if necessary, Fen finds he's also being threatened by a homophobic father who doesn't find Fen as entertaining as his kids do. As they wade through their problems during the happiest time of the year, Fen and John rely more and more on each other for happiness.

Short Order

“Shhh. Shhh.” John crooned as he patted Ricky. “It’s okay. Johnny’s got you.”


Ricky was covered in sweat and still didn’t seem to be fully with it. I opened the window a little bit more and then slipped away to John’s bathroom to wet down a washcloth to cool off Ricky’s forehead. When I got back to the room, I handed it to John, who gave me a startled glance and then a nod and a slight smile. He seemed to be acknowledging that we were working together.


As Ricky settled into an uneasy pattern of whimpers and groans, I began to relax and was about to move nearer when someone pounded on the front door.


“If it’s Leo…” John began. He stopped to tighten his hold on Ricky, who had started fighting him again. As Ricky began sobbing and shouting, the pounding got louder. John turned to me. “Get rid of him. I can’t deal with him now.”


Sheriff Lloyd Campbell stood in the doorway, a grim look on his face. “What’s going on here? I was walking in the park next door and heard the shouting.”


Chapter 19