A Mate for Lu - Amy Bellows Page 0,70

person to play cards with at night. No funny business. You sleep in your bed, and I’ll sleep in mine. Must be clean, quiet, sober, and willing to go to bed at a reasonable hour. A preference will be given to applicants who can play cribbage and gin rummy.

The pay is $2,000 per month, including room and food. Most contracts don’t include food, so that’s nice. The interesting thing is that the card player in question, a Mr. Otis Snow, has never had a companion before. If he had, the contact information of his previous companions would be listed for references. According to his personal info, he’s been on the Slope for ten years.

That’s a long time to go without sex, so I’m guessing this guy is either great with his right hand, or isn’t interested in sex at all.

“Kade, you are not clean, quiet, or willing to go to bed at a reasonable hour. And the only reason why you don’t drink is because you can’t afford alcohol.”

All of that is unfortunately true. But Jason’s forgetting one important detail.

“The guy is looking for someone to play cards with, and I love playing cards.”

Jason takes in a deep breath. He’s internally counting to ten. I know this because he had to go to a therapist when we were teenagers, so he would stop yelling at me. He lets it out and drags a hand through his hair. “At best, you will drive this man insane. At worst, he’s going to expect you to have sex with him.”

“I know,” I say. I am very aware of my plan’s limitations.

Jason hands back my phone. “You’re still going to do it, aren’t you?”

I shrug. “I might have applied already.”

“Kade, have you thought about your own reactions to this guy?”

Jason is referring to my very unfortunate preference for men twice my age. In particular, men who have some kind of power over me. Like my teachers, bosses, and at one point, our landlord.

“I’m cute. He might be into it.”

Jason turns around. “God, Kade. When are you going to grow up? You can’t make a living chatting to a camera while putting on makeup. You need to have a plan. I’m not going to be able to take care of you my entire life. Linus will be expecting a pebble soon, and I love him. Am I supposed to put off the rest of my life so you can continue messing around?”

He doesn’t get it. I already know Linus wants a pebble from him. And I know what that’s going to mean. Jason and I are fairy penguins—the bottom of the barrel when it comes to penguin shifters. And Linus is an adele. The only way he’ll commit to Jason is if his annoying kid brother moves out.

I don’t want to hold Jason back. He deserves to be happy. And he can’t be happy unless I leave.

“The contract is for a month, and if Otis likes me, I get to stay for longer. You can be with Linus to your heart’s content. I won’t get in your way anymore,” I say.

“That’s not what I meant—”

“It’s okay.” I know how difficult I am to live with, and Jason is a good guy. He deserves better than to babysit me for this rest of his life.

I flash him my best, “I’m totally fine” smile, even though I’m going to miss him. If Otis doesn’t work out, there are other ragers on the Slope. It’s not ideal, but I don’t have other options.

“What is this guy going to do when he finds out you’re a penguin shifter? All of the companions on the Slope are polar bear shifters.”

I laugh. My dear, dear brother. He knows nothing about trying to appear better than you actually are so people will give you a chance.

“I told him in my application. He wants someone no nonsense and straight-laced. Think about it. A penguin shifter would be perfect for him.”

Jason glances back at me with a smirk I recognize all too well. It’s his, “you are exasperating, but endearing at the same time” face. Thank God for that face. “You didn’t tell him that you’re a Little Blue?”

I shake my head.

“Damn, Kade. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Me too.

I really, really do.

Also by Amy Bellows

A Pebble for Lewis

An Egg for Ansel

A Home for Ben

Omega from the Ocean

The Accidental Everything

The Bookmobile Baby

The Bond-Cut Omega

The Heat Professor

When Two Omegas Dance

Of Paper and Wood

About the Author

Thanks for reading my little book. If you’d like to hang out with me on Facebook where I share sexy teasers of my works in progress and random humorous details about my writing process, you can join my Facebook group: Amy’s Pillow Fort.

I have a website. You can sign up for my new release newsletter there. I have a tendency to send free smut to my subscribers.

I also have a Patreon account. My patrons get free ARC’s of all my books before they release, exclusive short stories, and access to sneak peeks and deleted scenes.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my editor, Reese Morrison, and to my proofreader, C.A. Silver. The two of you are a great team.

A special thanks to my beta readers: Nicole B., Deb S., M.D. Stewart, Tracey, Rachel T., and Danielle P. I appreciate your flexibility with this book.

And I’d like to thank my wife, who helped a lot with this book. Jesse/Liam was a special character for both of us.