Saving Grapes - Madeline Kirby Page 0,24

look up and realize you’re both old men and you haven’t gone anywhere in 50 years. Or next month he realizes he’s being a fool and tells you so. Either way, you’re together.”

Ben was silent, and took a sip of his coffee.

“Think about it, yeah?”

He nodded, then looked up at her with a small smile. “Thanks, Aunt Lorraine.”

“Anytime, honey. I have six daughters, I’ve got plenty of experience giving advice to the lovelorn.”

Chapter 9

BEN HEADED home – because he’d decided that it was home, no matter what Thom believed – with a plan. After the conversation with his aunt he drove around a while, thinking about what he’d say when he got there. Thom could freak out all he wanted, but Ben was going to take his aunt’s advice and just stay. No big talks, no fuss, just be there until Thom could accept that he was serious. If Thom really didn’t want him, if he point-blank asked Ben to leave, then he’d go. But until then, he was in this thing.

By the time Ben got home it was close to dinnertime and Thom was in the kitchen putting water on to boil.

“Pasta okay?” he asked as Ben walked in.

Oh, so he was going to play it cool and pretend like everything was business as usual? Not happening. Ben crossed to where Thom stood, took his face between his hands, and lowered his lips to Thom’s. It was a slow, gentle kiss. He took his time, just kissing softly, lightly nibbling Thom’s lower lip until he felt Thom relax and start to kiss him back. Then he pulled back, smiling, until Thom opened his eyes and looked up at him. “Miss me, sweetheart?” he asked in a whisper.

Thom’s eyebrows drew together, “I thought…”

“Hmm?” Ben stroked Thom’s cheekbones with his thumbs. “What did you think?”

“I thought you were mad at me?”

“Well, I will admit I was pretty riled up. But I drove around for a while, had a cup of coffee, cleared my head.”

“And then you got hungry and decided to come back?”

“And then I missed you and decided to come home.”

Thom just stared up at him with those clear blue eyes, but Ben didn’t say anything else – just let his words hang there between them. Thom looked down and cleared his throat.

“Um, okay then. Well, dinner will be ready soon, so I’d better, um… do stuff.”

Ben smiled and stepped back. “Okay, I’ll wash up and set the table then.”

Thom nodded, turning back to the stove and fumbling with the knobs.

Thom wasn’t sure how to act, so he concentrated on getting dinner ready. He could hear Ben rattling around behind him, setting the table and rummaging in the fridge.

“Want me to make a salad?” Ben asked.

“Sure, sounds good.” Thom wondered how Ben could be so relaxed. His own mind was a jumble of questions. What was Ben thinking? He said he had missed him and come home. Did that mean the same thing to Ben that it meant to Thom? Earlier, Ben had said their conversation wasn’t over, but now Ben was just chopping vegetables and getting ready for dinner like any other day. Had Ben decided the conversation was over after all? That it wasn’t worth pursuing? No, that couldn’t be right. Ben had kissed him – and wow, what a kiss! He’d said he’d missed him, and called him sweetheart, so that was good. But maybe Ben had decided casual was the way to go?

Why am I even thinking about this, Thom wondered. I already decided I’d take what he gave me and be grateful for whatever time we have. If Ben wants to play house, I can do that. I just have to keep my cool. I’m the grown up here.

They were eating dinner when Thom noticed Ben hadn’t said anything for a while. He looked up to see the other man staring at him with a little grin on his face. “What?” he asked. “Do I have something on my face?” He wiped at his chin with his napkin.

“Nope,” Ben’s grin widened. “But I think I finally figured you out.”

“Wh-what do you mean? Figured what out?”

“Well, not figured you all out. But I figured out something.”

Thom just raised an eyebrow.

“You’re shy!”

“What? Of course I’m not. I talk to people – even strangers. I have social skills. I’m not shy.”

“Not about everyday stuff, but you are shy about the intimate stuff. You’re definitely shy about sex. I think that’s why Ross likes winding