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

I should have been obliterated and not waking up in the clinic alive.


I took a breath and the pain snuck in, roaring like a pride of lions ready for the kill. I gasped.


“Fen? Hey, Fen. You awake? He’s awake!” John sounded upset and relieved. For an instant, he seemed poised to reach for me—to hug me?—yet he backed off and looked around, thankfully keeping his hands to himself.


Since the lions had me in their grasp and an acid rain poured over me, I didn’t want him to get torn to bits too. He couldn’t touch me or act like he was my friend and lover, or the lions would chew him up and the rain would erase the leftovers.


As I gathered my strength to warn him of the danger, he was pushed aside by an older man wearing a white coat and a doctor’s name badge.


Chapter 29