Suppressing a laugh at the confusion on Jake’s face, Rye reached around Jake to grab his coat from the hanger on the wall in the office, then slipped it on.
“You . . . missed me because . . . you want me to chop onions for you?”
“Yep.” Rye zipped his coat and then took Jake’s hand again.
“And that’s the only reason?”
Rye shook his head. “No.”
Jake lifted his eyebrows, but Rye just grinned at him and then winked. Jake groaned. “You’re going to keep me in suspense here, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
“Rye.”
Rye snorted a laugh, then squeezed Jake’s hand. “I’ll tell you when we get to the car.” And he hadn’t meant to lower his voice, but the words came out deeper than he’d intended.
He heard Jake’s breath catch, and he shook his head, wanting to apologize for the tease and just explain to Jake now. But then he glanced around Jake toward the front of the store. Janice sat at the cash register still, and although sheappearedto be engrossed in the book she was reading, he wasn’t too keen on having her possibly overhear him tell his boyfriend that all day, all he’d been thinking about was going over to Jake’s place so they could cuddle up on the couch together.
His cheeks felt hot just thinking about it, and Rye quickly hid back behind Jake so Janice wouldn’t see him. That didn’t do a whole lot to calm the flush in his cheeks, though, because when he looked up at Jake, Jake’s eyes were sparkling with laughter and eagerness. An urge tried to tug him forward, enticing him, andhe suddenly wanted to reach up with both hands, to frame Jake’s face, to feel Jake’s beard under his fingertips.
He didn’t do it. But he wanted to.
Maybe he’d do it when they got to Jake’s place. He would have to fix Jake’s hair, after all, when Jake took off his beanie. He... could do both.
“God, whatareyou thinking?” Jake asked, his voice a low whisper. “You’re blushing. And it’s...”
Rye scrunched his eyes shut and groaned, hiding his face in Jake’s chest. “Embarrassing?” he mumbled. But he felt Jake shake his head.
“Definitely not. I was going to say adorable. And sweet,” Jake corrected. “And I meant to tell you how beautiful you look today.”
Fingertips brushed lightly along his temple, and Rye shivered. He relaxed into Jake’s chest as Jake repeated the touch, this time letting his fingers slide farther back, tucking a lock of Rye’s hair behind his ear. It felt so good. So loving and tender.
And Rye wanted to feel it again. Which was why they needed to leave. Soon. Now.
He sighed contentedly and then stepped back out of Jake’s embrace. “Let’s go?”
Without another word, Jake nodded. Then he backed up and motioned Rye out of the office. As Rye stepped out ahead of Jake, Jake’s hand came to settle low on his back, and he felt it again—a tug, a tiny flutter in his stomach. A... want.
He deliberately walked slow, telling himself it was so Jake didn’t have to walk any faster than he was comfortable. His leg was hurting, after all, because of the rain. But Rye knew that was only part of the reason.
The other part was how good it felt, having the solidness of Jake’s hand pressing into his back.
“Have a good afternoon, you two,” Janice said as they approached the front of the store.
“Thank you, Janice,” Jake answered for them. “You too!”
Rye gave a small nod, because that was as much as he could do right then. And Janice winked at him with what seemed like a knowing smile. Heat flared in his cheeks.
“See you Friday, Ryan.”
He nodded, quickly this time, and then stepped away from Jake to open up the door, welcoming the rush of chilly, damp winter air from outside. Light sprinkles of rain tickled his face, dampening the fire burning his skin, and Jake followed him out, reaching up to adjust the beanie on his head.
Together, they made their way over to Jake’s car, which was parked just a few spots down the street, and Jake limped ahead of him at the last second, grinning as he opened up the passenger side door.
“Beat ya!” Jake said, grinning broadly, his cheeks red, probably from the cold.
Rye stopped at the car and huffed a laugh. He’d been so distracted that he’d forgotten about their little unspoken game.
