Page 11 of Pretty Baby

“I want you to be honest with me and yourself.”

“I can…try.”

“Good boy,” Grant praised. “Now, I don’t know what you do now that you’ve retired from acting. Why don’t you tell me?”

“I’m…uh…retired.”

Grant nodded.

“I don’t work or anything.”

“Okay.” He could see that Caleb was trying but Grant needed clearer questions.

“I saw your house when I dropped you off last night. Do you live there alone?” There was a direct question.

“Yes, well no…but…” Caleb wrung his fingers together.

“It’s okay,” Grant assured him. “Take your time.”

Caleb took a deep breath. “I’m the only human that lives there.”

Grant nodded in encouragement.

“But I have three dogs and two cats,” Caleb shared.

“Really?” Grant couldn’t hide his surprise. He hadn’t pegged Caleb as a pet lover. Actually, he hadn’t really thought of Caleb much beyond what he knew from the club. Grant was glad he had decided to take his time to get to know the sweet boy.

“Yeah, they’re all from the local rescue shelter here. We have one of the best shelters in the entire state. I first got my pit-bull Daisy from there because no one would take her. She had been used as a bait dog and was nervous around people. But I showed her she could trust me and she is so loving now. Then the shelter called when they got Lucy. Her owners surrendered her because she was old and they wanted a puppy. She would sit by the fence all day and night and cry for her mom and dad. The shelter owner Ben called and asked if I could take her. I took one look at her sad eyes with cute gray hair and knew I would give her the best life that she had left. Then another senior pet, a white cat, got sick and Ben called me again. He didn’t want Gus’s last days to be in the shelter so I took him in. There were a lot of vet visits but I had the time and money to spend on him. He’s recovered and is so happy now.”

As Caleb told Grant about his pets he completely transformed. Gone was the unsure sub and instead he completely brightened up.

“Gunny is a tan and black pug that I saw in the newspaper for free. His owner had died and her kids didn’t want him. I couldn’t let him go from a loving home to some cold shelter where no one would love him.”

“That’s amazing,” Grants said when Caleb paused. “But you said three dogs and two cats. What about your other cat?”

Caleb beamed at him and Grant felt like a million bucks.

“Lily, my little lily pad, I found her in the alley here.”

“Really?”

Caleb bobbed is head. As he’d started talking his fingers had found their way under Grant’s leather vest. Caleb stroked his skin while probably not even noticing. “I was waiting for my Uber when I heard the faintest cry. I followed the sound until I found her hiding behind the dumpster. I tried to look for a mama cat or other kittens but I couldn’t locate any others. I had the Uber take us straight to the emergency vet and I even came back during the day in case I overlooked them.” he shrugged. “I couldn’t find them.”

“You are such an amazing boy,” Grant told him. “It’s obvious that you have a loving heart.”

“They’re so sweet and innocent. They don’t hurt anyone. They just need to be loved.”

Just like his pretty boy.

“I agree.”

“Do you like animals?” Caleb questioned.

“I do,” Grant said. “I always had a dog growing up. Until I left for college anyway. My boxer passed away my second year in school and I was devasted.”

“But you don’t have any right now?” Caleb had started to play with the zipper of Grant’s vest. The zipper went down and the flaps came apart. “Oh sorry.”

Grant chuckled. “It’s fine boy.” Grant pulled the vest further apart revealing his chest to Caleb’s hungry gaze. “And to answer your question I don’t have any pets right now. I work odd hours and no one I can really trust to look after them.”

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