Marcus was just passing through Texas when he met Kent. In his cowboy hat, low-riding jeans, and black boots, Kent looks like the type of guy Marcus desperately wants to love.<br><br>But two years later, he's discovered Kent is cold and distant, the quintessential American cowboy, and spends more time drunk than sober. Marcus can never predict his mood and blames himself for the flailing relationship.<br><br>Then, one day when Kent rides into town, Marcus finds a young runaway hiding in their barn. Luke is warm, loving, and quick to please ... everything Kent is not. Though the answer seems obvious, Marcus finds himself torn between the boy who demands his love and the man whose love he craves.

Cowboy

“I want to kiss you again,” so nonchalant, like he’s talking about


something he plans to do tomorrow, bring in the crops or water the


lawn or take the tractor to town to get it fixed.


He leans back in his seat, one elbow draped


over the back, one arm on the table just inches from mine. Reaching


out, he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, his fingers tender on


my face. Outside I hear a car on the road and I sit up enough to


see out the window, sure it’s Kent, he’s home, he’ll ruin this—


But the car continues on, not stopping, not


even slowing down, its headlights dwindling away into the distance.


As I sink back to my seat, unnerved, Luke brushes at my cheek


again, smoothing his thumb over the faint hair that’s begun to grow


in above my upper lip. “Can I?” he asks.


I pretend that I’m not sure what he wants.


“What?” I should clean up now, put the plates in the sink and check


on the wash, anything but sit here and let him touch me like this,


Chapter 21