Thom Baron has been struggling with social anxiety his entire life. He's taken the medications, gone to the therapists, followed the programs, and concluded his best life is a solitary one. When he comes across a dog in obvious need at his local market, it rekindles the desire to have some company around. It may come with a dishevelled coat, a notched ear, and a refusal to respond to anything but its given name "Ugly," but it could still be a friend.<br><br>However, Thom's new fur buddy has no such need to keep to itself and immediately befriends the man Thom has secretly coveted since he moved in -- Justin, Thom's gorgeous, bright-eyed neighbour. No matter how Thom tries to evade the man, the dog keeps drawing them back into each other's lives, and it doesn't take Thom long to recognize it's simply pursuing the demands of Thom's own heart. With the dog giving him the courage to try, Thom reaches out to return the love being offered.<br><br>Until a stranger shows up insisting the dog is his and demanding its immediate return ... a loss Thom knows will take all of his efforts and newfound confidence with it.

But by the Grace of Dog

What might have happened if the burgers hadn’t been on the grill? After all, in one single sentence Justin had made it seem pretty clear that he’d been interested in pursuing something more than just conversation and companionship. Not only had he used the word “kissing,” but he’d said “intimacy.” Then he’d come right out and said “sex.” Surely that hadn’t been referenced casually. After all the talk about being beautiful, and trying to coax him over for a drink, making dinner and getting close…exchanging favours. Maybe Thom had misunderstood what Justin was suggesting—if there had been a level of suggestiveness to it at all—but it didn’t feel like he had.


Chapter 15