Page 12 of Something Unforgettable

Quick mental math told Xavier that made Finn about twenty-three now. Twelve years wasn’t a terrible gap, and not the biggest Xavier had experience with. He often found himself with younger men—Nick being the exception of course—and the way he preferred to care for his partner lent itself well to an age difference. Unfortunately, it also lent itself to partners who were more interested in what he could do for them than who he was. The last man he’d dated for any length of time had hammered that lesson home. Xavier was grateful his assistant had brought the deception to his attention.

When you had the kind of money Xavier did you had to be careful who you let into your life. Maybe that was part of the appeal of Finn. The boy had no idea who Xavier was apart from Nick’s ex-husband and best friend. A few leading questions at the bar last night had proven that.

His phone buzzed. It was Gabriel this time. He sighed as Micah laughed.

“Maybe put that bad boy on silent when you’re at lunch tomorrow,” he teased before heading back inside.

That was an excellent idea. He could use a few hours where he didn’t have to think about work.

“Gabriel. I take it you spoke with Isabella?”

Xavier paused outside of Finnegan’s General Store and Feed Shop. There were gaps between the event notices taped to the glass door, and inside Finn had a short line of customers. Xavier decided to wait instead of rushing him. They weren’t in a hurry. He stepped to the side to let someone exit, angling himself so he could observe Finn without being spotted.

He was dressed similarly to the day before—loose khakis and a T-shirt, with a heavy canvas apron looped around his neck and tied at the waist. Xavier amused himself by imagining Finn in the apron and nothing else. How delectable would his pert little ass—that Xavier had only gotten to experience pressed against him for their ride on the bull—look peeking out between the folds of canvas?

Xavier stored the thought away for later. Even drunk and flirty, Finn had kept things innocent between them. The boldest he’d gotten was a hand on Xavier’s arm while they talked, and that one sweet kiss on the cheek. It had made Xavier ache for more, but he wasn’t in the habit of taking advantage, so he hadn’t initiated anything.

Finn behind the store’s counter was different from what Xavier had expected. He was relaxed, his movements fluid and sure as he rang up one customer after another. He was currently helping an older gentleman, the two of them chatting and laughing. As he finished the transaction, Finn gave the man’s creased and sun-spotted hand a friendly pat and shooed him toward the exit.

The man was the last in line, so Xavier stepped inside, holding the door as he passed.

“Pops,” Finn hollered over his shoulder. Xavier suppressed a smile. The boy had some lungs when he needed them. “Are you coming out here? I need to get ready to go and I’m already late.” He turned toward the opening in the counter, tugging at the bow of his apron. “Xavier’s going to be here any—” He spotted Xavier and froze, eyes going wide. Then his cheeks went pink and he ducked his head, a shy smile curling his lips. “Um. Hi.” He glanced up through the curtain of his overly long bangs as he dragged the apron over his head and hung it on a hook next to the counter.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Xavier said, resisting the urge to move closer as Finn shifted his weight. “I’m a little early, so please take your time. I’m happy to wait.”

“Oh. I, um…” Finn smoothed his palms over the front of his T-shirt, then tugged on the hem, straightening it. He licked his lips and tried again. “Give me two minutes?”

Xavier agreed and Finn hurried toward the back of the store, disappearing around a corner. A moment later, feet pounded up the stairs and across the wooden floor above. He tracked the movement, chuckling quietly, until a minute and a half later the noise went back the other way and Finn appeared, flushed and out of breath, in a clean T-shirt and jeans, with his hair somewhat tamed. The laces on his sneakers were untied and dragging, but Xavier swallowed the voice that wanted to fuss at him for it.

“Hi. Again,” Finn said, breathless as he shoved a hand through his hair, mussing it but momentarily pushing it out of his face. He was beautiful, with delicate features and perfect skin. His eyes were striking—he had a rare type of heterochromia that meant half of the right one was blue instead of green. Xavier imagined people stared when they first met him. He sure as hell hadn’t been able to drag his eyes away.

The moment turned awkward, with Finn hanging back and Xavier not sure what he would be comfortable with—Finn looked like he was a wrong movement away from bolting back up the stairs. Xavier finally settled on keeping things casual until the boy relaxed. He palmed open the door. “Lunch?”

Finn’s stomach chose that moment to gurgle, and Finn clapped a hand against it with a nervous laugh. “I’m leaving, Pops,” he called over his shoulder. “Don’t burn the store down while I’m gone.”

“Yeah, yeah. Get out of here, you brat,” an older man shouted from the back. “Like I haven’t been doing this since before you were born.” Mac Finnegan walked out, tying on an apron similar to the one his grandson had been wearing. “Now, don’t let him take advantage. I know how these young men are. I was one after all.”

Xavier did a double-take when he realized that last part was directed at him. He grinned as Finn groaned and tried to hurry him out the door.

“You have my word, sir,” he said, fighting laughter as he let Finn push him.

As soon as they were outside in the warm sunshine, he rested his hand at the small of Finn’s back so he could control their direction. Finn let him, apparently content as long as they were moving away from the general store.

“I’m sorry about him,” he got out, sounding mortified. “He thinks he’s funny.”

“It’s fine, sweetheart. He seems like he enjoys keeping people on their toes.”

Finn’s shoulders slumped and he sighed, long-suffering. “Tell me about it,” he grumbled. “He can be so embarrassing.”

Xavier rubbed his back, secretly enjoying the smoothness of the warm skin under his T-shirt. “Fortunately, I don’t embarrass easily.”

As they made their way toward the small café where Xavier had reserved a table, Finn took on the role of tour guide, pointing out spots of interest in town and telling little anecdotes about each—like the stunning flowerbeds in front of town hall that were maintained by the Split Rock Garden Club, and the ice-cream parlor that was one of the town’s original family businesses and nearly as old as his grandfather’s store. Xavier asked questions to keep him going, and before he knew it, they were seated at a table on the sidewalk in front of the café.

Finn chewed on his lower lip as he examined the menu and didn’t look ready when the waitress approached to take their orders. Determined not to rush him, Xavier spent a few minutes asking her about the offerings, eventually deciding on iced tea, a club sandwich, and fries.

“And for you, hon?” she asked Finn.

Finn tightened his hold on the menu, then finally ordered water, soup, and a side salad. It didn’t sound like enough food for someone whose stomach had been growling so insistently before.

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