The Delicious Series: The First Volume

by Stella Starling

  “Gavin.” Gavin filled in with an easy smile, thankfully not seeming put out by her initial lack of manners.

  “Gavin Campbell,” Hannah said, coming up behind their mother with a grin. “Our favorite bakery owner. Ben brought some of your cupcakes into the bank earlier this week and officially cemented his position as my favorite brother.”

  “Have you broken the news to Will?” Ben asked, winking at her as he scooted around his mother—planting a loud kiss on her forehead in passing—to pull his sister into a one-armed hug.

  Hannah laughed, squeezing him back. “Please ignore my mother’s lack of good grace,” she said to Gavin. “It really isn’t anything personal. She’s just disappointed that Ben’s ruined her theory.”

  “What theory is that?” Gavin asked, grinning as he looked back and forth between the two women.

  “Mom is determined to see each of us married off.”

  Ben groaned, earning a lighthearted smack from his mother.

  “There’s nothing wrong with wanting my children to be happy,” she said.

  “You should meet my friend Danny,” Gavin said. “It sounds like you might have something in common.”

  Ben laughed. He’d only met the bubbly, flamboyant man once, but he had to agree. His mother would love Danny. His father… not so much. Ben tightened his lips at the thought, then pushed it away. He may not see eye-to-eye with his father on everything, but hopefully that wouldn’t be an issue tonight.

  “Ben is the last holdout,” Hannah was telling Gavin, expanding on their mother’s theory. “Mom’s insisted on having Friday night dinner together forever, but usually it’s just the family—”

  “That’s not a rule,” Charlie rushed in to say, wrapping an arm around Gavin’s shoulders and leading him into the house. “We’re truly happy to have you, Gavin.”

  “Anyway,” Hannah went on, undeterred by the interruption. “Jack is the only person I’ve ever brought to family dinner, and I ended up marrying him. But the boys never brought their girlfriends, no matter how many hints Mom dropped. The first time it happened was a couple of years ago, when Will showed up with Emily, insisting she was ‘just a friend.’”

  “Boys,” Charlie said, clucking her tongue. She exchanged a knowing glance with her daughter, then they both burst out laughing.

  “Right?” Hannah said, shaking her head. “And now Will and Em are engaged. Emily’s home with the flu tonight, poor thing. But the point is, Ben never brings anybody. So when he texted this afternoon to say he was bringing a ‘friend,’ Mom was beside herself.”

  “Oh, hush. I was not.”

  “You were, Mom.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, Charlie,” Gavin said, his dimples popping out in full force. “But unfortunately, I don’t think I’m Ben’s type.”

  His mother laughed, patting Gavin’s cheek as she led them into the kitchen. It smelled delicious, as usual. His brother was already there, a serving bowl in his hands, and Will frowned at him when he caught the tail end of the conversation.

  “Definitely not Ben’s type,” he muttered under his breath, glancing at Gavin with a sour expression on his face.

  “Will,” Ben warned, not willing to put up with his brother’s bigotry.

  Gavin paused next to the counter, meeting Will’s eyes without flinching as he leaned against it to relieve the pressure on his good leg. It had been too long since Gavin had taken any pain relievers, and Ben kicked himself for forgetting to bring some. His parents probably had something in the medicine cabinet, though, and Ben eased up behind Gavin, rubbing the tension from the back of the other man’s neck while he shot Will a stern look.

  Gavin definitely didn’t need to take any of his brother’s shit while he was in pain. Or any other time.

  Not that Gavin would.

  “Good to see you, Will,” Gavin said, his tone managing to be both polite and uncompromising at the same time. He held out his hand.

  Ben bit back a grin despite his irritation with his brother. He had no doubt that Gavin could hold his own.

  Will’s eyes locked onto Ben’s, flicking down to where his hand still rested on Gavin’s shoulder. Just when Ben had begun to think Will was really going to be an ass, he huffed out a little sigh and let his lips curve up in something that could have passed for a smile.

  “Nice to see you, too, Gavin,” he said, finally stepped forward to shake Gavin’s hand.

  “Oh, this is just unfair,” Charlie said. “You all already know each other.”

  “Sometimes the people you think you know end up surprising you,” Will said, fiddling with the leather cord on his wrist as he shot his brother a pointed look.

  “Get over it, Willie,” Ben said, trying to make it sound like he was teasing, for his mother’s sake.

  “I don’t know what you boys are fussing about,” Charlie said, looking back and forth between them. “But I do know you well enough to guess that you’re not going to tell me. But since you were late—” she mock-glared at Ben, wagging a finger at him. “—it will have to wait. It’s time to eat. Everyone grab something for the table. Except you of course,” she added, slipping her arm around Gavin’s waist. “I hope you’re hungry, dear. It’s lasagna night.”

  Gavin laughed, giving Ben an apologetic look before throwing him under the bus. “Hungry? Ben’s promised that your cooking is going to make up for putting up with his healthy meals all week. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Ben’s been cooking for you?” Will asked.

  “Gavin is staying at my place while his foot heals.”

  Will’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

  “Oh, Ben. You’re always taking in strays.” Hannah clapped a hand over her mouth, having the good grace to look embarrassed as soon as the words left her mouth. “Sorry, Gavin. I didn’t mean it like that,” she added.

  “No problem,” Gavin said easily, following them into the dining room. “I’ve kind of gathered that about Ben, anyway.”

  “That’s not what this is,” Ben said. He knew his sister hadn’t meant it as a slight, but the assessment still bothered him.

  “So you’re staying with Ben until you get your cast off?” Hannah asked Gavin. Without waiting for an answer, she added, “Ernie misses you, Ben. I guess this means I’m on breakfast duty at the park for the duration.”

  “Ernie?” Charlie asked.

  “He’s a vet who lives at the park,” Ben said, nodding a greeting to his father as he set the stack of plates he’d carried in down on the table.

  “Are you still feeding homeless people, Ben?” his father asked, frowning as he set the tablet he’d been reading from aside and stood to help with the table. “You know that only enables them.”

  “Agree to disagree, Dad,” Ben said.

  “Ben is right, Andrew. Hush. You know my rules for family dinner.”

  “Fine, fine. You’re right, Charlie.” Andrew Edwards came around the table and shook Gavin’s hand. “Nice to see you, Mr. Campbell.”

  “It’s Gavin. And thank you for having me.”

  “And I’m Andrew, please. I keep hearing your name around the bank, Gavin. My children are all impressed with what you’ve accomplished with your restaurant.”

  “Bakery, Dad,” Will corrected him.

  “Right, right.”

  Ben exchanged a look with his brother as their father wound himself up into bank-president mode. Will grinned, and Ben smiled back, happy to have some of the tension ease between them.

  “Gavin, I want you to know that we don’t take your business lightly,” his father said. “We’re committed to providing hometown service to business leaders in the local community, and—”

  “Dad, stop,” Hannah said, rolling her eyes. “It’s family dinner, not a promotional campaign. Gavin is here as Ben’s friend. Now sit down while I go fetch Jack, and cross your fingers that he’s managed to get Gwennie to sleep.”

  “Right, sorry,” Andrew said, losing some of his stiffness. “Does that mean I
don’t get to ask you anything about your business tonight?” he asked Gavin, sounding genuinely disappointed. “I admire young men who make something of themselves. Did you know our bank was founded by my grandfather? He built it up from nothing, weathered the Depression, saved a lot of farmer’s livelihoods at the time. He was responsible for—”

  “Andrew,” Charlie said, smacking her husband’s arm playfully. “Gavin doesn’t want to hear about the bank.”

  “I’m always happy to talk business,” Gavin said, easing into the seat next to Ben and tucking his crutches under the table. He flashed his dimples at Ben’s mother, looking utterly charming. “But I don’t want to break any of Charlie’s rules.”

  “You’re fine, dear,” she said, patting his hand as she sat down next to him. “There are only two rules for family dinner. One, no arguing. And two—”

  “No kicking anyone under the table during grace,” Hannah said, coming back into the room with her husband in tow.

  “No feeding your vegetables to the dog,” Will added helpfully.

  “Passing the butter is frowned upon.”

  “Only when it goes airborne, Brat.”

  Hannah stuck her tongue out, retaliating with, “No stealing dessert off your sister’s plate.”

  “No stealing anything off your brother’s plate.”

  “Or your other brother’s plate.”

  “Except broccoli. You’re welcome to steal my broccoli, Hann,” Will offered.

  “What’s the point?” she asked sadly. “Mom will only yell at me if I feed it to the dog again.”

  “Children,” Charlie said, raising her voice to be heard over their banter. “Stop embarrassing me in front of Ben’s friend. Gavin is going to think I’ve raised a bunch of ill-mannered louts.”

  “Bunch of hooligans,” Jack said, winking at his mother-in-law.

  “Ruffians.”

  “Utter boors.”

  Gavin laughed, stealing a glance at Ben. “Don’t worry, Charlie, I could never think that. Don’t forget, I know Ben, and he’s a credit to you… even if I can’t speak for the other two.”

  Hannah gasped in outrage, but Will laughed, his face finally losing the last vestige of sourness. “I might have to get over myself and like you, Gavin,” he said, starting to work his way back into Ben’s good graces.

  “Ignore that bunch of nonsense,” Charlie insisted, waving a hand at her children as she turned back to Gavin. “My only other rule is—”

  Ben chimed in to recite it verbatim along with Hannah and Will: “Clear your dishes. I’m a mother, not a waitress.”

  Charlie shook her head at them, trying and failing to hide her smile. “That’s the rule,” she agreed. “But you get a pass on that one, Gavin.”

  “I can still manage,” Gavin said agreeably, despite the fact that his mouth was starting to get that pinched, in-pain look.

  Ben popped out of his seat, the sight reminding him that he’d forgotten to track down painkillers.

  “I’ll take care of you, Gav,” he said, squeezing Gavin’s shoulder. Will snickered, and Ben realized he’d misspoken. “I mean, take care of the clearing the dishes for you,” he corrected himself. “Wouldn’t want to break any of Mom’s rules. But first, I’m going to grab you some Tylenol.”

  “Thanks, babe,” Gavin said, dimpling. Then he looked around the table and flushed.

  “What?” Ben said defensively, challenging his siblings’ inquiring looks. “B-A-B-E. They’re my initials.”

  Will was giving him an odd look, but it wasn’t the ugly one he’d had before, so Ben let it pass. But Hannah… he braced himself. Her mouth dropped open into a perfect “O.”

  “Babe,” she whispered, almost reverently. And then, with rising excitement, she repeated it. “Babe. Oh my God, he’s right. How is it possible that I’ve never noticed that before? Gavin, you’ve just given me the best present, ever.” She looked positively gleeful. “Ben, you’re totally going to be ‘babe’ from now on.”

  “Not to you, Brat.”

  “Just watch me.”

  “No.”

  “I’m going to start calling you ba-be,” she insisted, drawing the word out into two syllables in the taunting, sing-song voice she’d first mastered at the age of twelve.

  “No,” he repeated, trying not to laugh. “You’re not.”

  “Yes,” she insisted. “I am. You can’t let Gavin get away with it, and then turn around and deny your own sister. That’s totally unfair. Why is he so special?”

  “Sorry, Brat. That one is for Gavin only,” Ben said, choosing to ignore both her last question and her childish pout as he left the room to fetch the Tylenol. By the time he got back to the dining room, the conversation had moved on. Which was good, because Ben wasn’t sure he had an answer, anyway.

  At least, not one that made any sense.

  “You look tired, Gavin,” Ben said, glancing at the man in his passenger seat as he pulled into traffic. “I should have taken you home sooner.”

  “Don’t mind me,” Gavin said, letting his head flop back against the headrest. “I’ve been getting up at three a.m. for the last year and a half. A few days of sleeping in haven’t been enough to convince my body that it’s okay to stay up later yet.”

  Ben grinned. Gavin was always awake before he got back from his morning run at six. Ben loved that he considered that “sleeping in.”

  “I’m sorry if you ended up leaving early for me,” Gavin added, stifling a yawn.

  “Don’t be silly,” Ben said, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder. “You know I’m a morning person, too. Besides, I love my family, but at the moment, I’d rather be home with you.”

  Gavin gave him an odd look, then shook his head, one of his dimples showing, even though he didn’t actually smile.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You’re not going to tell me?”

  “Your family is great,” Gavin said, finally breaking into an actual smile.

  Ben agreed, but he was pretty sure that hadn’t been the thought that had made Gavin give him the strange look. Before he could press him about it, though, Gavin laughed.

  “And after meeting your mother, I understand why you’re such a touchy-feely person,” he added.

  Ben had started rubbing the back of Gavin’s neck again without thinking. It had become a bit of a habit whenever he drove him around, but even though Gavin had just commented on it, he didn’t seem to mind. Ben decided that meant it was fine.

  “Your mom is a hugger,” Gavin said, leaning into Ben’s touch with a little sigh and letting his eyes drift closed.

  Ben smiled. “I guess she is. She likes you.”

  “I like her, too.” Gavin’s last word was almost lost in a massive yawn. “Oh, Lord. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” Ben said. “Just relax. I’ll have you home and in bed before you know it.”

  Gavin cracked one eye open, giving Ben another odd look. “Ben…”

  “What?”

  Gavin laughed, shaking his head. “Sometimes I can’t tell if you just like torturing me, or if you honestly don’t realize what you’re saying.”

  Ben raised an eyebrow, thinking back over his words.

  Oh.

  He put both hands on the steering wheel, feeling his cheeks start to heat. He really hadn’t meant it the way it had sounded—obviously—but he couldn’t deny that being around Gavin so much might have influenced the direction his thoughts had been going lately. Before Gavin, Ben hadn’t given any thought to the attraction between men, but ever since finding out Gavin was gay, he couldn’t seem to stop. Maybe it was because Gavin was the only gay man he’d ever spent any time with. Although that definitely wasn’t the only factor. After all, he’d known that Paul—the photographer he’d hired for the bank—was gay, but he’d never once reacted to him the way he did to Gavin. And Gavin’s friend Danny was very obviously gay, but Ben hadn’t given a second thought to what the bubbly man might do in bed.

/>   Gavin was different.

  Gavin was also looking at him, one eyebrow raised as if he was waiting for an answer.

  Ben cleared his throat. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean I wanted to…”

  “Right,” Gavin said, his lip quirking up as he lay his head back with a little sigh. “I didn’t think so.”

  What was that sigh? Gavin was tired. But… it had almost sounded disappointed. Ben glanced over at him. His eyes were closed again, and with his head tipped back, Ben’s gaze was drawn to the long line of his neck. There was a dark hint of end-of-day stubble, which would feel completely different under his lips than the soft skin of a woman. Ben pulled his eyes back to the road, feeling a bit like a voyeur, ogling Gavin while he was half-asleep. He really did need to get him home. And in bed.

  Ben swallowed.

  “So, what exactly do gay men do in bed, anyway?” he asked, the question popping out before he could censor himself.

  “Seriously?” Gavin asked, sputtering out a laugh. “Oh, Lord, Ben. You’re too much.”

  “Never mind,” Ben said, hoping it was dark enough to hide his embarrassment. Gavin was right. The question had been totally out of line. He cut his eyes over to Gavin. The man was still looking at him, a little smile dancing over his full lips. “I was just curious,” Ben mumbled.

  “Curious?” Gavin repeated back, shifting in his seat. “How ‘curious’ are you, exactly, Ben? Just so we’re clear.”

  Ben frowned. Did he really want to hear Gavin to tell him about his sex life? A picture of Gavin’s obnoxious ex—James—flashed across his mind, and Ben’s frown deepened. No. He really didn’t. Thinking about Gavin getting intimate with that man—with any other man, actually—was just plain irritating.

  Obviously Ben wasn’t as curious as he’d thought.

  “I take it back,” he said. “Forget I asked.”

  Ben kept his eyes on the road, but he could feel Gavin still looking at him. And still looking at him. And then, after another minute, Gavin stopped, leaning back in his seat.

  “Okay,” he said.