Page 8 of Finally
“I know I didn’t saythatout loud.”
Gray raised his free hand and gently tapped Jack’s temple. “I know what goes on in here even when you don’t speak it.”
That was very true. “I work too much,” Jack said, admitting something else Gray already knew. When he and Jaime started Snow Storm, they hadn’t had the funds to hire as many people as they’d needed so they made up for the labor shortage themselves. There hadn’t been a separation between work and home in those days; and the two of them had invested their energy in the company from the moment they woke until their eyes closed at night. Snow Storm was now successful and financially lucrative, so they could afford to hire as much staff in whatever levels Jack decided. But lucrative with a growing staff also meant a much larger company, which in turn meant there was more to manage so Jack still worked nearly as much as he had when they’d started out.
“You like your job and you’re incredible at it.” Gray slid his hand up and massaged Jack’s thigh. “Nothing wrong with that. But it’ll be good to step away a little and do something else with your time. Have you thought more about my suggestion to lighten your load?”
“Not really, but you’re right.” Jack’s eyes drooped shut in reaction to the soothing touch. “I need a hobby.”
Gray’s affectionate personality was one of the many things Jack enjoyed about him. He craved physical touch, but he had trouble feeling aroused when he didn’t feel comfortable, he couldn’t feel comfortable with someone he didn’t trust, and he couldn’t trust someone he didn’t know, so he hadn’t been to bed with more than a couple of guys since the end of his relationship with Jaime. Those experiences had been as dissatisfying as the decade he had spent in a relationship with a person who had no attraction to him. During Jack’s darkest moments, he worried that he would be found lacking by every man, but Gray’s frequent and casual affection curbed that concern. Gray had no shortage of suitors, but he still found Jack worthy of his time and attention, so he couldn’t be all that horrible.
“I’ll find out where we can take a class and let you know. Any particular days I should avoid?”
Jack took a mental stroll through his calendar and couldn’t think of any times that were consistently open. He loved his work, but he also used it to hide from the possibility of a personal life. When his fourteen-year-old dog had passed away a couple of years earlier, Jack no longer had a reason to go home, and ever since, he spent even more time at work. Gray was right—a hobby would be good for him and baking was a great choice. The mix of creativity and technical skills matched Jack’s personality well. And doing it with Gray would mean he’d enjoy the time spent in the class regardless of whether he ultimately enjoyed baking.
“Don’t worry about specific days,” he said, looking up at Gray. “I’ll move my schedule around to make it work.”
“Perfect.”
Gray’s hand was now high enough on his leg that he would be bumping up against a surprise if Jack tucked to the left. Their friends’ teasing comments about Gray’s frequent bedroom activities sprang into his mind, and Jack wondered how Graywould react if that happened. Would he yank his hand away or would he cup Jack’s groin and continue his caress?
Jack knew Gray. He trusted him implicitly. And he had never been more comfortable around anyone. Plus, Jack had eyes and tall, built, dark-haired, green-eyed Gray was beyond stunning. Every reason on his list for why he rarely to never had sex didn’t apply when it came to Gray. If their friends were to be believed, Gray was willing to go to bed with anyone, so maybe he wouldn’t mind helping someone as boring as Jack with his dry spell. At work, he prided himself on being a good communicator and he had no problem being open with Gray, but he had no idea what the right words were for that type of request.
With a sigh, he set aside the lusty mental musings he’d never have the courage to act on even if someone handed him a script, curled closer to Gray, and asked, “What do you think you’ll like the most?”
“In the class?” Gray wrapped his arm around Jack’s shoulders and caressed his arm.
“Uh huh.”
“Spending time with you.”
Gray was an incorrigible flirt, something else Jack enjoyed about him.
Smiling, he said, “I'm serious.”
“Me too.” Gray trailed his fingers up and down Jack’s arm.
“I’ll rephrase the question. What do you most want to bake?”
“Hmm. That’s a tough question. Let’s see…”
Carefree and comfortable, Jack closed his eyes and enjoyed Gray’s deep timbre.
“I’ll go with a sponge.”
“Really? That’s not too plain for you?”
“It has classic flavors and it’s super versatile. Nothing plain about it.”
Chapter 3
The familiar ringtone pulled Gray’s attention away from the document he was reviewing. He clicked save as he picked up his phone. “Hi, Jack. How was your day?”
“Good. Busy. The usual Friday. How was yours?”
Breaking into a smile at the sound of Jack’s deep voice, Gray said, “Same. We signed a huge new client, which made everyone happy.”
“That production company you’ve been courting?”
