All of my boys are special to me, but Matt and Aaron from Better Than Good were my first. Delving into their relationship and getting to know their friends and families helped me navigate my beginnings as an MM author. I fell in love with them and I couldn’t stop writing about them. I wrote 120k words of content most of my readers haven’t seen yet. Some, however, turned into short stories, like Better Than Valentine, Better Than Pride and Better Than Family.
Better Than Engagement is brand new. It includes ten chapters plus an epilogue and is over 26k words long. That’s a decent sized short! LOL. And considering that I’m currently working on my Leaning Into Stories series and edits for A Kind of Home (June 2017!), it’s also a ton of work. But it’s a labor of love, because now it’s not just me that cares about about the law student who fell for a beautiful boy at a nightclub. You care too. I’m awed and honored by your response to the Better Than boys. I love that you want glimpses into their daily lives. You’ve made this crazy journey over the past 4 1/2 years 100% worthwhile. Thank you for your support and for taking the time to let me know these characters have touched you. It means more than I can say. 
For those who’ve saved this to read in one sitting, the story begins just about the time Better Than Safe does. And yes, that means you’ll have a chance to reconnect with the boys from the subsequent books, Better Than Chance and Better Than Friends too.
And now (drum roll, please)… Here are all ten chapters and the epilogue for Better Than Engagement (NSFW)…
Happy Reading! Lane xo
Better Than Engagement
Part 1-
My computer screen seemed brighter than normal this morning. That had to be why the words blurred and nothing made sense. Or maybe it was caffeine deficiency. I had two hours to read over the government contract before it was due back to the Department of Defense. I had to snap out of it and concentrate. There was no point in daydreaming about my warm bed or the sexy man I’d left there an hour ago. As if on cue, my cell phone vibrated on my desk.
“Hi baby. Why are you up? I thought you were sleeping ’til seven.” I swiveled my chair away from my computer and closed my eyes. Fuck, I wished I was with him.
“I can’t go back to sleep. That was amazing. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’ve never done that before, Matty. You were so…forceful. But in a good way. A sexy way.”
“Aar, stop. You’re gonna make me hard,” I whispered, glancing sideways at my open door.
The office was dark. At six thirty a.m., I was pretty much guaranteed to have the place to myself for another thirty minutes or so. No one would notice my blush or raise an eyebrow if I had squirmed in my chair to hide the bulge in my suit pants. But old habits weren’t easy to shake. Thinking about licking Aaron to oblivion before driving myself inside him that morning was one thing. Talking about it was a whole other story. And Aaron knew it.
His melodic laughter sounded like music to my ears. “Are you hard? Touch yourself. I am.”
“I’m at work, perv. I’m not jacking off at my desk,” I said with a snort.
I could picture him lying naked in the middle of our king-size bed holding his phone with one hand while the other drifted to his perfect cock. When he moaned my name I knew I got it right.
“That would be kind of naughty. I have to get up and do grown up things, like go to meetings and do fashion edits, but our bed is so warm. And even though I’m a sticky, crusty mess, I feel fabulous.”
“Sticky and crusty is fabulous?” I tried to infuse my voice with a note of levity and hopefully move on to PG-rated topics.
“It is when I think about what you did to me. I’m never washing the sheets. These are sacred sex sheets,” he declared with a sigh.
I chuckled at his worshipful tone. “Hmm. You know we can do it again.”
“Oh, I’m counting on it. Geez, I can’t decide what I liked best. It’s a tie between when you tongue fucked me ’til I couldn’t remember my name and when you spanked me and made me hang on to the headboard while you—”
“Oh fuck, Aar.” I swallowed hard and finally gave into temptation, palming my cock through my wool blend trousers. “Did you have to say “spank”?”
Aaron snickered. “Yes! It drives you crazy. My ass is sore and—”
“Mine,” I growled possessively.
“Yes. Yours.”
I shut my eyes for a half second while my lover went into delicious detail about our morning sexathon. He was right. He drove me crazy. He made me want things I never dreamed were possible. And he’d been doing it for over four years.
I don’t think anyone who knew me well when I first met Aaron could have predicted my life now. The bigger parts were easy. I was still with the prestigious DC law firm I’d interned for while I was finishing my degree. I was an associate partner specializing in contract law and any day now I expected to be offered a non-equity partnership. Professionally, I was where I’d hoped I’d be after I graduated. Personally… I was light years away.
Actually, that wasn’t true. I was exactly where I wanted to be. I was in a long-term committed relationship with a person I loved, respected and cherished. Someone so incredible and unexpected that I swear, most days I couldn’t believe my amazing luck. He was passionate, gorgeous, smart, funny and yeah… I was head over heels for the guy. That was the part that still blew a few people away. I was in love with a man. Not a woman.
Aaron Mendez was a Puerto Rican American spitfire with a wicked sense of humor and a lust for life. The fact he wanted anything to do with a boring lawyer was the crazy part. But we fit. We were the missing piece the other needed. This feeling transcended physical attraction. Sure, I was still convinced Aaron was the most beautiful person on the planet. He was small and lean with dark brown hair, hazel eyes and infectious grin that made my heart swell. But now I knew this connection was based on something more than physical attraction. He was part of me. Inside me. He made me a better man.
We were opposites in almost every conceivable way. I was tall, he was short. I liked sports. Aaron loved fashion. I tended to be cool and methodical while Aaron was a free spirit with a taste for the finer things in life. We shouldn’t work, but we did. He made me look at the stars and I reminded him to keep his feet on the ground.
“…and when you stuck your finger inside me while you were fuc—”
“Aar,” I groaned and then started in my chair when the elevator door dinged, signaling I was no longer the only person on my floor. “Great. Someone’s here and I’m sitting at my desk with a huge boner. Quit laughing and help me get rid of it.”
“That’s what I was trying to do in the first place!” Aaron insisted with a chuckle that morphed into a belly laugh. He sobered from his fit of hysteria with a dramatic sigh when I growled into the phone. “Okay, okay. I should get up anyway. What time will you be home tonight? Can you be here by six? Jack and Curt are coming for dinner. I’m leaving the office early to pick up a couple things at the market. Oh! And can you get the dry cleaning on your way home?”
“Sure, but I thought that was the point of a delivery service.”
“They said there was a mix up and they won’t be in our neighborhood until the end of the week. I can’t wait. I need my Zegna suit for a presentation with a British artiste tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. I’ll take care of it. Did you look at the paperwork for the refinance yet?”
“There goes my hard-on,” he snarked. “No, just tell me where to sign. I don’t want to read it. I trust you.”
“It’s going to save us a ton of money, babe.” I swiveled back to my computer and reached for my coffee mug.
I froze mid-sip when a shadow crossed my doorway. It was Jana, the bubbly new intern assigned to help a couple of the associates. Great. I motioned to my phone and my computer, hoping she’d take the hint and find something to do on her own. She didn’t. She leaned on the doorframe and crossed her arms under her ample bosom showcased in a tight, low cut red sweater. Her long brown hair fell artfully over one shoulder in a pose worthy of a fashion shot from Aaron’s magazine.
“You should still read the— Hang on, Aar,” I said before addressing Jana. “Hi. You’re here early.”
“Good morning, Mr. Sullivan. You said you had a deadline to meet, so I thought I’d come in earlier to help you. What can I do?” Her professional tone didn’t jibe with the come-hither look. Jana didn’t bother hiding her infatuation, which made accepting her “help” awkward as hell. I hoped the gooey looks would fade once she was buried under a mountain of laborious research and filing. So far, no such luck.
“Um…finish going through the memos. If there’s anything of note, pull it aside for me to look at later.”
“You got it, boss,” Jana said with a bright smile, tapping her long red nails on the door before pivoting on her high heels and heading toward her desk.
“Sorry Aar, I—”
“Don’t tell me. Jana.” Thankfully, Aaron sounded more amused than annoyed.
“Yeah,” I sighed.
“Someone’s in love with my hunky boyfriend,” he singsonged merrily.
“You, I hope.”
“Yes, but it looks like I have competition,” he teased.
“Don’t be ridiculous. And stop cackling. This isn’t funny. Her internship is up in May, but I can’t take the extra attention for another two months. I’ll have to come out. Again.”
“Poor Matty. I guess she didn’t get the hint when she saw me kiss you last week in your office that we aren’t Bert and Ernie.”
I chuckled. “Maybe not.”
“She wouldn’t be the first. Your mom still thinks we’re just really good friends.”
That stopped me. I didn’t like the resignation in his voice, like he was simply stating a fact. The sky is blue, the earth is round, my boyfriend’s mother thinks we’re good buddies who do everything together… I didn’t like it. At all.
“It doesn’t matter what she thinks. You aren’t my friend and—”
“Oh please! I’d have never made it to the tender age of twenty-nine if I cared what everyone thought of me,” he replied flippantly.
“You’re thirty-two,” I deadpanned as I pushed away from my desk and moved to the open door.
“Details, details. I’m off. Don’t forget the dry cleaning and be home by six. Curt and Jack will be here at seven.”
“Okay. Hey, wait.” Jana looked from her computer with an expectant smile as though she wasn’t sure whom I was addressing. I turned my head slightly but made sure I continued in a loud clear voice. “I love you, Aar. Have a good day.”
His squeal of delight and profuse declaration of love made me blush at least five shades of red. I couldn’t keep the silly grin from spreading across my face as I finally closed the door. My intern’s perturbed expression barely registered. Who cared what Jana the intern thought? Who cared what my mother thought? We were the only ones who mattered. We’d been saying that for years.
I stared unseeing at the contract on my computer lost in thought. I was surrounded with legal documents, journals and memos. Hell, I was in the business of creating air-tight, binding documents. Any decent lawyer knew there was power in a legally sanctioned title. Sure, Aaron was my friend, roommate, boyfriend, and my partner. However, those labels fell short. They hinted at who we were to each other, but they didn’t stake a claim. They didn’t let the world know he was the only one for me. They didn’t infer that I wanted to build a life with him, complete with every traditional trapping I’d always assumed would be mine one day, albeit with a woman. A home, a dog, kids. We weren’t playing house. Nothing about our relationship was casual. This was the real thing. A forever thing. Maybe it was time to do something about it. Legally.
Part 2-
The condo smelled amazing. I draped the dry cleaning bag over the edge of the sofa before making my way into the kitchen. I didn’t bother greeting the chef. He wouldn’t be able to hear me over the Drake song pumping through the speakers anyway. I hurried to adjust the volume before my eardrum burst or a neighbor pounded on the door. Aaron spun around in surprise, holding a knife in one hand and a tomato in the other.
“Dammit Matty, you scared me!”
I chuckled at his wide-eyed expression and raised my hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. Put the knife down…or at least the tomato.”
Aaron rolled his eyes and tossed both on the counter before throwing his arms around my neck and sealing his lips to mine. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself. How was your day?”
“Busy. Did you remember the dry cleaning?”
“Yeah. I left it on the sofa. Whatcha making?”
“I’m—Yikes! I have to stir.” He pushed out of my arms and hurried back to the stove. “I’m making the spaghetti Bolognese you like. I had grand plans to do arroz con pollo y plátanos, but the photo shoot ran late and I didn’t have time to run to the market, shower and make dinner. I’m not even sure I have all the spices I need for the adobo anyway. Pasta will have to do. Want a glass of wine?”
I ran a soothing hand down his back, noting he hadn’t shower or changed from his work clothes yet. Aaron didn’t have to wear a suit everyday like I did but he definitely wore business couture as befitting the assistant art director of a prominent DC fashion magazine. Today’s ensemble was well-fitted charcoal trousers and a pink oxford shirt with white cuffs and a pair of Italian loafers I knew for a fact cost more than everything else he had on put together. My guy had very expensive tastes.
A bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and four wineglasses sat on the counter nearby. A plate of cheese and crackers was artfully displayed next to a short stack of black cocktail napkins and a huge candle. Our condo boasted an open design so the kitchen flowed seamlessly into the spacious living room. I glanced toward the dining area and noticed that the table was set and the geometric brass chandelier overhead was dimmed. A beautiful spring floral arrangement I was pretty sure hadn’t been there this morning graced the center of the round table. I grabbed his apron from the hook on the cabinet door and moved back to Aaron who giving me a rundown of his day as he spiced his sauce.
“…she wasn’t excited about me getting the assistant directorship so I have to do my best to win her over. Marsha is a tough cookie. If she wasn’t so damn good at—what are you doing?”
“You forgot your apron. Stand still,” I said as I slipped the cotton strap over his head and cupped his package.
“Behave. I’ve got a lot to do and they’ll be here in fifteen minutes.” He smacked my hand but countered the reprimand with a kiss and one of his beautiful megawatt smiles that always turned me inside out.
I moaned theatrically. “What’s the occasion? Everything looks so… fancy.”
“It’s nothing special. We were supposed to get together to celebrate my promotion last week, but Jack had to work and I thought it would be nicer to do something at home anyway.”
“It’s a Wednesday night,” I said in a flat tone, stating the obvious.
“So?” Aaron rinsed his hands and pointed at the wine meaningfully before picking up the knife and tomato he’d abandoned earlier. “Jack owns a bar. He can’t commit to weekends. You know that. We’re not old fogies. We can handle a midweek dinner. Shoot. Do you have to go into work early again tomorrow?”
I shook my head as I pulled the cork from the bottle and set it aside to breathe. Then I snuck a cracker from the marble cutting board and leaned against the counter to study my boyfriend. His hair fell over his eyes but I could tell he’d had a stressful day from the rigid set of his shoulders as he chopped tomatoes like a ninja warrior. He was a bundle of excess energy. Not the good kind.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. Why?”
“You look stressed. It’s Curt and Jack, babe. Order a pizza. They’d be fine with—”
“Pizza is only appropriate for casual get-togethers. This is supposed to be nice.”
I rolled my eyes and reached out to poke his side playfully but the reflection of unshed tears in his gaze stopped me in my tracks.
“Aaron, what is it?” I set a firm hand on his elbow.
“Huh? Nothing. They’ll be here soon and the salad isn’t done and—”
I moved my hand to his wrist and tightened my grip until he let go of the knife. I was mildly amused when he rounded on me with a pointed finger and switched from English to Spanish. The fiery Latin thing was really fucking cute… and sexy as hell. But when the tears threatened to spill, I was instantly alarmed.
“Hey, hey, hey…talk to me, hothead. What’s going on?” I pulled him against me and held him tight, resting my chin on his head. I threaded my fingers through his hair and kissed his temple. Our size difference made it easy for him to burrow close. I easily had him by five inches. “Aar?”
Aaron sighed and clandestinely swiped at the corner of his eye before stepping backward with a reassuring smile.
“I’m fine. I just had one of those days. One of the models accidently ripped a dress in the fitting and the designer had a cow. It took an hour to calm them both down, which meant everything after was behind schedule. I was one minute late to a meeting with Marsha who made it clear she was unhappy about the sixty second delay. Then of course, she hated the spread. The lighting was wrong. The backdrop was hideous and the models looked like they all needed a meal. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to clobber her or just fucking cry. It took everything I had to keep it together.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“Thanks. I’m not overly concerned. I know I’ll prove myself eventually. But I didn’t have time to make the dinner I wanted to. And don’t ask me about the refinance paperwork. I felt like throwing it in the trash after my conversation with your mother. Roommates don’t share the mortgage, do they?”
Oh fuck. That explained everything.
Aaron grumbled under his breath in Spanish as he dumped the tomatoes into a salad bowl with more force than necessary. I let out a deep breath then moved to the wine and poured two generous glasses. Mother discussions required alcohol.
“What did my mom say?”
I handed him a wineglass after he set the salad bowl in the refrigerator and untied his apron ribbon. He took the glass and clinked it against mine then offered a wan smile.
“Nothing overt. You mother is the queen of subtle insults. Sometimes I wish you were Puerto Rican. We don’t do subtle. If we’re angry, we don’t beat around the bush and talk about something vaguely related to what really pisses us off. Not that I have to guess with her. She hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you, Aar. She just has a hard time understanding us. She needs time to—”
“It’s been four fucking years! How much time does she need?” He set his glass down with enough force to crack the stem. “Whatever. It’s the same old shit. I shouldn’t have picked up the phone without looking at the caller ID. She was pleasant at first. She asked about my recipe and who was coming over. Then she said she could tell I was in a rush. If I’d been smart, I would have said goodbye but I was too wound up after my day and I didn’t take my out. Instead…I gave her a little TMI.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I wanted to get the sauce going so I could look at the loan paperwork like I promised Matty. And yeah…I said Matty.”
“O-kay.”
“She got chilly very quickly. She reminded me Matthew was a lawyer who undoubtedly would be more than capable of handling his own mortgage. And then she made up some lame excuse to get off the phone so she could hang up on me.”
Truthfully that didn’t sound like a horrible exchange but I was getting smarter at this boyfriend thing. Just because I didn’t find something offensive didn’t mean Aaron felt the same.
“Well…”
“You don’t get it, do you?”
“Uh. No. I don’t think she meant it meanly, babe. She—”
“Bullshit. She hates when I call you Matty and she hates knowing my name is on any legal form associated with you. It’s a reminder the novelty of me hasn’t run its course for you yet. She wants to get to know a daughter-in-law to be, not waste time with the overly fabulous gay man answering her son’s phone. You mother can’t stand that I’m still part of your life after all these years.”
“You aren’t part of my life, Aar. You are my life.”
This time Aaron’s smile was incandescent. It was warm and sunny enough to make this cold evening in mid March feel like a warm summer day. He snaked his arms over my shoulders and kissed me breathless. I swore I saw stars when he pulled back to study me with a sexy grin.
“Sometimes you know exactly the right thing to say. I love you, Matty.”
“I love you too.”
We shared a sappy smile as we stared at each other like lovesick fools. It was a perfect moment. The kind you think you might always remember. The kitchen smelled heavenly, the house was beautifully lit with candles and Drake had given way to the Chainsmokers song I’d just learned how to play on my guitar. In retrospect, I should have sung to him and danced him around the island to make him laugh. Or even offered to play the song so he could sing along. A whimsical change in focus would have kept things light and happy. More importantly, it would have saved me from saying something stupid to effectively ruin everything.
But no… I opened my big mouth instead.
“You know, I’ve been thinking we should make this legal anyway.”
Aaron immediately stiffened in my arms and pulled away. He picked up his wine glass and twirled the burgundy liquid lazily before giving me a look I couldn’t read well. It was wary and somewhat guarded.
“What do you mean by legal?”
“You know… like get married.” I shrugged and reached for my own wine. I downed half the glass in a way that would have made my college buddies cheer my name wildly if we’d been in a beer-guzzling contest back in school. My significant other, however, was not impressed. Unfortunately, I didn’t think my manners were the problem.
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
“Uh… yeah. Sure. Why not?”
My mouth was dry. My heart was beating like a drum. I’d been thinking about this a lot lately but fuck, marriage was a big word. So was wedding and husband. I was suddenly scared shitless. Jesus, did I just propose? It wasn’t too warm in the kitchen, but I was sweating and nervous as hell. And Aaron…well, he looked pissed. Or maybe even hurt.
I set my glass down and then gently caressed his chin with my thumb. “That wasn’t smooth. I can do better. I—I love you and I want to marry you.”
“No.”
“No?”
“This is how you’re going to ask me to marry you? To prove something to your mother or to make signing a set of loan documents easier? I’m not a legal afterthought, Matthew. Don’t you dare try to neatly tie up your commitments with my signature on the dotted line because it’s more convenient than—”
“You’re not convenient at all! I mean—” I raked my hand through my hair and pursed my lips. “I didn’t mean that. C’mon, Aar, give me a break. I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’m sorry my mom hurt your feelings. I’m sorry you had a rough day. I’m trying to tell you I lo—”
“Stop. Just leave it for now. Jack and Curt are going to be here soon. We can talk later. I’m frustrated and I’m not being fair and… I’m sorry.”
I furrowed my brow but nodded in acquiescence. I didn’t want to leave this conversation here but he was right. At the rate I was going, I’d end up putting my other foot in my mouth before the doorbell rang anyway. Later was good.
Later was only good in theory. The problem was I couldn’t stop thinking about what we’d said. My mom, loan papers, his day, my day… none of it was significant. And it certainly didn’t explain an impromptu marriage proposal. Was I serious or was it an impulse offer I had no business making without carefully thinking through first? I was glad Curt and Jack were there to provide a friendly diversion in the aftermath. I needed a break from my thoughts.
“This is fantastic, Aaron. I need the recipe,” Curt gushed as he twirled spaghetti noodles around his fork.
“Thank you. I was going to do something fancier but time was not on my side tonight,” Aaron said.
Aaron grabbed a piece of garlic bread from the basket in the middle of the table, broke it in two and set one half on my plate. It was one of those quirky things he always did. He was big on sharing food. It could be a bite of something amazing he’d ordered at a restaurant that he wanted me to try or whatever was left on his plate at home. Food was a big deal to Aaron. He loved cooking for friends and family and he was an excellent chef. In a way, it was a creative and emotional outlet for him. It relaxed him and allowed him to do something for the people he cared about most. Needless to say, I never cooked. The kitchen was Aaron’s domain. Toast and cereal were my culinary limit these days. And Curt wasn’t fooling anyone at this table. He was just like me.
Jack snorted in amusement and dabbed at the corner of his mouth with his napkin. “Curtis honey, what exactly would you do with the recipe? Use it as a bookmarker for the cookbooks you never open?”
“Ha. Ha. The recipe is for you. Not me, smartass,” Curt huffed primly.
He yelped a second later when his boyfriend pinched his arm in playful retribution. Jack captured Curt’s wrist before he could pull away and laced their fingers together. Then he raised their joined hands and kissed Curt’s knuckles like a leading-man in a romantic movie. I smiled at their antics. They were a cool couple. And in many ways, they were as different as Aaron and me.
Curt and Jack were polar opposites. Jack was tall, dark and drop dead sexy. And he was fourteen years older than Curt. He owned two businesses; a motorcycle shop for sales and repair and a gay bar that catered to a masculine crowd. It wasn’t a leather bar or a bear hangout but they didn’t play disco music or invite drag queens to lip-synch either, which meant it wasn’t necessarily Aaron’s kind of hangout either. Or Curt’s.
Curt was infinitely more conservative than his tattooed, laid-back boyfriend. He was fanatical about timeliness and deadlines. We’d been good friends since we were roommates in law school at Georgetown. Curt’s cautious nature was offset by a self-deprecating sense of humor and a friendly demeanor that drew people to him. He and Jack had been together for a couple years now. Perhaps they looked like an odd match to outsiders, but they definitely fit.
The intricate design of the tattoo sleeve on Jack’s left arm against Curt’s white button-down oxford shirt made me smile. I glanced over at Aaron, knowing he was probably thinking the same thing, albeit in a mushier way.
I was right. The look on my man’s face spoke volumes. It was the starry-eyed look of a true romantic.
I knew that look well. Aaron got it when he saw old people holding hands or young families pushing strollers and juggling dog leashes. It was the one he’d get at the end of any Hugh Grant rom-com regardless of how many times he’d watched the movie. An Adele song could occasionally do the trick too. But his best gooey looks were the ones he reserved for me. When I played a love song on my guitar and dedicated it to him like I was a rock star on a stage instead of the dork sitting at the end of the sofa. Or when I brought him flowers or held the door for him or brought him a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning. Little things I did without thinking that made him beam at me like I was a freaking hero.
No wonder he looked so damned disappointed earlier.
I messed up. If I wanted what I thought I did, I had to do it right. I had to be… romantic. Fuck.
Part 3-
You know that feeling when every other word out of your mouth sounds awkward as hell and you can’t seem to stop the madness? That was me. All night long. Someone mentioned a new bar in town and my brain turned it into the kind of bar a law student must pass to become an official lawyer. I literally stared at Curt with a dopey look on my face until he crossed his eyes and mouthed “you okay?”. Obviously not, but a concerned Curt was the last thing I needed. He’d ask questions and I’d say…what? “I’m obsessing about asking Aaron to marry me”… Not happening. I vowed to pay better attention.
Thankfully, conversation floated easily between the others. I nodded when required but they seemed to be doing fine with an occasional word or two from me to let them know I was present. However, when the topic turned to our friends, Jay and Peter, who were in California interviewing a potential surrogate candidate, I lost my voice completely. My mind started spinning and then ricocheting, making it difficult to hear anything above my inner static. I wanted kids one day too, and we weren’t getting any younger. Aaron would be a great dad. Of course, we’d have to get to married first but—
“Matt told me he wants at least four kids. Right, buddy?” Curt kicked my shin under the table then fluttered his eyes innocently.
“Four what? Kids?” I sputtered as I came crashing back to reality. “I don’t think so.”
“Well, how many do you want?” he pressed with a mischievous grin.
“Uh… I don’t know. Two?”
“Is that a question or a statement?”
“That’s a fuck off, Curtster. How many you and Jack want?” I retorted, finally regaining my cool.
“None,” Jack answered quickly before adding in a slow Southern drawl, “Curt might change my mind some day but we’re fine spoiling our niece and nephew for now.”
“I love being an uncle too, but when the time is right, I could definitely be talked into kids one day,” Aaron said wistfully.
“Two,” I blurted, reaching for Aaron’s hand.
“Two would gre—”
“But not until we get married.”
I wasn’t sure who was in control of my mouth, but it didn’t feel like me anymore. What the fuck was I doing talking about marriage in front of our friends? It was so… not me. And everyone there knew it.
I was treated to an incredulous three-way stare. My vehemence was probably more surprising than the statement itself but either way, the ensuing silence made me sweat. I let go of Aaron’s hand to wipe my clammy palm on my suit pants before giving him a tentative sideway glance. He responded with a radiant grin, then leaned in and kissed my cheek.
“When the time is right, Matty.”
Aaron talked around his toothbrush as he got ready for bed later that night. Every other word was unintelligible but I’d become adept at understanding the occasional distorted sentence. It was part of our nightly ritual. A daily dance we did so well, I could gage his mood and level of exhaustion by how chatty he was while he brushed. Tonight, he was happy and peppy. An evening with friends had rejuvenated him and put him in a better frame of mind than he’d been in earlier. I was relieved but still wary of my own strange mood.
“…I wasn’t sure how Jack would react to—” His garbled speech echoed off the glass tiles in the master bathroom before he bent to spit and rinse. “—but Curt thinks he’s not the jealous type.”
“Jealous about what?” I wiped my mouth on the fluffy white towel before turning to stand behind Aaron. I slid my arms around his waist and nuzzled his neck.
“Not what… whom. Paul. You know Paul…tall, blond, handsome… and British.” He waggled his eyebrows in a silly attempt at being lascivious that made me laugh.
“Of course I know Paul. What about him?”
“You weren’t listening, were you? He’s coming back to DC. It’s not a big deal.” He squinted at me in the mirror. “You know…I’m starting to worry about you, Matt. You’re very preoccupied tonight. Is it work or is it me? I’m sorry I dropped that nonsense with your mom on you when you got home. It wasn’t fair.”
“No, I’m glad you told me. It just… it made me think of other things. Grown up stuff, like mortgages and—”
“Ugh! No refinance talk, please. I’ll sign whatever you want me to tomorrow.” Aaron groaned and threw his head back to rest on my shoulder.
I bit his earlobe playfully then slipped my fingers under the elastic of his boxer briefs and cupped his balls. “That’s not what I meant. I— it feels like time is accelerating and we’re fooling ourselves into thinking it’s not.”
“You aren’t making any sense.” He tilted his hips, looking for friction. “Mmm. Feels good.”
“I’m saying we’re already in the next phase of adulthood and we haven’t acknowledged it. We share a home, a mortgage and a bank account. I know discussions about kids and marriage is serious, grown-up shit, but I think we should…you know…”
Aaron snorted then adjusted my hand so I gripped his cock firmly. “I can’t believe I’m still hard. Seriously, Matty? What part of mortgage and marriage is sexy?”
“Ours will be sexy. I’ll make sure of it.” I pushed my boxers over my rigid dick then licked my palm before stroking him from base to tip.
He jutted forward and backward like he couldn’t decide what he wanted more. My hand on his shaft or my cock riding his ass.
“So good. Just don’t—” Aaron let out a low moan when I bit his shoulder.
“Don’t what?”
He turned in my arms and licked my lips before staring up at me. “Don’t ask me to marry you to tick a box off your to-do list. Heteronormative rules don’t apply. We don’t have to do anything in any order but the one that feels right to us. We make the rules here. It’s like I told you at dinner… we’ll know when the time is right. So stop worrying. Nothing has changed. We’re good.”
I nodded at his sage words. I agreed with everything but his aversion to so-called “heteronormative rules”. Aaron knew I had old-fashioned ideas. I still wanted the traditional trappings I thought I’d have before I acknowledged I was bisexual and in love with a man. But I wasn’t a complete moron. I wasn’t going to touch that old argument when his leaking cock was nudging my upper thigh.
“You’re right.”
“There’s no hurry.” He beamed at me then reached around to squeeze my ass. “And whatever you do…don’t ask me any life altering questions when I have dried toothpaste on my face.”
I laughed at his faux serious expression and brushed his bangs away from his eyes. “Where?”
“Here. I can feel it.” His eyes twinkled as he pointed to the corner of his mouth.
I tilted Aaron’s chin and dutifully licked the imaginary toothpaste away. The gesture took on a symbolic quality of letting go with a reminder to remain in the moment. Now was what counted.
I nibbled his lips, pausing to glide my tongue over his before licking a path along his jaw and down his neck. Aaron writhed in my arms, raking his fingers through my hair and down my sides before slipping his hand between us to grip me in a punishing hold. I rocked my hips forward as he stroked me. It didn’t take long for me to lose my rhythm. He was too good at this and he knew exactly what I liked. But I wanted more.
“Bed.” I smacked his ass and gestured like a Neanderthal toward our room.
Aaron gave me a sexy lopsided grin as he stepped out of his boxer briefs then moved toward the king-size bed. An overhead reading light illuminated one side, casting a warm glow over his olive skin. I stopped to admire his toned back and pert ass as he scrambled to shove the white duvet aside and then reach for the bottle of lube on the bedside table. I jacked myself, smearing precum in a slow circular motion over the head of my cock while I watched him spread his cheeks and finger his hole. My heart tripped at the sight. Fuck, he was beautiful. I had a sudden vision of him gripping the headboard that morning. He was so in tune with his body. So confident and sure. I nearly lost my balance as I moved toward my lover.
“What do you want, Matty? Do you want my on my knees? Do you want me to ride—”
“Suck me,” I demanded in a low voice I didn’t recognize as mine.
Aaron shivered visibly at the command. He hopped on the bed and arranged himself on all fours for a moment before collapsing on his stomach. I moved toward him and tapped my cock against his cheek meaningfully. Aaron glanced up at me then gave me a Cheshire cat grin and swallowed me whole. I held on to his shoulder for balance and did my best not to let go immediately though the desire to pull his hair and fuck his mouth was strong. I grabbed the lube and poured some on my right hand then leaned over to massage the cool gel over his entrance. His groan of approval sent a tremor along my spine that turned into a tingle of awareness I knew meant this could be over sooner that I planned.
Aaron sucked me voraciously as he arched his back and wiggled his ass. When I pushed my finger inside, his breath hitched. He released me with a pop and looked up at me with a lusty gaze. “More.”
I added a second digit and worked my fingers in and out. The angle was awkward but he didn’t seem to mind. He alternately sucked and stroked me while he moved his hips.
“Aar, stop. I need to be inside you.” I tugged his hair and bent to kiss his forehead. He knelt up and started to turn around. “No. On your back.”
He wordlessly obeyed. I added more lube before crawling between his thighs. I ran my fingers over his stomach then lined my cock at his entrance and pushed.
“Oh fuck!”
“You okay?” I trembled with the effect to stay still and let him acclimate. He felt amazing. So tight and warm and fuck…
“Yeah. I—I’m ready.”
I surged forward slowly, moving inch by inch until I was buried balls deep inside him. I watched him for clues. Was I crushing him? Or was he as strung out and desperate as me? He closed his eyes for a moment and rolled his hips experimentally before nodding. I took the hint and began to move, slowly at first before picking up the tempo. Aaron lifted himself to meet me thrust for thrust. He dug his heels into my ass, urging me on. Harder, faster, more. His rigid cock was trapped between us, naturally lubed with sweat and precum.
I shifted my weight to sit back just as he threw his arms around my neck and opened his eyes. I immediately faltered. I held myself over him and stared for a moment, blindsided by the rush of absolute trust and love in his gaze. We were locked in a silent communication that catapulted the physical connection to a higher plane. When we moved again, we soared. We flew high above our bodies entwined in our bed. We transcended the act of making love and became the very essence of love. And then I was gone, tumbling and spiraling through space when our orgasms hit at the same time a moment later. We clung tightly to each other, gasping for air. A beautiful quiet descended in the aftermath. Words weren’t necessary, except…
“I love you, Matty.”
I bent to kiss him softly. “I love you too, baby.”
Holy shit. I was in over my head. I was in so deep, I knew I’d never find my way out again. It was fucking scary as hell, but it was incredible too. And so fucking worth it.
Part 4-
The second I finished one major contract, another three were dumped on my desk and marked urgent. On one hand, it was great. I was making a ridiculous amount of money but working eighty plus hours a week wore on me. The research alone was too much for one person, which meant I had to rely heavily on my assistants and interns. Some were easier to work with than others. Their schedules were erratic because of law school or research they’d started for other lawyers. Of course, the one who always seemed available was the one I hoped to avoid.
Jana was diligent and she was definitely a hard worker, but the subtle touches and sexy glances were becoming a problem. She swung her hair over her shoulder and batted her eyelashes before asking mundane questions. And she couldn’t hand over a piece of paper without touching my arm . It was bad enough when we were alone but she was getting more daring. When my secretary shot an annoyed glance between us as Jana walked out of my office twittering like a teenager, I knew I was going to have to say something. Again.
“Aaron would not approve,” Colleen said sharply, gazing at me over the rim of her tortoise shell glasses.
I made a face and let out a deep breath. “Everyone here knows I’m not single. I’m not sure how to make it any clearer, but yeah…I’ll talk to her.”
She nodded curtly in a deceptive way that might give the impression she didn’t care, but I knew better. Colleen Vegas was a somewhat intimidating for a five foot three middle-aged woman. She had short, dark brown hair, brown eyes and zero tolerance for BS. She’d been my secretary for two years and though it had taken a few months for us to find a rhythm, we were a good team. She kept my schedule in line and watched over my office like a feral sentry. And she loved my boyfriend.
“Good. In other news, Lang is out sick. He’s working from home and said he’d forward his research notes by this afternoon. You’ll need someone to pull the highlighted records at the Department of External Affairs. He suggested Jana, the President of your fan club, because she’s familiar with the project. She helped him with some photocopying, but apparently that makes her an expert now. If I was reading between the lines, I’d say Lang wants what Jana would love to give you. Proceed at your own risk, Sullivan. Also, your mortgage lender called. And…your mother is on hold.”
I massaged the back of my neck and winced. “Thanks. I think.”
I headed back to my office and dropped into my leather chair before picking up the phone on my desk. I’d told her a million times to call my cell if she wanted to talk to me, but she never listened. I had a feeling going through my secretary was her way of making herself known to the people who worked for me. For a relatively young sixty year old, my mother was getting weirdly possessive as I got older. At least she was with me. I doubted my brother or sisters had to deal with this much interference.
“Hi Mom.”
“Sweetheart, how are you?” she gushed.
“I’m fine, but I’m busy. Can I call you back lat—?”
“This will only take a second. Your father and I are coming for a short visit in a couple weeks. Don’t worry. I know you don’t have much room. We’ll stay at a hotel, but save a night for us to take you out to dinner.”
“O-kay. You know you’re welcome to stay with us.”
“That’s sweet of you, but your place is far too small. And you have a roommate. We wouldn’t want to put Aaron out.”
I gritted my teeth together. “I don’t have a roommate, Mom. I—”
“Oh. Did he move out? I talked to him last week and he didn’t sound like he was going anywhere. It’s for the better, honey. If you’re alone though, Dad and I will certainly stay with you.”
“No!”
“So we should stay at the hotel?” she asked, managing to sound hurt even though it was her suggestion in the first place.
“That’s not what I— look, I’m not sure how many times I have to tell you this, Mom but…I don’t have a roommate. I have a boyfriend.” I paused for a moment to let the word sink in and then continued. “Aaron and I live together in a very spacious condo we bought together. It isn’t my place, it’s ours. Mine and Aaron’s. You and Dad are more than welcome to stay with us. As you know from your previous visits, the guestroom is always ready and you have your own bathroom. If you prefer a hotel, that’s up to you. But Aaron, my boyfriend, isn’t going anywhere. So please…be nice. Okay?”
“I’m always nice.”
Right.
The rest of the conversation was relatively brief. I typed the dates she gave me in a text to Aaron who responded immediately with a bug-eyed emoji and then a second one with the eyes crossed out. My phone vibrated in my hand before I could press Send on my next message to him.
“Why now? I’m so stressed out at work, I can’t see straight… not that ever could really, but I’m not sure I can deal with your mother face to face right now. Not when she’s in one of her “it’s time for Matthew to settle down, buy a house in the suburbs and start a family” moods. How many times did she call me your roommate when you talked with her?”
I swiveled my chair to look out the window. The rain was coming in thick sheets, making it difficult to see much beyond the streaks of water sliding down the windowpane. Fuck, I hated dealing with shit. It was an unfair double standard that didn’t seem to register with my mother no matter how many times I’d addressed it over the years.
“Once,” I admitted with a sigh.
“That’s better than usual. I wish we were on a tropical island right now. We need a vacation, Matty.”
“Yeah. I agree.” I didn’t have to remind him neither of us was in a position at work to take one, but damn, I felt the same way.
He must have heard the longing or weariness in my tone. When he spoke again, his voice felt like a caress. I could almost feel his hand on my brow or his lips on my forehead. These were the moments I knew what we had was worth fighting for and that I was a lucky man.
“We’ll get there. Until then…back to reality. What do you want for dinner?”
I smiled at his sudden cheerfulness. “Let me take you out. I’m supposed to meet Curt for a drink at Mark after work. Find us in the bar and then we’ll ditch him and have dinner there or wherever you want. What do you say?”
“Perfecto. Te amo, mi amor.”
He ended the call before I could reply. It was just as well. I had a ton to do. I pocketed my cell as I swiveled back to my desk. Nothing had changed. I still had more balls in the air than a sane person could juggle. But I had Aaron too. That was all that mattered.
Mark was a new uber-hip restaurant downtown with a warehouse meets farmhouse ambience that shouldn’t work but did. Lanterns hung from high ceilings with exposed air ducts while traditional landscapes in ornate frames lined the rough-hewn wood planked walls. Giant galvanized bins filled with spring branches with tiny yellow and pink blossoms dotted the space lending a homey feel to the very crowded restaurant.
I congratulated myself on my perfect timing. I’d purposely arrived five minutes late knowing Curt would get there at least five to ten minutes early to secure a table. I spotted him near the window talking to a cute waiter with a mop of curly blond hair and a flirty grin.
“I recommend the jalapeno margarita. It’s just the right amount of spicy!”
“Um, I think I’ll stick with a beer. Thank you,” Curt said, sounding a bit flustered.
“I’ll have the same.” I smiled at the young man as I took the chair opposite Curt. “Hi honey. How was your day?”
Curt kicked me under the table but waited until we were alone to blast me. “You’re a fucking moron.”
“I love ya, Curtster. And I’d hate for the poor guy to get on Jack’s bad side if he thought someone was after his man.”
Curt rolled his eyes. “He wasn’t flirting with me.”
“He was. Hey, a fancy looking lawyer type sitting by himself at a high-end bar…who can blame the boy for trying?”
“You’re hysterical. No one flirts with me. And that’s fine by me. I honestly wouldn’t know how to respond. Guy and girls flirt with Jack all the time. Me? Not so much.”
“Poor baby. Feeling sad and lonely?” I teased.
“Not at all. In fact…I just wrapped up a huge project. I’m feeling just fine!”
We thanked the waiter for our drinks then talked shop for a few minutes. It was nice to have a close friend and fellow lawyer who was roughly in the same place in his career as me. We commiserated over our workloads and changes in protocol in an in depth way we couldn’t with other friends. I glanced at my phone when Curt ordered another round.
“What’s going on? Got a hot date?”
“Yep. Aar is meeting me here for dinner. The reservation is in fifteen minutes. He left me a text saying he’s on his way, which is code for “I’m leaving in ten minutes”. He’ll be late for sure,” I griped good-naturedly.
“I’d keep you company but Jack should be home soon. You can stay in the bar and flirt with the cute waiter ’til he gets here,” he joked.
“He’s not into me. He’s only got eyes for you, Curtster. Fine by me. Between my work stalker and my mother, I’ve got enough on my plate. I’m hoping for a drama free dinner. Thank you very much.” I raised my glass in a mock toast and then took a sip.
“What’s up with your mom? Don’t tell me she’s trying to introduce you to nice young women from her church group again?”
I snorted. “I don’t think she belongs to a church group but she’s pulling another one of her famous passive-aggressive crusades where she conveniently forgets I’m in a relationship. And that I’m happy. It’s weird because she likes Aaron. Everyone in my family does.”
“She just doesn’t like him for you. Or she would if he didn’t have a dick.”
“Yeah. Feel free to say that a little louder, asshole,” I snarked, turning toward the reception desk just as a large party entered.
“She’s gonna have a heart attack when you finally ask him to marry you.”
“What makes you think I’m ready for that?”
“Dude. Are you kidding me? After your performance the other night at dinner, Jack and I placed bets you’d be engaged within the month. You’re so fucking obvious. But it’s a good thing. Be happy. And remind your mom that’s what she’s always telling you she wants for you anyway. Happiness.” He waited for my nod of agreement before adding, “By the way, if you ask him before the twenty-fifth, I win fifty bucks, so chop chop.”
Curt clapped for emphasis and gave me a mischievous grin.
“Ha. Ha,” I quipped weakly.
I felt suddenly overwhelmed by the weight of grown-up responsibility. I hated being pulled in opposing directions and having my sense of loyalty tested. The man I was five years ago would have sworn family came first. But things had changed.
“Don’t worry. You’ll figure it out. Sooner rather than later is my only advice and not because I desperately want to win a bet. You need to take control. Be decisive and make shit happen. That’s the attitude that’ll make Aaron say yes, your mom shut up and maybe catch the eye of a cute waiter or two who’ll make sure your drinks are delivered in a timely manner.”
I chuckled at his self-satisfied expression and gestured for him to put his wallet away when he stood. “I got this. Thanks for the advice, Mr. Townsend.”
“Any time. If it’s not raining, let’s play basketball this weekend. I think Chelsea is dragging Jason to some spa weekend in the mountains, but Peter said he’d take his place if we need a fourth. Jay is—” Curt cocked his head curiously as he stared at someone or something behind me.
“What is it?”
“What does your work stalker look like? Is she a pretty brunette with long legs and big boobs?” My stomach turned ominously. Oh fuck. Not now. I nodded mutely and then tipped back the last of my beer. “Ah. Lucky you. She’s coming this way now.”
Part 5-
Have you ever noticed how minor aggravations seem to take on a life of their own at the most inconvenient times? My intuition warned me to be on guard. I had a volatile Latin lover who was already stressed out from work and news of my parent’s impending visit. Running into the sexy intern who made no secret she had a crush on me and wasn’t above making bold overtures was the last thing Aaron would want to deal with tonight. Hell, it was the last thing I wanted to deal with either. It wasn’t like I planned it. Shit happened. Unfortunately I knew logic wouldn’t fly if my boyfriend walked in on me engaged in a chummy conversation with a pretty brunette with stars in her eyes.
I glanced at Curt who pasted on a friendly “about to meet a stranger” look then stage-whispered, “And three, two, one…”
“Hi Matt! I thought that was you!” Jana gushed, squeezing my arm enthusiastically.
“Hi Jana. Funny to run into you here. Um…hey, this is my friend, Curt. Jana is one of our interns. She’s been extremely helpful with the contract we’re working on.”
Curt’s half eye roll said it all and then some. Lame. “Nice to meet you.”
I stood and shoved my phone in my suit pocket while they muddled through cordial introductions. “We’re heading out now. You’re welcome to take our table if you want. It’s packed in here.”
“Actually I’ve been sitting on the other end of the bar with my friends—” She pointed to a group of women gathering their belongings and moving toward the main dining area. “One of them made a reservation but I’m not sure if I’ll stay. Do you have plans tonight?”
“Uh…yeah, actually I do.”
The ensuing stilted pause was awkward as hell. I wanted out.
Curt rustled his keys as he inclined his head toward the door. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later, Matt. Tell Aaron hi and don’t forget about basketball this weekend.”
He bumped my shoulder as he sidled past us and headed for the exit, leaving me with a perky intern. Great.
Jana bit her bottom lip and batted her lashes shyly. I had to give it to her. She had flirtation down to a science. She was obvious about what she wanted but there was a sudden fragility about her that made it difficult to be abrupt or unkind. Not that I would be. I still had to work with her.
I stepped aside when a couple swooped in to take our table then gestured vaguely toward the reception desk in the adjoining area. “I’m having dinner here tonight. I should get going.”
“I’ll come with you. I mean…to join my friends.”
She flashed a winning smile then followed closely as I made my way through the tightly packed bar to the entrance. At some point she latched on to me, slipping her arm through the crook of my elbow like she needed me to pull her to safety. I gently extricated myself from her grip then craned my neck to see if my date had arrived.
“Bye Jana. See you tomorrow. Enjoy your dinner.”
“Wait! Can I ask you something?”
“Um…sure.”
“Are you with someone? Colleen mentioned that you were but…”
“I am.”
“Is it serious? I don’t mean to come on strong—” She chuckled when I widened my eyes comically before continuing, “—but I like you. You’re a brilliant lawyer and honestly, you’re one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. You always stop what you’re doing to help interns and newbies and I guess I was wondering if… you know.”
“I’m flattered, Jana, but yeah, I’m in a serious relationship. The practically married kind of serious.”
“But not quite!” She held up a finger and made a funny face that went a long way toward defusing the clumsy air between us.
“Yeah, well I’m hoping to change that soon.”
“Oh wow! Congratulations!” Her enthusiasm seemed sincere. I smiled then glanced away just as she threw her arms around me.
And because timing was everything, that was when Aaron walked in.
He stopped in his tracks and gave me a lopsided grin, clearly amused at my predicament. I’d take amusement over jealousy any day, I thought as I pushed Jana away and turned to face my man. Damn, he looked amazing. He wore an electric blue suit coat with dark, slim-fitted trousers. If I had to guess, I’d bet he’d come from a photo shoot where the makeup artist decided to use him as a guinea pig. His hazel eyes were heavy lined and there was a pale tint to his lip gloss.
I was aware of Jana’s excited chatter next to me but I couldn’t really hear her. I was reminded of the first night I met Aaron. He’d taken my breath away. I was in awe of him and freaked out by my reaction. My pulse skipped, my palms were slick and my mouth was like the Sahara. I hadn’t known then what was going on with me. Now, I knew I was in love.
“Hi. I’m late,” he said with a cocky smile that grew with each passing second. He knew what he did to me and he fucking loved it.
“You’re perfect.” I pulled Aaron forward and kissed his cheek. Then I put my arm over his shoulder and turned to the bewildered woman beside me. “Jana, this is my boyfriend, Aaron.”
To say she was shocked was a bit of an understatement. She looked blown away and maybe even a little ill. She stared at us long enough that I wondered if she was waiting for a punch line or a “just kidding”. When she sensed it wasn’t coming, she cleared her throat and finally took Aaron’s outstretched hand.
“Oh! Oh…oh right. Um…it’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. Do you work at the firm?” he asked politely.
“Y-yes. I’m an intern who’s interning.” She grimaced as she caught herself and then gestured to somewhere in the restaurant. “Uh, I should go find my friends. I’ll see you tomorrow, Matt. Nice to meet you.”
Cool. That was done. I rubbed Aaron’s shoulder then stepped toward the hostess desk when she called my name. “Come on, babe. I’m starving.”
We were seated at a small table for two in the middle of the restaurant next to a glass and steel banister. There was no neighboring table on one side, but we had a bird’s eye view of the entire space. The hostess set two menus and a wine list next to a tiny vase of wildflowers and the single votive on the white linen tablecloth and assured us our waiter would be with us soon. I opened the leather bound wine list and perused the first page before glancing at my uncharacteristically quiet date.
“They have that Bordeaux you like. Do you want wine or would you rather have a cocktail first?”
“So… that’s Jana,” he singsonged, ignoring my question. He set his elbows on the table and tucked his hands under his chin.
“Yep. I’ll order a bottle of the—”
“She’s staring at me.”
“What? Where?”
“She’s sitting two tables away.” He huffed humorlessly. “This is going to be interesting.”
“It’s not going to be anything. Relax and tell me about your day. You look hot, by the way.”
“Thanks. Check this out.” Aaron grinned then leaned in farther and closed his eyes so I could see the aquamarine glitter on his eyelids.
When I oohed appreciatively, he fluttered his eyelashes and giggled like a kid. I laughed then picked up my water glass to keep myself from touching him just as the waiter stopped at our table to take our drink order. He left us with a promise of fresh bread and the speedy delivery of our wine.
“So you played dress up today,” I commented when we were alone again.
“I did. Clothes, hair, makeup. It was a blast and pretty much the only thing that kept the day from being a complete disaster.”
“What happened?”
“You name it. The designer was late. He insisted on using his own models, but they didn’t fit the pieces he brought with him. He fought with the photographer about lighting, the stylist about the models’ hair and get this… when his tirade went to full scale diva heights, he questioned my fashion sense. He actually called me gauche.”
“And you let him live?”
Aaron threw his head back and laughed. “It may have been a rash decision, but yes. All things considered, I think I handled the situation well. When I suggested we regroup in the morning to give everyone a few more hours to prepare, he didn’t argue. Thank God. The second he left, I made all the necessary calls to be sure I have the personnel I need to get his team in and out before noon tomorrow. I just hope Marsha doesn’t fire my ass before I can prove how fabulous I really am.”
I scoffed. “Why would she fire you? You’re the best assistant art director in DC!”
Aaron gave me a sappy smile and sighed. “That’s why I love you, Matty.”
“What did I say?”
“Sometimes it isn’t what you say. It’s how you look at me when you say it.”
Before I could respond, the waiter returned with our wine and launched immediately into an impressive list of specials. I didn’t hear a word he said. I was engrossed with my date. Aaron was an enigma. He was a whirling dervish who peppered nonstop chatter with animated hand movements and a mischievous glint in his eye. Then he’d stop everything to make a point that left me speechless and ten paces behind him, fumbling to catch up. I felt sorry for anyone who made the mistake of underestimating him.
When the waiter stepped away, I lifted my wine glass and tapped it against his. “How do I look at you?”
“Like I’m the only one here. Like you can’t see anyone but me.”
“I can’t.”
“Me either.” He reached across the table and set his hand over mine, then he sat back and huffed theatrically. “I just wish I didn’t have the intern in my peripheral view. She’s killing the romantic vibe.”
“Don’t look at her.”
“I’m trying but she’s staring again. I’m feeling self conscious,” he groused playfully.
“You?” I rolled my eyes. “Oh please.”
“You’re right. Let’s talk about your parents visiting instead. Whatever you do, don’t tell your mother you have an attractive admirer after you. She’ll insist on meeting her and before I know what hit me, I’ll come home to find Bride magazines with the corners folded on every wedding dress and Jana’s initials circled with hearts on every one.”
I scoffed. “And you’d tell her not to bother with magazines because you’re designing your own gown.”
Aaron snickered appreciatively. “Touché. You do realize if we ever get married, we can’t tell your mother. She’ll freak the fuck out.”
“First of all, it’s ‘when’, not ‘if’ and secondly, that’s her problem… not ours.”
“Ooh! I love it when you get macho territorial and protective, Matty. It turns me on,” he purred, sliding his leg along mine under the table.
“Cut it out. I don’t want to sit here for an hour with a hard on.”
“My bad. I’m not sure I could get hard with my hostile audience. Your friend still looks puzzled, poor thi
