Please welcome Rob Colton!

Hello everybody, this is Rob Colton. Thanks for letting me take over for a little bit, Kim! Today I wanted to talk about the inspiration for my upcoming novella, The Ranch Foreman. It is coming out this Wednesday, August 14^th, published by Dreamspinner Press.

To be honest, the inspiration for the story came from a picture I ran into while surfing the Internet. The big, burly cowboy was holding his hat just so, strategically covering his bits and pieces. The model was obviously the inspiration for the character of Baxter, and once I had that, I worked out the story’s plot in my head and began writing.

A good number of my stories have bits and pieces of my real life intertwined in them. It may be an event or perhaps an exchange of words. In the case of The Ranch Foreman, the dialog that plays out on Matty and Doc’s restaurant date was inspired by something that happened to me when I was younger, still in my twenties and barely out of the closet.

When Madison “Matty” Ward finds himself out of work and without a place to live, his cousin comes through with a job on the Gates cattle ranch. Despite not knowing anything about herding cattle or taking care of horses, Matty does his best to impress the older hunky foreman, Baxter Hollingsworth. Baxter is drawn to the new young hand, but he’s deeply closeted, and after an openly gay veterinarian shows he’s interested in Matty, Baxter’s repressed feelings lead to an explosive encounter. Baxter then withdraws—leaving Matty feeling angry and used—until an accident forces him to confront his fears.

The sound of a vehicle’s tires crunching on the gravel drive made Matty look out the window.

Doc was right on time.

The vet showed up clean shaven and well dressed in jeans, a button-down shirt, and a navy-blue sports jacket. As they walked to Doc’s pickup truck, Matty was aware they were being watched, but he ignored it. To any outsiders, it should have seemed perfectly innocent. It wasn’t like Doc ravaged him with kisses or anything, though he did open the truck door for Matty.

The drive into town was filled with small talk as the two men got to know each other.

Matty didn’t miss the sideways looks the two of them got as they walked into the restaurant together. Once they were seated, Matty looked up over the top of his menu and quietly asked Doc, “Is it weird being out in a small town like this?”

“I don’t hide who I am, but I don’t really talk about it. If people want to talk behind my back, I don’t care. I do a hell of a good job and most folks recognize that. They leave me alone for the most part.” He looked around the restaurant before his eyes settled back on Matty. “Why do you ask? Does it bother you that these people know that I’m fucking you?”

That was precisely the wrong moment to take a drink of water. Matty nearly choked, which made Doc laugh quietly with amusement. Matty laughed nervously as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. “You’re not.”

Doc raised a brow. “Not yet,” he corrected.

Matty let out a relieved breath when the waitress arrived just then to take their order.

Dinner was very good. Both men ordered steaks and potatoes with grilled vegetables. Matty found Doc easy to talk to, but there wasn’t really a spark. From the smoldering looks Doc shot him across the table, Doc clearly didn’t feel the same hesitation. Matty was going to have to let the man down gently.

When they arrived back at the ranch, Doc turned off the truck. He somehow managed to unbuckle both seatbelts and pull Matty close. He covered Matty’s mouth with his own.

His kiss was openmouthed and sloppy, and Matty pulled back before it could go too far. “I had a nice time tonight….” Matty cleared his throat and averted his eyes.

“But?” Doc leaned back and nodded with a sigh, and Matty didn’t know what to say. “Since I’m here, why don’t I check on your mare?”

Matty nodded. “Sure.”

Doc followed Matty into the barn. Matty leaned against the stall while Doc gave Sweetie a quick look. Doc gave the slight swell of her belly a rub. “She’s doing much better.” As he stood, he took Matty by the hand and led him to the tack room.

“Doc—”

Doc kissed Matty again. This time, it was the kind of kiss that curled Matty’s toes. He grabbed the lapels of Doc’s jacket and held on for life. His cock betrayed him and went hard in his jeans, and he felt Doc press his own hard cock into him, grinding and thrusting.

Matty changed his mind. He was definitely going to let Baxter fuck him again—

Wait.

He was making out with Doc, not Baxter. Matty pulled back, pushing his hands against Doc’s chest when he refused to retreat.

Doc let out a sigh and stepped back.

“I’m sorry,” Matty said. “You’re a great guy, but….”

Doc scoffed. “He’ll never come around. You know that, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Matty didn’t sound very convincing to his own ears.

“Right. I’ve known that heartless bastard for years. He’ll never change. When you get tired of waiting, give me a call.” He didn’t sound angry, just disappointed. Matty watched in surprise as Doc dusted off his coat and walked out of the barn, shaking his head back and forth, muttering to himself. “A damn shame….”

Rob Colton is a software developer by day, and avid reader of romance novels at night. A romantic at heart, he loves stories that feature big, burly men who find true love and happy endings.

Rob grew up in northern Michigan and currently lives in the Atlanta area with his very supportive husband and their very spoiled miniature schnauzer.