Stage Two

by Ariel Tachna

“It’s a surprise.”

  Thane’s phone buzzed on his belt. He glanced down to see the name of his current client and pain in the ass. “I’m sorry. I have to take this. I’m not sure I’ll be at stage crew today.”

  “See you tomorrow,” Blake said.

  Thane answered the phone and waved as he left Blake’s office.

  “KIT, Phillip, can you come in here for a few minutes?”

  Kit and Phillip looked at each other nervously. “Did we leave dirty dishes in the sink?” Kit whispered.

  “I don’t think so,” Phillip whispered back. “I can’t think of anything we’ve done.”

  Kit grimaced. “I guess he’ll tell us.”

  “Maybe it’s not a bad thing,” Phillip said. “We’ve been doing good in school and in stage crew.”

  “Maybe.”

  They squared their shoulders and walked into the kitchen. For a moment, Phillip thought Uncle Thane looked almost nervous too.

  “Have a seat,” he said.

  Phillip and Kit took their usual seats on either side of the table and waited to see what Uncle Thane had to say.

  “I have a date on Saturday,” he told them.

  Phillip exchanged a glance with Kit. A date? This was too good to be true. They’d have something to tease him about in return for all the teasing he’d done about Darcy. “Nice,” Phillip drawled. “Anyone we know?”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “It’s Mr. B., isn’t it?” Kit blurted out. “You brought him hot chocolate, and you’re always hanging around where he is even when he doesn’t need your help.”

  Uncle Thane blushed beneath his beard. Phillip grinned. “It is, isn’t it? You’ve got a crush on Mr. B.”

  “I’m thirty-eight years old. I don’t have a ‘crush’ on anyone.”

  Phillip snorted. “What do you call it, then?”

  “I have a date,” Uncle Thane repeated. “But yes, you’re right. It’s with Mr. Barnes. Is that going to be a problem?”

  “Why would it be a problem?” Phillip asked. “We like him, but even if we didn’t, it’s your life.”

  “I don’t want to make things weird for you at school if I’m dating your stage crew advisor,” Uncle Thane said.

  “Oh no, you’re not going to put that on us,” Kit said. “If you like him, go for it. Don’t use us as an excuse.”

  “What he said,” Phillip agreed. “We won’t be in high school forever.”

  Uncle Thane’s shoulders dropped in relief. “Thank you, boys.”

  BLAKE still didn’t know where Thane was taking him for dinner as he got ready on Saturday. Thane had come to help with stage crew on both Thursday and Friday, and Blake had given Thane his address and cell number. Thane had said only that he would pick Blake up at six thirty and to wear a coat and tie. Blake had joked that he wore a coat and tie every day. Thane had laughed at him and told him not to wear a school suit.

  That didn’t leave him with many options. He had three types of clothes in his closet: stage crew clothes, school clothes, and club clothes. He had workout clothes in his drawer, but those would be even less appropriate than anything in his closet. He dug in the back of his closet to see if he could find the suit he’d bought for his cousin’s wedding a few years ago. His parents had insisted he needed something nicer than what he wore to school, so he’d splurged and bought a bespoke suit instead of something off the rack. He’d worn it to the wedding, hung it up, and hadn’t touched it since. He’d thought about wearing it to his parents’ funeral, but they wouldn’t have wanted him to associate those memories with it.

  He found the suit bag pushed all the way to the back of the closet. He pulled it out and unzipped it, hoping the suit wasn’t too wrinkled or musty to wear—and that it still fit. He tried to stay healthy, but he couldn’t swear he hadn’t put on a few pounds in the past couple of years. It was worth a try anyway.

  The black wool didn’t look wrinkled or smell stale when he pulled it out. Now for the moment of truth. He stripped off the jeans he’d worn all day and stepped into the suit pants. He’d forgotten how nice the fabric felt compared to the suits he usually wore. To his relief, he was able to button them with no problem. They were maybe a little snugger around his butt than they’d been when he bought them, but he was wearing them on a date with a man who had shown a propensity for staring at his ass. It couldn’t hurt to show it off a little.

  The nice thing about a black suit was that he could pair it with almost any shirt and tie he owned, except maybe the navy blue one. He debated between a simple white shirt or a brighter one. He didn’t know where they were going, so he didn’t know if he could get away with something more flamboyant. He’d love to wear the bright pink one, just to get back at Thane for his teasing, but that might not be the best idea, depending on where they were going for dinner. He’d settle for a white one tonight and see if he couldn’t convince Thane to give him more details next time.

  That assumed there would be a next time, but after the way Thane had pursued him the past few weeks, Blake didn’t think that would be a problem unless their first date ended up being a disaster.

  He finished getting dressed and made a cup of hot chocolate—peppermint, of course—to help pass the time while he waited for Thane to pick him up. His heart rabbited against his sternum. He hoped he wasn’t making a colossal mistake by agreeing to go out with Thane, but he couldn’t say no anymore. He’d just have to hope for the best.

  The doorbell rang at precisely six thirty. At least Thane was punctual. Blake set his mug in the sink and answered the door. Thane leaned against the railing of his apartment landing, looking positively sinful in a dark suit and shirt. Blake couldn’t tell if they were navy or black in the porch light, but they made him drool with the way they stretched across Thane’s broad shoulders. Blake could have stood there for hours, drinking in the sight of him. The slim trousers highlighted the miles of Thane’s legs, reminding Blake of just how tall he was. Best of all, Thane had left his hair loose instead of pulling it back like he did at stage crew. Blake itched to run his fingers through it to see if it was as soft as it looked, but that was a liberty he didn’t have permission to take just yet.

  “You look very nice tonight,” Thane said, his rumble of a voice causing Blake’s stomach to flip.

  “So do you.”

  “Shall we go?”

  Blake locked up and followed Thane down to his truck. It didn’t look especially new, but it did look freshly washed, a thought that charmed Blake. Thane had made an effort to make a good impression too.

  Thane held the door for Blake, not quite crowding him but close enough that Blake could feel the heat from his body in the chilly March air. The interior of the cab was warm, though, so Blake was glad he hadn’t bothered with his winter coat. Thane came around to the other side and climbed in.

  “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” Thane said as he headed back down toward Tates Creek and then onto New Circle Road.

  Blake tapped his fingers against the leather of the bucket seat. It was probably a good thing the gearshift separated them. Blake couldn’t scoot closer, no matter how tempting the thought was. “You do realize I’m in the car with you. I’m not backing out at this point.”

  “That’s not it,” Thane said. “I just want to surprise you.”

  Blake settled back against the seat and told himself to be patient a little longer. When they turned out Leestown Road away from town rather than going toward town, he looked at Thane again—not that he could see more than his profile outlined in the headlights of oncoming cars.

  “Now I’m really curious. There’s nothing out this way.”

  “There is if you drive far enough.”

  I-64 was out that way, but that didn’t make sense. Unless…. “Are you taking me to Louisville for dinner?”

  Thane laughed. “Not quite that far, although we could do that another time, if you want. The Oakroom is a dining extrav
aganza.”

  “It’s a bit far to go for dinner, isn’t it?” Blake said.

  “So we get a room at the Seelbach and stay the night. But it’s only a little over an hour.”

  Blake shivered at the thought of spending the night with Thane. He needed to focus on dinner, not sex, or he’d end up embarrassing himself for sure.

  Blake wasn’t convinced Thane was telling the truth about not going to Louisville because the interstate was right there, but he turned into Midway instead. “Now are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

  Thane stopped in front of a little storefront restaurant on Main Street. “There,” he said. Blake read Heirloom on the awning.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “I’VE never been here before,” Blake said as Thane parked across the street from the restaurant. “Is it good?”

  “It had very good reviews. It’s a first visit for me too. If it’s awful, at least it will be a memorable first date.”

  “Something to laugh about in twenty years?” Blake quipped.

  Thane’s grip on the steering wheel tightened visibly, making Blake’s breath catch to match Thane’s audible inhale. Blake’s good sense told him to shut his mouth now, but the thought that a future together was enough to make Thane react spurred him on.

  “Let’s hope it’s a good memory,” Thane said, “but if it’s not, we’ll definitely laugh about it later.”

  If it wasn’t a promise of twenty years, well, Blake’s words hadn’t been intended that way either. It was a promise of more than just tonight.

  Thane reached for Blake’s hand as they crossed the street lined with quaint shops and went inside, and that was enough to put Blake on autopilot until they actually arrived at their table and he had to think about things like unbuttoning his jacket, sitting in the chair without falling on his backside, and looking at the menu. Across the table, Thane slipped his jacket off and draped it over the back of his chair. Blake almost mimicked him, but next to Thane, he was nothing to look at. Maybe he ought to leave his jacket on.

  “You’ll be cold when we go back outside if you wear your jacket all evening,” Thane said.

  On the other hand, since Thane was asking…. He peeled the jacket off and hoped Thane liked what he saw.

  “Do you want a cocktail?” Thane asked. “Or maybe some wine? We aren’t in any rush. We could split a bottle if you see something you like.”

  “I’m more of a bourbon or whiskey drinker than a wine drinker, but those don’t go with food the way wine does. You’ll have to help me pick something out.”

  “Let’s look at the menu and decide what we’re eating. That will help us pick out a wine,” Thane said. “But you should get a cocktail while we’re waiting. I’m sure their bartender can make whatever you want.”

  Blake had opened the menu and started reading down it when a waiter came up to take their drink orders. Blake ordered a whiskey sour at Thane’s urging and then felt guilty because Thane only ordered water.

  “I’ll have wine with dinner, but I have to drive us home,” Thane reminded him. “I want you to enjoy.”

  “I could have enjoyed wine with dinner without having something else first,” Blake said.

  “I’m sure you could, but where’s the fun in that?” Thane asked with a wink.

  Blake’s cheeks burned, and he focused back on the menu to hide his flush. He decided quickly on the spinach salad with goat cheese and the red snapper. Nothing extravagant, nothing too spicy, just in case Thane decided to kiss him later; nothing adventurous either, because he didn’t want to order and then end up not liking his dish. That would be a mood killer for sure.

  The waiter returned in a few minutes with their drinks. Blake took a sip of his cocktail and waited while Thane decided what he was ordering.

  “What have you decided on?” Thane asked finally. Blake told him quickly. “Hmm, I was going to get the beef tenderloin, so we can get a glass of wine instead of a bottle. I can’t imagine any wines that would go with both fish and beef.”

  “Or I can just drink this and then have water,” Blake said. “I don’t actually need wine with dinner. I’m a sleepy drunk. I’ll be out on your shoulder on the way home if I have too much.”

  Thane laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. I definitely want you awake enough to enjoy our evening.”

  DINNER had been delicious and the company everything Blake could have hoped for. They’d chatted about inconsequentials—Thane’s business, the upcoming concerts at the Opera House and Philharmonic, the progress on the sets for Guys and Dolls. He smiled at Thane over their Kentucky Sundowns and tried to remember when he’d had a more perfect evening. “Thank you for dinner. I’ve had a wonderful time.”

  Thane smiled back. “I’m glad. What are you doing next Saturday?”

  Blake laughed. “I don’t know. What am I doing next Saturday?”

  “Hopefully having dinner with me again,” Thane said. “Seeing you at stage crew is wonderful, but I have to share you with the kids there. I’ve enjoyed having you all to myself tonight.”

  Blake couldn’t stop the heat that rose to his cheeks again at the compliment, but he didn’t look away either. He wanted Thane to know how that kind of comment affected him. He took another sip of his drink and licked a bit of whipped cream off his upper lip. Thane’s gaze fixed on his lips, setting all of Blake’s nerves on high alert. He cleared his throat and excused himself quickly. He needed a moment to breathe.

  He’d forgotten, in his hurry, that he’d taken off his jacket, leaving him in his slightly snug pants. He could feel Thane’s gaze on his ass like a caress all the way to the restroom. He locked the door behind him and leaned against the cool tile wall, trying to catch his breath and put his thoughts in order. He had never been the kind to jump into bed on the first date, but Thane made him want to reconsider that. Then again, was it really their first date? It was the first time they’d gone out, just the two of them, but they’d been doing things together for weeks.

  “Stop it,” he muttered to himself. “You’re rationalizing.” This was their first date, no matter how much he tried to spin it otherwise. It didn’t change just how much he wanted to forget all his scruples and beg Thane to come back to his apartment with him after dinner was over. Maybe Thane would take the choice out of his hands. Saying yes was completely different than bringing it up in the first place.

  Oh, he had it bad.

  He washed his hands, splashed a little water on his face to cool his flushed cheeks, and walked back to the table. Thane watched him return with an appreciative smile. Blake sat back down and finished up the last of his drink.

  “Ready?” Thane asked.

  Blake wasn’t ready at all. Walking out the restaurant door would mean their date was almost over, unless he worked up the courage to invite Thane back to his place for a nightcap—rather ridiculous since they’d just had one. But he couldn’t think of a reason to refuse so he nodded and put his jacket back on.

  “Too bad it’s so cold outside,” Thane murmured.

  “Why’s that?” Blake asked after they’d thanked the hostess and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

  “Because your jacket is long enough to cover your ass, and that’s a damn shame.”

  Blake swallowed hard. “Really?” His voice cracked as he spoke, much to his frustration. Could he come across any more like an awkward teen?

  “Really,” Thane said as he opened the door for Blake.

  Blake half expected Thane to get a grope in as Blake climbed into the cab, but he kept his hands to himself. Blake couldn’t decide if he was pleased or insulted.

  When Thane had gotten settled and pulled out of the parking spot, Blake screwed up his courage. “You dated girls in high school. When did you decide you liked guys?”

  “It’s never really been about guys or girls. I’m an ass man. Always have been, always will be. Never really cared much whether it was tits or a dick I got to play with while I was fucking one either. And a blow job
feels good, no matter whose mouth is on you.”

  Blake didn’t moan at the image Thane’s words presented. He didn’t. He imagined all sorts of hot and sweaty scenarios that ended with Thane doing just what he described, but he didn’t moan. Please God, let him not have moaned.

  He risked a sideways glance at Thane. Thane was looking straight ahead as he navigated the light traffic out of Midway, but a smirk played around the corners of his lips. Damn the man for being a seductive bastard who was all too aware of his effect on others. Just for that—

  Just for that nothing. If Thane gave the slightest hint he wanted Blake, Blake would give it to him, and there was no use pretending otherwise.

  “What about you?” Thane asked. “When did you realize you were gay?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Blake said.

  “Try me.”

  “Do you remember when the head cheerleader—I’ve forgotten her name—tried to claim you’d gotten her pregnant?”

  Thane chuckled. “I was young and stupid, but I wasn’t that stupid.”

  “You told her you couldn’t possibly be the father because of how you’d fucked,” Blake said, grateful for the dark that hid his embarrassment. “I was sitting two tables away and heard the whole conversation. And all I could think about was how I wished I’d been in her place.”

  “That can be arranged.” Thane’s voice wrapped around him, low and seductive. “When you’re ready.”

  Blake was so far past ready it wasn’t funny.

  Thane reached across the gearshift and squeezed Blake’s hand. Blake turned his hand in Thane’s grip so their palms touched and he could twine their fingers together. The contact steadied him. Thane might be talking about taking him to bed, but he also wanted to hold Blake’s hand. Even the brush of his thumb over the inside of Blake’s wrist—a seductive move if ever Blake had felt one—reassured him it wouldn’t just be a rush to the finish line.

  Blake cast around for something to say, but nothing came to mind, and Thane didn’t seem to mind the silence, so Blake leaned back against the seat and enjoyed the simple connection of palm against palm. All too soon, they reached Blake’s apartment complex. Thane climbed out of the truck and opened Blake’s door. As soon as Blake got out, Thane took his hand again as they walked up the stairs to Blake’s landing.