Barging In (7 page)

“Hey, Morris, is your daddy a carpenter, then? That’s pretty smart. I like a man who knows how to use his hands.” He stroked the fur on the top of Morris’s head, and the cat arched up against the pressure, purring even louder. He was just contemplating whether he had time to sneak a look down at the end of the boat to check out Robin’s sleeping quarters, when he felt the boat rock towards the bank and then back again.

The doors swung open.

“How’s he doing? Is he okay?” Robin’s voice was urgent, breathless, and he closed the space between them before he had finished speaking. He fell to his knees beside the sofa and leaned over to caress Morris with trembling hands. His voice dropped to a low murmur, but Dan could still hear it shaking. “Hey, how’s my naughty boy, then? You gave me quite a scare, you did. Oh, but you seem all right now, don’t you?”

Dan studied the top of Robin’s head. Although it was cropped to less than half an inch, the hair was naturally thick and lustrous. The urge to reach out and stroke Robin’s head was something Dan had to struggle against. Maybe he’d get a chance later. While checking Morris over, Robin’s hands brushed against Dan’s arms and chest, every accidental touch stirring a response in Dan’s body. He looked down at those strong hands with the network of raised veins on the back and the dark hairs encroaching from the wrists. They’d look great against Dan’s own smooth flesh. He breathed deeply, inhaling Robin’s smoky, earthy scent.

But it wouldn’t do to get overexcited right now. Dan tried to focus on Morris instead. “I found him halfway up a tree down in the valley. I think he must have climbed up there to keep safe from whatever attacked him.”

“He was attacked?” Robin gazed up at him with wide, watery eyes. Christ, he was really cut up about this cat, wasn’t he? “I can’t find any injuries.”

“I think he might be lying on it. There was something matted in his fur that looked like blood. I couldn’t see any more than that because he went mental when I tried to pick him up.” He held out his right hand, which had received the worst mauling. Robin’s eyes flicked to it for a brief moment before returning to the cat.

“We’d better turn him over so I can get a look.”

Right. Not a lot of point in angling for sympathy at the moment, then. Not unless you had four legs and a tail. Dan swallowed his pique and helped to lift the cat, who seemed even heavier now fully relaxed. He shifted over on the sofa so that Robin could sit next to him, and held Morris gently as Robin searched through the long fur. “I think it was down by his hind leg. Yep, that’s the place.” Dan felt the cat tense in his arms, but a few gentle words and strokes from Robin soon calmed him down again. The next time Robin tried to inspect the wound, Dan distracted Morris by tickling him under the chin, which seemed to go down well if the volume of purring was anything to go by.

“I’m going to have to clean this up to get a proper look, but I don’t think it’s too serious.” Robin’s eyes were clearer and brighter this time when they met Dan’s. “Just hold him for me a little bit longer, please?”

“Always happy to help you out,” Dan said, and he didn’t even have to make a conscious effort to give his most charming grin—it just happened. This man with his peculiar mixture of arrogance, good manners and vulnerability seemed to call it forth from him.

His gaze roamed over Robin’s body as he turned away and stretched in a peculiar, folded-limbs fashion no doubt adopted by all boat dwellers. Dan had already whacked his knuckles on the boat ceiling more times than he cared to recall. Must be a nightmare for a big guy. And wasn’t Robin just deliciously large?

It probably wasn’t a good idea to mentally undress a drop-dead-gorgeous man when you had your arms full of injured cat. Made it bloody tricky to hide a hard-on, for a start. Dan could have shifted Morris over to cover it, but that just seemed wrong, not to mention dangerous, considering those sharp claws. Robin made no comment though, and perhaps he didn’t even notice with his attention focused on cleaning the wound. As Robin wrung out the cloth, rusty particles of dried blood swirled out into the bowl. Dan could feel some of the excess water soaking into his Ralph Lauren T-shirt. That was going to stain, although it was probably already a lost cause what with the claw damage from earlier.

But Dan’s concerns about his clothing were forgotten the moment Morris sank his claws into his stomach. That fucking well hurt! He grunted, biting his cheeks to keep from giving a girly whimper. Not that Robin noticed. On the plus side, at least his cock was behaving again.

The more blood Robin cleaned away, the more Dan could smell its metallic tang. Eventually the fur was clean and they could see what lay beneath.

“Is that it?” Dan asked. How could such a tiny wound have bled so profusely?

“Looks like it. Hey, Morris, it’s all clean and I think you’re going to be fine.” Robin tickled the cat, who pulled his claws out of Dan, turned over and wriggled, demanding more attention.

Dan had never felt jealous of an animal before, but God, he wanted some of that affection lavished on him. However, when Robin looked up to him with sparkling eyes and a warm smile, he forgot all his uncharitable thoughts. The love Robin had for that cat shone out of his face, blessing Dan with some of the second-hand radiance. Surely this was time for his reward kiss? To say thank you properly. To say—

“Thanks, Dan, I really appreciate all your help.” And then Robin picked Morris out of Dan’s arms and cuddled the cat close, flopping back against the sofa and closing his eyes as the last of the stress drained out of his face.

Nope, that definitely wasn’t a man in the mood for seduction. He should get a grip—just make the most of being here and getting to know Robin better.

“Would you like a drink?” Dan asked, pleased to see the lazy smile curve Robin’s lips as he opened his eyes. “How about a cuppa? I’m sure I can find my way around your kitchen.”

“I’d love one, but I should be doing all that, really.” Robin looked like a man who had no intention of getting up any time soon.

Dan grinned. “No worries, you just look after Morris and I’ll sort us both out with a nice cup of tea.” Oh God, he was turning into his mum. A woman convinced that the world’s problems could all be solved if only people would take the time to sit down together and drink a cup of PG Tips. Possibly with a digestive biscuit on the side. At the thought of food, his stomach rumbled. It felt like a long time since he’d breakfasted, having spent his morning photographing Mel in her boat and then being shown into several other boater’s homes. They were a friendly bunch, once Mel introduced them, although he had the suspicion she’d started him off with the easy ones.

“Tea bags are in the tin on the top shelf, and the fridge is next to the sink.”

“Thanks. Umm, any biscuits by any chance? I’m famished.”

“I see, you’re expecting feeding now, are you?”

Dan’s eyes flicked up to Robin’s, and he was relieved to see humour in their depths. “I think I’ve earned at least a biscuit, don’t you think? Possibly more.” Although he wasn’t going to detail what just yet.

Robin chuckled. “I think you’ll have to settle for the biscuit, as anything else is going to need cooking. Look on the shelves under the glasses. There should be a new pack of Hob Nobs.”

With everything prepared, there was nothing to do but wait for the kettle to boil. Dan peered out of the porthole above the hob, wondering what it must be like to live life with such tiny windows. It was almost like seeing the world through a fish-eye lens.

Shit—his camera! There was two grands’ worth of equipment in his camera bag, and he’d just left it out there on the back of his bike. His unlocked, cost-a-small-fortune, custom-built bike. A terrible certainty sank through him like a stone. It wasn’t going to be there, was it? One of these gypsies would have made off with it, and he’d have lost his whole morning’s work as well.

“Fuck!” He crashed his way through the doors and off the boat.
 

Chapter Seven

What on earth was all that about? Robin stared at the half-open doors. The boat rocked gently in Dan’s wake, and his eyelids soon started to feel heavy. The comforting warmth of Morris on his lap lulled him into a dreamy state—it was only when the kettle started whistling that he pulled his strands of attention together enough to realise it was up to him to sort it out.

“Sorry, Morris, you old lump. You’ll just have to do without me for a moment.” By now Morris was so fast asleep that he didn’t even stir as Robin hefted him onto the sofa. Robin stood and stretched, then turned off the gas and opened the doors to look out.

“Shit! Watch it! You nearly knocked me over,” Dan said, grinning as he hopped onto the deck. “Sorry about that. Just realised I’d left my kit out there where anyone could have helped themselves, but look!” He held up a rectangular pannier bag. “All here! I’m a very lucky man today.” Dan winked.

Robin turned away to the kettle, flustered. His body tingled all over in response to Dan’s proximity. He tried to focus on Dan’s words to take his mind off it. What had he said? Something about the canal being risky. A typical outsider’s presumption.

“Things are usually pretty safe down here. We’re not all thugs and criminals, you know.” Memories of some of the suspicious glares he’d received from the villagers nearby rose unbidden, and he slammed down two mugs onto the worktop before realising that Dan had already got some ready.

“Hey, I know that. But this is an expensive bit of kit I’ve got here, and it’s my livelihood, so I can’t go losing it partway through an assignment.” Dan’s voice came from right behind him. It would take only one step back to bump into him, and a quick turn to have him pinned against the counter.

But he wasn’t going to go there, was he? Not with a bloke like this. Not with someone who flirted with the confidence of a man used to getting whoever it was he’d set his sights on. Robin gripped the edge of the worktop and forced his mind back to the tea and whatever it was that Dan just told him. “Assignment?” He kept his eyes firmly on the water as he poured it out of the kettle, willing his hand to stay steady and his misbehaving body not to betray his excitement.

“Yeah, it’s a good one. Mostly I’m just given the contract for the writing, but this time they want my pictures too.”

Robin grunted in response, but after he’d slopped some milk into the mugs and given them both a quick stir, there was no excuse left to keep turned away. He found Dan leaning back against the sink counter, his legs planted wide and hips canted forward in a suggestive manner. God, did Dan always wear such tight clothing? He could see practically every muscle, every rib through his T-shirt. Dan might have been slight, but his physique gave the impression of great strength and agility. It was the kind of lean, lithe body Robin had always lusted after. The kind of body that made his hands itch to reach out and grab.

Holding the mugs out in front of him like a shield, Robin suddenly remembered his manners. “Oh, ah, I forgot to ask if you take sugar.”

“Nah, I’m told I taste sweet enough already, but I guess you’d know.” Dan’s cheeks dimpled as a particularly mischievous smile played across his lips.

Robin really didn’t want to be reminded of the delicious warmth of Dan’s mouth and the way that tongue had tasted as it slid against his own. He took a big gulp of tea to distract himself, scalding his palate in the process. He winced. At least it should help to take his mind off that exquisite kiss. Rather than look directly at Dan’s face, he focused on a bit of leaf matter that had somehow found its way into Dan’s carefully styled hair, but rather than making Dan look less appealing, it somehow had the opposite effect.

“So you’re taking photos of the canal?” Robin asked.

Dan’s smile faded a little, then recovered. “A few, but I’m more interested in the people. You’re a fascinating lot, you know that?” And then the glint in his eye was back. “I spent an hour with your ‘girlfriend’ this morning, you know? Very interesting shoot, that one. Very informative.”

The way Dan was smirking at Robin left him in no doubt that he’d been rumbled. Shit, he should have seen that one coming. Mel wasn’t really a gossip—she had too much goodwill towards others to spread malicious rumours—but she certainly loved talking. He could just imagine the two of them discussing him and all his hang-ups. He scowled down at his tea.

“Mel has a big mouth. I wouldn’t believe everything she says about me.”

“Now who says we were talking about you, Robin Hamilton?” Dan’s tone was teasing. “Although I must say, Mel was rather surprised to find out that she’s your girlfriend.”

Robin continued to stare at the surface of his tea, blaming the rising steam for the heat he could feel spreading across his cheeks. “It’s none of your business.”

“No, you’re quite right, but I’d say it was hers, wouldn’t you? Anyway, you’ll be pleased to know that she didn’t tell me anything much about you. She was too busy trying to convince me about all the other boaters I ‘need’ to go and photograph.”

Despite himself, Robin smiled. When she had her mind set on something, Mel wouldn’t let anyone else get a word in edgewise.

“She didn’t even tell me you were a carpenter,” Dan continued. “Did you fit out the inside of this boat?”

There was so much admiration in Dan’s tone Robin dared to risk looking up into those inviting eyes. “Yeah, she was just an empty shell when I bought her. I spent five months working on the inside. She’s designed just how I wanted her.” Warming to his favourite subject, he started on the usual tour he gave to visitors the first time they stepped onboard. Dan made all the right comments when Robin pointed out the space-saving design features he’d built into the galley, the nifty mechanism to pull out the sofa into a spare bed that spread across the saloon, and his workbench that could be folded up to hide all the tools and turn a working area back into a living area.

“And the wet-room and bed cabin are at the end of the boat,” Robin finished, reluctant to show Dan down there. “Why don’t you have a look by yourself? There’s not really room for two.” Not unless you were already intimate.