Page 29 of Daily Grind
“No, it’s not.” Rob rose, and crooked his finger, just like last time. “Time to go, Brian.” Command in his voice and in the lines of his body. His smile promised so much more, if Brian followed.
His heart pounded in his chest. The things he wanted to do to that beckoning finger and the man behind it. “I—” He was on his feet before he realized, hands wrapped around the laptop. “Let me put this in back.”
If he stared any longer, he might forget how to walk. He stowed the laptop in his safe before returning to the front. “Well, you have me.” He left off theNow what are you going to do with me?part.
But that grin meant Rob had heard it. He pulled Brian close and kissed him. Just a brush of lips with a hint of what might come later.
It left Brian dizzy.
Rob kissed him in public, in his shop. In front of customers—and more than just the high schoolers—but hedidn’t care. He should have been full of angst and worry.
There was only giddy relief.
“Pizza?” Rob said. “It’s quick and up the street.”
Also on the way to Brian’s apartment. “Perfect.”
The high-school kids, the little snots, all gave him two-thumbs when he and Rob left. He waved at them before the door clanged closed.
“You have a fan club.” Rob took his hand.
“They’re good kids. I gave ’em a space to be themselves.”
“You do that for a lot of people, I think.” Quiet words. “Except yourself.”
Maybe it was the warm spring night, or the sudden flipping of his heart, but he lifted Rob’s hand and pressed his lips to Rob’s knuckles. “You’re giving me that.”
No smile in response. Rob’s expression was far deeper. “I’m so very glad I can.” He gave Brian’s hand a squeeze. “I didn’t quite expect that when I first walked into your shop.”
The last thing Brian had ever expected was to meet a boyfriend at work, mostly because he never expected tohavea boyfriend. The pain and the joy twisted in him sharply, and he grunted.
Rob lifted an eyebrow.
“I—feel a bit—I don’t know. Dumb? Childish? For waiting so long.”
“Not the first man to catch your eye?” Curiosity there, not jealousy or anger.
“Oh God, no.” Brian stroked the back of Rob’s hand. “Just the first to make me want to do something about it.”
Those lovely dimples formed, highlighting Rob’s cheekbones. “Well, I do have a very important question to ask you.”
Brian’s heart skipped a beat. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Mineo’s or Napoli’s?” He beamed.
Oh God, thatwasa choice. Some people were so die-hard about it, too. He was one of the few who loved both shops. Different styles, but both so good. “You have a preference?”
Rob shook his head. “Haven’t been to either.”
Well, they certainly needed to fix that. “Then Napoli’s. I had Mineo’s last week.”
The entered the pizza place, ordered a few slices, and settled in at one of the tables. “I got the camera gear you suggested,” Rob said. “And I think I want to take you up on your offer to make prints of a few of the nature photos.”
Good, all around. “Send me a link to an album and I’ll pick some out.”
Rob didn’t answer. He’d taken a bite of his slice and his eyes were closed. “Fuck, this is good.”
Looked like someone got orgasmic from good pizza. “Do you like Italian, or just pizza?”
