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

“Not as light as it once was. People thought I was adopted because my parents are brunettes, but they both had platinum hair in their baby pictures.”


“Um…About your parents.” Laurie ran a hand through his hair. “They didn’t take any food either.”


“Oh.” Wheat became very quiet. “Can we go after them?”


“Not now. I don’t know if you have a concussion or…” Or if he was coming down with the infection that was killing off mankind, but that was the last thing he’d tell someone who wasn’t one hundred percent to begin with.


“Sure.” Laurie looked up at the sky. It was starting to darken, but he wasn’t sure if it was because the sun was starting to set—he’d lost track of time—or if the weather was about to take a turn for the worse. “Look, I’ve gotta get you out of here. Do you think you can walk?”


He groaned and took another swallow of water. “I don’t suppose we have any choice? Perhaps stay here in the car?”


Chapter 23