He lifted the lid and snuck a glimpse of Charlie. He wasn't moving, but that was par for the course. Charlie had to be the laziest hamster on the planet. He scoffed at his wheel, turned his nose up at the exercise ball, preferring to use it to nap, and he had no desire to be held or played with. But the furry little guy excelled at one thing -- Charlie ate like he hadn't seen food in weeks. Shawn tried to measure out his food, but he kept gaining weight. In fact, he'd become so "fluffy," Shawn had removed the plastic tube Charlie occasionally crawled through because he kept getting stuck.

Hell if that hadn't given him nightmares, worrying his daughter would find Charlie trapped in the tube, eyes open and bulging, little tongue protruding. A chill ran through his spine as he replaced the lid. And yet, even with removing the dangerous tube from the cage, they'd still ended up at the vet, with Charlie's life hanging in the balance. Apparently hamster life was fraught with danger.

When Clem had come to Shawn, tears streaming down her cherubic face, and told her that Charlie had a large lump on him, he'd worried. One look at the hamster and that worry had bloomed into full-blown panic. He scooped him up into a shoebox and they'd rushed to the vet, snow warnings be damned.

While his daughter lost herself in the magazine, he began to wonder what he'd do if the hamster died. Despite the fact this particular pet did nothing other than eat, his daughter loved him with all her heart. What if he wasn't dying, and he just needed surgery? Did they even operate on hamsters? How expensive would that be? God, if they charge by the pound, Charlie would probably be the most expensive hamster surgery ever. There was a pet store just around the block ... No, no, he couldn't just replace Charlie ... could he? Fuck, sometimes adulting sucked.

The door on the other side of the room opened and Shawn nearly swallowed his tongue. The man that stepped inside was hands-down the most gorgeous man he'd ever laid eyes on. Solidly built, with shoulders so broad, the teal fabric strained at the seams. Muscled thighs…oh God, he had a thing for strong thighs. Light brown hair, slightly tousled on top, fell across his forehead. Strong Roman nose, square jaw covered in light stubble, full pink lips, and the most beautiful hazel eyes he'd ever seen. Hazel eyes that were staring at him with a hint of amusement.

Shit, he'd just been busted checking out the vet. Heat flooded his cheeks as he swallowed hard and tried to regain his dignity. Thank goodness his daughter was oblivious to his near drool, jumping up from her chair and running over to join him, the magazine still firmly in her grip.

"Hi. I'm Dr. Copeland." He eyed the box and glanced at the clipboard in his hand. "I hear you're worried about someone named Charlie?"

Fuck. His baritone voice did things to Shawn's body that he really shouldn't notice. Not with a dying hamster and his daughter's world possibly crashing down around them at any second.

"Yes." Shawn's voice cracked and he shook his head. Get it together. It had just been too long since he'd hooked up with anyone. Had to be why he felt like a hormonal teenager. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Yes. Clementine's hamster."