Page 17 of Summer Catch

But then to his surprise, Kieran said as they stood up from the booth, “You wanna head to my place? It’s only a few blocks away.”

Maybe that was why Kieran had suggested the diner in the first place.

Jon nodded. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

The air outside the diner was still warm and humid, encasing them in the wet blanket feeling that Jon didn’t think he’d ever get used to.

Every once in awhile, a breeze would waft around them and it was so refreshing Jon tipped his head back and let the cooler air sweep over him.

“Not used to the humidity yet, I take it,” Kieran teased, watching him intently.

“Not even close.”

“Well, hopefully you’re around long enough for you to adjust,” Kieran said.

“I’m planning on it,” Jon said. Promised. Trying to say he wanted to stick around and be the Condors’ coach, but not just for the team, but for Kieran himself. He’d never connected so strongly and viscerally to someone before. Was it any wonder he was going halfway out of his mind with the thought that in a few minutes they’d be at Kieran’s place, in the dark, in private, and nobody would know what happened there except the two of them?

“This is me,” Kieran said, leading him up a set of stairs to one of those tall, narrow row houses. But then he stopped at the front door.

“I have to ask,” he said, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, but his eyes never leaving Jon’s, “if . . .well, when we first met you said you were straight and now . . .”

“And now I don’t think I am?” Jon asked, and Kieran nodded.

It was the moment of truth. Kieran had brought up the subject, but Jon knew it was up to him to finish it.

“Well, if you’re asking if meeting you changed things.” Jon reached out and this time there was no waitress to make Kieran pull his hand away. He squeezed it, turning the handshake into something more intimate. Kieran’s thumb brushed that sensitive curve of his hand again. Encouraging him, Jon realized. “Yeah. It did. I don’t know if it changed me, or I was always like this, and I didn’t know, but however you define it, I’m definitely cobalt for you.”

“Purple even?” The corner of Kieran’s mouth quirked up.

“Bright fucking purple,” Jon said. He leaned in and before he lost his nerve, brushed his mouth over Kieran’s.

It was different than every other kiss he’d ever had, but better, too. The rough rasp of Kieran’s stubble, his bigger, broader body, and then there was that undeniable electricity between them that flared to life.

No, he’d never mistake kissing Kieran for anyone else, and yes, he loved it.

Kieran’s gray eyes were luminous and filled with happiness when he pulled back. But his arm was still locked rightly around Jon’s waist. “Like I said, it’s absolutely my honor,” he said.

Jon gestured to the door. “You gonna let us in and let me try that again? Cause I have a feeling the second attempt’s gonna be even better than the first.”

Kieran smiled. “Yeah.”

Chapter 7

Kieran had been braced for disappointment.

He’d not exactly expected Jon to tell him no—there’d been too many things pointing to the fact that he was going to say yes—but he’d still experienced a yawning pit of what he felt like had to be inevitable disappointment as they’d stood at his front door and he’d asked the question.

But Jon had kissed him instead.

Had gathered what had to be an enormous amount of courage and just leaned in, like he kissed men all the time.

Whoever he was kissing, he must have had some practice, because he was really good at it, his lips firm and confident against Kieran’s, his body angled towards him, his fingers gripping his T-shirt like he didn’t want to let go of him.

But Jon’s skill wasn’t why Kieran wanted to lose himself in the kiss from the very first moment their lips touched.

No—it was that undeniable chemistry that had hooked him from the beginning, from when he’d looked across his bar and seen Jon sitting there. He’d been caught, even though he’d tried to fight it. Tried to tell himself that it wasn’t going anywhere.

But now, Jon was here, in his apartment, watching as Kieran grabbed them beers from his almost entirely empty fridge.

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