Too Soon For Love (33 page)

“Laid off? When? You didn’t say anything.”

“I just found out on Friday.”

“So why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s no big deal, Tom. I’ll get unemployment and I was thinking about going back to school anyway, so this would be the perfect time to do that.”

He hadn’t really been considering any such thing, not on more than a superficial level. But now that he’d said it, returning to school seemed like a really good idea, as long as he could continue paying the rent and generally making ends meet.

Tommy had just opened his mouth, no doubt to ask more questions Alan didn’t want to answer, when a maroon SUV

pulled up and parked behind the truck.

Saved by the vet, Alan thought as the driver’s door opened and Patrick Somers climbed out.

Tommy’s face lit with pleasure and his smile blossomed. “Hey, you’re here.”

“I am.” Patrick went directly to Tommy and, evidently not caring that they had an audience, kissed him full on the lips. It was no quickie little peck either, Alan saw with amusement and only the smallest twinge of envy. There was definitely some tongue action there.

The kiss broke and Patrick grinned over at Alan. “How’s it going, Alan? How’s Oscar?”

276 Kimberly Gardner

Patrick always asked about the dog. It was just one more thing Alan liked about him.

“He’s good. And you?”

“Busy. I think I could book appointments seven days a week if I were willing. And my receptionist just went out on maternity leave.”

“Kristin?” Tommy asked. “I thought she wasn’t due for another three months.”

“She was having some issues and the doc put her on bed rest.

Friday was her last day. So on top of my regular appointments, I have to interview temps.”

Tommy glanced at his brother.

Suddenly Alan knew with that weird psychic link the two of them had, what his twin was about to say.

“Tom, no.”

“Why not, Alan?” Tommy turned back to Patrick. “Alan just got laid off. I bet he could help you out, at least until you find someone more permanent.”

“You got laid off? I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sure it’s just temporary.”

“The receptionist gig would only be temporary, just until Kristin comes back.”

“I don’t know anything about working in a vet’s office.”

“All you have to do is answer the phone, make appointments, that kind of thing. You don’t actually do anything with the animals.”

“I don’t know.” Alan glanced around. “Isn’t it about time we got back inside and got that couch off the stairs, Tommy?”

“C’mon, Alan, it’s the perfect solution,” Tommy said, ignoring the question. “You’d be helping Patrick out and making some extra money to supplement your unemployment.”

Alan ignored his twin and spoke to Patrick. “Can I think too soon FoR Love
277

about it?”

Patrick nodded. “Sure. I do have to get somebody in there pretty fast though. We’re totally booked up to the eyeballs this week.”

The three of them went into the house and, with Patrick’s help, got the couch up the steps and into Tommy’s living room.

There was no more talk about Alan’s employment status or him working for Patrick. Thank goodness. By the time it came up again several hours later, the whole question of how to graciously decline had slipped Alan’s mind.

The three of them had stopped for a break and to eat the pizza Tommy had ordered. Alan sat on the couch, Patrick on the armchair on the other side of the room and Tommy on the floor, his legs folded into some weird yoga contortion as he handed out slices of pepperoni with extra cheese and mushrooms.

Realizing only then how hungry he was, Alan took a huge bite of pizza. The tangy flavors of sauce and pepperoni almost compensated for the cheese that scalded the roof of his mouth and trailed in a gooey string down to his plate. He opened his mouth and breathed through the exquisite pain before he chewed and swallowed. He had just taken another bite when Patrick spoke.

“Your friend Michael’s coming in this week with his new guide dog.”

Alan stopped chewing. Michael had gotten a guide dog? He felt a familiar pang in his chest, the same one he experienced whenever he thought of Michael Stricker.

He finished chewing and swallowed. “I didn’t know Michael had gotten a dog.”

Patrick nodded. “A black lab, I think he said. He’s bringing her in on Wednesday.”

“Is there something wrong?” Alan could hardly squeeze the question past the sudden tightness in his throat.

“Not problem. It’s just the new dog visit. Most people do it
278 Kimberly Gardner

when they get a new pet.”

Patrick went on talking, but Alan had stopped listening.

He could see Michael, and talk to him. Not that it would lead anywhere, he wasn’t fool enough to think that, but if he could just see him. And all he had to do was take the receptionist job at Patrick’s clinic.

He said nothing to Patrick, not then. But as he was leaving that night he brought up the job. Alan slipped his jacket on and assumed what he hoped was a casual air.

“About that receptionist job?”

Patrick glanced up from where he crouched by the stereo where he was wiring Tommy’s speakers into the back of the tuner. “What about it?”

“I’d like to give it a try, I think.”

Patrick’s grin flashed. “Great. Can you be there by eight? We open for business at eight thirty and that should give me time to show you the ropes.”

In his car Alan fastened his seatbelt, turned on the radio and thought about what he’d just done, the absurdity of it. He had just taken a job as a receptionist, a job he wasn’t qualified for and didn’t really want, so he could have a five minute glimpse of a man who had unceremoniously booted him out of his life. What the hell was he thinking?

Idiot.

Ah well, he was in it now. Nothing to do but suck up his own stupidity and report for work on Monday morning.

✧ ✦ ✧

“Heidi, forward.” Michael gave the hand signal and he and Heidi stepped off the curb. If the directions were good, and there was no reason to think they weren’t, Patrick Somers’s office should be coming up on his right. The earphone in his right ear connected via Bluetooth to the GPS in his jacket pocket. The new technology, which told him within feet where he was at any too soon FoR Love
279

given time, went a long way toward restoring his confidence. So much so that he’d declined Jane’s offer to drive Heidi and him to the vet’s office that morning.

With the guidance of his GPS and his amazing dog, Michael found the building and made his way across the parking area to the door. The aroma of disinfectant and dog greeted him as he and Heidi stepped inside.

He recalled from his last visit that the counter was straight in front of the door. He walked forward and found it right where he’d expected.

“Heidi, sit.”

The dog sat.

Behind the desk, a door opened.

“Michael, how are you? It’s Alan Stuart.”

Like he wouldn’t know that voice anywhere? But what was Alan doing here? And what was he doing behind the desk?

“How’s it going, Alan?” Michael leaned on the counter, super cool, super casual, not at all like his heart was beating so hard it threatened to break through his ribcage.

“Good. I’m good. And you?”

“Good.”

“I see you got a guide dog. Is she one of Guy’s?”

“Yeah. Her name’s Heidi. We’re here for her first check-up.”

He was on the verge of asking Alan what he was doing here, behind the reception desk at his vet’s office. But before he could get the question out, Alan spoke.

“I’ll tell Patrick you’re here.”

Alan felt like he’d been holding his breath for hours while the two of them waited for Patrick to come out and say he was ready for Michael and his dog. At last the vet appeared and escorted Michael and Heidi back to the examining room, and Alan was able to breathe again.

280 Kimberly Gardner

God, Michael looked amazing. Not just physically good, though he did, but content and, yeah, even happy, like he’d found something he’d been missing.

And he had a guide dog now.

And maybe a boyfriend,
a nasty little voice in Alan’s head whispered.

Not your business, pal.

Except it was his business, because he found himself hating the faceless, nameless man who was doing all the things Alan had so wanted to do. Like sitting with Michael in a restaurant and watching the play of candlelight across his beautiful face.

Like sitting beside him at the hockey games while he cheered and criticized, depending on how the Flyers were doing. Like sharing his laughter, and his life, and his bed.

Lucky asshole.

He needed to grab some reality here. He wasn’t even sure if there was such a man in Michael’s life. Even if there was, it had nothing to do with him or his own life.

From the exam room, Alan heard the murmur of voices followed by a burst of laughter. When he found himself envying Patrick his ability to talk to Michael and laugh with him, Alan knew it was time to get up and away, at least for a few minutes.

Time for a break.

Too bad he didn’t smoke.

More laughter.

He did drink coffee though.

Alan pushed back his chair, grabbed his coffee mug and stood. He walked to the tiny alcove they used for a break area and poured himself a cup of coffee.

As he raised the mug to his lips and sipped, he realized that from back here he could hear their conversation, not just murmurs but actual words.

“Rehoboth,” Michael said. “It’s owned by a friend of mine.

too soon FoR Love
281

We’ve got a reservation in a little B&B. It’s just for overnight, but it’ll be nice to get away.”

Alan paused. Michael was going to the beach. And not just Michael because he’d said ‘we’ve got a reservation’ so probably he was going with Mr. Perfect. Suddenly the coffee tasted very bitter. He should not be listening. He did not want to hear this.

Alan left the alcove and returned to his desk. He set his mug down and turned to his list of confirmation callbacks. Doreen Framboise was bringing Boo-Boo in for a wellness visit and a rabies vaccine.

And Michael was going to the beach with his lover.

Shoving that thought away, Alan picked up the phone and dialed.

He’d made it through three calls before he heard the door to the exam room open and the click of doggie toenails on the tile floor.

Trying to ignore the way his pulse picked up, Alan spoke into the phone. “Hello, Mrs. Grant. This is Alan from Dr. Somers’s office. I’m just calling to remind you about Tigger’s appointment at 2 p.m. tomorrow. As long as that still works for you, there’s no need to return the call. Thank you.”

He hung up.

“So, good luck with the signing,” Patrick said. He and Michael shook hands. “You okay getting out to the street?”

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks, Patrick.” Michael reached for his wallet, withdrew it from his back pocket and turned to face Alan.

“So, what’s the damage?”

Alan just sat there, frozen and aching with longing and jealousy, and stared at Michael’s elegant hands as they opened the wallet and extracted the credit card. He could still remember, like it was yesterday, how those hands had felt on him, gripping his hips and stroking his back.

“Alan?”

Say something, you idiot.

282 Kimberly Gardner

Alan cleared his throat. “Yeah, sorry. Let me just see…”

He spun his chair around and tapped keys on his computer.

“That’ll be a hundred and thirty-six, Michael.”

“Here’s my card.” Michael pushed his Visa across the desk.

Alan reached for the credit card and their fingers brushed. He felt the tingle of the slight contact all the way down to his toes. If Michael felt anything, he gave no sign of it.

Idiot. He doesn’t want you, so just stop it. All you’re doing is acting like
an ass.

Alan ran the charges and passed the card back. He watched Michael tuck it into his wallet and return the wallet to his pocket.

“Okay, well, see you, Alan.”

“You okay getting back out to the street?” A split second too late, Alan realized he’d asked the exact same thing Patrick had just asked not five minutes earlier.

Michael hesitated. “Maybe if you could just get us across the parking lot?”

“I can do that.” Alan stood and rounded the desk. “Do you want to take my arm?”

Michael took his arm and they walked out into the sunshine.

“How long have you had Heidi?” Alan asked as they crossed the parking area on their way out to the sidewalk.

“Just a couple weeks. Guy and I just finished the training the other day. I feel good about traveling with her though, so much easier than a cane.”

“She seems like a nice dog.” They reached the sidewalk far too soon. Alan stopped. “Is somebody meeting you or—”

“No, we’re taking the bus.”

An awkward silence descended. Alan searched desperately for some way to fill it and failed.

Michael shifted from foot to foot. “I guess I better get going.

Don’t want to miss my bus. Take care, Alan.”

too soon FoR Love
283

“You too.”

Alan watched in mute misery as Michael walked away from him. Not until he’d turned the corner and vanished did Alan return to the office. He found Patrick standing at the reception desk, the phone clamped between his ear and shoulder as he typed on Alan’s keyboard.

Crap.

“Okay, then, I’ll see you and George at three tomorrow afternoon. Right. Bye.” Patrick put down the phone.

“Sorry,” Alan said before Patrick could say anything. “I just walked Michael out to the sidewalk. I should have told you I was going.”

“Don’t sweat it, Alan. I know how to answer the phone.”

Patrick studied him for a long moment. “Does he know you’re in love with him?”

Alan felt a flush climbing into his cheeks and silently cursed his redhead’s complexion. “Is it that obvious?”

Patrick nodded. “Yep. So, have you told him?”