"So…" Tony was just guessing here, but there may have been a part of him trying to figure out a way to bridge the gap he could see forming between him and the man he couldn't forget. "If I made sure I showered and changed my clothes every time I came to see you, that would be okay?"
"Yes, of course. I'd like that."
"And you don't have a problem with me working a blue-collar job?"
"My father was a welder. He worked hard every day of his life and provided me and my mother with a good roof over our heads and food on the table. He did an honest day's work for honest day's pay. There is nothing wrong with that."
"But?"
He knew there was a but.
"It's just so messy."
Tony pressed his knuckles to his mouth to keep from laughing. "I promise to make sure I'm not messy when I come see you, okay?"
"I know I sound crazy, Tony. I just…"
"Can't stand being messy."
"No." Lex sighed. "I'm actually kind of obsessive about being clean."
Tony blew out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding before chuckling. He refused to be involved with someone who was ashamed of him because he was a mechanic. He'd dealt with that enough from his parents and siblings to last him a lifetime. He wouldn't put up with it from the man he was dating, assuming that was what they were doing.
Lex's obsessive need to be clean was something he could work with.
"We got this, baby."
Chapter Three
Lex smiled as he took the flowers from the delivery driver. It was the biggest bouquet of red roses he'd ever seen, and they'd been delivered to him. There was a definite bounce to his step as he carried them into the kitchen. He set the bouquet down on the counter then reached for the card nestled between the stems.
"To the most beautiful man I've ever seen. I can't wait for you to be mine."
Lex felt his heart take a perilous leap. He'd received flowers before, but never like this. He grabbed his cell phone and quickly slid through his contacts until he came to the one he wanted. A wide smile spread across his lips as he dialed then pressed the phone to his ear.
"Tony," he said as soon as someone picked up the line.
"No, Brody."
Lex frowned, the smile sliding off his face. "Is this Antonio Garza's phone?"
"It is. Tony is underneath my car at the moment, replacing my muffler. Can I take a message?"
"Oh." The smile was back. "Can you tell him thank you for the flowers?"
"I'd be happy to."
"Thank you." Lex was a little sad when he hung up because he'd wanted to talk to Tony and thank him for the flowers personally. He had no idea who Brody was, but it was always a good idea to be polite.
Lex was disappointed that he wasn't able to talk to Tony right now without even thanking him for the flowers. He loved to hear the man talk period. Tony had a deep whiskey voice with a slight accent.
They had spent hours on the phone since Tony had left to go home, almost every night, just talking. The subjects they talked about didn't really matter. It was just nice having someone to connect to, someone Lex was starting to care for quite a lot.
He couldn't wait until Tony came back to town.
Lex made sure the flowers had plenty of water in them then set them in the middle of the dining room table. He would have preferred to put them on his desk, but he wasn't taking any chances with his computer. Water and electronics did not mix.
He grabbed his cell phone, his wallet, and his jacket then headed out the door. He had a few groceries to get, and then maybe he'd stop by the local adult store and pick up a few items for the next time Tony was in town.
