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

Laurie arrived at the right passenger door and looked down into the pale face. Although the lower portion was concealed by a mask, Laurie could see the sinfully long, thick, ink-black eyelashes that fanned out on the man’s cheeks—odd to have such dark lashes paired with such fair hair…


No, he couldn’t let himself become distracted. From above the top of the mask he could see a bruise blooming. When the car went into the culvert, he must have gotten banged up pretty good. The man was dressed in casual clothes, but Laurie hadn’t gotten his gay card for nothing. He could tell in spite of being casual, the clothes were expensive. Even discounting the Rolls, this was one rich dude.


He rested his palm on the man’s forehead. Fortunately it was cool, so he wasn’t sick. At least not at this point.


The lashes fluttered and the man groaned.


“Shh,” Laurie whispered. “We don’t want to attract attention.”


The man looked at him with dazed eyes that sharpened with fear. “You’ve got a knife!”


Chapter 20