They’d already had a few beers with their sushi. The last thing he wanted was Danny getting drunk. Colson mustered a faint smile. “Uh, I don’t. Haven’t gone shopping in a while.” He filled the pot and set it to brew.
“Let me know when you plan to restock. My ex hooked me up with some great places where I can get you a good deal.”
Having done a mental tally of how many times Danny had mentioned his ex, Colson could now round it up to an even ten.
Time to wrap this up.
“You know—”
“Hey, I was wondering if I could see that signed Stephen King book you mentioned. I’m a big fan of his.”
Colson’s lips twitched. Danny hadn’t even pretended to have read one of his books. “Sure. I’ll be right back. Help yourself to coffee when it’s ready.” He left Danny sitting on the couch and ran upstairs.
In his bedroom, Colson opened the closet, took out the box where he kept his collection of signed books, and retrieved the Stephen King. Closing his eyes for a moment, he recalled Harper stretched out on top of him, kissing him, licking him…
“Stop it. You’re acting like a teenaged, lovesick idiot.” Colson made a fist and banged his thigh, angry with himself for falling into the trap of thinking that what he and Harper had was anything more than the urge to scratch an itch no one else seemed to be able to satisfy.
He shut the light and returned to see Danny sprawled on the sofa, coffee cup in hand, completely comfortable. A domestic scene Colson could see playing out for years. If he wanted, Colson knew he could fall into a relationship with Danny. He’d be the type of partner who’d come home for dinner every night and go out to brunch every weekend. Football in the winter and baseball in the summer. Hamptons parties and summer trips to Mykonos.
Colson would know exactly what to expect.
There’d be no vibrating presence, sucking up all the air in the room. No sarcastic banter or teasing. No loss of control from a single kiss.
He wasn’t Harper.
“Here it is.”
Danny’s eyes lit up, and he thumbed through it. “So cool.” He set the book on the coffee table, and to Colson’s shock, grabbedhis face and planted a wet kiss on his lips. “I’ve been wanting to do that since I met you.”
He pulled away, trying to hide his grimace as he wiped his mouth. “Oh, yeah? I’m sorry, but when I’m writing I don’t allow myself any distractions.”
Danny’s brow furrowed. “Sex isn’t a distraction.”
“It is for me. I’m sorry. I’m on a deadline, and I’m afraid I have to call it a night.”
At his crestfallen expression, Colson almost felt bad for the guy, but he wasn’t about to kiss someone to make them feel better.
“Sure. I-I understand.”
“I’ll be pretty tied up with the book for the next couple of months.”
Danny’s lips quirked. “That’s writer talk for thanks but no thanks, huh?”
Colson shrugged. “I just believe in being up front. I had a nice evening.”
Danny winced. “Ouch. Nice is the kiss of death.” He leaned in and kissed Colson on his cheek. “I enjoyed meeting you. I hope to see you again.”
He walked out, and Colson locked the door behind him, then headed upstairs to write.
***
“So it was a no-go with Danny, huh?”
He and Hogan met for a late afternoon coffee several days after the ill-fated date.
“That was pretty quick. He told Bea we went out?”
“Yeah. He said you had dinner, then gave him the brush-off—nicely, but you weren’t interested. Still hung up on the other guy?”
