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

“What’s he have you doing?” I ask,


taking a step back. I want to widen the distance between us because


when I stand so close to him, I don’t trust myself.


But my hand stays on the waistband of his


jeans, myjeans, and my fingers ease behind the buckle of


his belt to press along fluttering skin. “Grass seed,” Luke tells


me with a laugh, and he catches my wrist before I can move too far


away. “I’ve got to reseed the plot behind the sunflowers. Come


He reels me in like a prized catch, drapes


one arm around my neck to keep me close. Tentatively I rest my head


on his shoulder, thread an arm around his waist, Kent’s not here.


Luke kisses my forehead and when he speaks, his words tickle my


skin. “I was hoping you hadn’t thrown out this hay yet. I’m gonna


need it to cover the seed.” His lips press against my cheekbone, my


upper lip, and he breathes, “That’s my story, if he wants to know


Chapter 42