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

“In the bathroom.” Andre guided him to his feet. “He’s fine, Chris. You can sit here and rest, and he’ll come out in a minute. He’s just a little shaken. You’re worse off than he is.”


“No, you’ll need stitches, and you most likely have a concussion.”


Andre sighed and grabbed his elbow. In small steps, they moved across the living room. Chris tried not to look at the men who had been shooting at Gabe, but he couldn’t help himself. Zachary had them lying on the floor. Their hands were bound with duct tape; one of them had a split lip and the other a bruise forming on his cheekbone. Chris didn’t think he’d been out for more than a few seconds, but he must’ve been if there had been a fight.


“How did you get here?” He hissed as he turned his head to look at Andre.


Chapter 28