Working Date by Eleanor Dax

Author:Eleanor Dax [Dax, Eleanor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

In the morning, Ethan woke to the insistent buzz of his phone. Groping the side table for it, he peeled one eyelid back to read the display.

It was Ryan.

With a groan, he let the call go to voice mail.

Sitting up, he spotted Beau in a chair across the room. He was just tightening the knot of his shoe. “There he is,” he said. “Good morning.”

“It's early,” Ethan complained. A glance at the clock told him it was after seven. “Really early.”

“Sorry.” Beau came over and dropped a warm kiss on Ethan's waiting mouth. “I just want to look into something before I head back to the hotel.”

“Look into something, huh?” Rubbing his eyes, Ethan started to push the blankets back. “Can I at least make you some coffee?”

Beau stopped him with a touch and regretful look. “Can I take a rain check?”

Ethan studied him. He felt like he was missing something. “Of course.” The answer was obvious, but he asked lightly, “Back home after that?”

Beau nodded, gazing at him. For all his rush to be gone, he seemed in no hurry now. “Can I call you tonight?”

Ethan was very pleased with that response, but hid it with teasing. “You want to talk on a phone? That's so quaint.”

“Well, you know me.”

“The quaintest. Sure you can. Wait. I'm closing.”

“So you call me.”

“It'll be late,” Ethan warned. “After midnight, for sure.”

“I'll be up. Hey, thanks for dinner.” Beau leaned closer and closer, slower and slower, until Ethan crossed the last inch with an impatient growl and kissed him. When Ethan realized he could still taste himself on Beau's tongue, a shiver passed through him and couldn't help heating things up a little.

With a slow, measured breath, Beau forced himself to pull away. “Believe me, there's nothing I'd like more than to stay, but...”

Reluctantly, Ethan removed his hands from Beau's hair and dropped them in his lap. “It's okay. Go. I'll walk you out.”

A few moments later, Beau's blue Audi turned down the drive, effectively disappearing into the winding green hills. Ethan went inside, kicking his sneakers off at the door. He could still feel the tingle of Beau's unshaven cheek on his lips.

He took a shower, somewhat regretfully rinsing any other traces of Beau from his body. For breakfast, he scrambled an egg and ate it inside a folded slice of sourdough toast. He ate on the go, deciding to take a short hike before starting his day.

It wasn't quite eight yet but the woods were alive with animal chatter and movement. He went down to the creek, crossing it easily over a line of smooth, wet stones.

Naturally his thoughts turned to the night before. He'd really enjoyed himself. When they'd gone to bed, Ethan was relieved to discover that things were as easy and natural between them as ever. Whatever else had changed, the intervening years had done nothing to their chemistry. It just felt right with Beau. It always had.

The thought brought a pang to his chest. It had just been bad timing back then, that was all.

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