“Thank you, and yes, I’m sure that will do her good.”
The meal commenced, beginning with a few tasty slices of smoked salmon garnished in dill and lemon.
* * *
Brody ate his finely sliced salmon and dill dressing in silence while cursing himself to the devil. What in blazes had he been thinking, pressing his fingertips to Harry’s lips in such a provocative manner. It was beyond the pale. He’d not been thinking. Any number of servants could have walked in on him having a hard-to-explain-away moment with his friend.
Good grief, he was an idiot. The startled expression on Harry’s face confirmed this. The poor lad had looked like a rabbit caught in a snare by a hungry fox.
It wasn’t right.
None of this was.
He wasn’t supposed to find men attractive. He never had. Not once. Until now.
The effect Harry had upon him could not be denied. He felt complete when in his company – as though he’d finally found a missing part of himself. More than that, he’d started to yearn for him so fiercely he struggled to think straight.
But that didn’t mean Harry shared the attraction. On the contrary, Brody was beginning to fear he might have misjudged the lad’s blushes and the shyness with which he appeared to respond when Brody touched him. Instead of interest, it might be evidence of severe discomfort, coupled with a sense of unequal status that made him fear what might happen if he rebuffed Brody’s advances.
Especially now that he knew him to be a duke.
Hating himself for potentially giving rise to such alarm, he wondered how best to address the issue. Of course, he could say nothing at all and let the incident fade with time. That would probably be the wisest. But it wouldn’t diminish the awkwardness that had settled between them since his blunder.
And if there was one thing Brody wanted more than anything else, it was for Harry to feel at ease in his home. Not for him to worry that his host might make demands of a sexual nature.
Damn.
His plate was whisked away and a new one appeared. This time with roast duck and potatoes.
He glanced at Harry, who sat directly at his right. “Is the food to your liking?”
“Very much so,” Harry said with a smile so wide it seemed to fill the entire room with sunshine.
Brody stared. It was impossible not to.
Catching himself, he reached for his wine and downed half the glass before saying, “I only want to make sure you’re in good health and properly cared for. That’s all.”
“I know,” Harry said once he’d swallowed the food in his mouth. “And I’m grateful, so if there’s a way in which I can ever repay your kindness, do let me know.”
A kiss would be a good start.
“No,” Brody blurted, louder than he’d intended. Harry stilled and Brody realized he was staring at him with concern. “Sorry. It’s been a long day. I didn’t mean…”
“It’s not too late for Lucy and me to leave if you’ve changed your mind about us staying over.”
“She’s already settled in and besides, that’s the last thing I want. What I would like is for you to forget about earlier, that’s all. Can you please agree to do that?”
“Of course.” Harry knit his brow and glanced at the table while gently adding, “Nothing happened.”
“And nothing would have, but I know I made you uncomfortable, which was not my intention at all. Please, forgive me. I’m not…” He shook his head and muttered a curse before shoving another bite of food into his mouth. He chewed the piece and chased it down with some wine. “You’re my friend, Harry. I like you, and seeing your handsome face cut and bruised disturbs me greatly. Hell, I’d like nothing better than to chase down those who did that to you and beat them until they’re screaming for mercy. I’m sorry if my show of compassion was inappropriate. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“I understand,” Harry said, his words slow and measured. “You were distracted by the wounds. I believe I would have been too, had our roles been reversed.”
He was saving him, Brody realized, by supporting the notion that what had transpired was perfectly normal. It hadn’t been. Brody knew he’d crossed the line, and he was a hundred percent sure Harry knew this as well. But his willingness to play along was not only evidence of his friendship, but proved that he cared about Brody’s feelings. It also showed how kind and good-natured Harry was. Another, less compassionate man, would have shamed Brody for his behavior before informing the world that the Duke of Corwin had made advances.
But not Harry. No, Harry was goodness personified. Hard working, dedicated, and loyal. There was nothing about him that warranted even a single complaint. Nothing Brody could think of at any rate.
Raising his gaze, he looked across the table, his heart lurching when his gaze caught Harry’s.
