Secret Guncle

By Andrew Grey

Veterinary student Dutton Glenroth isn’t on speaking terms with his sister, Mary, but he isn’t about to let his niece and nephew suffer because of it. He knows they have very little, so for the holidays, he makes up a basket of gifts for them and leaves it outside their door.
 
But the kids are getting older, and this year Dutton finds it difficult to pick out their gifts. When he asks for help at Foster’s Toys, he runs into Randy Grant, his high school crush, who even volunteers to wrap and deliver the gifts with Dutton. Suddenly Dutton’s normally lonely holiday has a spark of Christmas cheer. Will this be the year he gets the holiday he’s always longed for?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Nov 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781641087001

Andrew Grey

Andrew Grey is the author of more than one hundred works of Contemporary Gay Romantic fiction. After twenty-seven years in corporate America, he has now settled down in Central Pennsylvania with his husband of more than twenty-five years, Dominic, and his laptop. An interesting ménage. Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He is a recipient of the RWA Centennial Award, has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and now writes full-time. Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Email: [e-mail] Website: www.andrewgreybooks.com

Book preview

Table of Contents

Blurb

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Epilogue

Keep reading for an excerpt from Snowbound in Nowhere by Andrew Grey.

About the Author

By Andrew Grey

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Copyright

Secret Guncle

By Andrew Grey

Veterinary student Dutton Glenroth isn’t on speaking terms with his sister, Mary, but he isn’t about to let his niece and nephew suffer because of it. He knows they have very little, so for the holidays, he makes up a basket of gifts for them and leaves it outside their door.

But the kids are getting older, and this year Dutton finds it difficult to pick out their gifts. When he asks for help at Foster’s Toys, he runs into Randy Grant, his high school crush, who even volunteers to wrap and deliver the gifts with Dutton. Suddenly Dutton’s normally lonely holiday has a spark of Christmas cheer. Will this be the year he gets the holiday he’s always longed for?

To Karen, my sister from another mother. Your help has been invaluable, but your friendship is priceless.

Chapter 1

DUTTON SET down the food bowl and stepped back as Roysten barreled over with too much energy. Fortunately, the boxer skidded to a halt in time before attacking his food. He always got so excited at feeding time. He was never aggressive otherwise, but nothing came between him and his food as soon as he saw the dish.

I don’t know what to get them this year. Dutton sighed because he knew he looked stupid talking to the dog, but there were no other humans in the shelter right now. Roysten, Picky—a cute poodle mix in the next enclosure who always seemed to watch Dutton as though she understood what he was saying—and the thirteen or so other dogs in the rescue center were better company than most of the people he knew. Okay, okay, you’ll all get fed, he said to calm the general restless anticipation of feeding time.

He picked up speed, getting dishes for more of the dogs, who settled right in to eat. A tuxedo terrier whose cage tag read Fonzie watched him intensely as he put the food inside his enclosure. The dog remained sitting until Dutton closed the cage door, and then he gently began eating, like he was savoring his kibble. I know, you think you’re cool. He rolled his eyes at his own joke because there was no one else to hear it. And last but not least, Sweetie Pie. He placed the bowl in the huge Rottweiler’s enclosure and backed away. All the dogs in the shelter were good dogs, Dutton felt that to his bones, but some of them had had hard lives that hadn’t been filled with love, and he was determined to help try to change that. I know, he said gently to the huge dog. You went without food for a long time, and now you’re trying to make up for it. He watched as Sweetie Pie gulped his food.

Excuse me, a man said from behind him.

Dutton jumped slightly, but at least he didn’t squeak the way he had a tendency to do when he got startled.

I was told at the veterinary clinic that this was where I could adopt a dog. It took Dutton a second before his eyes widened in recognition. Dutton…?

He smiled. Randy, he said gently, hoping the name didn’t come out too breathily. How are you doing? Dutton had had such a crush on him in high school. Dutton had been the stereotypical gay kid: shy, quiet, just trying to stay out of everyone’s way, too tall and skinny for anyone to be interested in. Randy Grant, on the other hand—even now, just saying the name in his head made him want to sigh dramatically. He still had the same piercing blue eyes and perfect smile, and damned if he hadn’t continued working out. In five years, Randy had definitely gone from teenager to man, all over. Back in high school, Randy had been a baseball star, and when he’d come out of the closet junior year, anyone who said an unkind word found themselves on the outside looking in, fast. Dutton hadn’t followed the same path back then, but he had admired Randy for his courage.

I’m fine. Graduated from Penn State and returned to Carlisle for law school. Mom is thrilled that I’m back here. He smiled that same smile with perfect teeth, but what surprised Dutton was how genuine it seemed. Hell, Dutton hadn’t even realized that Randy Grant knew who he was back in high school. What about you?

I got a scholarship to Shippensburg, and I’m working here at the shelter and at the vet clinic part-time. I want to go to vet school, and I’ve been accepted to the veterinary program at Penn State starting in the fall. He couldn’t help smiling. He had worked hard to get accepted there and on a scholarship.

That’s really great, Randy said. You always worked really hard.

Dutton almost took a step back in surprise. Guys like Randy weren’t supposed to know stuff about wallflowers like him. You said you were looking to adopt a dog?

Yeah. Mom has been spending a lot of time alone, and since her last dog crossed the rainbow bridge about six months ago, she’s been making sounds like it’s time to get another one. So I thought I’d see what you have, and maybe I could get her one for Christmas. She likes smaller dogs. I’ll check with her before actually taking the dog.

Let me show you what we have. Dutton couldn’t help being a little excited as he showed Randy around. Usually we keep the larger and smaller dogs in their own areas, but we have more small dogs at the moment, so they’ve spilled over. He showed Randy around, letting him look at each one.