“Yeah. My mama put up some chili for you, so I hope you’re hungry, and Daddy’ll want you to try the beer he’s taken to brewing. And uh, they, uh, think we’re friends. Not friends with benefits.”
Rico laughed hard, his head hitting the back of his seat. “Don’t worry. I won’t grab your ass during the meal.”
They got out of the truck, and when he handed Rico his bag from the back seat, Rico flattened him up against the passenger-side door, his hard body hitting Adam’s in all the right places so Adam could feel the strength of his desire.
“I make no promises about later, though.” Hot lips skimmed over Adam’s neck, and he bit back a moan and cupped Rico’s ass, thinking where he and Rico could go to be alone. With a start, Adam realized that edgy, unsettled feeling he’d carried with him for days had left him, replaced now by a sense of calm, with Rico’s arms around him. He shifted, allowing Rico’s muscled frame to fit with his, the thump of Rico’s heart playing a matching beat with his own. Neither said anything, and the stillness of the sweet-perfumed air built up around them like a crescendo of tension, as if waiting to see what other surprises the night might bring.
A bit mystified and shaken, Adam broke their embrace and gave a nervous laugh. “I’ll give you a private tour of the place after we eat.”
Meeting Rico’s burning gaze, his insides churned. For days he’d wandered around a bit lost and uncertain, the death of that young boy weighing heavily on his mind. Having Rico here with him lit up his frozen existence even as it brought him peace, and Adam didn’t understand what had happened to rock his smooth, untroubled world.
“Let’s go.”
With Rico trailing behind him, Adam led the way inside his parents’ sprawling house. From the shining hardwood floors to the exposed beams and rough-stone fireplace that took up the entire back wall of the expansive great room, this house reflected their love of the outdoors. If they could have worked it out, Adam knew they’d have built a creek running through the center, but instead, forty years ago when they’d bought the home, they made sure to include the lake located about fifty yards from the back deck. The wall of windows in the kitchen overlooked the water and his mother’s garden, and Adam remembered the sleepy summer days of swimming and his father teaching him how to fish.
“Adam? That you?”
“Yes, Mama. Rico’s here.”
“Bring him into the kitchen. I hope he’s hungry.”
Adam glanced back over his shoulder and caught the amused light dancing in Rico’s eyes. “Youarehungry, right? They ate already but I waited for you.”
“I could eat a horse.” Rico rubbed his stomach, and Adam’s eyes followed his hand movements under the T-shirt, stroking the soft bare skin Adam recalled tasting.
“Uh, yeah, well, my mama’s chili is the best.”
They walked into the kitchen where his mother, her red hair caught up in a ponytail, stood at the stove in front of a pot in which something delicious-smelling bubbled gently. She waved a big wooden spoon at them.
“Hi. I’m Grace, Adam’s mama. Join Adam and his daddy at the table, and I’ll get you boys some chili. Wes has the beer already.”
“Rico. Nice to meet you.” Adam watched his father greet his lover and wondered if his parents had already guessed Rico was more than a casual friend. “You’re a good friend to make the trip. Sit, sit. How long have you known Adam?”
Accepting a beer from his father and taking his seat, Rico took a deep draught before answering, and as always, Adam watched him swallow. He’d never been a neck man, but Rico made the simple task of taking a drink sensual.
“Adam, come here and take yours and Rico’s bowls to the table.” His mother stood by the stove with a smile in her eyes, and he girded himself for the forthcoming interrogation.
“Thanks, Mama.” The chili sat steaming in bowls, fragrant with the smells of spice and tomato. He went to pick the two bowls up when he felt a hand on his arm.
“Not so fast, darlin’.”
Sighing, he placed a smile on his lips and met her eyes. “Yes, Mama?”
Crossing her arms, she pinned him with a pretend-glare, but not before checking to see that his father and Rico were still immersed in conversation.
“Oh, sonny boy, you surely didn’t think you’d have someone fly all the way from New York City and not expect me to ask a few questions?”
“I thought maybe I got lucky.” Adam’s wink brought him a shake of her head.
“You just might be at that. That man must care about you if he traveled halfway across the country to see you.”
“We’re friends is all.”
“Is that your choice, or his? I wouldn’t be too sure. Seems he must feel something for you if he took it upon himself to come out here in the middle of the night almost.”
At that, Adam had to laugh. “Mama. New Yorkers do not consider eleven o’clock the middle of the night. That’s when things tend to get hopping.”
“Hmm.” Her audible huff left no doubt she remained supremely unconvinced. “You can say whatever you want, but I know what I see.”
