Laurie Parkinson, who’s lived in Laurel Hills all his life, is a gay sheet metal worker who’d rather be a gay hairdresser. Wheat Dupuis, who’s also gay, is the scion of one of Laurel Hill’s wealthiest families. He’d rather grow grapes than become CFO of Dupuis International. Laurie wakes one morning to discover his family gone and his town decimated by a bacteria that has lain dormant for millennia, incased in ice. With the melting of the ice caps, the bacteria is released, and mankind faces a pandemic that could surpass the Black Plague. Wheat and his family are on their way to safety when the unthinkable happens and he’s left behind. Laurie knows of a bunker in the woods outside Laurel Hill, where he intends to take refuge. On the way there, Laurie finds and rescues Wheat. Can two such dissimilar men work together through a pandemic to find their families ... and possibly find love, as well?

Pandemic

The family must have piled into Pop’s truck. It was big enough to hold the six of them, the dog, and whatever belongings and supplies they’d need for the trip to Indiana. Maybe they’d left the storm supplies Mom kept in the basement. Laurie would check that out.


He scrubbed a hand over his face. He’d had a vague idea of staying here, even if the family was gone, but it didn’t take an ounce of brains to see that wasn’t a good plan. He’d get one of the cars—Mom’s or Meg’s or Jo’s—still in the garage, and he’d fill it with whatever he could find in the basement.


He’d only taken a couple of steps toward the door that led downstairs when he suddenly heard heavy footsteps coming from the front of the house. He ducked into the alcove beside the pantry and made himself stand as still as he could.


“I tell you we already got everything from this place,” a rough male voice said.


“Did you check the bedrooms for money or jewelry?” That voice was even rougher.


Chapter 10