Bill Hawkins owns a bed-and-breakfast in the small mountain town of Middleton. He loves his life, his family, and his friends. The only thing missing is someone to call his own. A man he can love who will love him in return.<br><br>Erik King takes off when he catches his boyfriend in bed with another man. He's looking for somewhere away from that city. Perhaps a small town where life is less hectic and the people are friendly. What he is not looking for is a new man in his life.<br><br>When a winter snowstorm lands Erik at Bill's B&B, he finds the younger man too interesting, and goes on the run, again. The question becomes, will he realize he can't run from his feelings and return in time to celebrate Thanksgiving—and admit to Bill that he cares for him -- giving them both a reason to be thankful?

Bill and Erik

“We only have one bar here,” Tom replied. “Aptly named the Corner Bar, since it sits on a corner, a couple of blocks from here. I doubt that Dan’s looking for help, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask, if you’re any good.”


“I think I am,” Erik replied with a brief smile.


They continued their walk in silence, concentrating more on plowing through drifts and trying to see where they were going through the fast falling snow. They finally reached the grocery store. Unsurprisingly, there were no cars in the lot, but the doors were unlocked, so they went inside.


For the next fifteen minutes, after Mr. Perkins greeted them, Erik pushed a grocery cart up and down the aisles while Tom and Carol filled it with enough food to feed everyone at the B&B for at least the next couple of days. After paying for everything, Tom took two bags, Carol picked up a third, and Erik gathered up the four remaining ones.


Chapter 9