Saving Grapes - Madeline Kirby Page 0,69
could see Thom’s face, even if the older man wasn’t meeting his eyes at the moment. “So you believe me, but do you want me? That’s the real question.”
“How can you doubt that, either?”
“We haven’t really had a chance to talk about it, have we? I know actions are supposed to speak louder than words, but if I’m making big life decisions, I need to know where I stand. I love you, Thom Caldwell. I’m in love with you, and I want to stay here with you. I can’t get any clearer than that.”
“I…” Thom took a deep breath, and his face flushed when he raised his eyes to meet Ben’s. “I love you, too. And I want you to stay.”
Ben smiled, and lowered his head for a lingering kiss. “Now,” he said when he raised his head, “was that so hard?”
“You have no idea.”
“So, partner, do you want to make some more decisions, or…?” Ben let the question trail off as he let his hand drift down, skimming over Thom’s belly, tickling at his navel, and following the trail of hair lower still, until he reached the patch of hair at the base of his lover’s semi-hard cock.
“I think we’ve made enough decisions for now, don’t you?”
Chapter 23
THOM LOOKED around the breakfast table the next morning. Jon was at the stove flipping the last batch of pancakes onto a plate and everyone else was pouring coffee and piling food on their plates. He waited for Jon to join them, then took one more sip of his coffee before carefully setting the mug down by his plate.
“No time like the present,” he said.
Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at him except Steve, who continued buttering his pancakes.
“We’re at a point where we’ve got to make some decisions about what’s going to happen in the next few months, and what we’re each going to do about it.”
He felt Ben squeeze his thigh, and reached down to take his partner’s hand.
“I need to start by thanking all of you for staying here and helping me – for helping Ben and me – get through this. I honestly don’t know what we would have done without you. The doctor says I may be out of the sling in a week or so, and I’ll be off this cane soon, too, so we’re going to be shifting gear and getting down to business.”
Steve poured syrup on his pancakes and Jon and Mindy sat still, waiting for him to go on.
“Yesterday, Ben and I met with Ross and we talked about the build-out for the winery and brewery. Mindy?”
“Yeah?”
“Ben thinks you’re up for a job at the brewery, maybe the winery, too. It would also mean some work in the fields while we get rebuilt and get the hop field going. So bearing that in mind, are you still interested?”
“Yeah. Yes, I mean. I don’t know anything about brewing beer or making wine, but I can learn, and I don’t need a fancy title or anything – just a chance.”
Thom nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay? Really? Just like that?”
“Mindy, come on. I’ve known you for years. Of course just like that.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“There’s going to be a lot of work leading up to it, and you’ll need to help out a lot on all the aspects. Especially with Ben finishing his certification and doing his internship.”
“I just have to get through finals in a couple of weeks, and then I’m all yours.”
“And are you okay with staying on site?”
“Yes! Gosh, yes. Thank you.”
Thom nodded and turned to Jon. “What about you, Jon? Have you got a life you need to get back to in California?”
Jon looked down at his plate and frowned. “There’s nothing there for me anymore. I took a leave this semester, but I don’t feel any pull to go back. I’m thinking about exploring my options in this area, actually.”
“Well, you’re Ben’s dad, which makes you family, too, now. So you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need, while you figure out what comes next.”
Ben chuckled.
“What?” Thom asked, turning to his lover.
“I remember you saying almost that exact same thing to me a few months ago.”
“Well, that worked out pretty well, didn’t it?”
“I can’t deny it. Dad? What do you think?”
Jon paused, looking back and forth between his son and Thom. “Okay. I’ll stay for a while. But you have to let me help out, too. Thank you, Thom.”
“Now that that’s settled,” Thom said, reaching for his coffee. “Let’s talk about the