Cursed by an impatient witch to turn into a tortoise at inopportune moments, Tip is horrified to find himself tortoise-napped by a customer at the Isle of Wight cafe where he works.<br><br>Things start to look up when Tip ends up very literally in the capable hands of drop-dead gorgeous Steve, but Tip soon begins to wonder just how far he can trust Steve, who turns out to have a close connection with his kidnapper. Tip’s attempts at a normal life -- and love life -- seem doomed to remain frustrated in more ways than one!<br><br>Inspired by a real-life incident. Yes, really.

Tortoise Interruptus

“Meet a lot of tortoise shape-shifters, do you?” Tip asked, unable to keep a sullen tone out of his voice and to be honest, not really trying. “You seem to be taking this awfully well.”


Steve smiled and sat up, one broad shoulder brushing Tip’s in disconcerting fashion. “Well, my family’s from the island originally—one of my ancestors was the first landlord of the Hare and Hounds pub up on Arreton down. I spent a lot of time here as a kid—you kind of get used to unusual things happening.”


“You do?” Tip wondered aloud. He’d lived on the Isle of Wight most of his life, and he’d still been woefully unprepared for sudden shape-shifting. Perhaps he should have got out more.


“So, how did you develop this, ah, interesting ability?” Steve continued.


Chapter 6