Page 63 of Animal Instincts
“If you don’t mind?” Joss stared down at the older man, who’d quickly recovered his composure.
“Young man, I was merely asking Dr. Strachan about my poor Sebastien. My pug. He’s been in less than top health, recently.”
Probably sick of living with you…
“As I said, bring him into the practice and I’ll give him a thorough exam.” Oliver smiled, but it looked more like a baring of teeth and Joss looked away to hide his smirk.
Outflanked, Vincent got up. Gathering up both his poncho and his dignity, he tossed his head and flounced off.
“Thank god you came to my rescue.” Oliver sagged back into his seat, and took a fortifying gulp of Badger’s Arse. “He actually squeezed my knee, and asked if I made house calls.” He shuddered and gulped back another mouthful.
“That’s because he wanted you to give his pug a feel.”
Oliver’s choked coughing drew attention from nearby tables, thankfully none of them occupied by the poncho-draped Vincent.
“Christ, that’s enough to put a man off his pie. Or almost,” Oliver added, just as their meals arrived.
* * *
“Joss? Joss, is that you?”
With his fork poised between his plate and his mouth, Joss gawped as he stared up into the beaming face of the stocky guy who stood over him.
“Gary? What are you doing here? Thought you were in… I don’t know, somewhere hot and tropical?”
Gary laughed as he pulled up a chair and sat down. Joss smiled. He didn’t mind his old school friend and secret, teenage crush joining them. Joss glanced over at the bar, where Oliver was getting them more drinks, but he was caught up for now in conversation with a couple of regulars.
“I was. I’m on shore leave for a while, and thought I’d look in. I’m staying in Exeter, though, not the village. Thank god,” he added with an exaggerated shiver, even though the pub was warm. “Can’t stand an English winter. It was one of the reasons I signed up to the navy — see the world and escape the wet West Country.”
“It’s not winter. Haven’t you noticed all the lambs gambolling in the fields?”
Life in the Royal Navy had done Joss’ old friend a lot of good. He’d always been attractive — and the subject of some messy adolescent fantasies on Joss’ part — but he’d bloomed, as his gran would say.
“So what are you doing back in the old place? On a family visit?”
“What…?” Confusion grabbed hold of Joss. “Back here? I don’t understand…”
Of course.
Like Gary, he’d always talked about leaving Love’s Harbour, but the difference was, Gary had done it and he hadn’t.
“Erm, no. I still live here, with Gran—”
“You’re joking? You always said—” Gary looked up, and Joss twisted around and followed his gaze, to Oliver standing just behind him and holding the drinks.
“Oliver, this is Gary. An old school friend.”
Gary offered up a confident, friendly smile and an even more confident offer of his hand to Oliver, who put down the glasses and clasped it in greeting.
“Hope I’m not disturbing you?” Gary’s gaze flickered between Joss and Oliver. “Just that I haven’t seen Joss since god knows when.”
“No, not at all.”
“Gary’s in the navy, he’s back on a visit.”
“Back, but not hanging around. Joining up was the best decision I ever made. I’ve got a few decent memories of the place, but it always felt too small and insular and I don’t reckon it’s changed that much. We used to talk for hours about our plans to break free. So what happened to yours, Joss? It was kids you wanted to work with, wasn’t it?”
“No. Animals.”
