“You do? You’re seeing someone? Who? Who?”
“Are you my mother or an owl?” he joked. “Seriously, though, it’s new. I don’t really know how it’s going to play out.” Not the truth because Armi was his and no one else was going to have him. When he’d turned into this overprotective, possessive person, Hayden had no idea, but that’s the way it was.
“But this is the first time you’ve told us about someone. So he must be special.”
In the mirror he caught himself wearing a dopey smile, but he didn’t care. “Yeah. He is. Totally not the type I thought I’d ever be attracted to, but I think that’s the way it goes in our family.”
“Very funny,” his mother said, and his father laughed.
“You’re correct, my boy. But your mother has held my heart for close to forty years, so I’m thinking it was the right move on my part. So is this like father, like son?”
“Could be.” The buzzer sounded. “My dinner’s here. I gotta go.”
“We’d love to meet him. Maybe we can come for a visit.”
“Sure, come visit anytime. Talk to you soon.” He ended the call and hit the buzzer. The doorbell rang, and he opened the door to see a grinning Armi standing there, holding a delivery bag and his duffel.
“Dinner?”
His jaw dropped. “What? Is that my sushi?”
Armi held out the bag, and Hayden took it. “Yeah. I told the guy I was going to your apartment and gave him a fifty, so he was happy to let me personally deliver it.”
“Uh, come in.” Armi passed by him and sat at one of the barstools by his countertop that doubled as an island and his table. He’d changed from the plane, and his damp hair curled at his neck. He smelled and looked fucking delicious, and Hayden’s defenses, already weakened, crumbled. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Hayden set the bag down and leaned on the counter, looking at Armi, who flashed him a nervous smile and blushed.
“I got home and showered and thought it was stupid, you being here and me in my big house alone.” He clasped his hands. “I hope…you don’t mind. Do you?”
The man was too adorable. “You’re kidding, right? I was just going to eat my dinner while typing up the notes I took over the weekend for you.”
Armi frowned. “You shouldn’t be constantly working. Dinner is for eating, not working.”
As Armi spoke, Hayden unpacked the food. “I have three rolls here. We can share. And I don’t mind. I always work during dinner.”
“Even when I’m here?” A tiny grin curved Armi’s lips. “Are you sure?”
“Mr. Winters, are you flirting with me?” Hayden slipped his arms around Armi. He bent to kiss Armi by his ear, loving the sharp intake of breath.
“Would you mind if I was?”
“Does it look like I mind?” Hayden continued kissing him, and Armi hummed his appreciation, arching into his touch like a contented cat. “I like it. A lot.”
“Sooo, do you still have to work through dinner?” Armi toyed with the chopsticks. “Or is there any way I can talk you out of it?”
He picked up his chopsticks and the tray of sushi. “Come. I watched a show where someone ate sushi off a naked person.” Armi turned bright red, but Hayden didn’t miss the spark in his eyes. Hand in hand, they walked into the bedroom.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Russell didn’t come in for the entire week, and while at first Armi struggled at meetings to make his voice heard, with the help of Hayden’s superior notes and studying every night together, his confidence grew every day. He’d never been happier—coming home to eat dinner, working side by side in the greenhouse and garden with Hayden asking questions and even helping him. He’d never dared to dream of a future before, but he couldn’t deny watching it unfold in front of his eyes.
“Look at this.” iPad in hand, Hayden walked into his office at close to five p.m. on Friday. “That article inOut in Sportsjust released.” His eyes twinkled. “You made the cover. See how hot you are?”
Armi rolled his eyes. “Oh, for God’s sake. You’re just saying that because…you know…” His face grew hot.
Hayden closed the door behind him and put the tablet on the desk. “Because you are?” He hesitated. “Gorgeous and sexy and insanely hot. And all mine.”
Then why did it feel like all this was a dream? “I like hearing that. I’ve really enjoyed being with you every night, even if you do leave in the morning without me.”
“You know why.”
