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

Am I? But Wheat didn’t say the words aloud.


And Father had had the nerve to be furious with him when he’d “let” Adam walk away.


Wheat ran a hand through his hair and began pacing the room. 6


Father observed him for a moment. “Oh, do stop pacing.” His tone was cool, as it usually was. He withdrew a lockbox from a secured drawer and began counting out the bills it contained, stacking them in neat piles.


Wheat stopped prowling around the room. He was tempted to worry the cuticles of his fingernails, but that would irritate his father even more. “I understand you not wanting to disturb Mother, but why didn’t you let me know before now?” he demanded.


“I know you, Morrison. You wouldn’t have been able to keep the information secret. If it got out, it would have caused a panic.” Father took out a handful of envelopes and his favorite fountain pen. Mother had given him that pen.


Chapter 14