College professor James Richards is in a rut and feeling his age. He moved to northern California to escape heartbreak and humiliation, but so far the only good thing to happen to him has been his Boston terrier, Marlowe. Then Jamess toughest student sets him up with her best friend. Rafael Ochoa is worlds apart from Jameschronologically, culturally, and philosophicallybut hes also beautiful, kind, and a shot of adrenaline to Jamess not-quite-middle-aged heart. Together, the two of them forge a bridge between Jamess East Coast sensibilities and Rafaels West Coast casualness, but can their meeting of the hearts survive Jamess lack of faith in happy-ever-after? This is the prequel to You Can't Make an Omelet from the DSP's Halloween Howl Series.