“Well, you sure as hell didn’t cook in your kitchen.” Gideon narrowed his eyes. “What’re you hiding from me? I can tell, you know. When you don’t want to talk about something, you can’t look me straight in the eyes.” A wolfish grin touched his lips. “And goddamn if you’re not blushing.” With his hands planted on his hips, Gideon continued grinning. “Spill it.”
His sneaker drew a line down the dusty floor. “The firehouse offered us their space; their kitchen is huge and top-of-the-line. It seemed like the perfect alternative. Plus I think they liked getting the good press from helping out the community.”
“The firehouse, huh?” A devilish gleam lit Gideon’s eyes. “A particular fireman help you? One with red hair and a nice ass?”
“Shut up,” he said, but Rico couldn’t help his smile. “Yeah, Adam helped. He set it up with his chief. And we got Ari to come in and take care of all the blessing stuff, to make the kitchen kosher.”
Waving him off, Gideon leaned against the counter. “I didn’t doubt that for a sec. I’m more interested in your sex life. What’s the deal with Adam? You two work it out yet, or are you still being a stubborn asshole?”
Unwilling to give too much away yet, Rico conceded a little. “We may have.”
When it became apparent he wasn’t going to say more, Gideon shook his head in disgust. “Really? That’s all you’re gonna say?”
“Yup.” Feeling as though a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off his shoulders, Rico could be lighthearted for the first time in days.
Looking thoughtful, Gideon nodded. “I get it.”
Gideon’s words surprised him. “Uh, yeah?”
“When it’s fresh and new, you want to keep it all to yourself.”
Truth.Being with Adam now and knowing they were together brought him not only joy but a sense of peace. A place. Their relationship was the anchor, the home he never knew he was searching for until he had it. And now Rico wanted it all. He wanted everything. With Adam.
“Yeah.”
Gideon bumped their shoulders together. “I’m happy for you, man. You deserve it more than anyone.”
They stood there for a moment, grinning at each other. The door opened, and Jonah walked in, eyes wide with shock.
“What happened? Is everyone okay? No one got hurt?” He crossed the store in long strides and joined them.
“No, thank God.” Rico repeated the story, watching flashes of horror, pain, and sympathy cross Jonah’s face. In the end, Jonah hugged him, then Gideon.
“I’m so glad you and no one else were hurt. It’s a good thing the firehouse is right near here.”
“A very good thing, right, Rico?” Gideon’s Cheshire-cat grin was rewarded by a punch to his shoulder.
“Let’s go. We have a lot of cleaning up to do.” Rico thrust the broom into Gideon’s hands. “Time for you to put your lazy ass to work.”
“I bet your ass has been working overtime.”
Gideon’s lips twitched, and Rico shook his head. “Jonah. Get your man under control.”
They all laughed and began the tedious work of cleaning, but Rico didn’t mind. He had his friends and now his lover. Everything was perfect.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Adam. Daddy’s hada heart attack.”
“What? No.” The bottom dropped out of Adam’s world, and he sat up in bed so quickly, the room spun. He should’ve known things were going too well. At his shout, Rico rolled over and opened his eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
But he couldn’t talk. Not yet. He held out his hand, and Rico grabbed it, holding him tight.
“He’s gonna be okay. It was a mild one, but the doctor says he needs to take it easy for a few weeks. Change his diet and do more exercise.” His mother’s normal upbeat voice sounded tired, and he could hear her fear. Adam wanted to throw up from his own.
“Is he home? Can I talk to him?”
