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

“They say the temperature will drop. A cold spell was mentioned.”


“Yeah?” Gabriel had stayed away from the news in fear of hearing anything about the murder or the investigation.


Chris studied him in a way that had him squirming in the uncomfortable chair. Why was he looking at him? “So…thank you for the food. I bet you need to get going. It’s already past eleven.” At the same moment the words left his mouth, fear grabbed Gabriel’s insides. He didn’t want to be alone in the dark, cold cabin.


Chris took in the stiffening of Gabe’s shoulders and the way his gaze skidded to the dark corners of the room. He couldn’t leave him like this. “Yeah, I probably should go. It’s rather windy, though. I hope no trees have fallen on the road.”


“Trees falling? It happens on windy nights like this…” Chris should be ashamed of himself. It was blowing, but there wouldn’t be trees falling anytime soon.


Chapter 10