“How do you know?” I asked.
“I know him. He’s trying really hard not to cross the line, even though your friend makes it difficult for him. He’s struggling.”
I looked over at Ben. “Should I tell him to back off?”
“No,” he said. “Alejandro can take care of himself. He’s a big boy.”
I glanced back at Ben as he wiped down the tables. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”
Preston kissed my cheek. “Go clock out so we can leave, baby.”
Nodding, I got off his lap and went to the back. I was ready to get out of here and make it up to him for missing our lunch.
We said goodbye to them and walked out to his car. He parked out front tonight, which was unusual. Preston started the car and looked over at me. “Where do you want to go? I can take you home or you could come with me? Either way, I brought a late dinner.”
I reached up and ran my fingers over his face. “I don’t care as long as I’m with you.”
He reached for my hand and kissed my palm. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I need to work on the updates to the schematics in the morning, but I also need to do some shopping. Evidently it’s almost Christmas. Wanna go with me?”
His smile was beautiful. “I’d love to. Let’s go grab your things and your laptop. You can set up shop in my office, and I’ll make breakfast while you work.”
“That works. Do you have to work tomorrow, or is Stella covering it?”
Preston pulled out of the alley and headed toward my apartment. “I closed the restaurant on Sundays until January. My staff deserves some time off and to be with their families over the holidays.”
“Are you going back to Connecticut for Christmas?”
He glanced over at me. “I was hoping to spend it with you, or at least part of it.”
I grinned. “Good. You okay if we spend it with my family?”
Preston pulled our joined hands to his mouth and kissed my hand. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
* * *
Prestonand I were like ships passing in the night in the days leading up to Christmas. I was consumed with my work, and he was busy at the restaurant. Whenever I had some free time, he was busy. Stella and her husband had gone to Arizona to be with her family for the holidays, so that left Preston doing it all at Bernardo’s. That was their deal since she’d covered for him while we were in New York.
I’d been meeting with Michael almost daily to work on the final schematic for the structural engineer. He’d been concerned about the weight load on the roof, so we had to go back and reconfigure some of it. The building code was very specific for a reason, especially in an existing structure.
Three days before Christmas, Preston and I finally had a day where we could spend some time together. I’d handed off the last set of plumbing and electrical plans to Michael, and went to Preston’s as quickly as I could.
I knocked and waited for him to answer the door. When he didn’t answer, I knocked again, a little more impatiently this time. But holy fuck, was the wait worth it.
Preston opened the door wearing only a towel. His hair was damp, and random drops of water beaded down his abs. The towel was slung so low, he should’ve just answered the door without it.
“Do I know you?” he asked playfully, a sexy grin on his handsome face.
“I don’t know. Let’s see if I can refresh your memory.” I walked in, accidentally slammed the door behind me, and dropped to my knees.
“I’m opening my present,” I said, making him whimper.
“You take it, baby. It’s all for you.”
I growled at his words as I took hold of his cock and licked the head, just the way he liked, before swallowing him whole.
“Oh, fuck,” he groaned.
