Is a gift of love enough to open Aiden’s heart and let Tris back in?<br><br>After the car accident that killed his parents and left his sister paralyzed, Tris is left with nothing. His family is destroyed. His reputation is shot. And all he has is the guilt of knowing it was all his fault. People in town know he’d been drinking that night, and know he should never have gotten behind the wheel. And even Aiden, the man he thought he’d be with forever, blames him too much to stay.<br><br>But Tris can’t let him just disappear. After months of loneliness and isolation, Tris brings Aiden a gift on his birthday, a hawk he’s carved from a chunk of wood they’d found in the forest during an afternoon of love. A small chink seems to open in Aiden’s heart, the first sign of forgiveness. With renewed hope, Tris takes a job renovating one of the older homes in town and tries to rebuild his life. But the townspeople have long memories, and when his sister’s condition worsens, forgiveness -- and Aiden -- seem to slip even further out of reach ...

Without Aiden

“It’s your birthday. Let me buy you breakfast.”


He felt Aiden’s hands shake, but Aiden only smiled down at him. “Sure,” he said again. Tris lost his breath when Aiden’s lips brushed his cheek, then Aiden left with a wave to the waitress.


Tris stared at his congealing eggs while his thoughts churned in confusion and fragile hope. What had the kiss meant? God…damn, Aiden wouldn’t play with him, would he? Was it more punishment? Wasn’t losing his parents enough for everyone?


He jerked back, stumbling up from his chair as a fist slammed into the table beside his plate. Murphey folded his arms on his chest, daunting at six feet, all bulging muscles and navy tattoos.


“I didn’t want to ruin Aiden’s breakfast,” the man said, his voice cold and laced with dislike. Tris felt the threat as the man leaned closer across the counter. “But Drew and Patty were good customers and even better friends, and there’s no fucking way I’ll let their murderer sit in my diner. Get the hell out, now.”


Chapter 4