as well milk it.
Besides, coming clean might take this boyfriend act away. He grimaced. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye to that.
Alexander tapped Logan’s soft skin under the collar. “The truth about your scar?”
Logan threaded their fingers and held Alexander’s arm to his chest. Soft lips whispered over his knuckles. “Jack didn’t want a hearse. He wanted to be taken in his ’82 Buick. He wanted a kick-ass tombstone, all drinks served in whiskey tumblers, and Ray Charles’ ‘Hit The Road Jack’ on repeat. But above all, he wanted to arrive in his Buick. Only, the casket didn’t fit.”
“Oh, God. I have a bad feeling.”
Logan winced. “With the backseats down Jack’s body could fit diagonally. Jane’s brother helped me, but . . .” He sighed. “I came up with the idea how to fit him in there. On blankets, of course. I drove to the church with all the respect he deserved. Jane’s brother went ahead with the hearse and casket.”
Alexander cringed.
“Yeah,” Logan agreed. “I didn’t think about what the mourners wanted. Expected. They were hysterical. Angry, upset. That was when Jane snapped out of her shock. She didn’t throw any mean words my way, not then, but I saw the disappointment and resignation in her eyes.”
Logan’s voice broke and he struggled to clear it.
“Needless to say, the rest of the funeral didn’t improve from there.” Logan used the back of Alexander’s hand to rub over his scar. “In the havoc of returning Jack to the casket, I fell and jabbed myself on the latch. Deservedly.”
“You were respecting Jack’s wishes. You were there for Jane. The only thing you deserved was Jane thanking you.”
Logan blinked rapidly. “You think so?”
“She didn’t?”
“I embarrassed her. I thought she’d break up with me that day, but she waited until after the Indie Stage Awards.”
“If she was so angry, why did she wait?”
“She didn’t want to show up alone, and I suppose I clean up good.”
“I’m sorry.”
A small smile quirked Logan’s lips and he dropped his gaze. Air stirred between them, and Alexander untangled their fingers, gripped Logan’s bicep and steered his larger body on top of him. Logan rolled with it, stretching with perfect weight atop him.
Without letting the moment settle, Alexander hooked Logan’s nape and pressed their lips together.
Logan made a surprised, affectionate sound and kissed Alexander back. Alexander trembled at the power of the soft, shy kiss. The way Logan blushed, the way his fingers trembled against Alexander’s cheek, the way he pulled back and searched Alexander’s face.
Alexander was hard, and so was Logan at his hip, but kissing was enough in this soft moment. Logan’s gentle smile glistened in his eyes.
Logan rested his forehead against Alexander’s. His words feathered over Alexander’s jaw. “I want to know more.”
“About what?”
“You.”
Alexander squeezed Logan’s neck. “Tit for tat?”
“Tit for tat, darlin’.”
Sharing stories, learning about the real Logan . . . What was he doing?
“Ask away.”
Logan thumbed the latch of his watch. “You said it’s your grandfather’s. Tell me about him?”
Alexander told Logan all about him. He’d spent every weekend with his grandfather, experimenting in the kitchen and taste-testing every dish he made. Alexander’s love of cooking developed because of him. He was also the reason Alexander loved art. When he was five, they’d watch Little Einsteins together and research the artists’ paintings afterward. Grandfather gave him his first painting kit and canvas, and later, all the books he could gather about every facet of art, from history to philosophy to practical techniques.
“He would be so proud of you. Gallery owner, living out your dreams, your passion.”
A lump in Alexander’s throat tightened. “I’m trying to be the person he’d want me to be.”
“You already are, Alexander. I promise you.”
God, it felt like a band tightening around his chest. “Tell me about your grandparents.”
Logan didn’t have any fond memories of them. He’d rarely seen them, save at flashy parties his parents hosted where he was never allowed to hug them because they were wearing their good clothes. “It was fine. I wasn’t at most parties anyway. I was the kid who never listened. The energetic one who exasperated everyone.”
“Exasperated? I can’t imagine,” Alexander said drily, fondness tugging at his lips.
Logan laughed. “You’re cheeky.”
“I’m honest.” Alexander pushed back a lock of Logan’s hair. “To a fault.”
Logan’s grin subsided. “It’s okay to have opinions.”
“I’ve driven too many good people away.”
“I understand the feeling.”
Logan lowered his head and Alexander’s hands roamed over his shoulder and waist, drawing him nearer.
The kiss happened slowly.
They were already chest to chest, Logan’s leg snug