Today is release day for They Met in the Park, the second Meet Cute Chronicles book. TMitP is a story about forty-somethings Jacke and David who meet in the park when David is walking his neighbor’s dog. It’s a quiet sort of romance about two men who thinks they’re not relationship material and have more or less resigned to being alone the rest of their lives. But then the cute, spoiled little dog is grumpy because it rains and David forgot his umbrella, and Jacke offers him to borrow his. And the rest is history. 🙂
Can a spoiled little dog bring two strangers together?
The first time Jacke sees him, it’s a happy accident. He’s taken refuge in a quiet corner of the park, decompressing after a difficult day at work, when the man, dressed in a fancy suit, passes by him walking a spoiled little dog.
As the days pass, Jacke notices the adorable pair several times. He’s unable to take his eyes off the man whose first priority is the dog, even over his own comfort. And one day, when circumstances are right, Jacke takes a chance and speaks to the man. David.
David’s personality is as adorable as his outward appearance, and a short walk in the rain results in mutual attraction and a promise to see each other again. A second meeting in the park turns into a date, and Jacke starts longing for something he thought he’d never have; a partner. But does David feel the same? Will a chance meeting in the park turn into love?
M/M Contemporary / 17478 words
Buy links:
JMS Books :: Universal Buy Link
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The dog stops, sniffing something interesting on the ground before continuing her slow meander.
“You all right, there, Princess?” David says, but the dog doesn’t acknowledge him.
“It’s a very fitting name for her. Maybe you should address her as ‘Your Highness.’”
He laughs. “Yeah. Probably.”
Far too soon, we reach the parking lot and stop by a new-looking hatchback. David tries to open the trunk while holding both Princess and the open umbrella but gets all tangled up.
“I can take it,” I say.
He smiles at me and hands me the umbrella. “Thank you.” He grabs a towel from the trunk, crouches down and wraps it around Princess, and starts drying her off. I keep them protected with the umbrella, ignoring that the rain and the chill are finally getting to me. I can always warm up in the shower later.
When the dog is dry and back to her impeccable self, David opens the back door and lets her into a crate before turning back to me.
“That was very kind of you. I’d still be out there, struggling to get her to move, if it hadn’t been for you.”
“Glad I could help.”
“You should go home and warm up, though, so you won’t catch your death like my mom used to say.”
I smile. “Yeah.”
“I’m sure your wife must be wondering where you are.”
“No wife,” I say.
“No?”
I shake my head.
“Husband?”
Another shake, but slower this time, followed by a slow gaze traveling along his body. He’s mostly obscured by the overcoat, but he’s medium height and looks to be medium built, too. He’s always well put together, even on the occasions he’s wearing more informal clothes. His classically styled hair is usually immaculate and his clean-shaven face sports a dimple on his chin.
I guess his looks could be considered pretty average, too; not classically handsome, not ugly. Nice.
But there’s something about him that makes it impossible for me to take my eyes off him. Maybe it’s that he’s so unabashedly gay and does nothing to hide it, and I wish my teenaged self could have seen him. Maybe it’s the way he fusses over a little dog. Maybe it’s his smile or the quiet confidence in his movements or that he radiates contentment.
I don’t know, but I like what I see.
His smile widens under my perusal and he indulges in the same. I let him watch. After spending over half my life doing manual labor, a lot of it outdoors, I’m in great shape. Yes, my hair started turning gray early, so I’m sprinkled with salt and pepper—both on my head and in my stubble—and I have lines by my eyes, but my body is nothing to complain about. Strong. Toned. Capable. A little tired sometimes, but it always recovers.
“I don’t have a husband either,” he says and meets my gaze, bold and blatant.
“No?”
“Nu-uh.”
“Why not?”
“No one has applied for the job.”
I take another look at him. The dimple in his chin is adorable. I want to brush away the hair from his face and warm him up, kiss the blue tinge from his lips. “I find that hard to believe,” I say.
His eyes twinkle. “Same.”
“People have been applying, but no one’s been hired.”
He steps closer. “Oh? Why not? You picky?”
I shake my head. “Wasn’t hiring.”
His eyes crinkle with mirth. “You a one-man company, then?”
“I have been, yeah.” I chuckle.
“How about now?”
“Now I’m starting to wonder if it wouldn’t be nice with…another employee.”
He bursts out laughing. “Oh God, we took that analogy too far, didn’t we?”
“A bit, yeah.” I grin.
Nell Iris 