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

Sure enough, Laurie had no sooner gotten the SUV started—what a difference from the piece of shit—than the door began to rise. He put the SUV in drive and let it roll forward. In a matter of seconds, the SUV was in and the door was down again.


“I’m so impressed,” he told Wheat.


“Why? Didn’t you expect someone like me to be willing to get his hands dirty?” There was hurt in Wheat’s voice, and he turned his back and strode toward the door that opened into the cottage.


Laurie bounded forward and caught his arm. “Oh, love, never. I’ve seen what you’re capable of.”


Wheat came to such an abrupt halt Laurie bumped into him. “Do you mean it?”


“Of course I do. You’re quick-thinking and act just as quickly.”


“No, I meant…You called me love.”


Laurie’s jaw dropped. “I did?” He thought back over what he’d said, and yeah, he guessed he had. He cleared his throat. “I…uh…”


Chapter 58