“Hey, I went to college upstate. I’ve lived out of the city.”
Win parked the car, and they walked up the path, following the other people to the main building. “College isn’t real.”
“It was the best time of my life,” Elliot mused, squinting into the sun. “I finally met people who cared about me.”
“Your friend Spencer?”
“Spencer, Chess, and Wolf. They’re as close to brothers as I can get.”
“Well, I hope I can be counted in your friend group now.” Elliot gave him a brief smile, and Win took his hand. “Let’s go get some wine.”
They were quickly set up with the flights of wine they chose to taste, as well as a board of various cheeses and crackers. The sky stretched out before them, endlessly blue with barely a cloud, and the breeze blew sweet and fresh. Butterflies danced in the flower beds, and birds sang. In the distance, a rooster crowed, and an errant bee buzzed by his cheek. Win stretched out his legs and allowed himself to forget the ugliness of the job waiting for him at home and simply enjoy the man he was with and the attraction simmering between them.
Elliot’s expressive gaze swept over the grounds, and he kept up a steady stream of conversation. “We passed so many little vineyards along the way. They all looked so pretty. I definitely want to come again and spend more time—maybe the whole weekend.” He finished his Chablis-style Chardonnay.
“Being that it’s so popular, it books up early and it’s expensive, but there are some pretty bed-and-breakfasts. The fall is also a wonderful time to visit.” It was on the tip of his tongue to suggest they take another trip, but he refrained, uncertain where they’d be at that time. He’d been the one to insist on no strings and friendship only, so why did the thought of Elliot with someone else now seem so inconceivable? He mulled those questions as he sipped his wine and nibbled on the cheese.
Oblivious to the wrestling match taking place inside Win’s head, Elliot continued to tap away on his iPad while taking in the sights, wide-eyed. “This will make for a great article. The drive alone is a nice escape from the city, but the vineyards are beautiful and the wine tastings make it the perfect way to spend a day, either with a friend or for a small party.”
Sitting outside and enjoying the sun while drinking iced white wine was pretty much Win’s definition of a perfect afternoon. After they finished their wine and cheese, they walked around the vineyard, took pictures, then returned to the store and bought a few bottles they’d each liked best to bring home. He loaded their purchases into the back of the Jeep, and they climbed in.
Elliot leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for a wonderful day. I rarely get out of the city, and this was even better than I could’ve imagined.”
Win took Elliot’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m glad.” He didn’t let go, and they drove down the highway, fingers entwined, both of them giving each other quick glances and smiles as the miles sped by.
Being with Elliot was as comfortable as if they were dating and in a true relationship. But Win wasn’t concerned—he had it under control and wasn’t getting in over his head. It was all so new, he was bound to get caught up in the thrill of his first sexual relationship in years. Elliot understood their arrangement. It was all working out better than he’d hoped for.
“How about we stop for some dessert?” At the approaching road sign, Win took an exit he remembered from several years ago. “There’s a place not too far off the road where we can pick up some amazing homemade pies.”
“Sure.” Immersed in his iPad, writing away, Elliot nodded. “Sounds good.”
They stopped at a local place famous for their pies and wandered around the rustic store. Rough-hewn tables held jars of jewel-toned homemade jam wrapped in homey red-and-white checkered cloths, tins of creamy fudge, honey sticks, and old-fashioned candy piled high in glass bins. The pies he craved were set on a display, and he paused before the selection.
“Oh God, they all look so good.” Elliot licked his lips, sending a surge of lust rocketing through Win, and he had to restrain himself from grabbing a kiss.
“Yeah. Delicious,” he murmured, settling for a little nuzzle. Elliot turned pink.
“Idiot.” But he turned to meet Win’s mouth for a kiss that ended way too soon.
They decided on cherry, peach, and strawberry rhubarb, simply because they couldn’t pick a favorite. Elliot carried two pies to the register, and Win held the third one. He stopped to examine some of the fudge on a display table and chose the double chocolate, while Elliot continued on to the front and set the pies on the counter.
“That’ll go great with homemade vanilla ice cream.” The clerk ringing up their pies leaned on the counter, close to Elliot, a wide smile gleaming white in his sun-flushed face, and Win’s hackles rose as he approached them. “My folks run a place down the road. I can take you to get some if you’d like.”
Back off.
He placed his pie and fudge next to the others and put an arm around Elliot’s shoulder, which earned him the kind of smile he wanted to see next to him in the morning. Oblivious to the clerk’s flirting, Elliot looked to him.
“Fudge too?”
“Yeah, I plan on overdosing on sweet things tonight.” The growl in his voice left little to the imagination. “We don’t need a bag.” He slapped his credit card on the counter and waited for the clerk to ring them up, bouncing up and down on his toes. Elliot didn’t speak again until they were on the highway.
“Can I ask you what that was all about?”
“What?” He gripped the steering wheel.
Elliot snorted out a laugh. “Oh, come on. All that growling. What’s going on?”
Win ground his teeth. “He was flirting with you.”
