Body Double (Body Heat Book 3)

by J. P. Scott

  “Wow, that sounds busy.” If he had that much going on, why had he been out at the bathhouse? And why was he here now?

  “I took a two-week break between classes. It feels like I’m on vacation.”

  “And you decided to make the most of it.”

  Aaron blushed. “I’m not sure what made me go out to the bathhouse. Lord knows I could have just used my phone and found someone close by who was looking for a hook up.”

  “Sometimes its fun to just go somewhere where there’s lots of people but still anonymity. There’s play if you want it, but you can let it just happen around you, too.”

  “And I don’t have to tidy up.” That made both of them laugh. Patrick had been guilty of inviting someone over and then running around his apartment picking things up and making it look put together. The guy never really gave to place much mind. It was strip, kiss, and get down to business.

  Stop thinking about sex. Patrick tried to keep his mind focused on discovering more about Aaron and who he was as a person, but his mind kept thinking about getting naked and feeling Aaron’s warmth beneath him, next to him, and on top of him. “What’s the craziest thing you have seen working in the hospital?”

  “I don’t get to see too much crazy stuff. Mainly just people fainting when they see me taking their blood. I am interested in working in the ER. I have a few friends who have some crazy stories. A lot of people use sex toys wrong apparently.”

  Patrick coughed when he saw the waiter approaching with the beer flights. He set them down and reviewed what each beer was. “Any food that I can get started for you guys?”

  “I’d love some nachos,” Aaron was quick to order.

  Patrick scanned the menu. Food was much easier to pick out than beer. “And some wings. Let’s get this one with three different sauces.”

  “Sounds good, guys. And let me know if there’s any game you were hoping to catch today. I’ll see if I can get one of the TV’s in view to that channel.”

  “No, we’re good.”

  “Just some brothers hanging out. That’s cool.” The waiter tapped the menus he had collected on the table, turned, and headed through the room before either of them could say anything else.

  Aaron’s brow was furrowed with questions. “What did he mean by that?”

  “I think he thinks we’re brothers.” Patrick paused before going further. “My friends mentioned they thought they saw a resemblance between us.”

  Patrick didn’t know if he should maintain eye contact while Aaron studied his face. “I mean, maybe a little in the eyes and the shape of the jaw. My hair is darker, and my eyes are brown.”

  “I don’t see it either. But there must be something that makes people at least look twice.”

  “Well, it must mean I look pretty hot, but that’s what I see what I look at you.”

  It was Patrick’s turn to blush. “Same.” He grabbed one of the small glasses of beer in his flight, already forgetting the kind. “Cheers.”

  “Cheers.”

  For the rest of the afternoon, they sampled beers, laughed, and flirted. They took a car back to Patrick’s apartment and found each other’s lips as the door closed behind them.

  “I’ve wanted to do that all afternoon.”

  “I’ve wanted to do a lot more than that,” Patrick said breathlessly. He slipped his hands up and under Aaron’s shirt and grabbed his sides, pulling Aaron to him.

  “I’m okay with that,” Aaron said and kissed Patrick again, sliding his tongue deep into Patrick’s mouth. “I’ve been thinking a lot about getting naked with you again.”

  Patrick could feel himself growing hard in his shorts. Feeling Aaron in his arms sent electricity through his body. He stepped towards the bedroom, “Let’s get naked then.”

  Six

  “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Patrick parked a few houses down the street from his parents’ house in the first open spot that he could find. The driveway and the spots immediately in front of the house were full. The guests for the party had arrived on time and filled the closest spots in the driveway and directly in front of the house. He looked over at Aaron, “It’s not too late to back out.”

  “Are you scared to see your parents?”

  “Not scared. They’re just…intense. When they are having a party, it is even worse. I just want to make sure you are ready to face this.”

  Aaron reached out and touched Patrick’s arm. “I’ll be okay, I promise.”

  It had only been a week since they had met. That seemed a little early in Patrick’s mind to meet parents. They didn’t even have a good cover story about how they met.

  “We should have a code word.”

  “I don’t think a party is the right place for kinky sex.”

  “That’s a safe word. I’m talking about a word or phrase or hand gesture that we could use if one of us decides that we need to make a quick escape.” Patrick’s mind was filled with images of either he or Aaron getting cornered by someone and unable to extract themselves.

  Aaron laughed. “I think we’ll be fine. Just give me the look if you get a little overwhelmed.”

  After getting the extra bags of ice from the back, they walked to the house and made their way through the open gate on the side of the house. They could hear music and the sound of a dozen conversations Patrick had heard before. Chatter about projects and deals and successes. Very little about anything personal. All business. All surface. All for show.

  His mother saw them moments after they turned the corner of the house and stepped into the yard. She excused herself from her conversation and wove her way through the crowd. She smiled at Patrick as she walked, cheekbones high with delight. She looked stunning in a blue sleeveless dress that showed off a light tan.

  “Mother approaching, twelve o’clock.”

  “She’s gorgeous.”

  A few feet away, her gaze shifted from Patrick to Aaron. Patrick could have sworn he saw his mother pause, even raise her eyebrows a bit. Nothing usually caught her off guard in a social setting. If ever there was any sort of drama, she did her best to resolve the situation by removing the parties involved to another room, making a joke to release the tension, or giving a stern look that told the offending parties that they should deal with the matter some other time or place. To see her now react physically to seeing Aaron was a surprise. What was the reason?

  “There you are, Pat. I was expecting you hours ago for set up.” Patrick had forgotten all about that part of his mother’s request.

  “I did bring ice.”

  “And it’s dripping everywhere. Please, let’s get them in the coolers. This way.” She waved her arm in the direction of the coolers that held bottles of beer and sodas for the guests. “You must be Aaron.” Patrick was walking in front of the pair, but he knew his mother had looped an arm with Aaron’s and was walking close to his side, looking at him and studying everything about him.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Aaron was trying to be polite, but Patrick knew his mother’s contact was unexpected.

  “Dear, you must tell me everything about yourself. I want to make sure that anyone dating my baby comes from good stock.”

  “Good stock?”

  “Yes, you know. Good family. Good upbringing. Has goals and dreams.”

  Patrick groaned. He had hoped that Aaron could have a few moments to settle into the afternoon before she started up this line of questioning. He should, at least, have a few sips of a strong drink in him.

  “Well, I’m studying to be a nurse. I currently work as a phlebotomist.”

  “Oh, that’s interesting. Very demanding work. Not a lot of time to get into trouble, I’m sure.”

  Aaron laughed with hesitation. “No, not much time.”

  “Enough time to devote to dating my son?”

  He gulped. “Um, I think so. Patrick and I have already talked about the demands in our life and how that affects dating.”

  “Oh, you have? So, it’s getting serious?�
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  “Mom, we’ve only known each other a week.”

  “Which is a pretty long time when it comes to gay men. Don’t think I don’t know things, young man.” She reprimanded her son, but her attention was still on Aaron. While Patrick worked to fill the coolers with ice from the bags, his mother continued her line of questioning. “And your family, dear. Where are you from?”

  “Oh, I grew up in Flagstaff.”

  “I see. And what kind of work do your parents do?”

  “My mom owns an antique and resell shop. She is also good at woodworking and sells some handmade stuff.”

  Patrick’s mother was nodding and smiling as she took it all in. This was the part that he had dreaded the most about having Aaron meet his parents.

  “That’s lovely. I’ll have to check it out. I love a good antique piece.” She patted Aaron’s arm. “And your father?”

  Aaron shifted his weight on his feet and pulled back a bit. “Well, I’m not really sure. My mother raised me by herself.”

  “I see, dear. No shame in that.”

  Just then, a member of the catering crew came up with a question. “Excuse me, dears. Please, fix yourselves a drink and mingle. You’re just lovely, dear,” she said to Aaron, “I can’t wait to talk to you some more.” Then she was gone.

  “Wow, she is intense.”

  Patrick smiled and reached out to pull Aaron into a hug. “You survived. And you did great. Trust me, it’s worse when you are stuck at a dinner table for an hour. The questions don’t stop.”

  “Maybe we do need a code word.”

  “I told you.”

  “But honestly, would it have helped? Her grip on me was casual, but it was clear she was not letting go until she wanted to.”

  “No, she pretty much had you for as long as she wanted.”

  Aaron looked around at the coolers. “Now that we know more about beer, are we partaking?”

  Patrick pointed over to a bar with a handsome young man in a white shirt and vest standing behind it. “The good stuff is over there.” Patrick knew Aaron would be happier with a glass of vodka than a beer.

  They had spent a lot of time together since their first date. Each night they had met for dinner and some drinks followed by several rounds of play back at Patrick’s apartment. Patrick kept expecting a moment to happen when one of them said they had enough and needed a break. Then Aaron would grab his hand and sparks would fly and Patrick couldn’t get seeing him naked out of his mind.

  Other relationships had started with a lot of heat. They had all quickly cooled and Patrick was left to discover that he didn’t really like the guy. With Aaron, it was different. When they weren’t sucking or fucking, they were talking. And the conversations were often deep.

  It may have only been a week, but it felt like much longer that they had been together.

  “I wasn’t really sure what to say about my dad. My family’s history is not really what I imagine your mom wanted to know about being from good stock.”

  If there was anything about Aaron that his mom might disapprove of, it was that Aaron had grown up without a dad. Not only were his parents not married, but his dad had disappeared from his life when he was a little kid. He remembered him visiting a few times, but the memories were faint and almost dreamlike.

  “The important thing is to focus on your mom. It’s an impressive thing to raise a kid alone and run a business. That sounds like good stock to me.”

  Aaron looked around at the crowd. Even though it was a casual barbecue, most of the male guests were dressed in a business casual style of polos and khaki pants. There were very few shorts, t-shirts, or jeans. “I don’t come from money like this.”

  Patrick squeezed his hand. “You don’t need to. And my mom might say it’s important, but deep down, she just wants me to find a good guy.”

  “Which one’s your dad?”

  Patrick scanned the crowd and pointed his father standing on the back patio near the open French doors. “Over there. The tall one.”

  “I can see the resemblance.” Aaron pinched Patrick’s ass. “You work out more.”

  “Occupational hazard.”

  “He doesn’t look like he’s really enjoying himself too much.”

  “No, he isn’t one for big crowds. Even though the party is for him, if he had his way, he would be doing a crossword puzzle in the den.” Patrick hoped to catch his eye and give him an excuse to step away from the group.

  “Isn’t this party for him?”

  “It’s about him and his work milestone. The party for him. It’s more of an excuse for my mom to throw a party and be the host.” Patrick realized he had always known this to be true but he wasn’t sure he had ever said it out loud before. It made him sad to think about how many events and parties his father had attended, advertised as being for him, but not really what he wanted in a way of celebration. “Promise me that you will tell me if I ever do this to you.”

  The demand caught Aaron off guard. “Um, okay. That shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Isn’t it? My parents have been married for over thirty years and it happens.”

  “Sometimes relationships are about compromise. Aren’t they?”

  “Compromise, sure. But where is the line? I think my dad is miserable at these things. He seems to be compromising, but I’m not sure where my mom does. I just don’t want to do that to you.”

  Aaron grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Then I won’t let you. I promise. And I promise not to do it to you.”

  They mainly kept to themselves at the party. Occasionally, one of his dad’s coworkers asked Patrick about his brother. He was grateful it was never in Aaron’s earshot. “Oh, that’s not my brother.” It felt weird to correct to boyfriend.

  Is anyone saying things to Aaron about being related? Why is everyone saying we look alike?

  Patrick scanned the crowed to see if Aaron has been cornered by anyone and might need to be rescued. He was just coming out of the house from a bathroom trip and bumped right into my dad who seemed happy to finally meet Aaron and excuse himself from the couple he had been chatting with.

  Patrick smiled as they began chatting. He knew that Aaron would charm him and he would get a pat on the back from his dad later for making a good choice.

  “Great party, huh?” He felt his mom’s arm loop into his and her head resting on his left shoulder.

  “You know how to throw a good party, mom.”

  They stood looking out to the crowd that had dwindled a bit as the afternoon had turned to evening.

  “It looks like your dad and Aaron are getting along.”

  “They are. I was beginning to wonder if they would ever meet. He’s been tied up all day. Everyone wants to talk to him.”

  Patrick wondered if his mother realized how much he hated being the center of attention.

  “Let’s have lunch tomorrow. Just the two of us. Maybe have some of those mimosas I’m always seeing you posting pictures about.”

  “Sure…we can do…brunch. I don’t think you can do mimosas at lunch.”

  She pinched him on the arm in response to his teasing.

  “I’ll make reservations for four. What time?”

  “Actually, can we just have a mother/son date?”

  It had been awhile since he had spent time alone with his mom. It was normally a few phone calls throughout the week to keep up on the latest news.

  “There are some things we should talk about. And I don’t think it’s a conversation for Aaron to be a part of.” She slipped her arm out from Patrick’s and walked into the crowd. What did she mean by that?

  Seven

  Patrick and Aaron decided to head out for a few drinks after they left the party. They got a round and headed out to the back patio. It was crowded, but they managed to find two seats on a bench that crossed the back wall.

  “Thanks for coming today.”

  “It was fun. Even if it was a bunch of old people.”

  It had been more entert
aining than many parties Patrick had been to that involved his dad’s coworkers. They tended to be quite dry. No one wanted to get too carefree and end up being the office gossip on the following Monday. They had been a little bit more into having a good time.

  “Sorry if my mom was a little over the top.”

  “She was fine. I expect mom’s to be a little intense when there’s someone dating their baby. Patrick’s mom definitely had the ability to go full Momma Bear. “I did have a good conversation with your dad.”

  “I saw you two chatting.”

  “He’s super smart. He started asking me things about my work. I’m to that. But he was going deep. Had I heard about the study where they found some unexpected result…I was struggling to keep up. He’s read and studied more about what I do than I think my own professors do.”

  “He does know things that the average person doesn’t. Even when it comes to fitness and diet, he’s asking me about whether I’ve been looking at the latest findings. I don’t know where he finds the time to take in all of this information.”

  “He could probably do more if he didn’t have to go to so many parties.” They both laughed. That part was very true. Patrick’s father would rather get lost in a bookstore in the old, dusty book section or read a scientific journal cover to cover and looking up the referenced studies as well.

  “I look forward to meeting your mom. We should take a trip up to Flagstaff.”

  “She’s looking forward to meeting you.”

  Patrick was about to propose a road trip next weekend when a guy stumbled and fell into Aaron, spilling his drink all over Aaron’s shirt.

  “Oh, shit! I’m sorry! I tripped.” The guy staggered into a standing position and looked back to an imaginary crack that had caused him to trip. His words were slurred and his eyes were glassy. Patrick had seen this guy at the bars before and usually in this same drunk state. “Whoa. Are you guys brothers?”

  Aaron was looking down at his soaked clothes in shock. He must not have heard the guy.

  “Hey, buddy. Watch what you are doing.” Patrick stood up to get the guy’s attention and to have him back up while Aaron tried to clean himself off from the ice and slices of lime that covered him.