by Lane, Shawn;
“Then—”
“I’m going to be in Newport Beach.”
Travis frowned and sat in the chair directly in front of Mark’s desk. “What’s in Newport Beach? Potential new client?”
“Definitely not. I don’t think Drew could afford us.”
“Drew? Who the hell is Drew?”
Mark grinned. “He is the reason I’ll be in Newport Beach. I’m having coffee with him.”
“Coffee? What for?”
“You’re a brilliant lawyer, counselor, you figure it out.”
Travis continued to frown, but then his eyes widened a little. “Are you saying, like a date?”
“Yes, like a date. Furthermore, this is the second time.”
“Really?”
“Is that so surprising?” Mark scowled. “That someone would want to see me?”
Travis put up his hands. “No, no. I’m not surprised someone would want to see you; I’m just surprised you’d want to see them. Mark, you don’t date. And in the middle of a work day, no less?”
He nodded. “I think Drew is trying to keep it casual. At first anyway.”
“Well, so tell me about this guy.”
Mark glanced at his watch. Saved. “Can’t, if I’m going to make it in time, I have to go now. Besides, it’s a bit premature. If things progress anywhere, and I’m not sure they will, I’ll consider telling you about him.” He stood and grabbed his suit coat off the coat rack in his office.
“Will you be back later?”
“Probably. He only gets a half hour for lunch.”
Mark left Travis in his office staring after him.
Chapter 3
Mark was just approaching the freeway off-ramp when his cell phone rang again. He’d just disconnected the last call. He adjusted his earpiece.
“Mark Stevens.”
“Don’t you have caller ID, baby?” His mother’s Alabama-accented voice said in his ear.
“I’m driving. Hey, Mama.”
“I thought you’d be in your office. Are you going to a hearing?”
Mark steered the car off the ramp. “No, have another appointment. What’s up, Mama?”
“I want you to come by for dinner Saturday.”
He frowned. “This Saturday? I can’t. I’m going to a client’s dinner party.”
She sighed. “All right then, a week from Saturday.”
“All right, Mama. That should be fine.” A bad thought occurred to him. Clearing his throat, he said, “Mama, you aren’t planning on inviting Mrs. Piedmont’s grandson again, are you?”
“Now, why would I do that?” Her voice was all innocent, but he couldn’t help being suspicious. “Anyway, if you want to, son, you can bring someone with you.”
He knew this was her not-so-subtle way of asking if he was seeing anybody. Mark had no intention of indulging her. “Hmm, well, I’m almost to my appointment, Mama. I’ll see you a week from Saturday, say around five?”
“All right, son. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Mark pulled into the Cannery Village parking lot. He was already five minutes late. He was not happy about that, priding himself on punctuality, plus it meant cutting into the time he spent with Drew.
Not that he knew what the hell he was doing with Drew, anyway. The little pixie was so not his type. Of course, he didn’t have a type, not anymore. Still, he couldn’t deny Drew was very cute. Every time that unruly hunk of hair fell into his eyes, Mark had an urge to wrap it around his finger and flip it out of the way so he could look directly into those dark as coal eyes.
Shaking his head at his own thoughts, Mark parked in front of Java Central. Apparently the seaside village didn’t get a lot of visitors on Wednesday afternoons because the place was nearly deserted.
He entered the shop and immediately looked for Drew, hoping he would not be too late. Some people, himself included, would leave within five to ten minutes if their appointment didn’t show.
To Mark’s relief, which surprised him, Drew sat in the same corner of the coffee place as last week, sipping from a cup and reading from an electronic reading device. He hadn’t seemed to notice Mark.
He approached the counter and quickly paid for coffee and approached the table. Drew glanced up just as he arrived. The smile that lit up Drew’s face made Mark glad he’d bothered to come. It was probably the most beautiful smile he’d seen in a long time.
“Mark! You came.”
He returned the smile and, instead of sitting across from Drew at the table for four, he sat directly next to him. “Sorry, I got started a little late.”
“Well, you’re here now and that’s all that matters.”
“What were you reading?”
Drew blushed. “Um, a romance.”
“Like Gone With the Wind?”
“No.” Drew laughed. “And that’s not technically a romance, that’s a love story.”
Mark raised an eyebrow and took a sip of coffee. He had to admit the coffee here was exceptional. “And the difference would be?”
The other man leaned closer as an air of excitement radiated off him. There was something so infectious about everything Drew did. He had…charisma. It made you want to be near him. Mark hadn’t realized until that moment how much that was true.
“Okay, here it is. Stories like Gone with the Wind are love stories. Scarlet and Rhett don’t end up together at the end; in fact, he gives her the brush off. A romance ends with the couple together, looking forward to the next chapter of their lives, so to speak.”
Mark nodded. “I see. So, what romance were you reading?”
Drew smiled that sweet smile that barely showed his teeth. He really was a charmer. “A gay romance.”
“Gay? There are gay romances?”
“Sure! I love them. They help me escape sometimes, you know?”
Without even thinking about it, Mark rested his fingertips on Drew’s hand. It was warm and surprisingly soft. The touch, though slight, send goose bumps up his arm.
“I’m sure it’s difficult dealing with your stepdad’s illness and helping your mom. Where were you living before coming back to Newport Beach?”
“In Valencia not too far from the school. Driving from there to here every day just wasn’t going to work, so I gave up my apartment there.”
“Yeah, driving in all that traffic every day probably would have taken you more than two hours each way.” Mark realized he had leaned even closer to Drew, their heads only inches away.
Drew tilted his face in a way that brought their lips so close Mark felt his hot breath stir the tiny hairs above his lips. From this close he could see Drew’s eyes were so dark the pupils weren’t visible.
A noise from a nearby table startled Mark out of his trance and he pulled abruptly back. They were in public, for God’s sake, and anyway he didn’t intend to go there. He didn’t want that kind of relationship. Not now.
Mark cleared his throat. “Drew, I think I should clarify something.”
The other man’s eyes narrowed a fraction, his lashes lowering like a shade over a window closing out light. Gone was the soft smile to be replaced by a blank stare. “Okay.”
“I like you. You seem very nice.”
“I am nice.”
He nodded. “Yes. But I’m not looking to start anything of a romantic nature. I’d like to keep us strictly friends.”
“Fine by me,” Drew readily agreed, his smile returning. If what Mark said had bothered him, he gave absolutely no indication. Drew twisted his wrist to look at his watch. “Unfortunately, my lunch is over.”
Mark wished they had longer, in spite of only wanting to be friends. He nodded, drained his coffee, and stood. “Yeah, I should get back anyway.”
He followed Drew outside and before he could say anything Drew embraced him. It was just a friendly little hug, but Mark’s arms closed around Drew’s back and held him close for a few seconds longer than a friend probably should. But damn Drew smelled good. Like vanilla
cupcakes.
Drew pushed away first, giving Mark an adorable smile. That chunk of hair had once more fallen into his eyes. “Thanks for coming all this way.”
“Sure, no problem.” Mark waited for Drew to say he hoped to see him next Wednesday, but he did not. He just turned to walk a few doors down to a shop with a sign that read Betty’s Souvenirs. “I’ll see you next Wednesday.”
Drew paused in the doorway. “Okay, if you want.”
Mark decided Drew must have been more upset by his friends declaration than he had let on. Well, perhaps next week he’d try to explain it better. And now, unfortunately, he did have to get back to work.
* * * *
Mark actually pulled in front of Java Central two minutes before two the following Wednesday. He got out and went directly into the coffee shop. No sign of Drew yet, so he approached the counter where Louise waited.
“You’re the guy who has coffee with Drew, right?”
He smiled. “That’s right.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think he’ll be in today.”
“What? Why?”
“The shop got robbed this morning. Can you believe it? Who would rob a souvenir shop?” Louise frowned. “The cops were here and everything. I think both Drew and his mom are pretty shook up. The guy had a gun.”
Drew.
Mark rushed out of the coffee shop and down to Betty’s Souvenirs. The sign on the door read CLOSED. He peered inside and saw Drew by the counter, his back to the door, so he knocked. Drew turned and walked to the glass door and used a key to open it.
“Hi,” Drew said softly. His lack of usual enthusiasm saddened Mark.
Mark stepped inside and closed the door with the palm of his hand. “Louise told me. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
Drew swallowed. “Sure, I’m fine.”
Before he could think about it too closely, Mark pulled Drew into his arms and held him tight against his chest. Drew shook. “You are not okay. You’re shaking like a leaf.”
Drew rested his head on Mark’s shoulder. “It was pretty scary. I kept thinking he would shoot.”
“I’ll bet. Want to tell me about it?”
The smaller man snuggled closer and Mark’s arms tightened. “I was there at the register. Mom was in the back. She’s gone home now. I thought it best. Anyway, this guy came in, pretended to look around a bit and then approached the counter and stuck a gun in my face.”
“Oh, my God.”
“I gave him what money we had, which wasn’t much. His hand shook the whole time and I thought for sure he was going to kill me. But then he ran out. Mom had heard what was happening and called the police.”
“Did they catch him?”
“Yeah, just a few blocks away.”
“I’m guessing this is the first time anything like that had happened.”
Drew nodded against him.
“You should go home, Drew. What are you still doing here?”
“I thought maybe I could reopen the shop, but I’ve been just standing here.”
Mark shook his head. “No, you’re done for the day. You’re going home.”
Drew pulled back a little and looked at him. “I’d have to call my mom or stepdad to come get me. I rode in with my mom.”
“I’ll take you home.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to bother you.”
Mark smiled. “You aren’t. Come on, let’s go.”
* * * *
Mark learned once he pulled out of the parking lot of Cannery Village that Drew’s parents’ house was only about three blocks over from the shopping center. As he pulled in front of the house he whistled. It was a gorgeous Cape Cod-style home with huge windows looking out to sea.
“This house is amazing. Did you grow up here?”
Drew’s laugh was low, barely audible. “No. I grew up in Irvine. Across the street from my friend, Steve Llewellyn. The folks bought this place about ten years ago. Want to come in for a minute?”
Mark had to admit he was pretty curious about Drew’s mother and stepfather, so he agreed. He turned off the engine and got out.
The walkway had been created out of cobblestones and was lined with beautifully tended rose bushes.
“Stepdad has a green thumb,” Drew explained. “He still tends all the flora even now. I think it keeps his mind off things.”
Drew opened the front door. “Ma? I’m home and I brought a guest.”
Mark hung back, feeling a little strange. When had he met someone else’s family? Not that this was like one of those meetings exactly. Was it?
A petite white haired but still pretty woman came from a room to the right side of the hall. She smiled a tentative welcome. Under the circumstances Mark could hardly blame her.
“Hello there. I’m sorry to disturb you. I’m Mark Stevens, a friend of Drew’s.”
“Mark drove me home, Ma. I decided to keep the store closed today after all.” Drew embraced his mother briefly. “Everything will be okay.”
“I know,” she said.
“Mark, this is my mother, Betty Kiyoto.”
She turned to Mark and offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, even today. Are you the one Drew has been having coffee with?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
Mark turned when he heard the approach of footsteps. A tall, very thin Japanese man came into the front hall.
“And my stepfather, John Kiyoto.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
Drew’s stepfather smiled and shook his hand. “Thank you for bringing Drew home. I would have picked him up.”
“It was no trouble. But I should get going. I don’t want to intrude and I do need to get back to work.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Drew said. “Be right back.”
They walked out to Mark’s car. He had to stop and let the sea breeze flow over him. What a great place to live. One of these days he’d buy a nice beach house. Maybe by then he’d even have time to enjoy it.
“Thanks again for the ride, and sorry about the coffee. I should have called you,” Drew said.
“I can see why it wouldn’t be your first priority. I’m just glad they got the guy that robbed you.”
“Me, too. See you next Wednesday?”
“Yeah or…I guess you’ll probably be working Saturday?”
Drew blinked. “Well, I don’t have to be, why?”
“I’m invited over to my mother’s for dinner. I wondered if you’d like to come.” Mark wondered what he was thinking. Inviting him to his mother’s house for dinner? He must be nuts.
“I…yeah. Sure. I’d love to.”
Mark smiled. “Okay, I’ll pick you up around four?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Chapter 4
Drew waited nervously in the front room of his parents’ home. He didn’t feel twenty-seven, but seventeen. Like he was waiting for the guy he had a crush on to go to the movies with him.
Mark was just a friend. He’d made that clear enough. Still, Drew fidgeted as he waited to be picked up. He’d dressed in navy slacks and a brown buttoned-down shirt. He’d combed his hair a dozen times, and then ran his hands through the unruly mess a few times.
“Are you going to pace the whole time you are waiting?” his stepdad asked coming into the room, smiling. He held a mug of tea in his hand.
“No, yes, maybe.”
“Want some tea?”
Drew shook his head. “No time to drink it.”
“This man is important to you, isn’t he?”
“We’re just friends, John.”
John nodded. “Right. I’ve never seen you pace like this waiting for Steve to come over.”
Drew was saved from having to reply by the arrival of Mark’s Lexus at the curb in front of the house. “Okay, I’m off. Is there anything you need before I go?”
“No, I’ll be fine. Have fun on your date.”
Drew frowned. “It’s not a date. Really.”
“Okay, okay,” Joh
n said, quickly hugging him. “Have fun anyway.”
Drew rolled his eyes and went out the front door and hurried to the car just as Mark was getting out. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make you wait.”
“You didn’t. I would have come to the door. No need to run out here.”
Drew smiled. “That’s okay. Ready?”
“Sure.”
On the drive over, Drew found he was just as nervous as he had been while waiting for Mark, which was stupid. He could barely form a coherent thought, so he looked out the window and didn’t really try to engage Mark in conversation.
After a while, Mark said, “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re just really quiet. Do you not want to go?”
“Oh, no, I do,” Drew assured him. He sighed. “I’m just nervous.”
Mark shot him a glance. “Why?”
Yeah, why?
He shrugged. “I guess I’ve just always been nervous meeting a friend’s parents. Going all the way back to high school.”
“Well, don’t worry, my mother will like you. We’re originally from Alabama, so Mama knows all about southern hospitality. She’ll make you feel really welcome.”
“You’re from the south? I didn’t know. You don’t have an accent.”
“I left pretty young and I’ve worked on getting rid of it,” Mark said. “I wanted to fit in here, I guess. But Mama’s only moved here recently. I bought her a house a couple years ago.”
“Your dad gone?”
Mark grunted. “Several years ago. Honestly, he wasn’t much of a father or a husband when he was alive. Mama worked more than he ever did. Pretty much why, as soon as I could, I moved her here so she wouldn’t have to work anymore.”
“Siblings?”
“My sister. She still lives in Alabama with her family. We keep in touch a lot.”
Drew stared at Mark’s profile for a moment and then looked away at the passing traffic. “Is that why you work so much? To help your family?”
“Yes, I suppose. It’s not easy paying for two homes. I suppose I could have had my mother live with me, but she’s very independent and wanted her own place. It was the only way I could talk her into coming here.”
“You know, I forgot to ask, where does your mom live? Where are we going? For that matter, I don’t know where you live.”