Page 25 of Ink & Snow
I headed back to the shop and gestured for him to follow, which he did. Closer to the gazebo and hidden behind a smiling Santa, I saw Jenny unpacking jams and other homemade goods she’d made. We’d negotiated for me to stock some of them after she’d let me try some.
When we came to the edge of the Village Green, Simeon caught up to me and matched my steps. “Actually, I have ulterior motives. Well, one motive.”
“Let me guess. You need a wreath? Flowers for someone special?”
Simeon used his long legs to simply step over a heap of snow I had to walk around. “No. We have one at home. You sold it to Elias for what he happily told us was an extortionate amount.”
My eyebrows rose, and I forgot to look both ways as we crossed the very much not busy street between the park and the shops.
“You live with Elias?”
Simeon smiled. “Yeah. In a happy poly relationship. Valentin is with us as well, though you may have heard him mentioned only as the mayor.”
I couldn’t help it, my jaw dropped. I’d navigated many a scandal, but never anything like this. Why Simeon was telling me outright, I had no idea.
He gave me a warm smile. He looked so happy in that moment, and I realized him talking about his lovers had done that. Huh.
“Don’t be shocked. Everyone knows, and Elias said you passed his sniff test. He added he didn’t actually get to sniff you but wouldn’t mind it. Which is what I wanted talk to you about.”
“I’m sure I don’t follow.” I opened the door to the shop, and we were greeted by Cherry complaining noisily about having been left all by her lonesome, just like I was afraid she would.
Simeon closed the door behind him, his eyes brightening at the many bouquets I had out on display.
“Wow. You’ve been busy. And is that the kitten?” He followed the noise, rounded the counter, and crouched above the box. Cherry quieted as she examined the newest human come to regale her. “Everyone knows about the kitten. Dwayne couldn’t stop talking about how cute she is and how sad it was to bury her siblings. Don’t even ask me how he managed with all the snow, but it’s Dwayne. Can I touch her?”
“Sure.”
I rounded the counter myself and lifted Cherry out of her box. She promptly dug her tiny nails into my jacket and proceeded to climb me, heading for my neck. She liked to fall asleep there.
“Oh my gosh!” Simeon visibly melted at the sight of her, instinctively reaching out. “May I? She looks so fragile.”
“She is.”
He looked trustworthy though. Careful and responsible were probably the words, and he peeled his gloves off before taking the kitten from my hands.
“Wow. It’s so lucky that you found her. Duncan said she wouldn’t have made it much longer by herself.”
Seriously, did everyone in this place know everything?
“If you want to take her—”
“Oh no. Absolutely not. She’s clearly bonded to you.”
And yeah, Cherry was looking at me with her big, still mostly blue eyes, meowing accusingly about the fact I’d handed her off to someone else. Once she grew up, she would be such a drama queen.
“That’s just because I feed her.” And because I kept her warm at night. And possibly because I’d sung to her that one time before I’d realized it was stupid, singing to a cat.
Simeon gave me a knowing smile. “I don’t think so.” He handed her back to me. Cherry stopped her antics and went right back to climbing me. So just different antics. “Look at her!”
“You mentioned you had something you wanted to talk about?”
Simeon tore his eyes off Cherry. “Yes. I’d normally ask in a more circumspect way, but I’m getting the feeling Elias has been quite, ah, forward. You see, we’re in a relationship, as I said. Yet Elias has expressed interest in maybe being intimate with you. Not on a regular basis, I think. It’s just a fantasy he has, and he begged me to ask you.”
I cocked a brow. “You’re asking me to fuck your lover?”
“For his pleasure, yes.”
“Not my thing.”
