Love Next Door: Love's Bloom

By Megan Slayer

FROM MULTI-PUBLISHED ROMANCE AUTHOR MEGAN SLAYER

A Love's Bloom story

Can three tiny kittens really bring these two men together and prove love can bloom despite the chilly spring days?

Tommy Davis considered himself a loner. He spent his days writing and running, all while keeping everyone else at bay. That is, until he discovers three kittens abandoned in his shrubbery. His fatherly instincts kick in, and he goes to the one person he knows can help—his sexy-as-sin next-door neighbor who happens to be a veterinarian.

Matthew James wasn't looking for love, but the moment Tommy shows up on his doorstep, he can't send him away. He's had a thing for Tommy since the first time he saw him, but his shyness has kept him from making a move.

The melting snow, blossoming flowers and a trio of kittens could be more than the guys can handle, but they just might be the push Matthew needs to find his forever with Tommy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Apr 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781839431241

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Author

Pride Publishing books by Megan Slayer

Single Books

Constant

Permanent

Vaulting

Drive my Car

We Belong Together

Finding Michael

Must Love Dogs

The One I Want

You and Me Again

The Real Me

My Other Half

Cedarwood Pride

Home to Cedarwood

Ripples in Cedarwood

Scoring in Cedarwood

Rainbows over Cedarwood

Rocking Cedarwood

Cedarwood Manny

Together in Cedarwood

Doc Cedarwood

Finding Forever in Cedarwood

Silver Fox in Cedarwood

Cedarwood Cowboy

Christmas in Cedarwood

Second Chances in Cedarwood

Anthologies

Out of Bounds: Crossing the Line

Out of Bounds: Making the Play

Aim High: Lifetime Hitch

Brothers in Arms: One Night with You

Rules of Summer: Summer Stock

Collections

What’s his Passion?: Wild Card

Love’s Bloom

LOVE NEXT DOOR

MEGAN SLAYER

Love Next Door

ISBN # 978-1-83943-124-1

©Copyright Megan Slayer 2021

Cover Art by Claire Siemaszkiewicz ©Copyright April 2021

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Pride 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, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised 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 2021 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

Love’s Bloom

Can three tiny kittens really bring these two men together and prove love can bloom despite the chilly spring days?

Tommy Davis considered himself a loner. He spent his days writing and running, all while keeping everyone else at bay. That is, until he discovers three kittens abandoned in his shrubbery. His fatherly instincts kick in, and he goes to the one person he knows can help—his sexy-as-sin next-door neighbor who happens to be a veterinarian.

Matthew James wasn’t looking for love, but the moment Tommy shows up on his doorstep, he can’t send him away. He’s had a thing for Tommy since the first time he saw him, but his shyness has kept him from making a move.

The melting snow, blossoming flowers and a trio of kittens could be more than the guys can handle, but they just might be the push Matthew needs to find his forever with Tommy.

Dedication

For the animal lovers.

Adopt and rescue.

They’re all worth it.

Chapter One

Tommy Davis jogged the last half-mile as he reached his property. He loved running and tried to get six miles in every day. The exercise kept him fit and helped clear his mind when stricken with a case of writer’s block. He came to a stop in front of his house and leaned over. The last three months of cold weather had been hell on his overall mood. He hated being cooped up in the house and being lonely.

Snow still covered the ground, but the temperatures had risen to almost fifty degrees and made running quite pleasant. Plus, he’d returned just as his neighbor Matthew had come home from work. Tommy stretched his back, then his hips, before standing tall. He swept his gaze over Matthew. His neighbor must’ve worked the night shift at the veterinary hospital. The poor guy’s shirt was untucked, and he’d slung his coat over his arm. He wore his glasses instead of his contacts.

Long night? Tommy called. He stretched his calves against the fence, pressing his toes into the post. You look tired.

You’re up early. Matthew abandoned his jacket on the trunk of his car. How are you? He ran his fingers through his dark hair, and his blue eyes, though tired, sparkled. When he smiled, Tommy noticed the few lines at the corners of his eyes. Gray strands of hair colored his temples, but the slight salt-and-pepper streaks worked for him. It added to his aura of professionalism.

I like running in the morning when it’s quiet. Tommy finished his stretches. Are you just getting off work or getting home from a date? He’d never seen Matthew with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Sorry. Not my business.

I wish it was a date. Matthew tucked his hands in his pockets and rolled on the balls of his feet. I have a dog at the clinic with Evans Syndrome and it’s in the final stages. Sucks. She’s a nice dog and they don’t seem to last long enough, but the family insists on doing more tests. They want to prolong her life, and I spent most of the night with her. I didn’t get much to eat and my stomach’s growling, but I’d rather get some sleep.

You’re a good man. He admired anyone who could raise animals. He barely kept his house plants alive. When he glanced at Matthew, he realized how thin the man was, but also how much he longed to capture Matthew in his embrace. He loved stealing glances at Matthew when he went shirtless to mow the grass.

I’ll bet you say that to all the boys. Matthew laughed. I’ll take it.

I don’t say it to all of them. Just you. If Matthew wanted to go back and forth, he’d go with him. Having someone to spar with was fun. He couldn’t deny the attraction to Matthew. He’d ogled him for the last year, secretly pining for his attention while trying to ignore the fact that he didn’t think Matthew was out. Was he wrong? He hoped so. He’d love to make a move on Matthew.

Yeah? Matthew offered a lopsided grin. If I didn’t need to get some sleep, I’d take you up on that. Then again, if I were more awake I’d volunteer to join you on your next run. I like the way you fill out those tiny shorts.

He does? Holy hell. I’ll take you up on that, and thanks. I’ll wear those shorts more often. He waved. Go get some sleep. He’d never had this long a conversation with Matthew and loved it. Plus, the conversation seemed to come so easily. See you?

Hopefully not for six or seven hours. Matthew winked, then picked up his jacket and headed into his house.

Tommy strode up to his ranch home. A slight breeze wrapped around him. He breathed in the spring air and sighed. Snow decorated the bushes and along the flower box, but he spotted bits of green peeking through the white. The first buds of spring pleased him. Soon, his flowerbeds would be full of blossoms and exploding with color. He checked the tiny stems, then noticed a dark form moving beneath one of his evergreen shrubs. He knelt next to the shrub. What the hell is down there? The form shifted. Is it mewling?

Tommy moved the branches out of the way to get a better look at the animal beneath the bush. Three balls of fur squirmed, and one stretched as well. His breath lodged in his throat. Kittens? What in the name of God…? He checked under the other bushes, but only found the three kittens, two calico and one orange. Well, fuck. He needed help.

Tommy left the kittens long enough to retrieve car towels and a box from the garage. If he remembered correctly, he shouldn’t touch the kittens at the risk of distressing the mother. Where is the mother?

He tucked the kittens into the warmth of the towels in the box, then moved the branches at the bottom of the other bushes. A larger cat, too thin for its own good, but bigger, had huddled under the second evergreen bush.

Kitty, kitty? He wanted to approach the animal, but the lack of movement freaked him out. If this was the mother, she was in trouble. Kitty?

Tommy shook his head. He didn’t know what to do. He scooped up the box and hurried over the short privet hedgerow to Matthew’s property. He kept the cardboard container in one hand and knocked on Matthew’s door. I need help.

Matthew opened the door. It’s eight in the morning and I’m tired. I don’t care if it is fifty degrees out, I’m not running right now. He frowned. Wait, you said you had a problem. Did you get my mail again?

Sort of, maybe? Tommy bit back his desperation and fear. I found kittens.

Kittens? Matthew peeked into the box. They’re only a few days old, but their eyes are open. Where were they? Is the mother with them?

I found these three in the bushes. He fought to catch his breath. I don’t know what to do. I think the momma perished.

Matthew sighed. Jesus.

If you don’t want to give me a hand, I’ll take them to the clinic. Tommy covered the mewling kittens with the towels and box flaps. Sorry I bothered you.

If you take them to the clinic, they could put them down, Matthew said. Kittens without a mother require special attention we don’t have at the clinic and they might not survive anyway.

That’s terrible. Tommy shook his head. "Look, I don’t know anything about them. Shouldn’t I have bottles