When Marissa's poodle, Thor, is snatched, the police can't help, so she goes to a private investigator. Their initial encounter leaves her shaken and questioning her decision to avoid men. Graham gave up on women after a long series of failed relationships, but something about Marissa stirs him. What begins as a search for a stolen dog quickly opens old secrets, stumbles on identity confusion, and uncovers a stalker from a dark past. As Graham and Marissa unravel the deepening mystery, they realise how well they fit together. This is a seductive romantic thriller about trauma, trust, and finding the kind of intimacy they both thought was impossible. Written for ONC 2024 in response to the prompt: Sometimes words speak louder than actions. This story was named a Winner in both Round One and Round Two.
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