Page 27 of A Box of Wishes
DI Tarbert had been right twice over. Ben used to love community policing, and he had done little of it in the last year. He’d made up for it today, exchanging a few words with everyone who’d come through the door. He’d even introduced himself to Ryan’s father and uncle without Ryan there to back him up. Nobody made a fuss over his presence as he joined Ryan and two dozen other guests around the long table, sharing food, drink, and company.
Ryan didn’t serve a traditional Christmas dinner, since he never knew how many people would walk through his door. Instead, he offered Christmas food buffet style.
Platters piled high with slices of turkey, ham, and roast beef sat at the ends of the table, with plates of sides and finger foods in between. They’d set out chipolatas wrapped in prosciutto, phyllo pastry triangles stuffed with spinach and pine nuts, bite-sized tarts filled with pesto and roast tomatoes, goat’s cheese and watercress, caramelised onion and walnuts. And the coffeehouse’s long bar offered trays of Christmas cake, shortbread, and mince pies for those who wanted to end their meal with something sweet.
“I need an extra-long run tomorrow.” Ben patted his stomach and watched Ryan check his phone. “You’ve been fiddling with that thing all morning. Anything wrong?”
Ryan typed out a message before he shoved the phone into his pocket and faced Ben with a lopsided smile. “I don’t understand why Alastair isn’t here. He’s usually the life of the party. Now he doesn’t even answer his phone.”
Ben had heard that story from three different people. “Your dad said he struggles with jetlag.”
“I know. But why doesn’t he at least answer his phone? It’s Christmas Day.”
“Maybe all he wants to do is sleep. Does it worry you that much? Do you want me to call my colleagues? Send a car to his place to check on him?”
Ryan’s eyes popped wide. “Don’t be silly. That would be…”
“What?”
“A waste of police time,” Ryan’s father called from the other end of the table. “Ryan, you can’t look after everyone. Alastair’s a grown man. He probably had a few to help him relax. Just let him sleep.”
Ryan breathed out. “You’re right. I’ll try him again later.” Then he pointed. “Just look at that cat!”
Ryan’s mother had fallen under Morris’s spell. The tabby lay sprawled across her lap, snacking on slivers of chicken and turkey. He basked in the cuddles and attention until Ben wondered if Morris had felt lonely living in a half-furnished house with only Ben for company.
“You okay?” Ryan leaned until their shoulders touched. He kept a weather eye on everyone, making sure nobody at his end of the table was without food or drink. Ryan’s father did the same at the other end, and Ben could have watched the two of them until the cows came home. Physically, Ryan resembled his mother. But his mannerisms, the way he worried about people and made sure that everyone had what they needed… that was a trait he’d got from his father.
“Ben?”
“Hm?”
“Are you okay?”
Ben settled his palm on Ryan’s knee and squeezed. “Relax. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“I was only wondering whether I was leaving Morris alone too much. Just look how he’s loving all the attention.”
“You’re not leaving him alone. He’s coming here every morning. And before you beat yourself up, he actually waits for you to turn up after work. It’s like he has a built-in timer.”
“He does. He wakes me just before my alarm goes every morning.”
“That’s just weird.”
“No, cats.”
They smiled at each other, and Ben leaned a little more. When he’d attended a break-in at a coffeehouse, he’d not expected to meet someone like Ryan: a man who was sexy and sweet, who found pleasure in looking out for others. Ben loved every minute he spent in Ryan’s company. Could he dare hope for more? Should he try? “Did you mean it?” he asked, for once without second-guessing himself.
“Did I mean what?”
“That you want us to see more of each other?”
“I wouldn’t joke about that.” Ryan settled his palm over Ben’s and twined their fingers, not caring if others could see. “You already agreed to go out with me.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Ben kept hold of Ryan’s hand. In all the craziness, Ryan’s invitation—and his own acceptance—had slipped his mind. But with Morris safe and Ryan’s parents okay with him here… “Your dad said he’d cook for us. Do you think there’ll be pink peppercorns?”
“We’ll not have our first date at my parents’ restaurant. I want to enjoy time with you, not watch my back!”
