Page 88 of Cherry on Top

“Maybe they don’t know you because of your cooking or your meatballs or the way you can run like fifty businesses without barely blinking, like Luca, but they know you, Enzo. They know your name. It would’ve been easier to just be a Moretti like all the other Morettis—”

“If you’ve ever eaten my cooking, probably not,” Enzo inserted wryly, but Will kept going.

“Yeah, maybe, but it would’ve still been easier. Instead you did something different, you forged out on your own and made your own kind of reputation for yourself. That’s special. You’re special.”

“You’re just saying that so I stick around more.” Enzo’s words were teasing, but his dark eyes were so serious.

“I want you too, yeah, but only if you want to. The moment this town makes you miserable, I’m gonna be the first one to push you out of it.” And it might kill me, but I’d do it anyway, for you. ’Cause anyone like you deserves the best. Deserves their smile to always come that easily.

“Aw, trying to get rid of me already!”

Will laughed then and rolled over on top of him, ignoring Enzo’s faux protests. “I never want to get rid of you,” he said and kissed him.

Trudging back to the Inn should’ve sucked. It wasn’t exactly cold outside—they were in the thick of June now, every day reaching at least ninety, with some insane percentage of humidity—but they were wet and a little clammy.

Still, Enzo thought if he could smile with Will like this, he could do it anytime.

“I’m really looking forward to that warm shower,” Will groaned a little as he unlocked the door to his room.

He hadn’t asked Enzo to accompany him, and Enzo hadn’t offered, they’d just done it. Like it only made sense.

And Enzo was beginning to think that maybe it did.

“I kinda can’t believe you’re still staying in the Inn,” Enzo said, depositing the wet, sandy towels in the corner and beginning to strip his clothes off again. Will had ducked into the bathroom to start the shower, and he could hear it.

It wasn’t a very big shower, but Enzo still had every intention of sharing it with him—and he didn’t think Will was gonna push him away.

“I know.” Will’s voice echoed through the small bathroom. “I keep saying to myself I need to find a place. But I never seem to have time.”

“You should just move into my apartment over the garage with me.” Enzo said it easily, casually, without even thinking about it.

But yes, when Will’s expression turned shocked, okay, it was probably a bigger deal than he’d considered it to be.

“You’re serious,” Will said.

“Well, yeah,” Enzo replied. He approached where Will was leaning against the doorjamb to the bathroom. “I mean it. I don’t know how this works, between us, exactly. I know I’m booked out through the next year. But I get breaks in between jobs, you know? I don’t come back here for them, because I never had a reason to, before now. I can’t say it’ll be easy, but . . .”

“Easier than saying this isn’t anything,” Will continued solemnly. His big hand cradled Enzo’s cheek. “Because it’s something.”

Enzo nodded. That was easier and perhaps a little more cowardly than saying, I’m beginning to think it’s everything, but there’d be time for that, later. “And if I’m not home most of the time anyway, you might as well use it. I know Giana won’t mind. And when I am home, I fully intend to not let you leave my sight,” he said.

Will made a face. “You don’t know you’re gonna feel that way.”

“Yeah, I do.” I already feel that way now.

“Okay, well, I’ll think about it.”

“Just say yes.” Enzo knew he was pushing and probably employing more persuasive powers than he should, pressing his naked, still damp body against Will’s. “I know you want to. I know you’re . . .” Enzo swallowed hard. “As crazy about me as I am about you.”

The way Will’s blue eyes went hazy and soft as he tipped his head down towards Enzo’s told the whole story. The only story that mattered.

Without answering, he reached down and took Enzo’s hand, pulling him into the hot steam of the shower, pressing him against the cool tile wall and kissing him firmly, leaving him gasping.

“I thought . . .I thought we were supposed to be getting clean,” Enzo said as Will’s hand trailed down his chest to his half-hard cock.

“Oh, we are. And then we’re gonna get dirty all over again.”

“I hope that’s a promise,” Enzo said, and Will grinned.

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