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

Justin snort-laughed again, his amusement inspiring Thom’s bravery.


He kissed Dog’s head and was rewarded with a flurry of tongue kisses. “Of course not. We are already madly in love.”


“Uh huh,” the woman said, settling onto a stool she pulled from under the table, “I meant between the two of you.”


Heat rushed into Thom’s cheeks even though that had been exactly what he’d been thinking. “Um…”


“Yes!” Justin plopped down beside him, repeating himself excitedly. “Yes, ma’am, please.”


She cleared her throat and pointed almost distractedly at the sign where her pricing was displayed, then with the skill of a well-trained magician, snatched, palmed, and pocketed the twenty that Justin slid in her direction. She patted the table and closed her eyes. “Okay. Your left hand,” she told Justin, “and your right,” she said to Thom. “On the table, and fingers intertwined, please.”


“No palm reading?” Justin asked, shooting Thom an amused grin.


Chapter 19