A First Date

By Hollis Shiloh

Freddie and Amos get set up on a first date by Alec. (Characters who appeared in "Trees Take the Long View")

 

Heat level: sweet.

Word count: 7.3 k

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spare Words Press
• Release date: Mar 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393190851

Book preview

A First Date

by Hollis Shiloh

There's someone I think you'd like, said the text from Alec.  I stared at it, incensed.  What kind of nerve?

Alec was a cute wolf shifter I'd met when he was investigating something with his partner.  He was really into his guy, but they weren't technically together, so I guess I thought I had a shot with him.

Sue me.  He was cute, fun, and he smelled really good.  Happy, I guess.  I was drawn to him, you know?  But he wasn't drawn to me. 

Story of my life, right?  I'm not saying I broke my heart over him or anything.  It would just be nice if somebody I liked, liked me back for once. 

Anyway, when he texted me sometime later, after he and his boyfriend had jet-setted away on their next mission, he asked me if he could set me up with this hot guy he knew and thought I would like. 

My first response wasn't something I could say.  I didn't need a pity date!  No thank you!  And if the sort of man he'd pick out for me was anything like his prim and proper boyfriend, then no fucking thank you. 

But what I liked about Alec was his personality, which was friendly, a bit goofy, very sweet.  He was also unexpectedly sincere.  If I said something snarky to him through a text, he'd likely actually be hurt, and even if he hadn't picked me instead of the man he chose, I didn't want to hurt him.  Alec thought he was tough, but I didn't quite agree.  I thought it would be easy for me to hurt him. 

So, I didn't text him back right away.  I thought about it for a while.  And I thought about how Alec would pick a guy for me.  That was thoughtful, not condescending—not from Alec. 

Maybe he'd be wrong—probably so—but it would be interesting to find out how, and possibly make a funny story later if he was very far off. 

And, well, as much as I bristled initially, I really hadn't been on any amazing dates lately.  Even if it didn't work out, it might be some fun—and