“You didn’t know you inherited the farm?”
Brody nodded. “Honestly, I figured they’d sold it or were in debt and lost it somehow. But Aunt Kelly came by the rehab hospital to tell me about it, how it was in a trust, waiting for me, and that even though I’d disgraced the family by being queer”— Brody made air quotes on the last two words, “—they’d left the farm to me in the will due to my army service. That, and the fact that Nichole apparently ran off with a black man and was disowned entirely.”
Diego’s hand covered his mouth as Brody spoke. “That’s the most fucked up think I’ve ever heard.”
“Right?” Brody had to stifle a laugh. “They never once contacted me after I got sent to Tennessee. I want to feel bad about not missing them, or mourning them, but—” He shrugged again. “My aunt wanted me to sell the land to her, seeing as I was disabled and not fit for farming. But I told her I wanted to hold onto it, so now I got the farm and we’re turning it into an organization to help others.”
Diego nodded once. “You and your partner.”
Brody grinned. “Aaron, yeah. He was my physical therapist and helped me get Peach here. But after a while we just talked more and more about starting our own business, and then Audra, his wife, she really got the ball rollin’ and—”
“His wife?” Diego set his fork down. “I thought…” He sat back in his chair and scrubbed his face. “Oh. When you said partner, I thought— and then I saw those boys in the backseat of your car and I thought—”
Oh. It took Brody a moment to catch up. “You thought—oh no. No, I meant business partners. Aaron’s married to Audra, and those boys are my nephews. Nichole’s kids, but that’s another story.” His face went red hot when he realized that Diego had been upset at the idea of Brody being in a relationship. “I’m not with anyone. There’s never been—” But Brody didn’t finish the sentence. The half-smile on Diego’s face, almost sheer relief that Brody wasn’t involved with Aaron was enough, for right now.
Aaron had been right—it was still there, all those emotions, right on the surface even after all this time. Brody didn’t know quite how Diego felt, but a storm was brewing inside Brody, filled with hunger and desire.
Their server stopped back by the table—did they want another drink or dessert? Brody glanced down at his phone and realized the time. How had two hours passed by so quickly? “I’ve got to get back upstairs. We’re leaving early in the morning—wait.” Brody reached out his hand and stopped Diego from pulling out his wallet. “No, don’t. Remember, you helped me out today. Because of you, our business is gonna expand and soon we’ll be able to help more veterans and more dogs start new lives.” Brody glanced down at Peach. “You don’t know what a difference they can make in someone’s life.”
Diego looked down, sheepish. “I’m glad to help. And it was good talking to you again.” Diego tucked his wallet back into the pocket of his jeans. “I had hoped things worked out for you wherever you landed.”
“Me too. And I can’t thank you enough. After finding out what my parents did to you and your folks, it wouldn’t have surprised me if you told me to jump off a cliff when I called you asking for your help.”
“There's nothing for you to be sorry about. And I hope you guys hear from Chance soon.” Then Diego stood. “I better be going.”
He reached out his hand, and Brody stood and took it. The intense heat of Diego's gaze filled the air as their eyes locked, brimming with yearning and passionate curiosity. Brody felt himself being pulled closer to Diego, a powerful magnetism between them. He imagined Diego's strong arms around him like they used to be, sending shivers down his spine.
But Brody let go of Diego’s hand and watched him walk out of the restaurant, and a minute later, he headed upstairs to his hotel room, lost in his own thoughts and memories.
Chapter Ten
Threedayshadpassedsince Diego had seen Brody, since their enlightening dinner conversation. Three days, and Diego still couldn’t get Brody out of his thoughts. They’d talked for hours, yet Diego still had so many questions—about Brody’s life in the service, about his nephews, about Peach. Diego wasn’t sure that an hour had passed since Saturday night that he hadn’t thought about Brody or wondered what it would be like to feel those strong arms around him again.
At least it was quiet at work. Becca, who was married to Felipe and co-owner of the tattoo parlor, was setting up a small tree in the front waiting area. She’d already attached colorful stockings with all the employee’s names to the wall behind the counter. A soccer game on one of the Spanish-language stations played on a large television as Diego walked by, laughing. “I’m still eating Thanksgiving leftovers, and you’ve already got the Christmas tree up? I don’t know who’s worse, you or Diana.”
Becca grinned. “I’ve had everything up at the house for two weeks, but I promised Felipe that I’d wait here at the store until Turkey Day was done. But now it’s time for Christmas! It’s my favorite holiday,” she said as she stood back and admired her work.
Diego chuckled. “Me too. My mother used to decorate the entire house. She had something festive in every room, even our bedrooms.” Their home had been small but warm, and full of love and laughter—at least until it all went to hell.
“Keep those memories close to your heart, and you’ll never lose them,” she told him, then walked back to the break room.
Diego mulled over her words for a moment, then headed back to his workstation. He pulled out his guitar case and opened it. Inside were an old acoustic guitar and a small black notebook. He flipped to a page in the back, where he scribbled over a few lines in his latest song and added a few lines, inspired by his conversation with Becca.
“Diego.”
He looked up, startled. His cousin Felipe stood in the doorway to Diego’s work area with a curious expression on his face. No matter the weather outside, Felipe always wore a tight black t-shirt and black jeans to the tattoo parlor, to better show off the colorful ink on his arms and neck like a walking billboard. “Oh hey,” Diego answered as he set his pencil down.
“Didn’t mean to scare you.” Felipe raised his hand. “I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing, since I didn’t see you for Thanksgiving.”
Ten years older than Diego, Felipe had taken him under his wing during a difficult time in Diego’s life. Diego would never forget that kindness, and he respected his older cousin, even if they lived very different lives. “Oh, it was good. Diana and I spent Thursday at my ex-roommate’s new house and then I had dinner with an old friend on Friday.”
“Friends are good.” Felipe stepped into Diego’s cubicle space and sat down. He glanced down at the notebook. “Working on another song?”
Diego nodded. “I’m trying to get some more done between customers. Becca says we’ve got several appointments scheduled for tonight.”
“What do you have so far?”
Diego’s face flushed hot, but Felipe had always given him honest and encouraging critiques. He picked up his guitar and strummed a few notes. Then Diego sang softly, holding out the notebook to Felipe so he could read along.
