by Lynn Hagen
“I’m a growing boy.” Moose winked as he patted his stomach.
Jeremy smiled. “Okay, you can finish your breakfast.”
He didn’t want to go back. Jeremy had been downright rude to Cyril. He looked over his shoulder and could see the bar down the street. His mouth watered for a whiskey, but he kept pace with Moose, telling himself he’d get a drink later.
Jeremy was going back to the diner more for the company, more so that he could stay out of the bar just a little while longer, although this wasn’t easy for him. He shoved his shaky hands into his pockets.
“You have to eat some more waffles before you go grocery shopping,” Moose said as he opened the diner door and waited for Jeremy to enter first. “If you go there hungry, you’ll buy all kinds of crap you don’t really need. I once bought an entire case of sweet rolls…never mind. That was a bad example because I ate all the sweet rolls.”
Jeremy smiled. “I’d ask why you don’t weigh three hundred pounds by now, but you look like you do.”
“All muscle.” Moose flexed like he was in a competition, gaining a few glances from some of the customers.
They took their seats at their booth, and thankfully, Heather hadn’t cleared the plates away. When Jeremy sat, he actively avoided looking for Cyril through the order window. He didn’t want to embarrass himself again. He also didn’t want to see Cyril glaring at him for being such an asshole.
Jeremy owed the man an apology.
“While I devour this great meal, why don’t you make a list of what you need from the store?”
Moose got up and spoke to Heather. He came back with an empty sheet of her order pad and a pencil.
“Thanks.” Jeremy stared at the paper and had no idea what to write. He wasn’t even sure what was in his cupboards or fridge. He barely ate, but when he did, it was takeout.
With his fork, Moose pointed at the paper. “Why don’t you write down some fattening foods? You’re a little on the skinny side.”
That had been a good idea, but five minutes later, the paper was still blank.
“Don’t worry.” Moose ate the last of his grits. “I’ll shop for you.”
“Is everything okay?”
Jeremy gripped the pencil tightly when Cyril walked over to their table. He expected a hate-filled stare, but the owner had only concern on his gorgeous face. Jeremy didn’t answer him. He was too afraid to open his mouth. He looked at his blank paper, telling himself to apologize, but the words wouldn’t form.
“You ran out of here so fast,” Cyril said. “It wasn’t my cooking, was it?”
“He’s fine,” Moose said. “Can you ask Heather to bring Jeremy another glass of orange juice?”
Blowing out a slow breath, Jeremy looked up. He and Cyril looked at each other before Jeremy looked quickly away.
“Thank you for breakfast,” Jeremy muttered as he felt himself blushing.
“You’re quite welcome.” Cyril’s voice was sexy and hot, and Jeremy started to sweat as he sat there fidgeting. He looked out the window, wishing Cyril would simply disappear.
“Hey, you got a new breakfast buddy?”
Jeremy looked up to see a biker-looking guy standing at their table.
Moose scooted over and allowed the man to sit. “Jeremy, this is Raven McCoy. He owns Timely Auto Repair.”
Jeremy recognized the man. He’d taken his half-dying sedan a handful of times to Raven’s shop. “Nice to see you again,” Jeremy said.
Jeremy gasped and moved quickly toward the window when Cyril bumped him over and took a seat right next to him. The three sat there and talked as Jeremy tried to think of a way to get out of the booth so he could escape. Cyril’s body heat was making him sweat even worse.
And if anyone asked him, inviting oneself to sit down was sort of rude. Jeremy just didn’t give his opinion out loud. It was best that he kept things like that to himself.
He tapped his jacket and cursed the fact that he hadn’t brought his flask with him. He’d wanted to start his day sober, but not anymore.
“Grayson is handling the job fine,” Moose said when Jeremy tuned back into the conversation. “He solved the murder, and the vandal was the same person. All is quiet now, and I think he likes it that way.”
Jeremy still couldn’t believe that James Marvell had been the murderer of Chris Fisher. James had also killed his own wife and had been the one going around vandalizing things. That just went to show that you really didn’t know your neighbors.
“I’d ask how the diner is doing,” Raven said, “but I can see business is booming.”
“That being said, I need to get back in the kitchen.” Cyril looked at Jeremy. “I hope to see you here again. You brighten up the place.”
“And you…” Jeremy had no idea why he tried to return some sort of compliment, but nothing came to mind.
Cyril smiled. “See you tomorrow morning?”
“I’ll be here.” Why the hell had he just committed himself? Had he lost his ever-loving mind?
“I guess we have a breakfast date,” Moose said to Jeremy. “Which is nice since I don’t like eating alone.”
“And what am I, chopped liver?” Raven asked. He waved a hand at Moose. “I can’t make it every morning, anyway.”
Jeremy tuned out the rest of their conversation as he looked toward the order window. Cyril was behind it, concentrating on something he was doing.
But he looked up, as though he sensed Jeremy watching him. He winked and looked back down at what he had been doing, making Jeremy’s heart skip a thousand beats.
Chapter Two
Cyril had just closed down his diner and finished cleaning up when he spotted someone familiar strolling past the diner window. He crossed the floor and headed toward the door just as Jeremy swayed and used the exterior wall to steady himself. The guy blinked a hundred times, wiped a hand down his face, and simply stood there staring at the sidewalk.
When Cyril went outside, he smelled a strong odor of booze. The guy was wasted. “Where are you headed?”
Jeremy looked over his shoulder. His damn eyes were bloodshot. “I dunno. My cat. I can’t find her.” Jeremy rubbed his eyes. “I think she’s at home.”
Cyril’s gut clenched as he stared at the haunting look in his mate’s eyes. He’d scented Jeremy as soon as the human had walked into his diner that morning. He had smelled like a field of roses, and Cyril had been helpless against seeking out that fragrance.
But now the alcohol clouded his scent as he gazed bleary-eyed at Cyril. “What haunts you so badly that you try to drink away your demons?”
This time Jeremy blinked so slowly that Cyril thought he would fall asleep standing up. His mate turned until he had his back against the wall. He sighed and threw his arm out as though reaching for something but let it fall to his side.
“Everything.”
“You’re trying to escape everything?” Cyril joined him, pressing his back against the exterior of his diner. He was much taller than Jeremy, and the need to protect his mate overcame him.
“I couldn’t even go shopping earlier. I had no idea what I needed. I never know what I need.” Jeremy wiped at his eyes. “Lily always took care of that kind of stuff. She took care of everything…and now s-she’s gone.”
Cyril’s fucking heart broke as he listened to his mate. He wanted to pull the man into his arms and never let him go. Life had kicked Jeremy in the balls, and it seemed as though the human couldn’t get past that.
“How about I get you home?” Cyril looked around. The sun was still out, and people were still walking the streets, but he didn’t want to leave Jeremy in this condition. “You shouldn’t be vulnerable and outside. Bad things could happen to you.”
“They already happened.” Jeremy pushed from the wall, steadied himself, and started stumbling forward. Cyril was surprised the man stayed on his feet. He swayed so much that it looked as though a soft breeze would knock him over.
“Home.” Cyril slid his arm into Je
remy’s and stopped him from going forward. He couldn’t help but be in awe as the streaks of sunlight created a halo around Jeremy’s blond hair. “Let’s get you there so you can sleep this off.”
“I don’t…” Jeremy waved his arms. “No home. Too many memories to haunt me.”
“Fine, then you’ll come to my place, but I’m not leaving you out here.”
Cyril would much rather have his mate at his home. That way he could watch over him. He knew all too well about bad things happening to someone good, and the thought of anyone hurting his human made his black panther snarl.
“I don’t have my keys.” Jeremy patted his pockets a little too roughly. “Where’s my car?”
Cyril prayed his mate hadn’t driven in this condition. “We’ll take care of that tomorrow.”
Jeremy looked up at him and gave Cyril the most adorable smile. “Okay.” Then he furrowed his brows, and it seemed for a moment that he would cry. “I didn’t know what to buy.”
“I have plenty of food at my house, and it just so happens that I know how to cook.” Cyril led Jeremy to his black Charger. His mate was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, which gave Cyril the opportunity to find out that Jeremy had really soft skin. His upper arm felt like silk under Cyril’s touch as he carefully spilled Jeremy into the passenger seat, buckled him in, then moved to the driver’s side and slipped into the car.
Cyril turned on the AC before he pulled from the curb and drove home.
He glanced at his mate and grimaced, hoping Jeremy didn’t get sick, because he looked green as hell and had burped a few times. Cyril would have lowered the passenger window, but it was like an oven outside and the hot air might have triggered something.
“How you holding up over there?” Cyril tamped down the urge to reach for Jeremy’s hand. His panther yowled for any kind of connection, but since his mate was drunk, he would remain a gentleman.
But he wasn’t immune to the scent of roses in his car. His panther purred as Cyril kept his hands gripped to the steering wheel. His arms ached to pull Jeremy into them, to give his mate some kind of comfort, to let the human know he was no longer alone.
Jeremy turned his head and gave Cyril that slow blink. He looked as though he was detached from the world as he turned his head back around and stared out the window.
Cyril’s house wasn’t too far from the diner. He pulled into the driveway and drove all the way to the back before cutting the motor. He eased Jeremy from the car and carried his mate inside since Jeremy stumbled twice while still standing by the car door.
“You really tied one on.” He entered the house, and his two golden Labs came running. Samson and Davidson wagged their tails as Cyril walked to the living room and gently deposited Jeremy on the couch.
“Don’t lick him to death,” Cyril said in warning. “He’s had a really rough evening.”
After removing Jeremy’s shoes and jeans, Cyril grabbed the throw blanket from the back of the couch and covered his mate. The central air felt chilly, and he didn’t want Jeremy getting cold.
“Okay, fellas, let’s go outside.”
Samson and Davidson raced for the back door. Cyril stared down at the pocket-sized human a moment longer, appreciating his button nose and silky blond hair. When they were open, his mate had stunning green eyes.
He was also lying there with his mouth hanging open as he snored. Cyril smiled and shook his head before he let the dogs out. Since he lived on a long backroad with his neighbors far enough away for privacy, Cyril shifted and ran with his buddies into the large field behind his house.
He usually waited until it was dark out before he turned into his black panther, but he had pent-up energy that he needed to get rid of. He wasn’t pervy enough to check Jeremy out in that kind of way while his mate was sauced, but he could appreciate the man’s good looks.
And Jeremy was stunning.
Once the dogs trotted back to the house, Cyril did, too, shifting back into his human form before he went inside. He had just entered when he noticed Jeremy standing in the archway to the kitchen.
“What are you doing up?” He thought his mate would be passed out for the rest of the night.
Jeremy’s bleary-eyed gaze slid over Cyril’s body as he swayed. “Why are you naked?” He closed his eyes for a brief second before he opened them. “Where am I?”
“You should lay back down.” Cyril crossed the kitchen and touched his mate’s shoulder, turning him so he could lead Jeremy back to the couch.
His mate flopped down onto the cushions before Cyril could catch him. He almost rolled to the floor, but Cyril blocked him from falling off of the couch.
“You’re a hot mess,” Cyril said.
“I’m a lonely mess,” Jeremy groaned. He flipped over and grabbed Cyril’s semihard cock.
“Whoa.” Cyril eased Jeremy’s hand from his body. “Not while you’re wasted, love.”
He would be lying if he said Jeremy’s touch hadn’t ignited something inside him. Cyril’s cock stirred further to life, but he walked away and headed to his bedroom so he could put on some underwear and pajama pants.
Cyril was many things, but a rank bastard toward his mate wasn’t one of them. No way would he take advantage of the human in his current state. Not even Cyril would sink that low.
Once he was decently dressed, he returned to the living room to check on Jeremy.
The couch was empty.
“How the hell are you this active and this drunk at the same time?” he muttered as he walked into the kitchen to find Jeremy at the fridge.
“I think I’m hungry,” Jeremy said when Cyril crossed the room and guided him back to the couch.
“How about some coffee?” He made his mate lie back down.
Just that fast Jeremy was snoring again.
Since Cyril didn’t trust his mate to stay put, he curled in behind him, hugging Jeremy to his chest. He grabbed the remote from the coffee table and turned the television on since he wasn’t the least bit tired.
Jeremy sighed as he curled into Cyril’s chest. He looked down at his mate and brushed a hand over his hair. “What am I going to do with you?”
Jeremy grunted, wiggled a bit, and started snoring again.
With a shake of his head, Cyril settled back, his mate folded in his arms, right where he belonged.
* * * *
“What do you mean you can’t make it in today? This is the second time this week you’ve called off.”
Jeremy slowly cracked his eyes open. His head felt as though it was splitting in half. Thank goodness the sun wasn’t up yet. He wasn’t sure he could handle the brightness. Jeremy no longer felt drunk, but he would prefer being wasted over a migraine.
The last thing he recalled was getting shit-faced in his recliner. Everything after that was a complete blank. Had someone broken in to make a phone call? That didn’t sound right even in Jeremy’s aching head.
“I need reliable people, Heather. Not people who work whenever they want to.”
Who the hell was that, and why did his voice sound so loud? And so sexy? Jeremy looked around the living room, only to realize it wasn’t his living room.
His gaze landed on two golden-haired dogs lying on the rug in front of the large-ass television. They stared right back at him. Jeremy wasn’t afraid of dogs, per se, but they were pretty big damn dogs.
“Be there on time or look for another job.”
Jeremy eased onto his elbow and tried to see over the back of the couch, but he wasn’t tall enough. When he heard the floorboards creak, he dropped back down and closed his eyes.
But the strong smell of coffee had his mouth watering for a cup. His stomach pitched, and Jeremy had to fight not to get sick. Fuck. He’d really tied one on. He remembered going grocery shopping with Moose. Jeremy hadn’t known what to buy, so Moose had done all the shopping.
After his friend had put the groceries away, he’d taken Jeremy to get a haircut. Once Jeremy had gotten home, he’d grabbed a bottle and d
amn near drank it dry.
And now he was lying on Cyril’s couch. He knew that voice even if it had taken him a moment to recognize it. How the fuck had he ended up on Cyril’s couch? Jeremy racked his brain as he tried to remember, but he couldn’t.
“Sit up so you can drink this coffee.”
Once again the man’s deep voice affected Jeremy in ways that left him utterly confused and wishing the guy would keep talking. Jeremy’s heart did flips as his cock thickened. He was grateful he had a blanket covering to hide his arousal.
“I’m not awake,” Jeremy said. “I’m still passed out.”
His heart skipped a beat at the soft and deep chuckle. “Sure you are. Drink up. We have to head out in about twenty minutes so I can open the diner.”
Reluctantly Jeremy obeyed. He sat up, keeping the blanket on his lap, and gripped the warm mug in his hands as he took a tentative sip. Now that his eyes were open, he drank his fill of Cyril in his pajama pants. The guy didn’t have a shirt on, and Jeremy saw the tattoos on Cyril’s chest and arm.
His nice broad and hairy chest and his well-defined arm.
Jeremy quickly looked down at his mug. His coffee needed more sugar, and a dollop of booze wouldn’t hurt. “How did I get here?”
“You were wasted when you walked by the diner. I couldn’t leave you like that, and since I have no idea where you live, I brought you here to sleep it off.”
That was when Jeremy realized he didn’t have any pants on. Where the hell were his pants? Had the two of them had sex? He didn’t feel all sore and achy. He felt like crap, but he would know if he’d had sex.
Wouldn’t he?
As if reading his mind, Cyril said, “I removed your pants so you could sleep more comfortably. Nothing happened between us.”
Jeremy sagged with relief, but a small part of him was also disappointed. What was up with that?
“Hungry?”
“I don’t think my stomach can handle food right now.” He took another sip of the heavenly brew. At least he was keeping the coffee down. Unfortunately his dick was still hard, so getting off the couch right that second wasn’t going to happen. If Cyril would get away from him maybe Jeremy could control his body better. Or maybe not since the guy’s house smelled strong and masculine and…Jeremy groaned.