When Clay Garcia's truck breaks down by the side of a deserted road, the last thing the young cowboy expects is an erotic encounter with a tall, dark stranger—especially when he turns out to be the county's new sheep shearer, Lee Warshaw. Despite the difference in their ages, and the Garcia family's suspicions, what's between the two men only gets hotter. Clay's afraid that he wants more than Warshaw's prepared to give, but after a terrifying encounter with a mountain lion, Clay realizes that Warshaw's feelings run deeper than he'd ever dared to hope. Can these two cowboys make it past their fears and find a way to be together?

Clay Garcia is twenty-one and content with life on his parents' California sheep ranch, until he meets Warshaw, a rugged older cowboy who sets Clay's pulse pounding—and his notorious temper rising. All summer the two of them have been sneaking around driving each other crazy, but summer's quickly coming to an end. On a weekend deer-hunting trip, Clay realizes that Warshaw's more than just a fling, and it seems like Warshaw wants more, too. Two stubborn cowboys set the sparks flying, and a night of passion leads to a new and deeper beginning.

Clay Garcia is obligated to take part in las posadas, his family's traditional Mexican Christmas celebration. But while Clay's spirit is willing, his flesh dreams of the return of Warshaw, his older ranch hand lover. On the eighth of nine nights of festivities, the wise man returns, and Clay finally has something to celebrate. Now if only he can keep his family from finding out....

In order to put off his well-meaning but curious cousins, Clay Garcia agrees to spend a night at la charreada, the Mexican rodeo. But while fending off the advances of his blind date, Lupe, Clay finds it hard not to think about his older ranch-hand lover, Warshaw, and all the things they could be getting up to. Now if only he can slip away..