Page 44 of Puzzle for Two

“I…”

As usual, Flint cut straight to the chase. “How do you not know I’m gay?”

Chapter Twelve

“GAY?”

Zach’s tone was so flabbergasted that Flint actually laughed. “It happens in the best of families.”

Well, yeah. The truth was, he’d never seen Flint withanypotential romantic partner, maleorfemale. In fact, beyond a vague from-a-distance admiration for Flint’s, er, physical charms, Zach hadn’t given a whole lot of thought to the owner of Carey Confidential. Not until Flint had proposed buying him out.

Zach said defensively, “How should I know? You sounded—”

“I sounded like someone who thinks—given things I’ve heard over the years—that Alton Beacher is—was—a weirdo with some alarming tendencies.”

“Like what?”

Flint opened his mouth, hesitated, and then shook his head. Meaning?

The funny thing was Flint didn’t draw back. He was still leaning into the door, eyes locked on Zach’s, his firm mouth hovering within kissing distance. And Zach? Zach couldn’t seem to stop staring right back into Flint’s eyes, noticing things he’d never noticed before: the little smile lines, the gold flecks in those green irises, the unexpected length of Flint’s lashes—you couldn’t tell from a distance because the tips of his eyelashes were blond.

“Did you really not know?” Flint’s voice was so soft, so…something that sent a funny little shivery sensation down Zach’s spine. A sensation that was awfully like anticipation.

Zach whispered, “I do now.”

He was so sure Flint was going to kiss him that it was an almost physical shock when Flint abruptly straightened, took a step back, and leaned against his desk. He folded his arms, studying Zach skeptically.

“I find that hard to believe, Zachariah. What did you think I was doing at the Jack of Hearts? Working undercover?”

“The what?”

“Jack of Hearts.”

The Jack of Hearts was Ensenada del Sello’s most popular LGBTQ-friendly nightclub. Once upon a time, Zach and Ben had been regulars, but gradually life—work—had altered their feelings about how and where to spend their Friday nights. Which could have been fun, if working overtime hadn’t ended up being their default.

That didn’t change the fact that Zach had zero recollection of ever running into Flint at the Jack of Hearts.

“When was this?”

“A few years back.”

“No way. I’d have rememberedthat.”

Flint’s scowl was one of disbelief. “You don’t remember me saying hello to you and what’s his name?”

“You said hello to us?”

“Well, more like waved.”

“Waved?”

“Nodded,” amended Flint. “On a couple of different occasions. Your boyfriend sure saw me. You’re saying you didn’t notice?”

No way was Flint lying, and it didn’t seem likely he could be mistaken. Zach stared at him in bafflement, but then, thanks to Flint’sGQquip, it dawned on him what must have happened.

“I used to wear contacts.”

Flint’s brows shot up. “Were they painted over?”

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