Just a Purr

by Lynn Hagen

  

  Maple Grove 2

  Just a Purr

  Jeremy Longing has been mourning the loss of his wife for two years, drinking to dull the pain. He refuses to leave the house, except on booze runs, until Moose talks Jeremy into going into town for breakfast. Jeremy isn’t sure what to think or feel when he meets the owner of the diner. Cyril Anson. He’s tall, sexy, and flirtatious, and seems to have his sights set on Jeremy.

  Cyril knew the moment Jeremy walked into his diner that the human was his mate. He also knew Jeremy has demons he’s trying to drink away. Cyril has to take things slow, to coax his mate out of the misery he’s been living in for the past two years. When Jeremy’s brother-in-law shows up, Cyril doesn’t trust the man. He’s sure Alan has ulterior motives. But Cyril has his hands full when one thing after another puts his mate in danger.

  Genres: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Shape-shifter

  Length: 31,440

  JUST A PURR

  Maple Grove 2

  Lynn Hagen

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  Just a Purr

  Copyright © 2019 by Lynn Hagen

  ISBN: 978-1-64243-884-0

  First Publication: July 2019

  Cover design by Emma Nicole

  All art and logo copyright © 2019 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  For all titles by Lynn Hagen, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  JUST A PURR

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  JUST A PURR

  Maple Grove 2

  LYNN HAGEN

  Copyright © 2019

  Chapter One

  Stone-cold sober, Jeremy stepped into The Diner Train and wandered to a booth. He looked around to see if the waitress would tell him he needed to be seated by a hostess, but the only person he saw was too busy taking an order from a booth on the other side of the diner. Blowing out a slow breath, Jeremy scooted into his seat and tried to make himself as small as possible.

  He didn’t want to be here, but after talking with Moose for a few weeks now, Jeremy was trying his very best to face the world without a liquor bottle in his hand. He was itching and sweating and ready to run home and hide from the world. He blew out another breath, telling himself he could do this, that he could take baby steps walking back into a world where his wife no longer existed.

  As he sat there Jeremy bounced his foot and twisted the wedding band on his finger, forcing himself not to get up and leave. Today would be the first day of a new chapter in his life, and he’d face the world, even if he did it with a coating of sweat covering him.

  When the waitress approached his table, Jeremy gave her a wobbly, watery smile. “Coffee, please.”

  Jeremy’s hand shook as he turned over his coffee mug so she could pour him a cup. She was pretty and young, but she wasn’t…Jeremy couldn’t bring himself to even think her name. He was trying to get past this. Happy thoughts. Just keep thinking happy thoughts and you’ll get through this.

  “Do you want anything to eat, sweetie?” Her smile was nice, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  Her nametag read Heather. “I need a bit more time, please.”

  In more ways than one.

  The talks with Moose had helped tremendously, but Jeremy was still out of touch, still trying to get his bearings back. Being outside—aside from booze runs—was a bit daunting for him. He blew across his cup as she walked away, and he looked out the window.

  The world had moved on without him. It hadn’t stopped turning because of his two-year mourning. Life had gone on, even though it had paused on Jeremy’s end.

  He glanced around and noticed the diner was pretty packed. The guy at the order window yelled out as the smell of bacon wafted toward Jeremy. There was a television mounted at the far end of the counter, but he couldn’t hear any sound.

  Maybe he would have a bite to eat, although he wasn’t very hungry. Since his wife’s death, Jeremy had lost some weight. His clothes were loose fitting, and as he rubbed his hand over his jaw, he realized that he should have shaved before he’d left the house.

  Jeremy’s leg bounced harder as he wrung his hands in his lap. This had been a mistake. He wasn’t ready to be in the world just yet. He started to get up, but Moose strode into the diner and looked around. His eyes landed on Jeremy, and the giant smiled as he walked Jeremy’s way.

  “You actually did it,” he said as he sat. Moose had to push the table toward Jeremy for room. “I’m proud of you, Jeremy.”

  “I figured it was time to turn over a new leaf.” He sipped his coffee and set it down. It was still a bit hot to drink. Now that Moose was here, the tension in Jeremy’s gut eased.

  “Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here.” Moose waved to the waitress, and she brought her carafe with her. She poured Moose some coffee and winked.

  “Your usual?”

  “You know it,” Moose said. He looked at Jeremy. “What’re you eating?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “Bring him a blueberry waffle,” Moose told Heather. He looked back at Jeremy. “You’ll thank me.”

  That saved Jeremy from having to struggle with choices, which he was not very good at. He had wrecked the past two years of his life. If it hadn’t been for his wife’s life insurance money—he felt a crushing pressure in his chest when he thought about her—Jeremy would have been destitute by now.

  Not that he had wanted to take the money, but Jeremy had, and most of it still sat in the bank. It was amazing what little a person could live off of when they no longer cared about their quality of life.

  “Have you thought about counseling?” Moose sipped his coffee. The cup looked dainty in his hand. The guy’s size always amazed Jeremy. He had never come across someone so mountainous before, yet Moose was the kindest and most caring man Jeremy had ever met.

  “I don’t…I’m not ready…I’m thinking about it.” Spilling his soul to a stranger didn’t appeal to Jeremy. He was a private person, and the thought of opening up to a shrink made him feel sick to his stomach.

  Moose slid a piece of paper across the table. “I’m not saying you have to go, but that’s the address to a group who meets once a week. It’s a survivors group, Jeremy. You’d be around others who are going through the same thing you are.”

  Jeremy slid the paper back across the table with a little too much force. “What good can come from listening to others talk about what they’ve lost? Why would they care about my loss? I�
��m sorry, but I’m not going.”

  Jeremy wasn’t ready for all of this. He wasn’t ready to face the world sober. He got up to leave, but Moose grabbed his wrist.

  “Okay, just breakfast. No more talking about you getting help. At least not this morning.”

  Jeremy didn’t want to stay. He wanted to run and hide. But Moose had been a good friend to him, so he relented and sat back down just as Heather brought their food.

  They thanked her and began to eat. Moose had been right. The blueberry waffles were amazing. They had just the right amount of sweetness, and the blueberries were real.

  “So, did you take the deputy job?” Jeremy asked as he took another bite of his waffles. He must have been hungrier than he thought because he was devouring them.

  “Nope,” Moose said. “I had my friend Darren talk to Grayson. He lives about a mile down the road from me. He was happy to have something to do with his time. His boyfriend is gonna be working at the coffee shop. You should meet Lenox. He’s a really sweet guy.”

  Jeremy started to tell Moose that he didn’t want any new friends right now, but a tall lean guy with an even longer beard, which was braided, approached their table. He had on an apron and was wiping his hands on a towel. “How’s the food?”

  Jeremy slowly let go of a deep breath. Desire lashed through him as he stared up at the gorgeous guy. Who was this sexy creature? When he realized what he’d been thinking, Jeremy looked away, ashamed that he’d been attracted to someone who hadn’t been his wife.

  But you need to move on. Maybe or maybe not. Jeremy wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do anymore. What he did do was sneak another look at the tall god. Goose bumps slid along the back of his neck as his heart rate picked up.

  Moose stuck out his hand. “How’s it going, Cyril?”

  “Pretty good, my man.” Cyril had a deep baritone voice, as though he could sing in a rock band. He also had pretty gray eyes as he smiled at Jeremy. That smile knocked the wind from Jeremy’s lungs. He forced himself to blink as his fork hovered in midair.

  “How’s your waffle?” Cyril asked.

  Jeremy opened his mouth to reply, but the only thing that came out was a weird squawk. He cleared his throat and tried again as Cyril’s smile deepened. “My f-food is good,” Jeremy said. “This waffle is the b-best I’ve ever tasted.”

  Pull yourself together!

  “I’m glad to hear that.” Cyril kept staring at Jeremy strangely, his smile still in place, but a strange look had entered his eyes. He patted Moose on the shoulder. “I’ll let you two eat in peace.”

  When Cyril walked away, Jeremy asked, “Who was that?”

  “Cyril?” Moose asked. “He’s the owner of this joint. If you ask me, he should be cooking in a five-star restaurant. His food is more of a creation than just for eating. He makes everything from scratch. That’s why I’m so in love with him.”

  Jeremy frowned.” You are?”

  A bark of laughter escaped Moose. “Oh my god! I’m kidding.”

  “Oh.” Jeremy bit his lip as he looked toward the kitchen door where Cyril had disappeared.

  When Heather passed by their table, Jeremy asked for a glass of orange juice. She brought it right away, and Jeremy was shocked at the taste. “Is this fresh squeezed?”

  Heather smiled. “Sure is.”

  She walked away as Jeremy polished off the rest of his waffle. Every few minutes he looked toward the kitchen and saw Cyril past the window. The guy looked Jeremy’s way, but Jeremy quickly turned his head, wondering why he felt so fascinated with the guy.

  And he was definitely fascinated. No one since his wife had piqued Jeremy’s interest so intensely. He had to swallow a few times to relieve the dryness in his mouth from it hanging open.

  “I was gonna stop by later today,” Moose said, pulling Jeremy’s attention away from the window. “How about we do some grocery shopping and put some real food in your house?”

  Jeremy nodded as he looked back toward the window that led into the kitchen. This time Cyril was on the phone, but he still glanced Jeremy’s way.

  Why in the hell couldn’t he stop looking at the guy? Jeremy had to admit he found Cyril extremely attractive, but since he’d met and married the love of his life, no one else had interested him.

  He still wasn’t interested in dating anyone. Jeremy wasn’t ready to move on from…Lily. There. He’d thought her name and hadn’t broken down into tears or reached for a bottle of booze.

  That was a small achievement for him, although it didn’t feel like one. But it was one small step in the right direction.

  “I figured afterward we can swing by the barbershop because you’re starting to look like a caveman.” Moose nodded toward Jeremy. “You let that hair grow any longer and you’ll need someone to braid it.”

  “I’m sorry…what?” Jeremy turned back to Moose, completely lost in the conversation.

  “Haircut,” Moose said. “You need one, or are you trying to look like Cousin It?”

  “Who?”

  “Fucking young people,” Moose groaned. “Never mind, but you’re still getting a haircut.”

  Jeremy fingered his long strands. He had never worried about a barber. Not when Lily had always cut his hair.

  His chest squeezed tight as he swallowed back the tears threatening to spill. This was why he didn’t face life sober. It was too painful, and…fuck, Jeremy needed a drink. Did this damn diner sell alcohol?

  He swallowed the rest of his orange juice, wishing it was a fuzzy navel as he set the glass down. Being sober was overrated. Maybe after breakfast he would wander over to Tilted Tiger Tavern for a drink…or five. Was the bar even open yet? Jeremy wasn’t sure. It had been a long while since he’d been up this early.

  Jeremy’s insides froze when Cyril came back out and took the check Heather had placed on their table seconds before. “Your breakfasts are on me.”

  Jeremy was too busy feasting on Cyril’s body to comprehend what the guy had just said. His cock perked right up and Jeremy’s fingers tingled to reach out and touch the guy. Cyril was tall, leanly muscled, and had the most gorgeous face Jeremy had ever seen.

  “Seriously?” Moose chuckled. “I love when my food is free.”

  They didn’t have to pay? Get your head out of his nice-fitting jeans and pay attention. Jeremy had missed the part where Cyril had offered to pick up their tab. He’d been too busy mooning over the stranger.

  Cyril laid a hand on Jeremy’s shoulder. It was a gentle touch, more like a caress of fingers, but it still took Jeremy by surprise. “Was there anything else you needed?”

  Jeremy swallowed and wanted to shove Cyril’s hand off him. The touch felt hot and electrifying and scared the hell out of him. “Nothing,” he said a bit too harshly.

  A frown puckered between Moose’s dark eyes.

  Cyril nodded and headed away with their check.

  Moose waved a hand toward Cyril. “The guy just gave us a free meal. What’s up with the attitude?”

  Jeremy’s heart was beating way too fast. His palms were wet, and he felt as though he was suffocating. He had no fucking clue why he was turning into a complete mess. “I’m j-just ready to go.”

  “Fresh air?”

  “Stop trying to anticipate my every need,” Jeremy said between gritted teeth. “I just want to be left alone right now.”

  He wasn’t sure why his mood had tanked. He got up and stormed from the diner, heading down the street as he tried to suck in enough air to breathe properly. A drink. That was what he needed. Something to make him forget the pain he was in and the attraction he’d felt toward Cyril. But it wasn’t just an attraction. Jeremy had actually felt gut-punched when he’d laid eyes on the guy. He was shaken to his core and wasn’t sure how to handle his emotions.

  Leaving his house had been a mistake. Jeremy needed to get home. He was never coming out again.

  Even if Cyril had been the hottest thing on two legs that Jeremy had ever seen.

  “J
eremy, wait up!”

  The sound of Moose’s voice made Jeremy walk faster. Moose would try and talk him into going back to the diner, and Jeremy just wasn’t ready for any of this.

  Moose grabbed Jeremy’s arm and stopped him from running the rest of the way to the bar, which he was five seconds away from doing. “Let me go.” Jeremy wiggled his arm, but Moose had a tight grip on it.

  “Just as soon as you tell me why you ran.”

  “I’m having an existential crisis.” Jeremy brushed his hand down his face and tried to calm himself. People on the sidewalk were staring at him. Jeremy looked away, embarrassed by how he was acting.

  “No shit,” Moose said as he let Jeremy’s arm go. “Can you be a little more specific? Was it because Cyril touched you? I mean, he’s just a friendly guy. He didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “No…” Jeremy shook his head, but it was Cyril’s touch that had sent him over the edge. He was mourning his wife who had been gone for two years, and Jeremy had liked the feeling of Cyril’s hand on his shoulder. Jeremy was flat-out confused by his feelings and felt ashamed for being attracted to the guy.

  “You’re not a very good liar,” Moose said.

  “I’m just…” Jeremy couldn’t find the right words as he stood there wishing he had never left the house. He was safe at home, safe from the world, safe from decisions, safe from everything he never wanted to face again.

  Namely his life.

  “Let’s go finish breakfast and I promise no one will touch you, okay?”

  The sad thing was, lately, Jeremy had come to depend so much on Moose. He was a great friend who’d barged into Jeremy’s life and had refused to leave. He was the reason Jeremy had given this a try.

  “Come on.” Moose coaxed him back toward the diner. “My food is getting cold.”

  “You ordered a lot of food,” Jeremy said, just to change the subject. “How can you eat all that?”