Howling on Hold by E.J. Russell

Author:E.J. Russell [Russell, E.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal romance, gay
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: 2020-01-12T16:00:00+00:00

Tanner followed Ted into the cabin, shuffling along like a zombie gorilla shifter. Just inside the door, he stopped and blinked. “Wow.”

Ted’s big open face lit up even more. “You like it?”

“It . . . It’s . . .” It’s got walls. A floor. A roof. “It’s a great place.”

“Yeah. We’ve got quarters at the resort, but we stay here mostly.” He blushed. “Sentimental reasons.” Ted eyed Tanner’s bedraggled clothing. “I can wash your, um, outfit for you, but it won’t be dry for a couple of hours.”

Tanner shuddered. “Gods, no. Burn them. I never want to see them again.”

Ted chuckled. “No need to get extreme. There’s a secondhand shop down in Dewton, Stuff ’n’ Things, that’ll take ’em.”

“What?” Tanner flapped his tattered shirttail. “Even these?”

“Sure. Shirl, the owner—she’ll fix ’em up and find somebody who needs ’em. She’s good at that. Wait here for a sec and I’ll grab something for you to wear in the meantime.”

Ted loped down the short hallway and disappeared up the stairs. Tanner sighed and looked around. Rough wooden paneling lined the walls, and the pine floors were scattered with throw rugs in muted tones. The room stretched the width of the cabin, with windows flanking an oval table on the left. They can eat breakfast watching the sun rise over the lake. The dining area was separated from the kitchen by a red Formica counter. On the opposite side of the cabin, furniture sturdy enough to suit a bear was grouped around the woodstove with its cheery fire.

This is exactly the kind of place I’ve dreamed of living in. Although in my dreams, Chase was always with me.

Next to the door was a neat line of boots and shoes in various degrees of enormous. He glanced down at his own grubby feet with their broken nails. I’ve got nothing. No shoes. No clothes. Nothing of my own. How can I fit back into this world? How can I fit with him?

Ted trotted into the room, his arms full of folded denim and flannel. “Here you go. Sorry everything’s so big. Q-Bert, I mean Quentin, had smaller ones when he first got here, but he, um, grew, and we gave everything to Shirl.” Ted offered the bundle to Tanner, who automatically held out his hands to receive it, but Ted hesitated. “I’ll put everything in the bathroom, okay?”

Tanner glanced down at himself. Right. No sense getting the clothes dirty before I ever put them on. “Sure.”

“It’s this way.” Ted strode down the hallway, and Tanner shuffled after him. “Towels and everything are in there. Couple of spare toothbrushes too. Use anything you need.”

“Thanks.” Tanner scared up a smile. “You’re really nice.”

Ted shrugged, blushing above his beard. “Anyone would do the same. I’m nothing special.” He jerked his thumb toward the kitchen. “I’ll put some stew on to heat so you can have a snack when you’re done, but take as long as you like.” With one last brilliant smile, he left Tanner blinking at Ted’s uncomplicated generosity.

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