Five years ago, British transplant, Jude, left San Francisco after the tragic murder of his lover, Martin. Heartbroken, he settled in Sutter's Bay and opened a small flower shop, hoping that surrounding himself with bright colors and pretty things -- living things -- would somehow lessen the anguish he felt over his loss.<br><br>Jude never expects to find a love like he shared with Martin ever again. Certainly a love like theirs won't come along twice in a lifetime. But then Jude meets sexy Rex Warner, the new veterinarian in Sutter's Bay, and he can't help but wonder if his luck has changed.<br><br>Will Rex be able to stop Jude from dwelling on the painful past and look toward a promising future instead?

Twice in a Lifetime

He walked back into the living room, which was empty. When he’d first arrived. Rex had said he had a few last minute calls to make regarding patients and had gone back to the vet’s office a few doors down, telling Jude to make himself at home. He wouldn’t be long.


Jude didn’t feel comfortable going through Rex’s house or cabinets or even the refrigerator without the man there, so he decided to just wait on the sofa. He picked up the remote for the television when a framed photograph on the fireplace mantle caught his gaze.


Looking at a photo on display wasn’t as intrusive as spying through the house, Jude decided, so he went to the picture and lifted it off the mantle. It was an innocuous enough photo. Not at all sinister. Yet Jude’s chest tightened and his breaths became labored.


Chapter 19