Cocoa by Leah Meers

Sometimes the sweetest moments come after a storm.
Lucas:
Moving to a snowy small town to chase his photography dreams was his chance to live the life he wanted. With his camera, his passion, and too many bills, Lucas is determined to make it on his own. A cocoa disaster at the local dog park ruins his ‘alone’ plan completely. Now he’s busy with a charity calendar for the local animal shelter and falling head over heels for the big EMT who keeps showing up at just the right time.
Ryder:
An EMT doesn’t have time for distractions. Ryder’s schedule is packed with emergency calls, night shifts, and not enough sleep. But when a friendly photographer ropes him into posing with puppies for a fundraiser, Ryder starts finding time he didn’t know he had, time for off-hours visits, cups of cocoa, and maybe even something real.
They weren’t looking for more than time to breathe, but snowstorms and stolen moments have a way of changing perspectives. In the warmth that follows, it’s not just the cocoa that’s sweet. It’s everything they’ve built while falling in love. It feels less like a risk and more like coming home.