Unsure how to respond, Elliot only nodded. There was no need for Forrest to cheerlead Win. Elliot was already crazy about the man. But he appreciated Forrest’s candor, and it was somewhat of a relief to know Win’s moodiness wasn’t reserved solely for him.
Once inside Win’s house, Forrest walked through the rooms, a frown on his face. “Where’s all your stuff? The walls are so empty. And why do you still have boxes sitting there? You’ve been living here for months.”
“I thought you wanted water, not to put me on an episode ofHouse Hunters.” The scowl on Win’s face didn’t hide the shadows darkening his eyes or the lines deepening across his brow. Watching and listening, Elliot stayed in the background, silent.
“I’m just looking out for you. It can’t help, coming home to an empty house every night.”
The genuine concern in Forrest’s voice puzzled Elliot, and he wondered what was playing behind the scenes that he was missing.
“Elliot, would you mind getting Forrest a bottle of water from the fridge? I need to show him something.” That smile Win directed at him held its usual warmth, and Elliot’s confusion receded. He must’ve been mistaken.
“Sure.” Leaving the two men in the living room, he entered the kitchen and retrieved the bottle of water. On his way out, the photograph of Win and the other man caught his eye, but he ignored it, figuring Win would eventually introduce him to this friend. Between his own limited and not so impressive experience with men and Win’s solitary life, neither was rushing this relationship, and Elliot would rather concentrate on the two of them first, before adding ex-lovers into the picture.
Upon his return, Win and Forrest weren’t in the living room or the family room, and Elliot waited in the front hall, unsure whether he should go upstairs and search for them. Muted voices sounded from the second floor.
“Elliot, we’re coming.” Win ran down the steps, greeting him with a smile and a quick squeeze to his arm. Forrest followed more slowly, a thoughtful look on his face.
He took the bottle of water Elliot held out to him. “It was really good to meet you, Elliot. Win told me you were a writer, so I looked up your articles. Interesting stuff you’ve discovered. My wife, Claudia, and I are planning on looking into some of these hidden gems no one knows about, whenever we can get a babysitter.”
That hidden-gems-of-the-city article had been published several months earlier. It made him stupid happy knowing Win had been thinking about him and had discussed him with Forrest. Maybe it wouldn’t be foolish to hold out hope that this time things might turn out right.
“I’m dying to try out that bank-vault restaurant myself.” Win arched a brow. “I was hoping to get an invite wheneversomeonedecides to go.”
Enjoying the banter, Elliot played along. “Well, since I’ve already been this year, I wouldn’t be able to expense it for the magazine. It would need to be a date. And a very expensive one at that.”
“Some things are worth it.”
A familiar glint lit Win’s eyes, and Elliot felt a tug of corresponding warmth deep inside. God, he wanted this to work, but he was flailing in the wind, so accustomed to receiving crumbs, he didn’t know what to do with a whole damn slice of life.
Not long after, they stood on the porch, waving good-bye to Forrest as he drove away.
“Forrest seems like a really nice guy.”
“He’s the best. I’m the lucky one. He’s saved my ass more times than I can count.”
“Funny, he said the same thing about you,” Elliot told him as they went back inside.
The door shut behind him, and Win braced an arm over his head, keeping him in place.
“What’s the matter?” Elliot licked his lips. “Is something wrong?”
Win’s intense gaze held him riveted. “Forrest and I have been through a lot together—”
“I can only imagine.”
The brush of Win’s fingers over his cheek left him curiously hot and chilled. “There you go, interrupting me. You didn’t let me finish. Forrest and I have been through a lot together, yet somehow, you’re much more dangerous to me than anything I’ve ever faced on the streets.”
Oh God, was it crazy that those words set his blood on fire? The pounding of his heart filled every space in his head, and he struggled to draw in a breath.
“H-how?”
Win’s fingers stopped their teasing over his lips. “I don’t know. That’s what makes it so damn crazy. But I’ve never been one to run away from what scares me.” He closed the space between them and touched their lips together. “What about you? Are you willing to take the ride?”
“Full steam ahead, huh?”
Win framed Elliot’s face between his hands. “Buckle up, baby.”
