“And were beaten out by ‘Possum Kingdom’?” Seth attempted a feeble joke, trying to regain his balance. Over the course of a few minutes, Dustin had laid waste to the worst of Seth’s beliefs. His aunt had never stopped loving him, his best friend had missed him; his grandmother had lied. Inside, a solid block of ice encased his heart and he fought to breathe.
“Beats ‘Squirrel Ridge’, twenty miles away.”
Seth supposed it did. They sat together silently, serenaded by crickets and bullfrogs. The clean scent of the great outdoors, free of exhaust fumes, though occasionally bearing the scent of the restaurant behind them, slowly calmed his nerves. For a moment Seth considered ditching his life in Chicago to fix up his aunt’s house for himself instead of some nameless future buyer. But no, he’d never fit in here.Like you fit in Chicago?
Dustin wrapped an arm around him, resting a warm hand on Seth’s shoulder. “Is this all right?”
“Yes.” In fact, in Seth’s opinion, it was more than all right. Tonight his world had unraveled—he needed grounding, something to take his mind off the alternate reality he suddenly found himself in.
“Can I kiss you?”
Seth glanced right and left before answering. Behind them sat the restaurant’s back wall, secluding them from prying eyes.
“No one can see us,” Dustin said. He gave Seth a crooked grin. “Why do you think I brought you here? This bench is pure gold to every high school couple in the county.”
“Think we’ll shock any teenagers?”
“God, I hope so.”
They tilted their heads as one. Seth observed a fleeting sentimental smile before Dustin’s lips met his. They nuzzled noses, skimming their lips back and forth. Dustin slipped his tongue inside Seth’s mouth, sweet with molasses and spices. Seth moaned, twining his tongue with Dustin’s.
At some point he brought his arms up, grasping Dustin and hanging tighter than a drowning man. And still the kiss continued, a lazy, unhurried exploration until they both pulled away, breathless.
“Wow.” Seth wasn’t sure who’d spoken—him, Dustin, or perhaps both.
Something unfathomable dwelled in Dustin eyes when he withdrew, but it wasn’t the raging lust Seth hoped to find. After a moment of intense scrutiny, Dustin said, “C’mon, I’d better take you home.”
What?Was it something I said?
Dustin remained quiet on the way back to the farmhouse, but he gave Seth a brief glimpse of hope with a scorching hot good-night kiss. “I’d like to stop by tomorrow, if that’s okay.”
Sensibilities scrambled by turbocharged lust, Seth would’ve let Dustin have whatever he asked for. The few remaining brain cells that survived their intimate tongue tangle managed to pull together and form a single word: “Sure.”
ASLEEPLESSnight left Dustin horny, tired, and aggravated. Now why the hell had he promised Seth another date? Just because Dustin had revealed his conniving grandmother’s duplicity didn’t mean Seth would suddenly change his mind and stay.Stupid, stupid, stupid. Don’t get involved with him. He’s short term!the rational part of Dustin’s mind told him, quickly shushed by the body part begging him to strip down and let nature take its course.
He slammed a chart down onto his desk, dropping into his chair.
“Mind sharing exactly how that chart pissed you off? Or is it the desk you’re mad at?” Monica stood in the office doorway, managing to appear intimidating even in bright pink scrubs. She’d wound her braids around her head, creating the illusion of a fuzzy gold tiara.
“I intended to take Seth out last night, talk a bit about Irene, and take him home. Nothing more.”
Monicatsked. “Dude, you disappoint me. Was getting laid ever in your plan?”
“No, Monica. Taking advantage of my date was your idea.” “What?” Her eyes widened in mock surprise. “And you didn’t take my excellent advice? How… wasteful.”
Scowling required too much energy. Dustin glared instead. “He’s leaving in a few weeks.”
“Last time I tried it, meaningless sex didn’t take longer than a day or two.”
Dustin goggled; Monica snickered. “Gotcha!” Ms. I-get-a-newboyfriend-every-time-the-wind-blows didn’t have to be so damned smug. The town only held so many men. What did she do? Import them?
“I like him, okay? I’m not going to use him, and I’m not wasting my time with a lost cause.”
“Okay. Sounds reasonable to me. Why the long face?” “’Cause, like a fool, I told him I’d come by today.”
“And those were your exact words?”
“Huh? Why do you ask?”
