Page 58 of One More Yule Log
“Do you want to stop by your place?” He hadn’t seen Gray’s place yet, after all.
“Sure! I mean, it’s not amazing like yours, but it’s close.”
“It’s yours, hmm?”
“It is. I have to go out to Glenwood and sign a new lease before the New Year.”
“Yeah? Are you on a year or six months?” His heart pounded a little fast because he’d been dating Gray for what? Three weeks? But he believed in it. He trusted it.
“A year. The rent is pretty good. God knows you know how inflated this area is now.” Gray stripped off his apron. “Call if you need me, Alice.”
“You got it, boss man.” Alice waved at them, shooing them out the door, and Ben took the opportunity to wrap his arm around Gray’s waist.
“Mmm. Hey. You’re a free agent. That’s too cool.” Gray leaned on him happily.
“I am. I’m all yours until tomorrow morning. Miss Liv is happy making salt dough ornaments.”
“Oh, those are fun.” Gray bumped hips. “She’s conned me into promising to string popcorn and cranberries.”
“Oh God. I suck at that. The popcorn just shatters.”
“I think we can do it. The key is a sharp needle, so I‘ll just have to watch Liv.” Gray led him to the SUV. “We can pick up my car later.”
“Sounds good to me. We’ve got another big snowstorm due in this weekend. I’m hoping it comes in Sunday.” The party was Friday evening, and then he was going to try for a late Yule celebration on Saturday.
“Yeah? That would be okay? We’re closed by then, you know?” Gray sounded tickled by the idea, in fact.
“I know. I can’t wait to start our holiday.”
“Me too!” Gray patted his butt. “I hate that you have to go to that party.”
“Me too.” They slid into the SUV. “The big gray house, you said?”
“Good memory.” Gray nodded in the direction of the other end of town.
He pulled into the little lot and parked, looking around, curious as hell. The house was neat, the yard clean, but it was definitely apartments now, not a beloved family home. A dumpster sat at the far end of the lot, and a fenced dog run had been put in.
“Sweet little place. I can’t wait to see inside.”
“The woodwork is amazing.” Gray unlocked the porch door with a big key, old-fashioned. The landing had mailboxes and a comfy-looking wicker couch, then the stairs led up to all of the apartments, he assumed. The carved wood posts were really awesome.
“It’s neat. I bet this was a grand home back in the day.”
“I bet it was. There’s an apartment down here that costs the earth, so I bet you can see the original house plan, but the upstairs has all been rearranged.”
Gray opened up the apartment numbered one when they got upstairs. Inside, a little hallway went off to both sides, with a bathroom right across from the front door bearing subway tile, a pedestal sink, a toilet and a tub. “Bedroom is that way and this is the front room and kitchen.” Ben dropped his keys on the little table before Gray took him on a wee tour. The front room had a couch covered with a comforter, a beat-up set of side tables and a fancy leather recliner. He would bet he knew where Gray spent his time.
He ran his hand over the recliner. “This is a great chair.”
“Yeah. It was my one splurge the first time the bakery made a profit. Now, the teeny kitchen? Way more gourmet than it should be.” Gray winked broadly. “Come on, talk to me while I change.” He headed back to the bedroom, which was little, with just enough room for an old carved full-size bed, a nightstand, and a dresser that all matched.
“These were my gran’s.”
“They’re gorgeous. Absolutely. I—have you ever thought about not renewing your lease?” Was he doing this? Could he do this?
Gray blinked at him, shirttail gripped in his hands. “Huh?”
“I—because there’s a lot of room in my house.” Ben was shaking, hard.
