Chris Hart owns the only grocery shop in Nortown, but he isn't exactly overrun by customers. Some days he wonders why he bothers to open the doors at all. Spending his days smiling at the few people trickling in and his nights alone in bed isn't the most interesting life a man could lead. But when Chris suddenly gets the excitement he's been craving, it may be more than he bargained for.<br><br>Gabriel Miller loves his life. He's close to his sister, has a job he adores and is the proud owner of one and a half cats. But all of it is taken away when he witnesses a murder. To keep him safe, the police place him in Nortown, of all possible locations.<br><br>Chris can't believe they're letting someone live in his gran's old cabin in the middle of the winter. It's too cold. When the poor man shows up in his shop looking to buy clothes, Chris's heart melts, despite the freezing temperature. Gabriel notices the way the shopkeeper looks at him, but it can't be right. No one looks at a heavyset man with heat in their eyes. Do they?

Pet Delivery

“I’ll think about it.” He smiled again and handed back her card before looking to see if the man had dared to walk inside. He had.


“Have a lovely weekend.” Mrs Johnson waved and left the shop. Chris drew in a breath of relief. She and a few others in town were more than happy to voice their opinions about Tristan and Aiden, and Tom and Jason. The final blow had been when Zachary had come back. The lost son they’d manage to expel had returned. And not only returned; he’d moved in with John.


Zachary’s mother was one of the most vocal. Chris hated her. He’d never been close to Zach, but any poor soul having the misfortune to be born by a woman like her had his sympathies.


Chapter 5