Catching Mr. Right by Amber Kell

Catching Mr. Right

Coming August 8, 2011

Blurb:

Sometimes the perfect man is the one determined to give you away.

Tucker Right has loved Norman Wells since the first day they met, but the mercenary believes the beautiful scientist needs a gentler soul to care for him.

Determined to find his friend the perfect man, Tucker is astonished to learn Norm has no intention of being set up.

When the mob targets Norm for his scientific breakthroughs Tucker has to step up and claim the man who had every intention of Catching Mr Right.

Excerpt:

Tucker Right was a touchy person—he pounded men on the back, kissed women on the cheek and gave the occasional shoulder-grip to people he was fond of. In fact, Norman Wells realised, as he tossed back his Scotch, Tucker touched everyone but him. In the five years they’d known each other he could easily count on one hand the number of times his best friend had done more than shake his hand, always after one of Norman’s breakups. Then he rated a hug, sometimes a kiss on the cheek.

Strange.

He held up a finger to the bartender. If he did this right he wouldn’t be able to see how many fingers he was lifting in a few minutes.

It was one of those days.

“You’re going to get snockered and I’ll have to pour you home,” a deep voice spoke beside him. Although Tucker’s breath brushed Norm’s ear, no part of them touched.

“What do you care? Go touch somebody else.” Watching the man he wanted paw everyone but him made his heart hurt. He threw back his head and let the Scotch burn its way down his throat.

“Now that’s just disrespectful, tossing back expensive liquor like that. I know it’s the expensive stuff because my bud doesn’t do cheap,” Tucker teased. Strong fingers cupped Norman’s chin, turning his head until he faced his friend. He held back the sigh that always wanted to escape his lips when he looked into those brilliant blue eyes. Eyes so light they were almost colourless. His assistant Becca called them serial killer eyes. Norm thought they were the most beautiful things in the universe.

He’s touching me.

The thought ricocheted through his head like a pinball marble.

“What’s wrong, Norm? Len being an asshole?” The sympathy in his friend’s voice was almost his undoing, but he knew he could keep it together—he just needed more alcohol in his system.

“Len’s gone. We broke up last week,” he confessed.

“Why?” A crease formed on Tucker’s tanned brow. “I thought you guys were good together.”

Norm couldn’t explain how he’d felt trapped in the relationship, unable to breathe.

“Why is it a beautiful man like yourself can’t keep a guy?” Tucker asked, musingly. “You’re rich, more gorgeous than most of the people on the planet, and beneath your crusty exterior is the heart of a sweet man. Why are you always looking for your next boyfriend?”

“Apparently because I’m emotionally unavailable.” Bitterness filled him as he remembered the conversation with his ex-boyfriend.

“Seriously?” Tucker released Norman’s chin and slid his hair behind his ear in an affectionate gesture. The contact made Norm shiver. “That’s what you get for dating a psychiatrist.”

When had he become touch-worthy? With effort he forced himself to continue the conversation and not sit there sighing like a teenage girl with her first crush.

“I thought you said he was perfect for me?”

“I thought he’d help you with your people issues, not add to them.” Tucker’s sexy mouth turned down and his voice held an angry edge. “If I knew he was going to make you feel like crap I would’ve gotten rid of him.”

“Things like that are why my assistant thinks you’re a hit man.”

Between Tucker’s muscular six-foot-three body and his arctic blue eyes, no one messed with him. Tucker owned a security company taking care of the electronic surveillance and personal protection for high-profile clients and visiting dignitaries. Whispered rumours claimed he used to be part of the CIA. Norm never had the guts to ask. The two met when Norm had needed help uncovering a security breach in his nano-technology lab. Tucker had set up his security and helped catch the thief, saving Norm’s millions of dollars of research in the process.

He held up his hand to the bartender for another round. Tucker caught his wrist. “He’s had enough,” he told the bartender.

The man nodded as he slipped a piece of paper across the bar towards Norm. “Call me if you ever want to go out sometime.” The bartender gave him a wide smile and a wink before going back to the other side of the bar.

“It’s definitely time to take you home before the bartender does.” Tucker wrapped an arm around Norman as he melted off his bar stool.

“He’s kind of cute.”

“He’s not good enough for you,” he thought her heard Tucker mutter as his larger friend supported him.

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