Beaten by the IT recession, Justin has come back to his hometown where he’s inherited a small house from his mother. Surely Barry, his old crush and sometime nemesis, is long gone. Jobs are scarce, so impulsively Justin seeks to buy into a pet grooming business. But when he has to visit the local bank for a loan, who sits behind the big desk but Barry?<br><br>Justin’s appearance jolts Barry out of his miserable rut of a life. What if they were to pick up where a brief boyhood attraction abruptly ended? Then his mother’s sudden stroke throws his whole life into a tumbled ruin.<br><br>Juggling business and pleasure can be a complex, risky endeavor. Will Justin resist Barry’s charms and flee again, or will fate give them a new leash on life?

A New Leash on Life

“I’m happy for you,” he said, after a moment. “I hope it all works out the way you plan.”


Barry had halted, a long step away, apparently realizing Justin was occupied and would not give him full attention until the dog was properly finished. Still, Justin could feel the other man’s gaze, and sense the emotions roiling behind it. He felt a surge of gratitude for the brief respite for he was not sure how he should react, even how he wanted to react. Could he trust this new Barry? What was actually behind the changes the other man indicated he was making?


Chapter 18