Bright Haven: An Amberly Novella Read online

  I stroked the puppy’s head and neck. My big calloused fingers looked comical next to his little skull. He didn’t seem to mind, and craned himself for more.

  Kai held the paper up and read aloud:

  * * *

  Dear Rhett,

  We loved your interview in the fireman calendar. You said you always wanted a dog and could never have one. We all pitched in and got you this dalmatian puppy. He is a low uric acid dalmatian, bred to eliminate breed-rampant kidney problems.

  Sometimes dreams do come true.

  This little guy can be your station mascot and make a great addition to future calendars. Hope you get the cover again!

  Sincerely,

  Your unofficial fan club.

  * * *

  Kai grinned. “I bet it’s like an online book group, like the ones that dug up all those old photos of you and used them for images in their book reviews. Remember how they said they wanted to do something for you?”

  “No, I bet it was the Junior League. Remember how they kept sending treats and asking him to come do fire safety seminars?” Finn said. “Dalmatians are expensive, I bet it was them.”

  “Rhett and his mouth,” Mitch said. He wasn’t wrong. I seemed to talk myself into, and out of, trouble routinely.

  Why had I said that in the calendar? It just felt right at the time, like something that would sound good in the interview and also deflect from them asking too many more questions about my childhood. Sometimes it was better to give people the kind of information they were looking for. Then they stopped prying.

  I shifted in my seat and cradled the dog protectively with my hands. The puppy nestled closer, as if he was trying to stay away from the commotion of the room. How much trouble could such a little creature be?

  “What are you going to name him?” Mitch wanted to know.

  “I don’t know. Jesus, give me some time to think about it.” My mind raced. How could I have a dog in my life?

  The puppy burrowed further into my arms, away from the chaos of the room.

  “Don’t name him unless you’re sure you’re going to keep him,” Finn said. “Otherwise you’ll get too attached.”

  “Thanks for the genius advice,” I rolled my eyes.

  Finn frowned at me.

  The door opened and the chief breezed in. Talk about presence -- this guy was the definition of burly. He was the kind of guy with so many muscles you’d think he wouldn’t be able to move well. Except I’d seen him move.

  I willed myself invisible to escape the notice of the captain. He didn’t need to see a puppy in my lap.

  Too late. “What’s this?” The chief stopped in front of me, looking down at the puppy and frowning.

  “Someone sent him a puppy because he’s so sexy!” Finn volunteered.

  I rolled my eyes at Finn and grinned at the chief. I shrugged. I had no explanation, so, a smile would have to do.

  “All right then,” the chief said, shaking his head. “Rhett, can I see you in my office?”

  I knew better than to talk back or question this request. “Yes, sir.” I stood up, and still holding the puppy in the crook of my arm, followed the chief into headquarters. I couldn’t resist looking back at the other guys and blowing them a kiss. Finn was jealous as fuck of the calendar spot, even if it was a stupid thing to care about. I had to get him back for that sexy comment.

  In the office, my eyes briefly fell on the photo of my our previous chief, who was also my adopted father. The chief followed my gaze and gave me a brief smile as he closed the door. “Please, have a seat.”

  Great. My whole life I’d been in and out of the principal’s office. Sometimes for things I did, and sometimes for things I didn’t. I’d attended enough of these meetings to not let them get under my skin.

  What did the chief want now? We’d already gone over what happened last month. Driving a sick kid to the hospital in a fire truck was against regulations. I was supposed to wait for the ambulance, but tell that to the grateful parents. Rules served us, not the other way around. Not everyone believed that though. But that was over and history.

  My mind ticked through recent events. I couldn’t think of anything current that could be a problem, but then again, I didn’t think a lot of things were a problem.

  I’d also made sure to keep my Grindr hookups to out-of-town encounters. Being a fireman meant I had an image to uphold. No one cared that I was gay, but…my Only Once policy wasn’t exactly in keeping with the city image of the wholesome fireman. One night stands kept me from getting into complicated relationships I wasn’t cut out for.

  The chief sat down at his desk and straightened himself in his chair. He picked up a yellow pencil. It looked comical engulfed in his enormous hands. He rolled the pencil back and forth between his palms, like a rolling pin between two rocks. The shiny edges flashed while I waited for what he was going to say.

  I sat back in my chair and stretched back, trying to appear relaxed. I readjusted the puppy in my arms and his warm weight provided an unexpected soothing presence. “What’s up Chief?”

  15

  Tiger Tricks Chapter 2

  Oscar

  The Amberly drugstore looked like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Not only did it have a long bar with attached diner-style stools, but it boasted an old fashioned soda fountain.

  A large hand-painted wood sign spanned the entire wall above the menu. Soda Your Way: With 100 Flavors to Add!

  People still went there to get specialized sodas and banana splits, shakes, fresh coffee and even burgers and sandwiches. Emily George owned the place and ran the counter like a queen presiding over a guest table.

  Emily began working there when she was sixteen years old. She fell in love with the owners’ son, and eventually married him. His parents started the place in 1955, and he later inherited it. They ran the place together until he died a few years ago. She kept going by focusing on the drugstore.

  At least this is what she told me my first day in town.

  I wandered in and realized I could order food, and sat down at her counter for a burger and a milkshake.

  She wasn’t about to let me sit at her counter without finding out who I was and what I was doing there. Or without telling me who she was and what she did there.

  The place even had regulars. Every day the same three old guys drank coffee and played checkers in one of the two booths. A new beautiful coffee shop sat just down the street, but I got the feeling these guys had been coming here for decades and weren’t about to switch from their favorite haunt.

  What would happen if someone claimed their booth before they got there? Not that I would do that. I wasn’t there for soda or coffee or checkers today. I just needed my prescription. I didn’t need to annoy the local elders. They were the only ones who knew what the hell was going on with my property half the time.

  “Do you have any questions for the pharmacist, hon?” Angel, the pharmacy tech, smiled as he handed me the prescription bag and I looked over the bottle.

  I glanced up and gave him a smile. This place was something special. Not only did it feel like it was from the 1950s in all the good and charming ways, but it also had some astonishingly liberal attitudes toward people like me. And Angel, who stood six foot four with broad shoulders and stacked muscles, went out every day with a full face of on-point makeup and a had a wardrobe like an Instagram fashion star.

  Also on my first day, not only did Emily feed me and recommend the best people to talk to at the hardware store, but Angel helped me jump start my car when I’d stupidly left my lights on all day and ran down the battery. I noticed how people talked to me, and to Angel, and marveled how this town seemed to be more evolved than most larger cities I’d been in.

  Too bad I felt so anti-social these days. I knew a lot of people who would love to live in a town like Amberly.

  “No, I’m good. No questions for the pharmacist today.” I just needed to get home and not be around people much longer. A mor
ning of errands was enough socializing. I looked around the pharmacy. “Is he even here?”

  “He’s just at lunch, but I can call him if you need him. Before I ring you up, do you have a copy of our fireman calendar yet?” Angel lifted his eyebrows with a glint in his eye. “I assume everyone in town has one by now, but with just a few left I’m asking everyone who comes through here.”

  I blinked at the unexpected question. “Fireman calendar?” I looked around, was there something I missed?

  “Yeah, two guys from our town are in it!” Angel exuded civic pride as he talked about the two hometown heroes. “One was the last fire chief’s son and the other starts medical school in the fall.”

  He gestured at the calendar on the wall around the corner and I leaned over the counter to look. Was he really trying to convince me to buy a fireman calendar? In June?

  Not that I was averse to hunky firemen. Mister June looked especially delicious. He had the whole package: scruffy, lean, with thick long muscles, some tattoos and even scars. He was like Fight Club Brad Pitt, but in fireman gear. I tried not to think about the package part.

  Just my type, if I had one, which I didn’t, because I was never going to get involved with anyone ever again.

  “Wow, he’s from here?” I looked around, as if expecting to see the half-dressed fireman walk down the cold medicine aisle, shirt off, hatchet over his shoulder.

  Angel laughed. “He still lives here and is actually a fireman. He’s single, but don’t bother.”

  I raised my eyebrow at the clerk. “I’m not interested, but why not?”

  “He’s one of those permanently unattached guys.”

  I smiled. “I can respect that.”

  Angel winked at me. “Me too.” He turned and picked up a calendar, still wrapped in cellophane and set it on the counter. ”So every calendar we sell, the proceeds go to charity. Part of them go to our local fire station. Almost sold out! What do you say?”

  I considered the All-American dream man smiling at me through the camera. He seemed too good to be true. I bet he’s a cocky douchebag. I picked up the calendar and flipped it to the back, previewing all the photos at a glance. “Okay, I’ll support our local charity effort and buy a new calendar in June.”

  Angel clapped his hands together. “Hooray! There’s also a fundraiser at the end of the summer. They even auction off some of the guys. Just think, you could buy him for the night.”

  I laughed. “Great! That sounds…not demeaning.”

  Angel laughed with me. “Oh, it’s always just for good fun. You just go to dinner, or something. Maybe you need some heavy lifting done.”

  I examined the calendar again, considering possibilities. “I wonder if we can do something like this for the shelter.”

  “Oh, the new animal shelter? Are you involved with that?”

  “Yeah, I work there some. As you can imagine, money is always needed.” The shelter was only a few months old, and just barely off the ground.

  “Oh I love David so much. He and Mike are so adorable.” Angel folded his arms around himself and smiled off into space, clearly a romantic.

  “Yes, they are,” I agreed. They would be, if you believed in love and all that. I didn’t want to harsh Angel’s buzz so I didn’t say anything else. Besides, I never said he didn’t believe in love for other people.

  Angel raised his perfectly drawn eyebrows. “Ohhhh, maybe you can do something with the fire station. Double your exposure.”

  “Yeah, maybe. Though I don’t know if dogs can beat shirtless firemen.”

  “Maybe! It’s always an idea. Or, what about dogs and shirtless firemen!”

  I laughed. “Now you’re talking!” I shook my head to hide the pink creeping up on my cheeks, grabbed my purchases and headed toward the door.

  “Speaking of shirts, I like yours!” Angel pointed at my lavender t-shirt.

  I turned and looked down. Everyone in town constantly commented on my clothes. It’s like I’m the only man in the world who wears color — except maybe Angel. “Thanks, I have a whole collection.”

  Angel laughed. “I’ve noticed! I love it. Bring some more color into this town.”

  “That’s me. I’m here to provide local color,” I laughed, looking around at the too-cute-to-be-real drugstore.

  “Hey, new calendar!” Emily, who speaking of local color, was wearing an apron right out of ‘50s television, pointed her spatula at my prize and grinned as I approached.

  “Now you’re a real member of the town!” Bob, one of the guys drinking coffee and playing checkers said. “My wife insisted we needed one. To support the town, of course.”

  Everyone in the place cracked up and he shook his head, bemused.

  “Yep,” I said, feeling the heat in my face as I spoke to the room. “I’m just supporting the town and doing my patriotic duty.”

  “That’s right,” Emily said. “If you need an introduction to either of those hometown heroes, let me know.” She winked at me.

  “Don’t do it!” Angel called. “Emily, leave the poor guy alone!”

  “Oh fine,” Emily laughed. “Have a good day, Oscar.”

  I ducked my head down and pushed open the door. Living in this town was like being a member of a large and nosy family.

  I hurried toward my car and almost made a getaway with my sexy calendar without anyone else seeing me. Of course things wouldn’t be that easy. I was almost to my car when a familiar voice called my name. “Oscar! Oscar, wait up!”

  16

  Tiger Tricks Chapter 3

  Oscar

  As if summoned by the previous conversation in the drugstore, David Parker, my boss at the animal shelter, waved me down from across the street. David was a veterinarian who started the shelter just a few months ago.

  He carried a stack of envelopes in his hand. I waited and smiled at my boss, who was the epitome of Ken-doll handsome. Not that I noticed. It was just an observation. David was my boss. He was also taken -- engaged to a burly carpenter.

  David stopped in front of me, his eyes flicking over my clothing. “I like your shirt.” Before I could reply he said, “I have an invitation for you.” He flipped through a stack of thick creamy envelopes. “Ah, here it is.” He pulled one out and pressed it in my hand. “Getting married seems more real when you start giving these out!” he grinned.

  The guy practically glowed. David and Mike were both super nice, but their crazy-in-love ways were a little over the top for me. I forced what I hoped was an encouraging smile and took the envelope. “Thanks, man, and congratulations!”

  “You’ll be at the shelter tomorrow, right?” David shaded his eyes from the sun and furrowed his brow. “I can’t be there, so I’m just making sure.”

  “I’ll be there,” I said. “You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

  David breathed out, a long sigh like he’d been holding his breath. “You are a lifesaver.” Then he noticed my purchases. “Hey, the fireman calendar! You’ll be a proper member of the town now! I’m sure they told you that the cover and another guy are from our town?”

  “Yeah, they mentioned something like that.” I looked down at the cover and felt my cheeks burn as I surveyed the hunky fireman. I dropped the calendar down and held it against my leg.

  “You know, both of those firemen are single,” David winked and grinned wider.

  Was he expecting me to reply to that? If I am ever like that, I’m going to punch myself in the face.

  I held a straight expression and tried not to let my thoughts betray me. “They mentioned that too,” I said, trying to sound as bored as possible so we could drop the subject.

  Just then my phone buzzed. I hated that I had to carry this thing at all, but it was how everyone communicated. It was also how I looked up stuff for my projects when I visited the downtown hardware store. So I guess it had some uses.

  “Excuse me a moment.” I pulled the phone out of my pocket and the notification flashed by.

  Urgent!
It’s really time to update! Rory has gone on the offensive.

  I rolled my eyes and hit the power button.

  “Everything okay?” David frowned at me, concern lining his face.

  “Never better,” I chirped as I shoved the phone back into my pocket.

  “Well, if you need to be set up for your plus one, just let me know. Mike and I can find you someone,” David said.

  I blinked. Plus one? I looked at the envelope and sure enough, plus one, right on the address. “I could just take Sarah,” I squeaked.

  David laughed. “True! Sarah was my plus one a lot! But we can find someone for you if she is already taken. I think she is coming with Beckett.”

  Of course she is. “That’s a long way away,” I said. “I’m sure I’ll figure something out.”

  “I’m sure you will. The offer still stands,” David said. “Everyone in town wants to get to know you better, so I’ve got no shortage of people who’ve asked about you.”

  My chest tightened and my inner hermit screamed silently. “Thanks for the invite. I will be there, and I’ll be at the shelter tomorrow.”

  When would people stop trying to set me up? The only people I wanted to meet at that moment were animals. Cute fluffy sweet animals.

  Besides, the wedding date sat two months away. I’d figure something out by then.

  I said goodbye to David, trying to get away while not being rude. I’m not sure I succeeded. I climbed into my car, threw my purchases on the passenger seat, and roared the engine to life.

  Tomorrow there would be dogs. Dogs and cats. Dogs and cats who wouldn't ask personal questions or try to set me up on dates.

  Back at home, another text rolled in the moment I turned on the phone. Why did I need a phone? People existed for millions of years without them.

  I know you don’t want to deal with this. But a lot of people are worried and hope you are okay. Don’t worry about Rory. But it might be a good time to do an update.