The Runner by Thom Collins

Author:Thom Collins [Collins, Thom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBT Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2021-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

They sat at the dining table on the patio, enjoying the heat of the late afternoon from beneath a wide parasol. Ethan had cleared away the lunch and dessert plates and had brought out a pot of coffee. The afternoon had been perfect in every way, from the impromptu blow job he’d given Alex at the beach to the three-course lunch he’d served afterwards. Every part of the meal had gone to plan, with none of the stress he usually experienced when entertaining at home.

Because of the Celebrity Top Cook trophy win, dinner guests often expected a lot from Ethan’s cooking, and being a perfectionist, he always attempted to exceed their expectations.

Today, he had felt none of that pressure. It was important that he serve Alex a nice meal, but he hadn’t been stricken by any of the anxiety he could experience when cooking for someone else. Their starter, prawn and avocado lettuce wraps, had been quick and simple, requiring nothing more than a bit of chopping and assembly. The main course, crab and crayfish salad, was another easy job. He’d cooked the seafood as soon as he’d got up that morning and kept it refrigerated, ready to plate. He had finished off with a rhubarb compote served with thick Greek yoghurt. It was all perfect summer food, put together with minimal effort, barely worthy of a Top Cook champion.

Alex had murmured appreciatively throughout, and as he cleared his plates, Ethan took his praise as genuine rather than mere politeness.

“I’ll have to return the favour,” Alex said, when Ethan handed him his coffee. “Though it won’t be homemade. There are some great restaurants where I live. I wouldn’t go through the stress of cooking when I have so much on hand.”

“You do have some amazing restaurants over there. I doubt I would cook much, either. But being stuck out here makes it a necessity.”

Alex raised his eyebrows. “Stuck? It’s paradise here. I’d trade it for my flat in a heartbeat.”

Ethan smiled, glad to hear he liked it so much.

Bailey lounged in front of them, sunning himself on the patio. The cat had filled up on a saucer of leftover prawns Ethan had put down for him and now looked ready for a nap.

This was indeed paradise, he realised—being in this incredible environment with a guy who made him feel so relaxed. He’d always adored the house and the coastline, but there had been no one for him to share it with. There still isn’t. Alex lives in Manchester. It was hardly at the end of the Earth, but the three-hour drive in good traffic meant they wouldn’t see each other as often as he’d like.

“Do you have to go back tonight?” he asked.

Alex looked up, surprised. “Well, no. I suppose I don’t have to.”

“I’d love for you to stay,” Ethan said. “It’s just… I saw so little of you yesterday, and once you leave, we don’t know when we’ll see each other again. I don’t mind getting up early in the morning, and I can take you to the train station for whatever time you want.

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