A New Leash on Life — Deirdre O'Dare

Beaten by the IT recession, Justin has come back to his home town where he has inherited a small house from his mother. Surely Barry, his old crush and nemesis is long gone. Jobs are scarce so he impulsively seeks to buy into a pet grooming business. But when Justin has to visit the local bank to seek a loan, who sits behind the big desk but Barry?

Justin's appearance jolts Barry out of his miserable rut of a life. What if they were to pick up where a brief boyhood attraction ended abruptly? Then his mother's sudden stroke throws his whole life into a tumbled ruin. Juggling business and pleasure becomes a complex, risky endeavor. Will Justin resist to the end, fleeing again or will fate give them a new leash on life?