by
Size: 5.00 x 8.00 in
Pages: 291
Sometimes the brightest stars need to come home…
Henry Bright has a picture-perfect life as a rising star in the country rock scene—fortune, fame, and more lovers than he can shake a stick at. But something is missing. The glitz of Nashville is nothing more than glitter and tinfoil. Searching for authenticity in his life, he completes his DVM in veterinary medicine and returns to Wyoming. He takes a job as a vet at the Triple Star Ranch, hoping to find meaning and connection. He just didn’t expect to find love.
Trip Colton’s wife died over thirty years ago and he figured that was it for love. But the moment he meets Henry, he can’t get the younger man off his mind. The problem is, he’s never been attracted to a man before and the realization throws him for a loop. Dating is hard at any age, but Trip’s out of practice and wooing a man is completely different than wooing a woman.
When Henry’s former manager, Jordie, tracks him to Wyoming and begs the star to come back to the music biz, tensions damage the fragile connection between Henry and Trip. Jordie will do anything to convince Henry to return, even playing on his prejudices and hinting at Trip’s infidelity. But when the bank keeps calling with alerts on Henry’s accounts, he suspects there’s more going on with Jordie than a simple comeback music tour. Ultimately, Henry must choose where his heart lies, and who to trust, before he loses more than his chance at love.
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Bisexual, Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 26-35
Protagonist 2 Age: 46-65
Tropes: Coming Home, Famous / Not Famous, May/December, Second Chances
Word Count: 87540
Setting: Wyoming
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
“You want me to what now?”
Henry Bright stared at his manager, his publicist, and the photographer trying to shoot his album cover with undisguised disgust.
“Oh, honey, don’t get so twitchy. I promise to make you look good.” The photog gave him a smarmy smile and a wink. “And I’ll save the naughty bits for later.”
Sweet Jesus, this guy is predatory. Henry scowled. He might be a country star who was out and proud, but that didn’t mean he was an easy fuck-toy for every gay predator from New York to New Orleans.
“Come on, Henry. It’ll be great.” His manager’s eyes sparkled. “You know sexy sells. All you have to do is take your clothes off and look over your shoulder with your guitar in front of your ass. Easy peasey, Japaneasy.”
READ MORE“Yeah, but I’ll be fuckin’ oiled up like a goddamned drill rig.” One of Henry’s pet peeves took the form of grease on his body. He hated being sticky and he really didn’t want to be touched by any of the assistants drooling over in the corner, male or female. “Do you know how hard that shit is to get out of body hair?”
“Oh, don’t be so picky, honey. I’ll help you clean it out of all your hair anytime.” The photog winked again and licked his lips.
“Stop calling me ‘honey’.” Henry snarled and snapped his guitar case closed. “I ain’t doin’ it. Shit, they ain’t buyin’ my music in hopes they’ll fuck me. They’re buyin’ it because it’s good.”
“That’s not why I bought it.” The droll comment rolled out of the photog’s mouth with his lascivious look and Henry was done. He’d put up with this creep twice before, but this was it.
“Fuck you, all y’all.” Henry shook his head and picked up his case. “I’m outta here.”
He swung the case around, damn near hitting the make-up woman who’d gotten too close, and strode for the exit of the studio. Like fluttering birds, his publicist and manager squawked and flapped after him, calling his name. Henry ignored them as he headed for the door, but Jordie beat him there by nanoseconds.
“Henry, Henry, calm down. Come on.” Jordie stood with his back to the door, blocking Henry’s escape. “It’s just one photo shoot for your new cover and then it’ll be over.”
“They want me fuckin’ naked, Jordie.” He snarled at his manager. “I won’t be naked in front of that.” He lowered his voice and jabbed a finger back in the direction of the photog.
He might be a gay public figure, but he valued his privacy, what little he had, and he only showed his body to select people. He couldn’t control much, but he could control that.
“You don’t have to be completely naked. I’m sure we can find a thong or bikini briefs that will be hidden behind your guitar.” Jordie grasped Henry’s arm and turned him back toward the lights and cameras. “Come on. Think of how awesome it’ll look and how many albums it’ll sell. Everyone will be all over this shoot. And you’ll be so sexy, loved by men and women alike.”
Henry allowed himself to be hauled back to the set in front of the photog, who licked his lips with a victorious expression. Henry scowled and tightened his grip on his guitar case. If this asshole gets anywhere near me, I’ll beat him over the head with a bale hook. He still had one left over from the days on his uncle’s ranch in Wyoming, though it wasn’t close at hand.
“It’ll be fine. Come on. Ashley will help.” Jordie allowed a young, pimple-faced man to take the guitar case. “We’ll just get you undressed and it’ll be great. You’ll see. Ashley, take his jacket and shirt.”
Henry gritted his teeth and disrobed on his own, slapping away Ashley’s “helpful” hands. He got down to his Speedo-sized briefs he’d been wearing for his current fuck-buddy and stopped.
“Oh, come on, honey. Just take it all off. It’ll be easier.”
Ashley approached to do the honors, but Henry swung to face him and dropped his chin. “Touch me and you’ll learn why they call me the kick-ass cowboy.”
Ashley’s eyes widened and he held up both hands in surrender.
COLLAPSE
