Page 42 of Sin Deep
“That’s a good way to think about it. I’ve been pretty lucky, when it comes down to it. I’ve never had a lot, but I’ve always had enough.”
“That’s good. I was all right until I left home. But I left suddenly and didn’t have anything in my bag but a few necessities.” That was over twenty years ago. He could hardly believe it had been so long.
“Yeah, when I came here at least Jackson met me, hugged me, and introduced me to Ollie. I was scared, but not terrified.”
He nodded. “I was… I don’t know. I felt safer in some ways and less in others. I was scared, but I’d been scared at home too. New York was easier in a way. I could get lost in a crowd. Nobody noticed me, and I liked that. I still like that sometimes.” He shrugged. “I like being noticed by you, though.”
“I couldn’t ignore you. No way. You’re…so…beautiful.”
He smiled, caught between flattered and embarrassed. He hadn’t ever cared particularly if he was attractive or not, but Harley made him want to believe it. “Thank you.”
“It’s the truth.” Harley grinned at him, stroking a long line along his thigh, teasing him, tempting him.
“Naughty boy. Eat your steak. What kind of cake did you bring me? Did you make it?”
“It’s a chocolate-covered strawberry cake. I bought it from a bakery, because you will thank me for that.” Harley snorted softly, waggling his eyebrows. “Can you imagine me? Making a fancy cake?”
Winter shrugged. “I can actually. I think if you wanted to, you could figure out how to do anything you wanted to. Cake included. Strawberry sounds wonderful.”
“Maybe with practice.” Harley didn’t look the slightest bit concerned. “You deserve better than practice.”
“I appreciate any and all cake.” He winked at Harley. “This evening has been amazing already and we haven’t even gotten to cake yet. I’m still working on my steak. Did you try the wine? It’s very good.” He picked up his glass.
“Oh! Cheers! Happy birthday!” Harley lifted his glass with a smile. “To you.”
“Thank you, petit. Cheers!” He touched his glass to Harley’s and took a sip. “What haven’t I asked you yet? Is there something I should know that I haven’t found the right question for yet? I want to know everything.”
“Hrm…” Harley tilted his head. “My dog was named Penny, my horse was Jack, my best friend is Deborah Haney.”
“Wonderful things. Do you still talk with Deborah? Does she know where you are?” He took another bite of his steak, so pleased with how perfectly it was cooked. He was going to have to think hard about where to take Harley for his birthday.
“She’s in the service, overseas. We video chat every couple weeks. I told her about you last week.”
“Did you really? How sweet of you. You must thank her for her service for me when you talk next. Has she been overseas long? Do you miss her?”
“She went in when she was just out of high school. She’s a Marine, and she’s tough. This is her second tour. She’s a field medic and says they’re sending her to nursing school. She’s super-buff, and a little wild. She got me in trouble a lot.”
He laughed. “That’s what best friends are for, aren’t they? Everyone should get into a little trouble in high school.”
“Who is your best friend? Do you like animals?”
“I love animals. Birds especially, and cats. I haven’t been around a lot of animals though.” Winter didn’t have a best friend; he wasn’t sure exactly how to say that without sounding pathetic. It wasn’t, he just hadn’t ever bonded that way with anyone. “You are my best friend, I think. There’s no one I would rather spend time with. No one that understands me better than you do.”
“Oh. I like that.” Harley took his hand and kissed it. “I want to understand you, balls to bones.”
“You’re getting there.” He sipped his wine, and ignored the voice that kept trying to tell him not to fall too hard, not to count on too much…that a birthday was fine to enjoy, but remember how every little bird he’d ever known had eventually flown away.
“Good.” Harley ate another bite with a soft moan. “This is so delicious. No. No, it’s better than delicious.” Harley met his gaze, winked. “It’syummy.”
“It’s scrumptious.” He grinned and took another bite himself. He was going to have to take half of this home with him; he had nowhere to put it all. “You’re going to have to tell me what you want to eat for your birthday. I don’t think I can find barbeque like you’re used to, but we can get close maybe.”
“I like lasagna for my birthday. My mom made it once a year for my birthday, and that’s still what I tend to get.”
“Oh. Lovely. Perfect.” He made a great lasagna. He’d cook for Harley’s birthday. Wonderful. “Garlic bread? Vegetables?”
“Garlic bread and salad.” Harley chuckled. “That’s a birthday supper.”
“Okay then. That shall be your birthday. At my place. Do you want to invite anyone? Think about it. You could have some friends. It might be fun.”
