Leo busted out laughing, drawing the attention of the other tenants who’d helped him and now stood around having a cold drink, chatting or cleaning up.
“It would take more than a few flowers to make up for that.” To Morgan’s shock, Leo took him by the arm and drew him to the sidewalk, out of earshot of the neighbors. “But I am serious. And I’m sorry for what I said earlier and the way I acted, so I want to make it up to you.”
It was impossible to remain ice-cold with Leo’s fingers burning into him. “O-okay. What?”
“I have two tickets to the Mets game tonight my buddy gave me. You want to go with me?”
If Leo had stripped naked in the middle of the street, Morgan couldn’t have been more surprised. “Go with you? Me?”
“I don’t see anyone else here, do you?”
The angry scowl had faded from Leo’s face, replaced by a gorgeous, teasing smile it took Morgan a second to recover from.
“Okay, sure,” he blurted. It was the first time he hadn’t rolled something around in his head, weighing the pros and cons.
“Good. Pick you up in front around six. See ya.”
Morgan watched him saunter away, and he shook his head free of the fantasy that it was a date.
***
At five minutes to six, Morgan waited by the front steps of the apartment building. Yeah, he might’ve changed clothes two…make it three times and ended up with a bright-green T-shirt and khaki shorts. Feeling stupid, he FaceTimed Chris to calm his nerves and talk himself down from feeling like it was a first date.
“Sounds like one to me,” Chris said with a smile. “Why don’t you think so?”
“Because it’s Leo. You don’t know him, but he’s not the type. I didn’t even know he had friends. I’ve only seen him alone, stalking around, fixing things.”
“Means nothing. That’s work. Maybe he’s a different man when he’s off-duty. Do you like him?”
“I don’t know. I can’t figure him out. And I’m not his type. He’s got these tattoos, and he boxes and lifts weights…nothing like other guys I’ve been attracted to.”
“And yet look at you, all red in the face. Why can’t you step out of your comfort zone? Are you ashamed he’s not a white-collar guy? That’s not like you.”
“No, of course not.” Morgan grew hot. “Look how well that turned out with Jeffrey. It’s just…something’s off whenever I’m with him. Like I’m not seeing the real him.”
“Maybe this will give you the opportunity to find out who he is, then.”
“Yeah.”
They ended the conversation, and Morgan checked his phone again to see it was five past six. Maybe Leo forgot. He wouldn’t be surprised. The sound of a motorcycle caught his attention and his mouth fell open as he squinted into the street.
“Hey, 5C, come on. Let’s move it.”
Grinning from under his helmet, Leo sat on a bike, sunglasses hiding his eyes, looking like a snack Morgan wanted to gobble up. Lusty images of the two of them naked and sweaty together rolled through Morgan, which he steadfastly ignored. Leo revved the engine as Morgan ran over.
“What the hell? A motorcycle? I’ve never been on one before.”
“First time for everything.” He held out a helmet. “Put it on, get behind me, and hold on.”
Heart pounding, Morgan slipped it on and buckled the chin strap. He swung his leg over the seat and gingerly slipped his arms around Leo’s waist.
“If you don’t hold on tighter, you’re gonna slip off and bust your ass. Don’t worry, I won’t think you’re coming on to me.” His shoulders shook with laughter, and Morgan bristled.
“If I remember correctly, you were the one coming on to me.”
“Whatever. Let’s go.”
Morgan grinned to himself.
