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

“Even if it was so, it’s not worth the risk. Will you get to keep this number?”


“I don’t know.” He only thought for a moment before giving her Chris’s number.


“Chris? He owns the local shop.” Gabriel tried not to sound as if he was anyone special. If he even hinted at some interest, Emma would squeeze every detail out of him.


“So, he lives close by?” There was something calculating in her voice Gabriel didn’t understand.


“He lives in town. I live outside, but yeah, it’s pretty close.”


“I don’t know him.” Gabriel was frowning now. What was she up to?


“You’re always good at telling. Would you say he’s a trustworthy person?”


She was probably worried about Chris would sell him out“Yeah, he’d never harm anyone. He’s been really kind, made sure I got heat in the cabin, and he cooked me dinner the other night.”


“Oh, he’s thatkind of nice.” She started laughing, and a weight lifted from his chest simply from hearing it.


Chapter 17