Business or Pleasure

By Ashley Ladd

Tommy Boudreaux is extremely attracted to Guy Rogers even though he's a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist and Tommy's family owns the most popular barbecue joint in town.

Guy Rogers is extremely attracted to his new realtor, Tom Boudreaux. As a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist, he's ecstatic that Tom is a kindred soul. He could never be with a carnivore. Unfortunately, Tommy isn't really a vegetarian or an animal rights activist. He never said he was, either, he just didn't eat meat when he was with Guy. And maybe he emptied his house of all meat and dairy products before inviting Guy over. In fact, Tommy's family owns the most popular barbecue restaurant in town and, if his family has their way, he'll manage the new location.

When Guy finds out that Tommy eats meat and his family owns a restaurant that's a monument to eating meat, he's livid and doesn't know if he wants anything else to do with Tommy.

But then Guy's life gets crazy—his dad's paranoia blossoms into violent dementia, Guy gets arrested for picketing a doggy mill then he winds up in even more legal trouble. When Tommy sticks by him through all his problems and does everything he can to help him, Guy wonders if he's been too militant and narrow-minded. Perhaps he can learn to live with people who have opposite views.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Aug 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781784301491

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A Totally Bound Publication

Business or Pleasure

ISBN # 978-1-78430-149-1

©Copyright Ashley Ladd 2014

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright July 2014

Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Simmering and a Sexometer of 2.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE

Ashley Ladd

Tommy Boudreaux is extremely attracted to Guy Rogers even though he’s a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist and Tommy’s family owns the most popular barbecue joint in town.

Guy Rogers is extremely attracted to his new realtor, Tom Boudreaux. As a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist, he’s ecstatic that Tom is a kindred soul. He could never be with a carnivore. Unfortunately, Tommy isn’t really a vegetarian or an animal rights activist. He never said he was, either, he just didn’t eat meat when he was with Guy. And maybe he emptied his house of all meat and dairy products before inviting Guy over. In fact, Tommy’s family owns the most popular barbecue restaurant in town and, if his family has their way, he’ll manage the new location.

When Guy finds out that Tommy eats meat and his family owns a restaurant that’s a monument to eating meat, he’s livid and doesn’t know if he wants anything else to do with Tommy.

But then Guy’s life gets crazy—his dad’s paranoia blossoms into violent dementia, Guy gets arrested for picketing a doggy mill then he winds up in even more legal trouble. When Tommy sticks by him through all his problems and does everything he can to help him, Guy wonders if he’s been too militant and narrow-minded. Perhaps he can learn to live with people who have opposite views.

Dedication

For my daughters Monica and Stephanie who are my biggest supporters.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Android: Motorola

Applebee’s: Applebee’s International, Inc.

Diet Coke: The Coca-Cola Company

Facebook: Facebook, Inc.

Google: Google, Inc.

Hooters: HI Limited Partnership Hooters Enterprises, LLC

iPad: Apple, Inc. Slate Computing (USA) LLC

KraftMaid: Masco Cabinetry LLC

McDonald’s: McDonald's Corporation

State Farm: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

Dodge Dart: Chrysler Group, LLC.

Match.com: Match.com, LLC.

Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead Productions

Internet: ARPANET original owner, now globally owned.

Gilligan’s Island: Turner Entertainment Co.

Hogan’s Heroes: Created by Bernard Fein & Robert S Ruddy; produced by Alfran Productions, Bob Crane Enterprises, Bing Crosby Productions & CBS Productions.

Medicare: US Federal Government

Kiss: Gene Simmons

Dos Equis: Heineken

Boy Scout: The Boy Scouts of America

Mason jars: Mason Jars Company

Chapter One

Ready to die to protect the poor, abused animals being murdered at this slaughter house daily, Guy Rogers held his picket sign high and proud. He raised his voice and chanted with his animal rights activist group, "This little piggy won’t go to market."

The business’ owners shouted at them to leave. Would-be customers growled at them and tried to cross the line. But every time someone tried, Guy got in their face, growled and bared his teeth. What gives you the right to slaughter innocents?

A man wearing a baseball cap and chewing on a piece of straw stomped up to him and thrust an open Bible into his face. With exaggerated emphasis he stabbed his finger at a passage. Read the Bible. God gave us animals to eat. Just look at Deuteronomy. It says ‘Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything’.

He looked pointedly at the man’s protruding belly under his faded plaid flannel shirt. I know He told you not to be a glutton, either. Get out of my face, man. That verse says ‘every moving thing that lives’. Does that mean you’re gonna start eating your fellow human beings? Huh?

Uh, no. It doesn’t mean that! That’s disgusting! The carnivore tugged his hat lower over his rheumy eyes and scowled.

What’s disgusting is eating living creatures that can’t defend themselves. I tell you what. You go out and fight a lion barehanded, and if you win, you can eat him. If he wins, he can eat you. Now that’s fair.

You’re sick!

You’re the pathetic one, eating innocent creatures that can’t speak up for themselves. Guy puffed up in pride. Vegetarians like him ate well-balanced diets with plenty of protein that never had a face or a mother. He could live with himself just fine.

Guy! Get back in line before you get yourself arrested. Jessica, one of his fellow activists, motioned him back, away from a couple of policemen inching toward him. She fancied herself a protective little sister and even looked like it with her fierce bulldog attitude.

Guy grimaced but pulled himself away from the one-on-one conflict. As much as his adrenaline was flowing, and he did want to deck the guy, violence wasn’t the answer.

You’re so brave letting a little girl tell you what to do. Mischief danced in the antagonist’s eyes, and he clenched his fists at his sides.

You’re not worth wasting my breath. Guy turned to his fellows and commanded, Lay down in front of the entrances. Don’t let anyone through.

A policeman rushed up and got in his face. The man’s eyes were mere slits of fire. Do that and I’m arresting you.

Backing down wasn’t in Guy’s vocabulary. To make his point he lay spread-eagled on the ground. Daring him, he sneered at the official. I do what I must. You do what you must.

The policemen rolled him over roughly and handcuffed him. You’re coming with us, funny guy.

* * * *

Guy’s dad, Glen, bailed him out of jail with a furrowed brow and a crinkled nose. As he stuffed his wallet into his pants’ pocket, he sniffed. If your poor mother was alive, she’d be bawling her eyes out at this shame. Why can’t you learn to live and let live? If people want to follow the Good Book’s teachings and eat the food God gave us, you shouldn’t go around sticking your nose in their business.

Guy rubbed his aching wrists the handcuffs had made raw. Then he swallowed a deep breath that hurt his lungs as he followed his father to his beat-up van. Look who’s talking about live and let live.

It ain’t natural for men to love men, to sleep with men. He intended for you to meet up with a good woman and give me some grandchildren before I die. Now don’t be waiting too long. I want to be in good enough shape to enjoy them.

Not this again! Guy twisted his hands together to keep from wringing his dad’s neck and winding up back in the pokey. Your God is a forgiving, forgetting god, or did you forget? He’s the only one supposed to judge.

"My god? He’s your god, too. You’d best start paying attention to His word, then you mightn’t be so darned pissed off all the time and marching around with that band of lunatics."

By now he should know that the best way to win this argument was not to get involved, so he shut up. He had to put some distance between himself and his old man soon! Like yesterday.

Calm down, Dad, before you give yourself another heart attack.

You should’ve thought of that before you went picketing that farm. At least you didn’t show up on TV and shame me in front of all my church friends. Don’t you be blabbing about what you’ve been up to. No one wants to hear it. And I don’t want that old coot next door or any of his followers to hear.

Guy couldn’t help but retort, The old guy next door is harmless. His daughter says he never leaves the house, that he can barely walk. He’s almost ninety.

Glen peered at him as if he was crazy. That’s why he gets his followers to do his dirty work. He’s been jealous of me for years.

As much as his dad annoyed him, he loved him with his whole heart and didn’t want him to get sick. At seventy-one, he was frailer than most men his age. And he was obsessed with the neighbor, Mr Cary, to the point of being paranoid. Soon, he might have to go into an assisted living environment, but he was fighting it. If he tried to put his dad there now, he’d have the biggest battle on his hands in their history.

Let’s drop it. I’m tired and hungry.

Glen shook his finger at Guy. You’ll be sorry when I’m proven right. I fixed some dinner, but of course, you won’t be wanting any of it seeing as it’s animal flesh and potatoes.

Guy convulsed and almost threw up. No. I don’t want that.

When they got home, bile rose in Guy’s throat. Not only were the leftovers raw, bloody and mutilated, they were in his best pan!

Disgusted and angrier than he’d ever been in his life, he flung the pan in the garbage. The thing was no good to him anymore. He wasn’t going to put his food in a casket!

It was time to move out.

Chapter Two

Guy had heard that real estate agent Tom Boudreaux was handsome, but he hadn’t expected him to be drop-dead gorgeous. He was as picky about men as he was about his pans. Yet he had trouble stomping down the twinges of desire shooting through him. Fuming, he chastised himself. He needed a dynamite real estate agent, not a boyfriend.

Trying to keep his mind on the business at hand, he leaned over the counter to peer into Tom’s eyes, the color of the glossy South Florida palm trees with a rim of gold around the iris. Emerald sparks shot from them. Better yet, Tom seemed to be as bright as he was good looking.

I need a three-bedroom, two-bath house with a garage in downtown Fort Lauderdale, close to my shop.

Tom took a swig of the water he was holding. What’s your budget?

He cringed, having dreaded that question. Since he still needed to help his father make his bills, he didn’t have the money he’d like. Almost ashamed, he inhaled deeply then admitted, Two hundred thousand.

Tom scrubbed his chin and looked thoughtful. That could be a problem with your must-have list. Are you sure you can’t come up with more?

Not a penny. Not only did he have to help his dad, his business had been slow lately, so he was leery of going above the stated amount.

Tom opened his iPad and jotted notes as he spoke. Are three bedrooms and a garage must haves? How many people will be living in the house?

He seriously considered the questions. He needed one room in case he had to take his dad in, another room for an office and one for himself. As there were no basements in South Florida, he needed the garage for storage. He leaned forward and pointed at the touch screen. Absolutely. For now there’s just me and Trixie. However, I may have to take my father back in if I can’t handle his mortgage and mine.

He cleared his throat and added an octave lower, feeling a bit self-conscious. Occasionally, I have guests stay over. Did I also mention that I need a fenced-in backyard for my dog? And a deck would be nice. I like to entertain.

Tom poised his cursor over his screen then glanced up at him as though he hadn’t said anything personal. So that means either no association or a dog-friendly one. Also, everyone wants an open concept kitchen now. What about that?

He was surprised he’d forgotten to mention that on his list of must-haves. Definitely. And it needs to be a one-story structure as my father will be a frequent guest and he’s having trouble climbing our stairs. Something in Bal Harbor or Central Beach would be nice.

Tom chuckled and the dimple in his chin deepened. He pushed at an unruly strand of hair that insisted on falling over his eyes. You’re kidding, right? The average house price in Bal Harbor is twenty million.

Guy laughed and tugged at his mustache. I can dream. What about Victoria Park? That’s a decent neighborhood that isn’t too far from where I work.