Saving Grapes - Madeline Kirby Page 0,22
with his gaze.
“Your brain is going a mile a minute, Thom. Care to share?”
Thom ran his gaze over Ben, stopping at the bulge straining the front of his jeans. “Want me to take care of that for you?” he asked, tilting his chin towards Ben’s groin.
“Uh-uh – that’ll keep for now, so no dodging the question. I figure we should be enjoying ourselves. The fields are in order, the construction crew is off for the weekend, there’s nothing we absolutely have to get done today, so as far as I can figure, you’re still tensing up over what’s going on here.” He pointed back and forth between himself and Thom.
Thom lowered his eyes, saw his pants were still spread open with his bits on display, and started putting his clothing back in order. He heard Ben make a disappointed little sound, but finished what he was doing before looking back and meeting the younger man’s eyes.
“Honestly?”
“I would appreciate it.”
“Honestly… I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I don’t want to be that way – I’d like to be able to live in the moment and enjoy… this… but I know it’s only a matter of time before you get me out of your system.”
“Wow, I don’t even know where to begin. Do you really have such a low opinion of me? And of yourself?”
“No, not at all! I’m just acknowledging that you’re young, and maybe you still have a lot you want to do. You know, sowing your oats and all.”
“Sowing my oats?” Ben laughed.
“You know what I mean. And don’t laugh, it’s what my Granddad calls it and I can’t think of a better way to put it. Fooling around, playing the field, whatever.”
“I’m sorry, and I’m not laughing at you. I’ll admit I did my share of fooling around in college. I had a few boyfriends, but they were casual and didn’t last long. You’re the first man I’ve made love with, though. Because that’s what it was, Thom. Not just sex, but making love. For me, anyway. I’ve wanted you for weeks. Working here, learning from you, helping you build your dream and growing a friendship. If all I wanted was sex I could get that anywhere. I could have had that last night with Ross if all I wanted was to get my rocks off.”
Thom flushed, and Ben continued, “I’m not saying I’m ‘in love’ here, it’s too soon for that, but I could see it happening if you were ready to meet me halfway.” Ben stood and adjusted himself, making sure Thom got a good look before he turned away. “I’m going out for a while, got some errands to run. Think about what I’ve said, because this conversation isn’t over.”
Ben grabbed his wallet and the truck keys and left the house with no real plan other than to get some fresh air and clear his head. He turned onto the highway and headed towards town. As he neared the turn-off that would lead to his uncle’s house, he made a last minute decision and took the turn, thankful there was no traffic. He drove down a street lined with Craftsman bungalows and four-squares until he pulled up in front of his uncle’s house. It could use a coat of paint, he thought as he got out of the truck, but he figured raising six daughters on an extension agent’s salary didn’t leave much time or money for home improvements.
The windows were open, and he could hear his two youngest cousins trash talking each other over the sound of a video game involving racing cars. He knocked on the door, but they were too engrossed in their battle to notice. He knocked again, a little louder, and one of the girls stopped berating her sister long enough to shout, “Mo-om! Someone’s at the door!”
He heard footsteps, and then his Aunt Lorraine was opening the door. For a second she looked annoyed, and then when she recognized him she smiled and unlatched the screen, “Oh, Ben! It’s you – I thought maybe you were another solicitor. Come in, come in. I apologize for my daughters’ rudeness,” she raised her voice as they passed the TV room so the girls could hear her. “They get so involved in that game. Would you like some coffee or a pop?” She asked as she led him into the kitchen.
“Thanks, Aunt Lorraine, coffee would be great if it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all. It gives