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 get that, but you have to think!”


Sorry?“Sorry? This has nothing to do with being sorry. You’re putting people in danger; you’re putting yourself in danger!” Fear crushed Chris’s insides. What if they found him now? What if they found the cabin and killed him?


“I know. I’ll take them and go, okay? You don’t have to worry about it. Thank you for taking them in.” Quick and easy, Gabe put the cats back into the carriers.


“No, I know. It’s for the best. It’ll keep you safe. I swear I never meant for you to get pulled into this mess. And Emma meant well. She just didn’t think, all right?”


“I don’t care about my safety—”


The door closed, and Chris’s stomach churned. Just like that Gabe, would walk out of his life? Family, Emma was family. Did that mean…wife?


The ache in his chest must be from worry. What if it was too late? What if the men searching for Gabe already knew where he was?  10: Yoghurt and Shivers


Chapter 20