Page 34 of Breakfast Included

Epilogue

December 22, A Year Later

Reno stoodin the window of their cabin—the same cabin Tate had booked the year before—and gazed out over the real-life scene Tate had recreated in the snow globe he’d given him on New Year’s Eve. Snow drifted lazily from the skies above, and the fire from the wood stove crackled and popped.

The last year had been a whirlwind, in a good way. After New Year’s Eve, and an amazing week of near nonstop make-up sex, not a day had gone by that they hadn’t spent together. After three months, Tate had moved into Reno’s house, and Reno woke up every morning pinching himself to make certain it wasn’t a dream.

Now, on the first anniversary of their time snowed in together by an avalanche, they decided to spend Christmas at The Retreat again. This year his dad would also be spending it with them. Ricky was even going to make it up for Christmas Day. Though his dad and brother would be staying in the main hotel—with explicit instructions from Tate to be polite to the haunted elevator.

Warm arms wrapped around him from behind, clasped over his stomach, and a strong naked body pressed against his back. He let his head fall to rest on Tate’s shoulder.

“I’m so glad we came back here,” Reno said as he angled his head to kiss Tate’s jaw.

“Mmm . . . Me too.” Tate rocked his soft, spent cock between Reno’s butt cheeks. “I especially liked how we picked up where we left off.”

Reno turned in Tate’s arms and kissed him slow and easy, savoring his taste. He twined his tongue with Tate’s without urgency, only a shared expression of love and happiness.

“We haven’t eaten for a while,” Tate said with a teasing note in his voice.

“So?”

“So . . . We just burned a whole lot of calories.”

Reno smiled. Oh yes, they did. They’d arrived the night before, gone straight to the cabin, and stripped off their clothes as they made their way from the door to the bedroom. They hadn’t come up for air until this morning, for a quick bite to eat before heading back to bed for another round of sheer bliss. Sex with Tate just kept getting better, every single time. But Reno knew it wasn’t just sex; it was love. The stronger their love grew, the more amazing their lovemaking had become. Reno couldn’t get enough of Tate, and with the way Tate worshipped his body like it was one of the eight wonders of the world, he knew Tate felt the same.

Reno’s stomach growled. It was a quiet grumble he hoped Tate wouldn’t notice . . . Tate’s grin said otherwise.

Reno sighed. “Fine. Let’s go to the restaurant for lunch.”

After a not-so-quick shower together, Reno struggled to get dressed. It was hard when he spent more time trying to sneak in kisses and card his fingers through the soft red hairs on Tate’s chest than to do up the buttons of his shirt.

Of course, the more he stalled, the more impatient his stomach grew, so Tate took over the dressing task for him. Which was totally fine with him. It gave him the freedom to keep kissing and caressing Tate.

Eventually, they’d made it to the restaurant, and none too soon, because Reno’s stomach was growling up a storm. Reno was halfway through his meal when an older man paused at their table. He had a full head of gray hair, gray eyes with a mischievous glint in them, and a sly smile. He wore a red paisley-pattern jacket with black lapels and a bough of holly in the pocket, a red silk shirt, and black slacks. Over his shoulder hung a well-worn brown leather messenger bag.

And his gaze was fixed on Tate.

“Well, now,” the older fellow said. “There’s a fine strapping young man if I ever saw one.”

Reno narrowed his eyes. Was this guy seriously hitting on his boyfriend right now?

Tate’s face lit up, and the green monster hiding deep inside Reno peeked out of its dungeon.

“Rog!” Tate stood up and wrapped the man, Rog, in his arms. “It’s good to see you. You’re looking fantastic. Love the jacket.”

“Oh, this old thing,” Rog said with a chuckle and a wave of his hand when they parted, like it was no big deal, but clearly loving the flattery Tate was showering him with. He slid his gaze to Reno, and his smile widened. “And you must be Reno.”

Reno tried to hide his spike of jealousy, and his surprise, but one of Rog’s eyebrows tipped up. Reno took a deep breath and extended his hand. Rog took it in a firm shake.

“Yes. Hi.” Reno stumbled.

“Just as handsome as I remember.”

Reno frowned. He was sure he’d never met Rog before. He didn’t seem the kind of man someone would ever forget. The man clearly dressed to be noticed.

“Did your man here tell you about our adventure last year?” Rog asked.

Reno looked to Tate for explanation.

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