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

“No,” I mumble. I push Luke’s foot away


and say it again, “No,” shaking my head so Kent will believe me.


“Sorry, babe. I didn’t mean…” No excuse comes to mind, so I attack


my food with renewed vigor and refuse to look at either of them.


For a long, breathless moment, I don’t think


he’s going to let it drop. He’s been hitting the worm, it makes him


mean-spirited, I hate the tequila more than the beer or the whiskey


or anything else he drinks. He’s still a little touchy about last


night, and he thinks I’m smarting him right now, I don’t want a


Another look at Luke, who shrugs as if he


doesn’t know what’s gotten into me, that minx, and Kent turns back


to his dinner. The rest of the meal is eaten in strained silence. I


think I should apologize again but it’ll just set Kent off on how


it’s disrespectful to laugh at the table, when he’s talking no


less, and I don’t want a lecture right now. What I wantis


Chapter 34