Nelson & Caleb

By Kaje Harper

A hurricane, a cat, and a secret.

Nelson Dunn's settled in his routines - a security job, days off for his therapy dogs, occasional club sex, and good books. So when Hurricane Lauris strands Caleb Robertson at his house, Nelson has mixed feelings about having an attractive guy in his space. Caleb's presence is a tease, a frustration, when nothing more can happen. But with the storm raging, trying to reassure three dogs and a very wet cat in a small space, it becomes hard to keep a logical distance from a kind, interesting guy like Caleb. Maybe it's time for something in Nelson's life to change.

~ This is a rerelease of the MLR novella in the "Storming Love" series.
A 27,000-word opposites- (and sometimes too-much-alikes-) attract story. ~

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaje Harper
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005465087

Kaje Harper

I get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. "Kaje" is pronounced just like "cage" – it's an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I was born in Montreal but I've lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota's a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it's home. I've been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – forty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.) My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received. I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published, including Amazon bestseller "The Rebuilding Year" and Rainbow Award Best Mystery-Thriller "Tracefinder: Contact." A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.wordpress.com/books/. I'm always pleased to have readers find me online at: Website: https://kajeharper.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper Goodreads Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4769304.Kaje_Harper

Book preview

Nelson and Caleb

Nelson & Caleb

Kaje Harper

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

Copyright © 2014, 2021 Kaje Harper

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/KajeHarper

Editing by Kris Jacen

Cover art: Karrie Jax

Formatting by Beaten Track Publishing – beatentrackpublishing.com

License Notes

All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission of the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

Image/art disclaimer: Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted is a model.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Content warning: For adult readers over the age of 18 only. This book contains explicit sexual situations between two men.

A hurricane, a cat, and a secret.

Nelson Dunn’s settled in his routines— a security job, days off for his therapy dogs, occasional club sex, and good books. So when Hurricane Lauris strands Caleb Robertson at his house, Nelson has mixed feelings about having an attractive guy in his space. Caleb’s presence is a tease, a frustration, when nothing more can happen. But with the storm raging, trying to reassure three dogs and a very wet cat in a small space, it becomes hard to keep a logical distance from a kind, interesting guy like Caleb. Maybe it’s time for something in Nelson’s life to change.

This is a rerelease of the MLR novella in the Storming Love series.

A 27,000-word opposites- (and sometimes too-much-alikes-) attract story

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Excerpt from Sole Support

About the Author

Other Books by Kaje Harper

Chapter One

Doggie! A toddler with a halo of black curls waved chubby grabby-hands toward Bonnie, Nelson’s little fawn-colored Pug-mix. Bonnie flicked an ear but didn’t slow down as she chased her ball across the hospital activity room floor. Her front legs scrabbled on the tile while the wheels of her hind-leg doggie cart spun to a blur. Snatching up the bouncing toy in her mouth, she whirled sharply enough to lift one wheel off the ground and scampered back to drop the ball into Nelson’s hand. Her dark eyes lit with pleasure, her front paws danced; her tail would no doubt have been wagging if she hadn’t been half-paralyzed years ago.

Around the room, the gathered children laughed and clapped with delight.

Nelson Dunn thought there was no better reward in life than pleasing sick kids. Probably his face didn’t show it, behind his close-trimmed beard and bushy eyebrows, but he loved that sound. He said, Pretty quick, isn’t she? and tossed the ball again.

This time, as she ran after it, a powerful gust of wind outside rattled the windows. Bonnie paid no attention in her single-minded pursuit, but all the humans in the room glanced out at the looming gray clouds. Nelson forced himself not to react, but his stomach lurched. The weather was worsening fast.

A moment later, the hospital speakers crackled with the emergency announcement tone… "Attention, hospital visitors, patients, and staff. The National Weather Service is advising everyone in our county to take precautions for severe weather immediately. Hurricane Lauris is now a category four hurricane and is veering rapidly to the northwest. Our county has changed from a hurricane watch to a hurricane warning area. We repeat, there is now a hurricane warning in place until ten AM tomorrow morning.

"Although we’re still not in the direct path of the storm, we can expect very heavy rain and damaging winds, extending over the next twelve to sixteen hours. Take shelter in a hurricane-safe location as soon as possible. Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Avoid low-lying areas which may be subject to flash floods.

"All Memorial Hospital nonemergency facilities, including outpatient clinics, will be closing in fifteen minutes. If you have a medical condition that absolutely cannot wait until the hurricane warning is lifted, please check in with the triage nurse at the Emergency reception desk.

"Visitors and off-duty staff who live nearby are advised to head home or to shelters immediately. Anyone who feels at risk leaving now should approach the information desk. We will be making very limited emergency accommodations available within the hour, while coordinating with local shelter locations. One family member per patient may be accommodated here. I assure everyone that this hospital is prepared for severe weather.

Staff members, the Lauris Preparedness Plan will be implemented beginning now. All visitors and patients please cooperate with staff instructions. I repeat, all visitors and off-duty personnel should head for shelter at this time. Hopefully we’ll ride this one out without too much trouble. The tone repeated, strident and loud, vibrating in Nelson’s skull. Shit. It’s really coming our way.

He gave the worried kids the best smile he could. I guess Bonnie’s playtime is over for today.

The nurse standing near the door said, It sounds like you’d better head out right away, Mr. Dunn. I’d hate for you to be caught driving when the storm hits.

The children chorused their disappointment. Nelson could tell by their nervous looks that part of the reason they wanted him to stay was to hang on to the safe and familiar routine a bit longer. The impending storm was scary even for grown-ups, let alone kids stuck in the hospital. He kept his voice cheerful as he said, Sorry, kids, we can’t stay. I’ll bring Troy along next time. We’ll have a nice, long, snuggly visit. His big old Lab was more of a cuddler than Bonnie, and they might need that in the aftermath, even if the storm didn’t hit hard.

He didn’t want to frighten them by rushing out, so he stuck to their usual routine. Now Bonnie will say her good-byes. He took the ball she brought him and put it away in his pocket. Her ears drooped momentarily, but when he gave the hand signal for Say good-bye she perked up.

Bonnie made the rounds, stopping by each of the children to give a little yip of farewell. The kids who could reach petted her soft chocolate ears and fawn head. A couple of parents, watching their children smile at the dog, gave Nelson appreciative nods. He could see the anxiety in their faces, and for once was almost glad he had no family except his pets. His part of the state had hoped to be well out of Lauris’s path, but now it sounded like a waiting game as the storm raged past, and those who loved always had more to lose.

Nelson lifted Bonnie, cradling dog and cart in his arms so the kids in their own wheelchairs could have a turn. One boy rubbed Bonnie’s chest, fingering the harness that held her securely in her K9 cart. You’ll bring Bonnie back too, though? Not just Troy?

Sure. They take turns.

He headed toward the door, holding Bonnie securely. She preferred to walk, but in the busy hospital corridors she might get underfoot, and he wanted to get down to his car quickly. The nurse came to the doorway with him and gave Bonnie a pat of her own. Thanks for coming by, Mr. Dunn. The children look forward to it so much, I hope you get home all right.

Thank you, he said. I’ll see you on Monday.

God willing, she said in a very soft voice. Drive carefully. Be safe.

Always do. If he’d been in his old police uniform he’d have tipped his hat. As it was, he nodded and headed out.

All around the hospital, there were signs of the impending arrival of the hurricane. Workers were busy covering windows. People hurried through the halls, faces tense. He saw a woman in scrubs carrying sleeping bags, water bottles, and bundle of clothes, and he hugged Bonnie closer. The preparations and the strain had clearly ramped up just in the hour he’d been with the kids. Even though he was pretty good with emergencies, his heart rate kicked up a notch.

The elevator was crowded, and for once Bonnie was nearly ignored by the anxious folk around them. As they reached the ground floor, almost everyone headed out toward the parking lot. Bonnie wriggled hard in his hold, scrabbling her front paws and whining anxiously, no doubt picking up the humans’ stress. Nelson paused to get a better grip, leaning