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

He blinked at me as if it was an impossible question.


“Nothing. I don’t have any of those. I don’t have any family.” Ricky sounded okay with his reality.


I’d put my arm around John who was studying something on the ground. I gave him a squeeze, and his eyes popped up to meet mine.


“What about your family?” I asked him. “Other than your aunt.”


He shook his head. “Adam’s my family now. And David and Ricky, I guess. And…you?”


“Absolutely.” I gave him a kiss, my heart about to burst with happiness.


Then Ricky started getting antsy, and the mood shattered.


“Look, I gotta run.” I told them. “I’m supposed to be meeting David at the Star.”


John sighed. “Yeah. We need to drop Ricky at the police station, and then I’ll go with you to the restaurant.”


At the Silver Star, David hurried toward us, a flamboyantly dressed guy following in his wake.


“John, the Thug kahuna’s been looking for you already.” David eyed the two of us.


Chapter 21