Finders Keepers Read online

  Then I imagined I wasn’t holding Wicket and I could use both my hands. I’d slide my hands around his back and down over his arse, cupping and lifting him so he could wrap those long legs around me. I’d push him against the side of his car, rubbing our cocks together while he kissed me deep, and I’d buck into him, and then he’d throw his head back and groan as he came in his jeans…

  My orgasm barrelled through me, my balls tight and my cock throbbing and spilling over my hand. My back arched, legs splayed and I grunted as I shot my load. Fuuuuuuck, yeah. Just like that.

  It took a moment for my brain to function again, as my body twitched with aftershocks. It was so intense, I had to wonder if I was awake or dreaming. Though the mess on my stomach and chest told me it was very real, and I had to wait for the room to stop spinning and catch my breath before I could get up to clean myself off.

  I climbed back into bed, still smiley and spongey, and swirly thoughts of a dark-haired guy who kissed like a god lured me to sleep.

  I slept like the dead.

  I got to work early, knowing I’d have a lot to catch up on. Li had everything under control, but there were still reports to fill out, sales data to sign, and rosters to work on. I spent a good part of my day on the store floor helping customers but most of it stuck at my desk. I even stayed back a little longer to get a head start on tomorrow’s to-do list, but man, I was glad to get home.

  Wicket greeted me with his usual wriggle dance, and after a case of the zoomies, I got changed into shorts and a T-shirt, grabbed his leash, and we set off on our usual walk. “I’m sorry I was gone all day,” I told him as we hit the footpath. “Must be a bit hard after spending all day with Griffin and him taking you on excellent adventures, huh?”

  Wicket didn’t seem to care. He just kept walking, ears and tail up, happy to be outside now. It kinda sucked knowing that he was cooped up all day though…

  My phone rang, and fishing it out of my pocket, I smiled as I saw Griffin’s name. “Hey.”

  “Hey yourself,” he said, his voice smooth and happy. “How was your first day back?”

  “Hmm, busy.”

  He paused for a second. “What’s up? You don’t sound too happy. Want me to call back?”

  “No, I’m glad you called actually. I’m just out walking Wicket and I was thinking how much today must have sucked for him after he spent all his days having fun with you.”

  “I had to work the last two days and he was with Bernice, so it wasn’t all me.”

  “But he still had company.” I sighed. “Just feel like a shitty parent, that’s all.”

  He chuckled. “You’re hardly a shitty parent. He’s like the most spoiled dog ever.”

  I almost smiled. “Maybe. Still feel pretty lousy though.”

  “Have you thought about doggy day care?” he suggested. “Even if it’s one or two days a week? Or a neighbour who likes him? I’m pretty sure Bernice didn’t take him on walks or anything, she just talked to him while she pottered about her yard.”

  “He has a back yard and a doggy-door so he can get in or out as he pleases,” I said lamely.

  “Then that’s all he needs.”

  I sighed. “Yeah.” His suggestion of a day-sitter sounded pretty good. “I might look into the doggy day care though.”

  “What if he escapes and runs away again like he did for your mum? He clearly likes being at home because that’s where he was trying to get back to, wasn’t it?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I think it’s safe to assume he was looking for you, or home. He just somehow ended up in Coolum.”

  “Mmm, maybe.” He was trying to mollify me, and he did make me feel a bit better.

  “Dane, I’m sure he’s more than fine with things just the way they are.”

  I looked down at him and noted how his tail and chin were up like he was king of the world. “He’s happy now anyway.”

  “I bet if you set up one of those cameras that monitor what dogs and cats get up to when their owners are at work, you’d see he very happily sleeps all day.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  “And anyway,” he continued. “We’ll just have to make it up to him on weekends with a hike or a trip to the beach.”

  “We will, huh?”

  Silence. “Well, I… Shit, I actually didn’t mean to say we. I meant you will have to make it up to him with hikes and a trip to the beach.”

  I chuckled. “No, I think you got it right the first time.”

  He let out a relieved laugh. “It does sound fun.”

  “So, is that what we’re doing this weekend? Taking Wicket for a hike and a trip to the beach?”

  “Sounds good to me. Sounds great, actually. I do have to mow Bernice’s lawn on Monday morning though. I should be done by ten.”

  “Perfect.” I smiled. He really did make me feel better. “I’m really glad you called.”

  “Me too.”

  Sunday was just like any other Sunday, except this one was the day before Monday. The very Monday I was spending with Griffin. So naturally it dragged like a Wednesday, which was my Monday. The store was busy, as usual, and I was covering the second lunch shift and helping an older woman understand her mobile and data usage. When she told me she didn’t even know her smartphone could take photos, I knew I was in for a long appointment.

  Forty minutes later, dear old Marjorie had a better understanding of her phone and that, yes, using the fun crossword picture does use data, aka the internet. She swore she didn’t even know how to use ‘that internet the young folk talked about’ and she should have never listened to her daughter about getting a new phone. I helped her switch off all the apps that used background data that she would never use, and just as she was leaving, I noticed a guy in grey suit pants. Well, I noticed how he filled the arse of them and how the vest pulled in his waist, his business shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows. From the back view, which was a very nice view, I could see his dark hair was short on the sides, the longer top styled perfectly, coiffed up into some trendy do. I mean, this kind of guy was my ideal wank-fodder, even a casual hook-up.

  And I felt immediate guilt for even looking. I mean, things were just starting between Griffin and me, and I was very excited to see where our relationship was headed. I didn’t want anyone else; I didn’t even want to look at anyone else. It was just that this guy was right in front of me and… incredibly hot.

  He was talking to Li and she caught my eye and smiled. “Ah, here he is,” she said and waved her hand toward me. The guy she was talking to turned around and grinned right at me.

  Griffin.

  I looked him up and down, taking in what was clearly his work uniform, and grinned right back at him. “Hello.”

  His lips twitched. “I had an issue with my phone contract. I was hoping I could speak to the store manager?”

  Li started, “I did explain that I could help him, but he was adamant—”

  “No, it’s fine. I’ve got this one,” I said.

  Li gave me a smile that said, I bet you do, and left us alone.

  “This is unexpected,” I said. I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

  “I’m not intruding, am I?” he asked. “I was passing by, literally walking past, and I wasn’t even sure if this was your store.”

  “The one and only inside the shopping centre.” I realised then, that we were standing in the middle of the store, customers and staff milling around us. “Come and sit down.” I led him to a station where we would have some privacy. “You’re not intruding at all. God, I didn’t even recognise you at first.”

  “Ah, work attire. Not my usual cargos and T-shirt.”

  I looked him up and down again. “You look great. Your hair…” God, each strand was perfection.

  “I actually do my hair for work. Style and product, you know. You’ve probably only seen it windswept and messy.”

  “It looks great. Both ways.” I shook my head, still not believing he was here
in my store and not believing he looked so different, yet the same, and so damn hot. “So, did you really have an issue with your contract?”

  He nudged his knee with mine. “No. But I do need to change my address.”

  “Oh.” It was work related and he hadn’t come in just to see me. I was a little deflated, I had to admit. “I can fix that right up for you.”

  I typed on the keyboard and brought up the screen I needed. He quoted his mobile phone number and his details appeared on screen. He leaned in closer to the monitor and said, “Oh, would you look at that. I already changed it. Can you do me a favour and print that for me?” he asked.

  It was an odd request but I agreed. “Sure. I’ll just grab the printout.”

  As I went to the front counter and collected the piece of paper, I had to wonder what he was getting at. It was a little strange…

  I walked back to him and handed him the printout. He stood up and read the details aloud. “Name, phone number, address.” Then he folded it in half, then half again, and handed it back to me. “Dinner at my place, say, seven o’clock?”

  I laughed. “Very smooth.”

  He bit his bottom lip, I assumed so he didn’t grin too wide. “I wanted to see you. I did actually have to run an errand at the centre management office, so I wasn’t lying.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  Neither of us spoke for a while, just did that staring-because-he’s-so-good-looking thing. “So?” he pressed.

  “So, what?”

  “Dinner. Tonight?”

  “God, yes.”

  Now he grinned. “Okay. I’ll see you then.” He touched the folded piece of paper I was still holding. “Don’t lose it.”

  “You could have texted me,” I whispered, still smiling.

  He licked his lips. “I could have.” Jesus, the heat in his eyes made my blood all warm.

  I swallowed and let out a slow breath, trying not to give myself away, though I was pretty sure he knew exactly the hold he had on me. He gave a lopsided smirk that almost made my knees give out, turned, and walked out. I stood there for an unblinking moment staring at where he’d just been, and Li appeared beside me. I looked at her. She looked at my ridiculous smile and nudged me with her elbow. “Soooo, who was the hottie who asked for you specifically?”

  “That was Griffin.”

  Her eyes went wide. “The new guy you had dinner with the other night?”

  “Yep.”

  “Jesus,” she whispered. “He’s the one who found Wicket?”

  I nodded. “The one and the same.”

  “I think I know why Wicket chose him.”

  I snorted and let my grin just do whatever the hell it wanted. “He asked me to his place for dinner tonight.”

  Li made an oooooh face. “Please tell me you said yes.”

  I slid the folded-up paper into my pocket. “Hell, yes I said yes.”

  She did a little happy-wiggle. “That’s my boy. At least one of us is getting lucky.”

  I barked out a laugh, but then I thought about that… Was I getting lucky with Griffin tonight? Making out? Would we be naked? I could almost feel him pressed against me, his mouth on mine, our cocks aligned, and my balls began to ache.

  “Right then,” I said, collecting myself and shaking my head clear of those images. “Sales data and projection reports. Sales data and projection reports.”

  If I said it enough times, my brain might actually focus.

  “Yeah, good luck with that,” Li said as she went off to greet a customer.

  Tell me about it. Now I’d thought about what tonight might bring, I couldn’t think of anything else.

  Chapter Nine

  Griffin

  * * *

  I probably shouldn’t have gone to Dane’s work, but I was walking past and I just happened to look in through the glass walls and saw a familiar face talking to an older lady. I literally stopped, took two steps back, stared some more at how he talked and smiled, and my feet were taking me into the store before I could stop them.

  I didn’t want to ask for him outright, in case personal visits were frowned upon, but I could ask for the store manager… He was just right there, after all. It probably helped that I was wearing my work uniform, so I looked more professional. And when he saw me, it was almost comical. Like some cartoon character, his eyes almost fell out of his head.

  Dane Hughes was something special.

  And he was due at my place any minute. I’d been home for an hour, cleaned up, optimistically put fresh sheets on my bed, had a shower, and also optimistically paid particular interest to cleaning certain parts of my body.

  So maybe douching was more desperate than optimistic, but damn, I wasn’t taking a chance. I was pretty sure from the way he’d looked at me earlier that we were on the same page.

  Something was going to happen tonight.

  At a quarter to seven, I found myself sitting at Bernice’s patio table. I kept looking at the side gate, my knee bouncing in anticipation.

  “What time did you tell him?” Bernice asked.

  “Seven.”

  She checked her watch. “Give the boy some time, child.”

  “I know.” I refrained from rolling my eyes at myself. Barely.

  “What are your plans tonight?”

  “I dunno. Dinner somewhere. A walk maybe.”

  She stared at me for an age and I wondered if she’d had one too many of those brownies she’d made this afternoon. “Or you can order something home delivered and not leave your bedroom.”

  I barked out a laugh. “Well, I don’t know if that’s on his agenda.”

  “I’m sure he won’t take much convincing,” she said. “I lived with some dear friends of mine in Santa Monica for a few months, back in the 80s, and those two men rarely left their bedroom. Ever. I’m surprised they didn’t starve to death.”

  I smiled at her. “How long were you in the States for?”

  “Oh, a while. I’ve lived all over. Born here, and like a bird, I came back here.”

  “Where was your favourite?”

  “Japan. Such a remarkable place. America was fun, Mexico was… well, I don’t remember much of Mexico.” She laughed and waved her hand. “Damn tequila.” Then she looked out over her yard like her memories could be found there. “Asia is beautiful. Europe’s too cold for me. But the Pacific islands really are paradise on earth. You ever been?”

  “No,” I said with a sigh. “I’d love to travel. One day.”

  “Do it. While you’re young. Go lie on a beach in Tahiti. There’s nothing like it. And go do crazy things while you can. You can’t be trekking Machu Picchu when you’re my age.” Then she sighed and sadness crossed her face like a shadow. “I guess it’s a different world now though. Everyone’s gone crazy.”

  I nodded my agreement. “Seems like it. I try not to follow the news too much. It’s too damn depressing. I’d prefer to go walk the beach or swim in the ocean than watch the six o’clock news.”

  She lifted her beer. “Cheers to that.” She took a drink. “The rubbish those idiot politicians go on with should be a federal offence.”

  I snorted. “Cheers to that.” I didn’t have a drink handy, but I would have raised it if I had.

  Bernice nodded to the glass sliding door. “Grab yourself a beer.”

  “Nah, thanks anyway. I might have to drive if we decide to go out for dinner.”

  “Well, if you got smart, you’d have a few so you couldn’t drive and had to stay in. If you know what I mean.”

  I laughed at that and actually considered it when the side gate rattled, followed by, “Hello? Wicket, come back here.”

  Then a little, white furry dog bounded on in, tongue lolling and tail wagging. I stood up and took a few steps toward the gate. “Hi! Come in.”

  Dane took a few uncertain steps into the backyard. “I wasn’t sure if this was the right side fence, but Wicket seemed to know where he was going.”

  I was smiling like a fool, a
nd I held my hand out, which he took. “Come over here. There’s someone I want you to meet.” I led him around the stairs up to my place and over to the patio table. “Dane, this is Bernice. Bernice is my landlady.”

  Bernice stood up and held out her hand. Her left arm kind of hung limp, as it was prone to do, and thankfully Dane never missed a beat. He shook her hand and smiled. “Griffin’s told me a bit about you. You have good taste in music, by the way.”

  She smiled, sat back down, and lifted her beer. “This boy here’s been nervous as a nun in a brothel. And in case he doesn’t tell ya, he’d really rather not go out for dinner but stay indoors—” She winked. “—if you’re picking up what I’m putting down.”

  I closed my eyes slowly and could feel my face go fifty shades of red. “I didn’t say that.”

  “Well, not in so many words,” Bernice said with no shame whatsoever. “But if we could say what we meant without the dillydallying, we’d get to the good parts so much quicker.”

  When I finally looked at Dane, he was grinning at me.

  “Well, Bernice. Thanks for not embarrassing me,” I deadpanned. “Because you know, I’d hate to be horrified in front of him or anything.”

  She waved me off like it was no problem, then found Wicket in the garden. “And lookie here, my little gardening buddy.” She offered him her hand and he sniffed it, then she patted him warmly. “No more adventures?”

  “No more escapes,” Dane said. “Thank you for looking after him. Griffin said you babysat him for a day or two.”

  “It was no problem. He kept me company.” Bernice smiled at the dog. “Cute little fella.”

  “Is K coming over tonight?” I asked her.

  She drained her beer. “Well, he wasn’t. I didn’t put in a booty call, but two beers later and I’m reassessing the situation.”

  Oh God. That was a visual I didn’t really want to have.

  “Well,” she went on, “you two go on, have yourselves some fun.”

  “I’ll do the lawns in the morning before it gets too hot,” I added.