Page 33 of Handy

“Uh…” He crinkles his forehead, and I almost want to apologize again for making him think this hard before he’s even had a sip of coffee. “Honestly, I’m kind of shit in the morning. Maybe you could tell me about more bird stuff while I stare into the depths of my coffee mug for a while?”

I let loose the full force of my smile and squeeze his fingers.

“How did you know that’s my favorite way to spend the morning?” I kiss his cheek then let go of his hand and stoop to right the chair he knocked over, playfully plopping my ass down into it before he gets the chance.

Griff’s lips twitch with an almost-smile and he sits down on the steps right next to TP, who promptly crawls into his lap and tries to stick her entire face into his coffee mug.

“Oh yeah, watch out, she’s a coffee slut.”

I cackle as he lifts his coffee up over his head so she can’t reach it, and then puzzles over how exactly he’s going to manage to drink it while TP proceeds to climb his chest, on a mission to get to the coffee like the determined little bandit she is. While they sort that out, I put my feet up on the railing, mirroring the position Griff was in when I first came out onto the deck, and I start to tell him about the fascinating world of penguin mating rituals.

He hums or grunts every once in a while between sips of coffee—while giving TP a belly rub to keep her mollified—and every time I glance over, he’s watching me, like he’s genuinely interested in everything I’m saying, even if he doesn’t have much to say himself.

I told him I’d had worse morning afters, but in all honesty, this might be the best I’ve ever had. I don’t know who Riley was or how long it’s been since he lost him, but is it fair of me to hope he left a little piece of Griff’s heart for me? I promise to be careful with it if he did.

Chapter 13

GRIFF

I still feel likea complete asshole for snapping at Ledger this morning. It’s not even that I minded him using Riley’s mug, it just felt like a punch to the gut to see it unexpectedly. Honestly, it’s been back there gathering dust for so long I forgot it existed, and then to see the first man I’ve spent the night with since Riley passed stroll out drinking from it like it was nothing…

I shake my head.

The way Ledger disarmed my bullshit so easily though, like it didn’t even phase him but he sure as shit wasn’t going to take it—Riley would have loved that.

I drag my fingers through my beard and shuffle my feet. I need to stop stalling. I can’t just stand here on Ledger’s porch all night wondering how badly I fucked things up this morning… If there’s even anything to fuck up.

If Iwantthere to be anything to fuck up.

I swallow hard and tug on my beard with a quiet huff. Before I can even raise my fist to knock, the door swings open.

“I’m sorry, I was trying to be patient and let you work through whatever it is you’re working through out here, but I’m only human and that scowl is killing me.” He doesn’t say it like he’s annoyed I’m standing on his porch scowling, but more like he thinks my scowl is hot. That can’t be right though.

I frown a little harder and glance at the video doorbell I hadn’t noticed before. Well, that’s fucking embarrassing. Was he just sitting inside watching me brood on his porch for the last ten minutes like an idiot?

“Sorry,” I mumble.

He waves me off like it’s nothing and steps aside so I can come in.

“Some guys from the hardware store dropped off a shit ton of drywall and insulation earlier. It’s all piled up in the living room.”

“Perfect,” I grunt, taking a whiff of the air as I step inside and close the door behind me. The smell of spices, peppers, and chicken makes my mouth water and my belly rumble.

Ledger smiles, all toothy and proud and… fuck, I want to kiss him. Is that allowed? We’ve only kissed in the context of getting naked together. Kissing for no reason at all, just because he smiled in a way that made it impossible not to, means something completely different.

Do I want that?

Does he?

“You’re awfully scowly tonight.” He steps closer and runs his thumb along the downturned shape of my lips.

Something warm sparks in my chest, and before I can overthink it for another second, I hook a hand behind his neck and drag him in, kissing him with his fingers sandwiched between our mouths and the muffled sound of his laughter vibrating against my lips. He slips his fingers free, smilingagainst my mouth as he parts his lips to let my tongue in, his body melting into mine.

When I let him go, I’m not sure what to say. Should I explain myself? Should I apologize again for this morning?

“Come on. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can eat enchiladas.” He waggles his eyebrows at me, a smile still playing on his damp lips as he leads me into the living room to get started on the next step of the repairs.

Placing the new insulation and hanging drywall isn’t much more difficult than tearing the ruined walls apart was. And just like before, Ledger is eager to learn and not afraid to jump right in once I show him.

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