Chapter 12
The rest of the drive back to Holiday Pines was quiet and thankfully uneventful. Rayne spent most of it lost in thought. The kiss they’d shared changed everything as far as he was concerned, and he wanted to plan his next move carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was spook Emilio and lose all their progress, but he also wanted to keep things moving forward. They needed to talk and make sure they were on the same page, and Rayne didn’t want to put off having that conversation.
After they got both trees inside and dusted the pine needles off their clothes, Rayne loitered in the foyer, watching Emilio closely.
“If you don’t have an early day tomorrow, I’d like to stay and talk for a while,” he said, trying to sound more casual than he felt.
Emilio tilted his head to one side, watching Rayne closely, but without the guarded expression he’d worn like armor. “Sure. We do need to talk.”
Rayne nodded, relieved that Emilio agreed and that he didn’t seem wary. “Should we have a seat somewhere? We might want to be comfortable for this.”
“Let’s go into the kitchen.” Emilio waved his hand in invitation. “Would you like some cocoa? It’s late for coffee, but I could make that if you’d prefer.”
“Cocoa sounds great,” Rayne said as he followed Emilio to the kitchen. “I still feel like I need to thaw out around the edges.”
“Me too.”
Once in the homey kitchen, Emilio pointed to the island. “Have a seat.” He set about retrieving a saucepan, milk, and cocoa mix, and Rayne was reminded of all the times Isabel had made them cocoa the same way after they’d been playing outside in the cold.
Rayne took a seat and leaned on his elbows while he watched Emilio putter around the kitchen. For the first time since his return, Rayne didn’t feel the tension radiating between them, and he felt like he was getting a glimpse into what things could be like if they could find a way to move beyond the past. He waited until Emilio had finished making the hot chocolate and was sitting on the stool beside him, a steaming mug in front of them both.
“We should talk about that kiss,” he said, watching Emilio’s expression for any sign of the walls going back up. “Let me start by saying it was hot, I enjoyed it, and I have no regrets that it happened.”
“Neither do I,” Emilio said softly. “I enjoyed it, too.”
Rayne lifted his mug to his lips and took a sip, watching Emilio over the rim. “I guess the question is, are you interested in doing it again?”
Emilio raised a brow. “That depends. If you’re asking if I’m interested in a fling, the answer is no. We still have chemistry, and I have no doubt it would be as hot as I remember, but I told you I don’t do hookups. Not even with you.”
“I’m not interested in a hookup either.” Rayne stretched out his free hand and rested it on Emilio’s. “I’m interested in seeing if we could build something together that lasts.”
Emilio didn’t pull his hand away, but he held still under Rayne’s touch. “You realize I’m going to take a lot of convincing that you’re serious. I gave you my heart once, and you gave it back. I don’t want to be just some walk down memory lane for you and have you change your mind and go back to Atlanta.”
“I know, and I understand,” Rayne said, squeezing Emilio’s hand gently. “It’s easy for me to say this isn’t about nostalgia, but you need to believe it. So we’ll take it slow. We’ll date. I’ll put my townhouse in Atlanta on the market and see if I can drum up any interest in my business. I’ve had a couple of offers to buy it before. They might still be interested. Maybe you could help me pick out a house here in town to buy.”
“Would you want to buy a house?” Emilio asked, giving Rayne a sidelong glance. “If you’re really serious about us, well… I love this old house. It could use some updating, though, don’t you think?”
Rayne caressed the back of Emilio’s hand with his thumb, unable to hold back a wide smile. “I’d love to help with that.”
“All right.” Emilio looked at him more directly and then turned his hand over to clasp Rayne’s. “We can see where this goes. But I’m warning you, Sadler… I haven’t forgotten about bricking you up in the basement if you break my heart again.”
“Duly noted. But I don’t intend to break your heart again.” Rayne brought Emilio’s hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “This time, I plan to keep it forever,” he said, his own heart feeling lighter than it had in years. Being in Holiday Pines and being with Emilio again—it all felt right, as if he was where he was meant to be at last.
“You’ll have to get it from me first,” Emilio said, but he was smiling slightly. “I’m not an easy boy, Mr. Sadler. My mama warned me about city slickers like you.”
“She was right,” Rayne said, giving Emilio a heated smile. “I can think of all kinds of naughty things I’d like to do with you.” He squeezed Emilio’s hand and released it. “But not until you’re ready. We’ll go at your pace until you’re certain I’m in this for the long haul.”
“Thank you.” Emilio leaned in and kissed Rayne on the cheek. “It’s not that the naughty parts aren’t appealing, but you’re right. I need to be sure, Rayne. Sure of you, and sure of myself.”
Rayne leaned into another kiss and smiled, a sense of contentment settling over him. “I don’t care how long it takes,” he said. “You’re worth the wait.”
“I hope so.” Emilio pulled back. “Just promise you’ll be honest with me.”
“I have been, and I’ll continue to be,” Rayne said, drawing an X over his heart. “Now I want you to promise me something.”
Emilio raised a brow. “What’s that?”
“Let me borrow a spare key and promise to stay away from this house until I personally escort you back.”
