Mike isn’t much of an animal lover. His sister, however, insists that every little boy needs a pet, which is how he finds himself sitting in a veterinary office, trying to explain the facts of life to his six-year-old nephew while holding a dead hamster in a shoebox. It’s not one of his finer moments. So of course, it’s just his luck that in walks the cute, shy, and utterly lust-worthy Riley Laytham. But Mike has never been one to let an opportunity pass him by, no matter how awkward the situation might be.
Riley isn’t used to guys flirting with him, and he definitely didn’t expect it to happen at the local vet office. In the kennels, no less, surrounded by dogs and cats, and under the close scrutiny of one overly inquisitive little boy. Riley’s first instinct is to make his excuses and run, but Mike is persistent.
Their first date is a disaster. They have nothing in common, and Riley’s cats seem determined to end the budding relationship before it can get started. For some reason, though, Mike isn’t running. Now Riley just has to decide if he can make it work with a guy who staunchly declares that he doesn’t like cats.
Riley isn’t used to guys flirting with him, and he definitely didn’t expect it to happen at the local vet office. In the kennels, no less, surrounded by dogs and cats, and under the close scrutiny of one overly inquisitive little boy. Riley’s first instinct is to make his excuses and run, but Mike is persistent.
Their first date is a disaster. They have nothing in common, and Riley’s cats seem determined to end the budding relationship before it can get started. For some reason, though, Mike isn’t running. Now Riley just has to decide if he can make it work with a guy who staunchly declares that he doesn’t like cats.
Genres: Gay/Contemporary
Heat Level: 2
Length: Extended Amber Kiss (16k words)
Length: Extended Amber Kiss (16k words)
Read a short excerpt...
...Mike turned the business card over between his fingers, tapping the edge on the top of his desk with each rotation. He didn’t need to look at the numbers printed in tiny black script. For some unknown reason, he’d memorized them.
“You’re being ridiculous,” he scolded himself sternly. The sudden sound of his voice was loud in the deserted room and Mike glanced around warily. The rest of the guys had gone home already, though.
The small contracting business Mike ran only employed a handful of guys, but they all took great delight in teasing their boss. He was glad they weren’t around anymore to hear him talking to himself in the empty trailer that served as his office.
Ever since that visit to the vet, Mike hadn’t been able to get Riley out of his head. There wasn’t anything overtly special about him. Average height, brown hair and eyes. Kind of skinny. But he had been appealing in a strange way, despite being shy and sweet, which was normally not Mike’s type. The messy hair had begged to be touched, and Mike couldn’t stop wondering what the dark eyes would look like lit with laughter.
Mike had wanted to ask the vet about Riley, but had managed to refrain. He was pretty certain there had been interest in Riley’s eyes, and he would swear that those same eyes had strayed a couple of times to Mike’s ass. Anyway, even if Mike had misread the signals, he had a completely legitimate reason for calling. Transparent though it might be.
The business card in his hand displayed more than a phone number. Above the words in fancy script was written “Orchard Meadows Cattery” and underneath that, the font barely large enough to read, the card said “Norwegian Forest Cat Registered Breeder.” The word “cattery” brought to mind some really strange images, and Mike didn’t have the slightest clue what a Norwegian Forest Cat was.
Before Mike could drive himself any further along the road to insanity, he snagged his cell phone and typed in the number.
“Orchard Meadows.”
“Riley?” Damn, that voice was as sexy as Mike had remembered. He hadn’t thought that was possible. “This is Mike. We met—”
“At the vet, sure.” Was it Mike’s imagination, or did Riley’s voice warm with welcome? “What can I do for you?”
“It looks like I’m in the market for a cat.”
“Don’t sound so enthusiastic about the prospect.” Riley laughed, the rich sound sending a deep tug through Mike’s groin.
“Sorry. I’m not real fond of fuzzy critters.” Mike wondered briefly if he should have admitted that to a guy who raised cats, then forged ahead. “My sister thinks all little boys should have pets. I’m apparently not responsible enough for a hamster, so a cat it is.”
“Not that I want to discourage an interested buy,” Riley said, “but you’d probably be better off going down to the nearest shelter. Purebred cats don’t come cheap, especially the uncommon ones like my Norwegians.”
How expensive could a cat be? “I’d like to come out and take a look, anyway, if that’s possible.”
“Sure.” Something in the tone of Riley’s voice told Mike he wasn’t fooling anyone. Wanting to see Riley again had very little to do with cats. “I’m free this afternoon. Got a pen?...”
“You’re being ridiculous,” he scolded himself sternly. The sudden sound of his voice was loud in the deserted room and Mike glanced around warily. The rest of the guys had gone home already, though.
The small contracting business Mike ran only employed a handful of guys, but they all took great delight in teasing their boss. He was glad they weren’t around anymore to hear him talking to himself in the empty trailer that served as his office.
Ever since that visit to the vet, Mike hadn’t been able to get Riley out of his head. There wasn’t anything overtly special about him. Average height, brown hair and eyes. Kind of skinny. But he had been appealing in a strange way, despite being shy and sweet, which was normally not Mike’s type. The messy hair had begged to be touched, and Mike couldn’t stop wondering what the dark eyes would look like lit with laughter.
Mike had wanted to ask the vet about Riley, but had managed to refrain. He was pretty certain there had been interest in Riley’s eyes, and he would swear that those same eyes had strayed a couple of times to Mike’s ass. Anyway, even if Mike had misread the signals, he had a completely legitimate reason for calling. Transparent though it might be.
The business card in his hand displayed more than a phone number. Above the words in fancy script was written “Orchard Meadows Cattery” and underneath that, the font barely large enough to read, the card said “Norwegian Forest Cat Registered Breeder.” The word “cattery” brought to mind some really strange images, and Mike didn’t have the slightest clue what a Norwegian Forest Cat was.
Before Mike could drive himself any further along the road to insanity, he snagged his cell phone and typed in the number.
“Orchard Meadows.”
“Riley?” Damn, that voice was as sexy as Mike had remembered. He hadn’t thought that was possible. “This is Mike. We met—”
“At the vet, sure.” Was it Mike’s imagination, or did Riley’s voice warm with welcome? “What can I do for you?”
“It looks like I’m in the market for a cat.”
“Don’t sound so enthusiastic about the prospect.” Riley laughed, the rich sound sending a deep tug through Mike’s groin.
“Sorry. I’m not real fond of fuzzy critters.” Mike wondered briefly if he should have admitted that to a guy who raised cats, then forged ahead. “My sister thinks all little boys should have pets. I’m apparently not responsible enough for a hamster, so a cat it is.”
“Not that I want to discourage an interested buy,” Riley said, “but you’d probably be better off going down to the nearest shelter. Purebred cats don’t come cheap, especially the uncommon ones like my Norwegians.”
How expensive could a cat be? “I’d like to come out and take a look, anyway, if that’s possible.”
“Sure.” Something in the tone of Riley’s voice told Mike he wasn’t fooling anyone. Wanting to see Riley again had very little to do with cats. “I’m free this afternoon. Got a pen?...”
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