The picture on the Rainbow Snippets group shows a cat admiring butterflies. If my experience of cats is anything to go by, that scene will be followed in about 0.3 seconds by a cat chomping down on butterflies. To celebrate our love for what are, when all’s said and done, cute little murder-beasts, today’s snippet is taken from Hard Tail, in which our hapless narrator Tim has gone to stay in his hospitalised brother’s house – and has just discovered his brother apparently has a cat he’s neglected to mention:
I was woken at seven o’clock on the first day of my new life as a shopkeeper by a cat jumping on my chest. As wake-up calls went, it was fairly effective. I opened my eyes to a mouthful of fangs looking like they were about to take my nose off, which, given the dead-mouse breath coming my way, would actually have been a mercy.
“Gah!” I’m never at my most eloquent when I’ve just woken up.
The cat hissed back at me, obviously not a morning person either. I shifted position, hoping it would get the hint and bugger off. Too late, I realised the flaw in that plan.
Claws.
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Don’t forget to check out the rainbow snippets Facebook group for more little excerpts from a whole host of talented authors.
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Hard Tail
Southampton Stories #2
Finding love can be a bumpy ride
With his job and his marriage dead in a ditch, Tim Knight doesn’t take much persuading to leave London for the greener fields of Southampton and look after his injured brother’s mountain bike shop. But Tim’s a fish out of water in this brave new world of outdoor sports and technical jargon—not to mention struggling with the realisation he can no longer deny his sexuality, at least to himself.
The reason? Matt Berridge, his brother’s bike mechanic. Fit, tanned and an adorable klutz, Matt takes a tumble the day they meet and falls straight into Tim’s heart. There’s only one problem: Matt’s boyfriend, who Tim’s convinced is abusing him, despite the stories Matt comes up with to explain away the bruises.
A black belt in karate, Tim’s no pushover when it comes to physical confrontation. But he’ll need to step his courage up a gear if he’s ever going to come out, be himself—and save the man he’s coming to love.
![locknut_200x300[4]](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/904/40247243490_3a97895e2a.jpg)
JL Merrow 
Claws hurt!! Another kitty story, love it 🙂
ROTFL!! This cat has the same disregard for body parties both Cinnamon and Sage have (my four footed children). Great snippet!
LOL. Fun with cats! 💞
LOL!
Love the “dead mouse breath.” (Which reminds me, I really do need to get some Greenies for the dogs.)
The blurb sounds awesome too. *adds to the TBR list*
Nothing like a bit of cat-breath and claws first thing in the morning. At least it wasn’t also a 3am wake-up call to be let outside.
Lovely wake-up call, lol
Loved this story! The snippet was a nice reminder to go back and re-read (and perhaps a gentler wake-up call than Tim’s!).
Ha, sounds familiar.