Angel Undone by Leta Blake

Author:Leta Blake [Blake, Leta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, gay, mm
Publisher: Leta Blake Books
Published: 2016-07-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Asher’s mother is petite and smells of caramel when she opens the door of the house. Michael had carefully considered his offering before arriving and he extends the small, potted and beribboned hydrangea to her. Michael pushes it gently into her hands and sees that she knows the meaning of a hydrangea given as a gift. Grateful for the recipient’s understanding.

“How lovely!” she says, taking it from him. “Thank you, dear.”

“You’re welcome, Mrs.—”

“Call me Marie.”

“Michael,” he says and she smiles at him.

“Come in, come in.”

She puts the hydrangea on the entryway table, centering it just so, then turns and takes his light jacket. She hangs it up on the neat coatrack by the door.

Michael spots Asher’s tennis shoes at the base of it, the strings unlaced and dangling. Warmth rises in him and his cheeks burn, his heart tripping.

He’s momentarily baffled by the emotion—the shoes are just shoes. Asher is just a human. Yet there is something about him—his vulnerability, his determination, his specific way of tilting his head, the sound he makes when he’s surprised—so many tiny particulars that add up to a person Michael is unwilling to walk away from. It isn’t just Father’s stamp. He refuses to believe it’s only that.

“My, you are such a handsome young man,” Marie says, as he follows her down the hallway.

Michael’s cheating, he knows. He’s turned the angelic light up a little and there’s no way Marie will be able to resist that. Asher’s father is a tougher nut to crack, as evidenced by his frown and refusal to rise from his recliner when Michael walks into the room.

“Gay and a cradle robber,” he mutters after a fast flick of the eye toward Michael. “This is the thanks we get.”

“Michael,” Asher says from the kitchen doorway, dishtowel on his shoulder, and his dark hair tousled. He has a dark spot of something brown and gooey near the collar of his red shirt. “I’m glad you’re here. Come in the kitchen.”

Marie kicks Asher’s father’s shoe. As Michael moves toward the kitchen, he hears her whisper loudly, “Ira, have some manners. Do not embarrass me in my home.”

Asher’s smile is tight as he pulls Michael into the warm kitchen. “Sorry about my dad.” Then he frowns, a deep, sudden expression of concern that makes Michael’s stomach hurt.

“I want you to feel comfortable here and he’s ruining it.”

“I’m fine. He’s fine, too.”

Relief sweeps over Asher’s face, echoing Michael’s feelings.

Michael drops onto the bar stool at the counter when Asher waves a hand toward it. There’s a mess of wax paper and apples and a bowl of brown goo set out there.

“Mom made shepherd’s pie for dinner. Meanwhile, I was making kosher caramel apples for her to take to synagogue for the children’s program tomorrow.”

“Buttering up your potential new boss through your mother?”

“Every little bit helps. I’m just really grateful he’s even considering me for the position.” Asher’s cheeks flush a little and he clears his throat.

Michael’s eyebrow lifts of its own accord. “Is

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