Ian ran a hand through his hair.“Um, do you want to ...”He trailed off, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, staring at Sam’s hand on the knob.
“You never called me.”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t notice that,” Ian mumbled.He cleared his throat.“Sam, would you go out to dinner with me tonight?Please?”he added when Sam just stared.
“I guess ...I have my own parameter.”
Ian finally looked up at him, eyes widening.
“When you say you’ll call me, you actually will.”
Ian nodded quickly.“Okay.”
“Let me change and we can go.”
Sam obviously felt confused, and probably nervous.That seemed all right to Ian, because he himself definitely was feeling confused and maybe a little bit ...agitated.He didn’t really know what to do here.How much emotional connection was too much?How much of this stuff indicated more feeling than he really had for Sam?
By the way, howdoyou feel about Sam?
He nearly groaned.Now was so not the time to try to figure that out, not while they were waiting for his name to be called at this restaurant Andy had recommended.She’d said her brother Dalton’s “more upscale” dates took him here.Ian could totally see some forty-year-old guy taking Andy’s twenty-something brother to wine and dine here, thinking he’d get a superlative blowjob for his trouble and all the dough he dropped at dinner.
Not that Ian actually thought that way about Dalton, but this place had that vibe.
Jesus, why had he thought this was a good idea?So he sort of needed to make up for not calling when he’d actually meant to and really did want to see Sam again.But this place?White tablecloths and reservations and freaking candlelit tables?What did Sam think it meant?Ian’s chest started to tighten up.
He shifted in his chair, trying to get more comfortable in the over-lit waiting area.Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sam picking at his fingernails.He put his hand over Sam’s to get him to stop.Sam flinched when he touched him, his head hitting the back of his chair.A snort of laughter escaped Ian before he could smother it, and when he looked at Sam he could see his cheeks going from too pale to too pink.
“Are you nervous?”Ian asked.Thank fuck he wasn’t the only one.
Sam shook his headno, still looking at his hands.Then he slowly started noddingyes.
“Why?”
Sam glanced at him, then looked away.“No one’s ever taken me on a date like this.”
“No one’s ever taken you on a date?”His voice rose, and Sam’s cheeks flushed darker.
“Of course I’ve been on dates,” he hissed.“Just not to a place with white tablecloths and candlelight, that’s all.And we’re wearingjeans.”
“Hell, most of the guys here are wearing jeans.The only people dressed up are the waiters.”And the chicken hawks.Ian had intended to bluff his way through this, but if Sam could be honest, so could he.“I’ve never taken a date to a place like this.”He’d barely hadanydates, with guys at least.
The look on Sam’s face was worth every honest syllable.“You haven’t?”he asked.“I’m it?”
Oh Jesus, now Ian felt himself blushing.He cleared his throat but met Sam’s eyes.“Yeah.You’re it.”Sam ducked his head again, looking still pink and maybe embarrassed, but for a different reason, Ian hoped.
Or wait, did he?Hell.
They were seated before Sam spoke again.“So, you’ve never been here before?”
Ian studied his menu, seeing nothing.“Nope.”
Unfortunately, Sam continued his line of questioning.Ian tried not to squirm.“How did you find it?”
Ian sighed and put down his menu.“I asked Andy—my assistant, remember?”Sam nodded.“I asked her if there was a place in town where I could take you and not be, um, conspicuous.”
“Conspicuous,” Sam repeated flatly.
Hell, had he fucked up somehow?“Yeah.Stick out, you know.”
