Page 17 of Oz (Finding Home #1)

Chapter

Seven

Hairy people pleaser

ONE WEEK LATER

Silas

I straighten from my crouched position on the floor as the boy I’ve just given a balloon to runs back to his mum. “Christ, remind me why we do this,” I ask my partner, Theo.

He looks up from his slouch on the counter and grins at me.

“Because it’s very good to interact with the general public.

Because we might pick up more business. And because we’re two of the on-call vets for the show.

” He strikes a pose. “Helping to guard against the spread of infectious diseases and biohazards.”

I grin. “You just want to wear pants over your tights.”

He laughs. “Can’t fool you.” He shrugs. “Anyway, it’s a nice day for handing out balloons with our logo on them.”

I look around at the bustling grounds in Wadebridge that are currently hosting the Royal Cornwall Show.

Crowds move and surge past us, stopping to look at the stands all around us, or moving to the central ground where there’s an equestrian show on.

The sky is a bright clear blue and when I inhale I can smell straw and hot dogs cooking.

“It is a good day,” I say and then stiffen as a small dark-haired man pushes his way through the crowd. I straighten and watch intently until he comes into full sight and then I slump as I realise it isn’t Oz. I know he’s here today and I’m ridiculously nervous.

I look up and flush when I catch Theo’s very knowing gaze. “Not him?” he asks mock-sympathetically.

“Fuck off!” I whisper as another family moves towards our stand.

He laughs. “No, really. When am I going to meet the almost mythological Oz?”

I shake my head, but I’m prevented from answering him when the family reach me and I’m swamped with answering the mum’s questions about what qualifications her son will need to become a vet.

I answer her questions as fully as I can while casting glances at the boy who is currently in his pram and fast asleep.

“Of course, qualifications might have changed by the time he’s ready for university,” I say smoothly and stiffen as I hear a familiar low chuckle from behind me. I spin around quickly and find Milo and Oz standing with Theo.

Oz is grinning at me. His eyes are covered with dark sunglasses, and he’s wearing bold black and white striped shorts with a tight black t-shirt that proudly shows off his sleeve of tattoos along with tatty black Converse Chuck Taylors.

He manages to look out of place, yet completely at home, which to me is one of his most endearing qualities.

He’s the most real person I’ve ever met in my life.

I become aware that I’m staring at him and his mouth is tightening in concern the way it has the last week whenever we’ve met and I’ve become as fucking tongue-tied as an awkward teenager.

He always manages to look both nonplussed and sympathetic and I hate the idea that he might be pitying me, or even worse, humouring my crush.

I shake my head and walk towards them. “Hey,” I say. “It’s good to see you.”

I don’t need the quirk of Theo’s lips to know that came out as appallingly hearty and I flush, but incredibly, Oz’s lips relax, and he raises his glasses and gives me a soft look.

“It’s good to see you too,” he says. For a second time seems to still as we stare at each other. Then Milo shifts awkwardly and I snap back into the moment.

“Afternoon, Lord Ashworth,” he says.

I shake my head. “It’s Silas, Milo.” I smile at them. “Going to find yourself some good suppliers?”

Oz gives his low chuckle that always without fail hits me in my balls and my heart simultaneously. It’s like rough velvet. “That sounds like a line from Sons of Anarchy .”

I grin at him. “Did Charlie Hunnam go shopping for local honey and tea towels too? I must have missed that episode.”

“It was in the deleted scenes in the extras,” he says demurely.

Theo laughs and Oz turns to him and smiles.

I feel a flare of something hot in my chest. Does he fancy him?

Theo’s attractive and single. He’s also not paying Oz’s wages.

I swallow. I want to bewail that fact, and I would if it hadn’t been responsible for bringing Oz into my life in the first place.

I can’t quite believe that I’ve only known him for a couple of months.

He fits so easily in my life, like there’s always been a corner carved out for a small fierce man who waits up for me at night to cook and talk.

Who, when he knew the financial mess I was in, has thrown himself into making the house ready, like a knight riding to the rescue.

I smile. A small, very feisty knight whose armour wears thin at the oddest times.

I try to imagine the house done and him not there anymore, but my mind shies away from that like a tongue from a wobbly tooth.

I become aware of Milo looking at me in a bewildered fashion while Oz and Theo talk. I shake my head. “Sorry,” I murmur. “I’ve got a lot on my plate today.”

He shoots me a sharp quizzical look that’s so like Oz, it’s startling.

Even here he’s made his mark. Milo has worked for me for two years and no matter how hard I tried to put him at ease, he remained tongue-tied.

I know and understand the reasons for his shyness, but Oz has been here for a few months and Milo’s already showing a sassy side.

Only the other day Niall had rather autocratically told him to pass him something and Milo had asked whether he wanted him to tie a broom to his arse and sweep the floor while he did it.

It had quite put Niall off his stride and I hadn’t missed the way he’d looked at Milo after that. Curious and wide eyed and almost proud.

Oz stirs at my words. “We ought to get going,” he says, and I hope I’m not imagining that he sounds reluctant. “We’ve got honey to buy and you’re working.”

“Not all day,” I blurt. I can feel Theo’s laughing gaze burning into my head but I ignore him. “I’ve got to take a break. Do you want to meet me at the show ground at four? There’s an exhibition of junior horse jumping.”

I actually want to punch myself in the face at that extremely lame invitation, but to my astonishment his face lights up.

“I’d love that,” he says softly. He gives his wicked grin, the arch of which I want to lick so badly. “Are they providing alcohol?”

“Fucking hope so,” I mutter, giving him a swift grin, and watch as his smile turns wide and warm.

He and Milo exchange goodbyes with Theo and walk away, leaving me with a silence that is pregnant with mirth.

“Well?” he finally says.

“Oh, look,” I say quickly. “Is that family coming over for a balloon? I think they are and it’s your turn.”

He stares at the family who are moving past us and heading towards a giant robot who appears to be spitting water at people. “Nope,” he says happily. “We are quite alone.”

“You sound rather creepy at the moment.”

“I should sound ecstatic and brimming with happiness.”

I turn to him in surprise. “What?”

“Yes, it’s like watching one of my grandma’s afternoon films. Heartwarming and almost tragic.”

“Shut up, you knob.”

He bursts into very loud laughter, looking more like the eighteen-year-old student I met at Edinburgh University than a thirty-seven-year-old partner in a vet practice.

“Oh, shut up,” I say sourly and give him a shove which makes him upset a case of cat collars.

We bend to pick them up and after a few seconds I give in and look up at him. “I looked like a fool,” I mutter.

His face softens and he smiles. “Yes, that’s true.” I grimace and he grabs my arm. “But you weren’t alone in it, if that’s any consolation.”

“What?”

He nods. “He’s as interested in you as you are in him. It’s as obvious as the fact that Chris Hemsworth is attractive.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

“How can you say that? He’s extremely good looking.”

“I’m not talking about Chris Hemsworth with you. It’ll take ages.”

He relents. “Even you, who is as blind to interest as a dead person, must recognise that Oz likes you.”

“But I’m his boss.” I hesitate. “He didn’t have a good experience last time he got involved with someone.”

“Please. Niall’s his boss. You just pay the wage packet. Anyway, he’s only here for a few more months.”

“Don’t mention that,” I mutter and he rubs my arm. I look at him. “Anyway, we all know what a terrible picker I am. Henry reminded me a few weeks ago.”

He laughs but then sobers. “I think you’re getting better at it, son.”

“Why?” I ask, startled.

“He’s brilliant and somehow just perfect for you.” He stares blindly at the crowds. “When I first saw him, I thought you were as different as anything.”

“We are,” I say wryly.

He shrugs. “Hmm, maybe. I don’t think so. You actually seem very similar. You both have that very warm, settled air about you.” He bites his lip in deep thought. “You’re constant, Silas. I thought it the moment I met you. You have this air of loyalty and dependability.”

“You make me sound like a Golden Labrador,” I say sourly.

He laughs. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Labs are lovely. Although inclined to be weighty. I’d watch that if I were you.”

I shove him, but gently this time so he doesn’t damage another case of products. “I’m not worried about my weight, thank you very much.” He laughs but stares at me. “What?” I ask.

He smiles. “He’s the same. You might have very different backgrounds and personalities, but underneath that air of I don’t give a shit that he has, is actually a man who cares very deeply. I just think you have to work to get in that group. I bet it’s small.”

I shrug and smile as a couple with a small pug interrupt us, but my mind returns to it as the time moves as slowly as a snail to four o’clock.

I want to be in that group that Oz guards so closely.

I want him to look on me as something precious and dear, the way he does his family and close friends.

I want to matter to him, and that desire is steadily eclipsing all my doubts of the wisdom of doing anything.

Oz