Page 40 of The Fete of Summer

“He’s not her type.”

“Does she have a type?”

“Almost the same as mine,” said Jaymes, peering across the table at Nathan. Beneath the table, a bare foot landed gently on top of his. “Dark hair, green eyes, handsome, nice smile, lean and takes care of himself. Oh, and for her, definitely older. By at least a handful of years. She has enough on her plate teaching kids. She doesn’t want to have to provide instruction in the bedroom.”

Nathan stared at Jaymes then, wondering if their getting together might cause problems.

“Are we going to have to tread carefully around her?”

“How do you mean?”

“She warned you off me. Do we have to keep our distance? You know, be discreet?”

“Nate, forgive me if I’ve read this wrong, but I believe we’ve just agreed to become fuck buddies. Other than that, nothing’s changed. We’re not going to be skipping down the street hand in hand or kissing in public. If we both stick to that, Polly should be none the wiser.”

Nathan wasn’t so sure. Polly had a way of detecting tiny details that others might have missed.

“I don’t want to be the cause of any friction between you two.”

Jaymes picked up his coffee and grinned at Nathan over the rim.

“No wonder she likes you so much. Always looking out for her.”

“It’s mutual.”

Soft strains of a new generation of female jazz singer oozed from the phone. When Nathan observed Jaymes from across the table, cup in one hand, newspaper in the other, he felt a wave of affection.

“Are you still searching for somewhere to live?”

Jaymes let out a sigh and stared out through the window.

“You’d have thought it would be easy. Classifieds, online and in the papers. Local agents. I’ve looked as far away as Collingwood, but nothing even remotely suitable, at least not within my budget. I thought someone somewhere would have a room. Even though she hasn’t said anything, I know I’m starting to get on Polly’s nerves.”

“Perfect solution, then.”

“What is?”

“I have a spare room.”

Jaymes’ eyes grew wide as his gaze flicked to the bedroom corridor, then came back to Nathan’s. A touch of hesitation tempered his enthusiasm.

“Seriously?”

“The room’s there, Jaymes. Nobody ever uses it.”

“My own room with my own bed?”

“Yes, but I’d hoped you wouldn’t be using it much either. I’d really like you in mine.”

“How much?”

“Every night. Unless you feel that’s too much,” answered Nathan, in all honesty.

Jaymes snorted and grinned into his coffee cup.

“I meant, how much are you charging for the room, dingbat?”

“Oh, I see. How about home-cooked meals every now and again, and…”

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