Page 9 of Submit
Chapter Five
Jen’s Soup Kitchen was packed. Bo was both saddened and glad to see that was the case. At least they had a place to get a good meal.
“All clear,” he said as he handed over the certificate to Jen Burton. “You run an amazing place here. Looks like you’re helping a lot of people. I’m glad I can hand you this.” The inspection certificate was one of the few with a score of ahundred on it. “Your kitchen and facilities are cleaner than ninety-nine percent of the restaurants and grocery stores in town.”
Jen, a lovely older woman with long white hair, took the certificate from him. “Well, it’s not enough to just feed people who need help. They deserve to be treated like anyone else. A clean kitchen, good food, kindness. Doesn’t hurt anyone to offer those things, andsince we got such a generous donation a few weeks ago, we’ve been able to fix up a few things that needed it.” Jen gestured toward the kitchen stoves. “All new, and we even have uniforms of sorts now, thanks to Larry. He got someone to donate shirts to us, along with the clothing you saw that we give to those in need.”
Bo had indeed seen the huge storage room where clothes and shoes were kept.“That’s pretty amazing. Larry must be a great guy.”
“He is,” Jen agreed. “And you aren’t bad for a health inspector.”
As head of the Environmental Health Department, Bo didn’t usually do inspections himself. A nasty case of the flu had taken out most of his staff, however, and he’d not wanted to have a backlog of inspections for them to do when they returned. Hence his presence at the soup kitchen.
“Thanks. You probably won’t be seeing me again—” Bo’s breath simply evaporated from his lungs when Larry walked in from the volunteer entrance.
Jen’s eyebrows arched up and she turned to look behind her. “Oh?”
Bo cheeks heated with a blush. “Er, I thought he was someone I met before.”
Jen chortled as she focused her attention back on him. “Well, since I already have this certificate, I’m goingto call bullshit on you, Mr. Olsteen. You might have drooled a little.”
Bo snorted and laughed at the same time, which made a sound like a bellowing cow. Larry’s head snapped around and he stared straight at Bo.
“Oh, Larry, come over and meet the health inspector,” Jen called out. “He just gave us a hundred on our inspection!”
“You earned it,” Bo said as he willed his blush to go the fuck away.
“That, too,” Jen agreed.
Larry kept staring at him, and unless Bo was wrong, there was definite interest in Larry’s eyes.
Jen stepped aside to allow Larry to stand in front of Bo.
“Larry Powell.” Larry offered his hand to Bo.
Bo took it and gave a firm shake. “Bo Olsteen.”
“Oh, there’s Bee. I must go talk to them!” Jen hustled off, and Bo didn’t watch her. He couldn’t look away from Larry.
After a moment, he realized he and Larry were still gripping each other’s hands. Bo remembered, too, that Larry had said he wasn’t a sub outside of the playroom.
Bo relaxed his grip, then pulled his hand back.
Larry did the same, but he hadn’t so much as blinked.
It was an awkward but electric moment, with attraction and need sparking between them.
Afraid he’d spook Larry, Bo didn’t say anything.Larry harrumphed and averted his gaze.
“So.” Larry cleared his throat. “You, uh. Your voice reminded me—”
“I am,” Bo cut in. “You haven’t been back to the club.” He kept his voice low enough that he wouldn’t be overheard by anyone else.
Larry bit his bottom lip, then let it go. He glanced up at Bo again. “I have to work my shift. I’ll be at the club tonight after ten. No, uh, after six.” Heblushed.
It helped to know that Larry was nervous and excited. Bo was certain he was reading Larry right.
“I’ll be there as well. Do you need the same thing as last time?” Bo asked.
