The Cat Who Came In from the Cold, page 1
Table of Contents
Books by Alexa Milne
Title Page
Legal Page
Book Description
Dedication
Trademark Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
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Pride Publishing books by Alexa Milne
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More Than This
His Perfect Companion
The Call of Home
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The Wanderlings
THE CAT WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD
ALEXA MILNE
The Cat Who Came In from the Cold
ISBN # 978-1-80250-641-9
©Copyright Alexa Milne 2024
Cover Art by Kelly Martin ©Copyright June 2024
Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz
Pride Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2024 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.
Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book”.
Book one in the
Wanderlings series
Sometimes a Katt is not just for Christmas.
Thom came to London hoping to dance and maybe find fame and fortune. Instead, he’s waiting on tables to pay the rent. Maybe the next audition will be the one.
Tyler is an ecologist in a family of lawyers, trying to persuade the world of the importance of bees and hoping to finish his doctorate. But tonight, he’s waiting on tables to make a little extra cash.
Need brings these two men to the same place, and desire gets them together. From there the course of true love should be easy, but, of course, life is never that simple…because Thom has a secret. A secret others like him want to keep to themselves.
While Thom and Tyler grow closer and things get deeper, Thom is ordered to make a choice. Should he break up with Tyler and lose the man he has come to love, or reveal the truth about himself? With the chance of fame finally knocking on his door, Thom needs to make the hardest decision of his life…
Dedication
In January 1991, I had a mad moment and decided to get a cat. Somehow, not sure it would happen now, by the end of the day, I had one. My first cat, Pooks, was perfect and spoilt me for others, but there were others. Rumple found me, as did George. All three are now gone. Now, there is Sweets, who was briefly joined by Susie 2. They say dogs have owners and cats have servants, well that may be true, but I have loved them all, and this series is for them.
Trademark Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Andor: Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
Ahsoka: Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
Avengers: Marvel Studios, LLC
Ben: Don Black, Walter Scharf
Blithe Spirit: Noel Coward
Boba Fett: Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Mutant Enemy Productions
Cheshire Cat: Lewis Carroll
Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang: United Artists Corporation
CV: Automobiles Citroën
Cyberman: BBC Studios Productions Limited
Dalek: BBC Studios Productions Limited
DC: Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Die Hard: 20th Century Studios, Inc.
Doctor Who: BBC Studios Productions Limited
Dreamies: Mars Inc.
Elf: New Line Cinema
FaceTime: Apple Inc.
Fame: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television
Google: Google LLC
Grease: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey, John Farrar
Grogu: Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud: William Wordsworth
I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here: ITV Studios Limited
Interview With the Vampire: AMC Networks Inc.
Judoon: BBC Studios Productions Limited
London Dungeon: Merlin Entertainments Limited
Lord of the Rings: New Line Productions, Inc.
Marvel: Marvel Entertainment, LLC
Notting Hill: Universal City Studios LLC
Radio Times: Immediate Media Company
Raffles: E. W. Hornung
Return of the Jedi: Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
Riddler: Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Schitt’s Creek: CBC Television
Spike: Mutant Enemy Productions
Splash: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Star Wars: Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
Strictly Ballroom: M&A Productions
Supernatural: Warner Bros. Television Studios
The Empire Strikes Back: Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
The London Eye: Merlin Entertainments Limited
The Mallens: ITV network
The Mandalorian: Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC
The Wanderer: Ernie Maresca
Trivial Pursuit: Hasbro, Inc.
Willard: Cinerama Releasing Corporation
Willy Wonka: Roald Dahl
Chapter One
Thom attempted to motivate himself. He desperately needed this cash-in-hand job because, for the umpteenth time, his bastard of a landlord had threatened to throw him out of the pit he laughingly called a studio apartment. Thom guessed a prison cell would have more room, even if he had to share it with some brute of a bloke covered in tattoos, and he hoped there’d certainly be fewer creepy-crawlies of the cockroach variety. Still, the ones he currently shared with kept him amused—he had a low boredom threshold—and provided extra protein.
Rising from the bed, he stretched his long limbs, secured the elasticated bow tie he kept for these occasions under his white shirt collar, grabbed his coat, locked up and hurried down the concrete stairs.
As soon as his body experienced the freezing cold air, he shivered. I need a warmer coat. Human bodies aren’t meant to be this cold. Judy was due to pick him up to take him to the waiting on gig she’d found for them. It wasn’t what either of them wanted, but a person had to eat.
The noise of her old banger of a car reached his ears before he saw it. Held together by string and rubber bands, the Citroen CV drew up to the kerb. Thom opened the passenger door and climbed inside. He needed to position his knees practically up to his chest to get himself in properly with the door shut.
“You’re late,” he said, reaching for the seat belt.
“You’re bloody lucky I got here at all. Dolly doesn’t like the cold, and it’s brass-monkeys tonight. I thought big cities were supposed to have micro-climates or something that made them a few degrees warmer. If that’s true, it must be like the Arctic in the rest of Britain.” She shifted the car into gear, and it shuddered into action. “Any luck with the audition yesterday?”
“Nah, apparently I was the wrong physical type. They wanted someone butcher, and let’s face it, darling, I don’t do butc h. You?”
“I got down to the last eight, thanks to my ballet training. It’s one of those fancy cruise liners—like mini cities. They’re doing a Vegas-type show, all sequins and feathers. If I get it, I’ll be away for months, but the money is reasonable, and I’ll get to see more of the world. Maybe I’ll find a millionaire.”
“A girl can dream. How many do they want?”
“Four girls, so I’ve a chance. And God, I need the money. They give you room and board as well, so there are no hidden extras to pay for.”
“That’s a bonus.”
“And I might get to sing as well.”
“Doing your impersonations. You’ll love that. Think how you can dress up.”
“I know, and you never know who’s on these ships.”
Judy parked around the back of the theatre. “Bloody ironic to be waiting on tables here. Didn’t you audition for the backing dancers on this show?”
“Yep, and got down to the final eight, but they said my singing wasn’t good enough. The choreographer was a bastard anyway. Maybe if I’d gone down on my knees or bent over as he wanted, I’d have got the part.”
“Hmm,” Judy said, glancing at him. “Even you have some standards, I suppose.”
Thom pressed a hand to his chest. “I certainly do, and he had the breath of a warthog.”
Once inside, they found their way to the appointed room to receive the usual pep talk. Waiting on tables provided extra income for them both. Thom listened to the familiar instructions about handing out the canapés and champagne, and how any breakages would come out of their meagre wages—he’d heard the speech so many times before.
That evening there were only six of them, so his feet would be aching by the end. Each time he worked one of these gigs, he hoped a director, producer or someone would notice him and the way he moved effortlessly between tables.
While Sandra droned on, Thom glanced at his fellow waiters. Usually they knew each other, and he nodded at a couple, but farthest away from him stood a tall, dark-haired, bespectacled cutie he’d not seen before who was listening intently to Sandra’s spiel. New faces meant at least Sandra’s eyes would be on someone else for a change.
He attempted to work out which side this one batted for. Thom had a thing for glasses, and the men who wore them. So many of the men he met were more interested in looking at themselves in the mirror, even on the most intimate of occasions. They would not have been seen dead wearing such face-furniture. This one had dark spiked hair, stood—Thom would guess—around six-foot tall and was currently fiddling with his tie. Was he yet another aspiring actor or dancer or singer, trying to pay the rent? If he had to guess, Thom would say no. There was something appealing about him, though. Thom sidled around the back of the group until he stood next to his target, then waited for Sandra to finish.
“And finally, turn off all your phones. For the next few hours you have no life outside these four walls. Anyone I see with a phone in their hand will be fined. Do you understand?”
They nodded and Sandra walked away. Thom took his chance.
“Hi, I’m Thom,” he said, holding out his hand. “I haven’t seen you at one of these events before.”
The stranger had a firm handshake and a nice smile. “No, a friend knew I could do with some extra money—for Christmas and everything—so I thought I’d give it a go out of term time.”
“You’re a student then?” Thom asked. He wouldn’t have pegged this one as being so young.
“Yes, a grad student at London Met. I’m in my third year of a PhD in ecology. Any extra earnings help with the debts.”
“Wow, so you’ll be a doctor.” This one was obviously bright as well as cute. Thom flashed what he hoped was a sexy smile. “Brains as well as beauty.”
A red flush spread up the other man’s face.
“So does such a clever and interesting person have a name?”
More blushing—oh, this one could be fun, and judging by the fact he hadn’t yet told Thom to piss off, there was some hope he might walk on Thom’s side of the tracks.
“Tyler. My name is Tyler, and are you always so forthright with your opinions?”
“I tell it as I see it,” Thom said, licking his lips.
Tyler flushed again. “So…umm…you’ve done waiting on before then?”
Thom went with the change of subject. “Too many times. In real life I’m a dancer, although I can act and sing a bit.”
“Like Fred Astaire.”
“What?” Thom frowned.
“Fred Astaire,” Tyler continued. “You must have heard of him.”
“Of course I have.”
“Someone said that about him in an interview. Can’t act. Can’t sing. Balding. Can dance a little. I guess you haven’t struck lucky yet, or you wouldn’t be here—you’d be in a show already.”
Thom frowned again and folded his arms. Was this guy for real? And had he meant to be so offensive? Thom instinctively ran his hand through his almost black hair. “As it happens, I can do all three of those things, and I’ve an audition next week for a new show.” Thom had real hopes this time. “So, what will this stuff you’re doing lead to, then? Is there a lot of money in—what was it again?”
“Ecology,” Tyler said. “And no, there isn’t a lot of money in it. My particular paper researches ways to protect bees and how to provide the best ecological conditions for them to survive. Most people have no idea how serious the decline in the bee population is and how much we depend on them.”
“According to Doctor Who, bees are aliens, and they are simply leaving the planet to return home.” Damn, that’s showing my geek hand early.
“Really? I’ll bear it in mind. I’m sure my professor would be interested in your theory.” Tyler glared at Thom over his glasses. His brown eyes sparkled with flecks of green.
For a moment, Thom wondered if they shared other interests. Blood rushed to his cock. Hmm, maybe Tyler has hidden depths worth further investigation after all. Currently, his expression suggested he wanted to put Thom over his knee and spank him.
Thom couldn’t help himself. Once he had a new toy, teasing was half the fun. Capturing, then stepping away, letting them think they were off the hook, and he wasn’t interested. Hmm, it’s time to put some distance between me and him, but also show off my moves.
“Well, it’s been fun.” He turned on the spot. Luckily for him, people began to arrive in the room, and he disappeared among them to pick up a platter of drinks. When he saw his ex-boyfriend Marcus among the crowd, he immediately wanted the floor to open up and allow him to make a quick exit. How Marcus had won his current role, Thom wasn’t exactly sure, but judging by the way he was attached limpet-like to the older man next to him, Thom could make a pretty good guess.
Showtime. He picked up a tray of champagne. Time to mingle. He moved off in the opposite direction to his ex and began to circulate.
Throughout the evening, Thom found it hard to keep an eye out for both of his targets while trying to sneak a canapé or five, seeing as he hadn’t eaten since the bowl of cereal he’d wolfed down too quickly that morning. Why did people wolf? No one ever catted. He breathed in, squeezing his body through gaps he shouldn’t be able to manage, holding the tray above him and using his natural advantages to good effect. He claimed he was double jointed when the curious asked how he managed to get into such small spaces.
Out of the corner of his left eye, he spotted Marcus draped over his man. It would take a jemmy to force them apart. Still, it meant Marcus hadn’t found him yet. He bumped into another body and turned to find Tyler holding on tightly to his tray.
“Good job it wasn’t a full one,” Tyler muttered, “or we’d be covered in champagne and food, and I’d have lost my bonus. And here was me thinking you were the more experienced of the two of us.”
Was this guy serious? How could he deliver that much innuendo with such a straight face?
“Oh, I don’t lack experience,” Thom replied, struggling to resist pressing his body next to the other man. “And I’m happy to share my knowledge and skills. I could come home with you tonight and show you a few moves if you wanted.” And hopefully you’ll have a warm bed and central heating.
Tyler took a step back as Thom deliberately crowded his personal space. “Bloody hell, do you have any boundaries? What if I said I wasn’t interested in getting to know you better?”
