by Megan Slayer
Aiden stood in the middle of the tub, his hair wet and suds sliding down the middle of his chest. “You’re right. This is the coolest shower ever. How did you not tell me you had a clawfoot tub?”
“It didn’t exactly come up in conversation.” He eased in behind Aiden. “But now you know. I love the tub. It’s huge and holds two people.”
“I thought you said the woman remodeled the house.” Aiden leaned back in Matt’s arms. “I would assume this would be the first to go.”
“That’s the beauty of my house—well, one of them. She ran out of cash before she got up here, so it stayed as-is. As for the bathroom being attached to the master bedroom, that was in the original plan of the house.” He added soap to the washcloth and cleaned Aiden’s belly. “The man who built the house had four daughters and a lot of money. He wanted the girls to have two bathrooms to share and the master bedroom had another. It’s all historically accurate if you’re a millionaire and want things your way.”
“Nice.” Aiden rinsed, then faced Matt. “I’m done and going to get dressed. Was Aaron okay with being there alone?”
“He didn’t like it, but he’s got Deighan there.” Matt hurried through washing himself off and shampooing his hair. He didn’t like the way Aiden seemed so numb. If there was a way to fix things, he wanted to do it, but he wasn’t sure how. He rinsed, then turned the water off and toweled himself. When he stepped into the bedroom, Aiden was wearing only a shirt and boxer briefs. He wrestled his way into his jeans. The tight denim accentuated his toned legs and butt, while making him appear about five years younger.
“Damn.” Matt stared at Aiden. God, the man was so hot. He reminded Matt of a male model. Sure, he’d seen Aiden plenty of times in and out of clothes, but he still stole Matt’s breath.
“We should go.” Aiden wound his belt through his jeans, then secured the buckle. “We’ll have missed rush-hour traffic.”
Matt glanced down at his arms. For the first time in forever, he wasn’t sure what to do about his ink. “Aiden?” He paused. “Do you…want me to cover my tats?”
“Why?” Aiden stepped up to him and flattened his palm on Matt’s chest. “You’re not ashamed of them and neither am I.”
The gravity of the moment and what Aiden had said washed over him. Not ashamed. If he wasn’t turned on by Aiden already, those words would’ve done the trick. He held the towel tight. “Are we a couple?” Probably a little quick to ask that, but oh well.
“You’re asking me that now?”
“Sorry. I can deal with a timing belt and pistons, but my personal life… I’m horrible with timing there.” He shrugged out of the towel and turned his back on Aiden while he dressed. He wasn’t ready to see the disgust he swore would be in Aiden’s eyes because he’d jumped the gun with his question.
Aiden didn’t say anything as he went downstairs. Matt grabbed his keys, wallet, phone and the gate fob, then locked up and followed Aiden to the car.
“First, sorry about the awkward question. Like I said, I’m horrible with timing. Second, here’s this. It’s to open and close the gate without me having to punch in the code.” He plunked the fob into Aiden’s hand. “Now we can go.”
Aiden unlocked the car but didn’t move from his spot. “Matt. This is high tech.”
“It was either that or waste the use of a perfectly good, perfectly scary gate.” Matt rounded the hood and waited on the passenger side of the car. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Aiden pushed the button to open the gate, then slid into the driver’s seat. He backed down the drive. “Why don’t you close the gate, so I can make sure I don’t pull out in front of anyone?”
Matt did as asked, then held on to the fob. He wished he hadn’t opened his mouth. The subsequent apologies weren’t helping.
Aiden drove through Cedarwood in silence. Once he reached the state route leading out of town, he finally spoke. “I think we are.”
“Huh?” Matt didn’t look up from his lap. “What are you talking about?”
“A couple? I think we are. Once you sleep with someone—not just fuck, but sleep with them—then that’s kind of an official act. It is for me, anyway.” Aiden gripped the steering wheel with one hand and reached for Matt with the other. “You stunned me, but I wasn’t expecting you to be on my wavelength.”
“I’ve been quick on pretty much everything. I assumed you’d know.” He grasped Aiden’s fingers. “But I’m glad.” For the rest of the drive to Springdale, he and Aiden rode in silence. He hated that Aiden had to be behind the wheel. If he’d had another choice, he would’ve taken control. Aiden deserved to break down if he needed, not be strong right now.
Matt barely noticed the details of Springdale as Aiden sped through town. He kept his focus on Aiden. If his boyfriend showed any signs of needing a break, then he was determined to jump in. Once they reached the hospital, he allowed Aiden to take the lead.
Aiden stopped at the front desk. “Hi, Imogene. How are the kids?”
“Wonderful. It’s great to see you again.” She raced around the desk to hug him. “We haven’t seen you in forever. Are you here for your dad? Didn’t anyone call you?” She pursed her lips. “Someone should’ve called you before now.”
“It’s a mix-up, yeah, but we’ll get it sorted out. Don’t worry. Which room is he in?”
“Still, I’m ashamed and sorry we didn’t get in touch with you. He’s on the fourth floor, ICU. We’ve changed it a little. There’s a waiting room up there, so your friend can stay there while you go in. We limit the guests to two at a time.” Imogene grinned and laced her fingers together. “You should really come back to Springdale. We could use a few more great doctors like you.”
“Maybe one of these days.” Aiden waved, then took Matt’s hand. “I’m sorry, Imogene. This is my boyfriend, Matt. Matt, this is my dear friend from high school.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Matt winked. “I’ll try to remember to ask you later for juicy details about Aiden when he was a teenager.”
She blushed. “He was a good man back then too.”
“See you.” Matt waved and followed Aiden to the elevators. He didn’t say anything during the ride up to the intensive care unit. Aiden had better things to worry about besides him. When they reached the small waiting room, Matt stopped. “Want me to stay here?” he asked. “I don’t mind.”
“Would you?” Aiden bobbed his head. “I’m sorry. I just want to talk to Dad alone.” He kissed Matt. “Thank you. You’re one in a million.”
“I’m just me, but I’ll do anything you want me to.” He waited until Aiden disappeared down the hall before he surveyed the layout of the waiting room. He’d expected a dark space with beat-up couches or worn-out chairs. Instead, he happened upon a bright, cheery room with two leather sofas and myriad black chairs. A large-screen television showed the local news, and a selection of magazines littered the coffee tables. He chuckled. Springdale was considered a boring crossroads town by most of the people he knew, but if the hospital was any indication, the place was just as nice as Cedarwood—at least on the surface. He strode over to the window and stared out at the grassy space and pond. Ducks swam in the middle of the water and cattails surrounded one end. He almost wished he had a pond in his yard. But then he’d have to take care of it and landscaping wasn’t his forte. He killed plastic plants.
A man stomped into the room. He growled as he made his way to the windows. “Son of a bitch thinks he can toss me out. Jesus. The little shit doesn’t know I’m hurting too. He thinks he’s the only one.”
Matt turned away from the guy. He had enough to worry about and wasn’t in the mood to listen to a tirade. Still, he couldn’t totally ignore the man. The guy had to be over fifty but was fit and lean with silver hair. He appeared well-groomed. He could be a catch but was a little too old for Matt’s tastes.
“Are you here waiting for someone?” the man asked. “My name’s Ross.” He offered his hand. “Sorry about my bitching. I’m stressed.�
��
“Sounds like.” Ross? Isn’t Aiden’s dad’s partner named Ross? Matt returned to watching the ducks. He didn’t want to know about Ross’ problems.
“Who are you here to see?” Ross asked.
“My boyfriend’s father.” He smiled. Pride washed over him. Calling Aiden his boyfriend pleased him more than he’d realized.
“Oh? I’m sorry. My partner had a stroke.” Ross stood next to Matt. “Scared the hell out of me when I found him. That kind of thing shouldn’t happen to anyone.”
“No, it shouldn’t, and I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant. I’d freak if the same thing happened to us.” Holy fuck. Ross had to be Aiden’s dad’s partner. He was under stress, sure, but calling Aiden an asshole? Come on. Being a dick and calling Aiden names wasn’t making the best impression, even if Ross didn’t know the score.
“How long have you been together?”
Matt stuffed his hand into his pockets. He couldn’t lie, but leaving a few details out wasn’t awful. “It’s new.”
“I remember that. I’ve been with Len for a little over a year. We’re in the comfortable old men stage.” Ross chuckled. “I love him.”
“Good to know.” Kind of. He’d hope if they were together for a year that love would have already blossomed. If Ross treated Len the way he talked about Aiden, though, Matt might have to say something.
“Why are you out here? You should be in with your beau, or aren’t you ready to meet the future father-in-law?” Ross laughed and rocked on the balls of his feet.
“Well, when the one you love has to deal with stress and asks for a moment to be alone with his parent, you let him. He needed time, and I will give him pretty much whatever he wants.” Matt bit back the answer he wanted to give. Drop dead. Stop giving my boyfriend shit. Shut up. Not the best things to say and probably better to keep quiet. “We’ve got a great give-and-take. Besides, I wanted to make a good impression on the father-in-law, so to speak.” Would he and Aiden get married? Too soon to say, but he could see it. The thought of having Aiden as his husband warmed him all over. He bit back a smile. Yeah, maybe it was jumping the gun, but sharing his life with Aiden looked awfully bright.
“Len’s kid didn’t make a good impression on me,” Ross said, interrupting Matt’s thoughts. “It’s disgusting. He waited two days to show up, then pushed me out like I’m no one. The nerve of the ass.”
He’d had enough. No one trashed Aiden—not like this—but he had to be tactful. “He’s just as upset as you, I’d imagine. Len doesn’t want you and the son fighting. Be compassionate.” Because if he heard Ross say one more thing to insult Aiden, he’d blow a gasket. He knew Aiden hadn’t waited and probably hadn’t been rotten to Ross, either.
“I suppose you’re right. I still think the kid is an ass. He’s a spoiled brat, really.” Ross snorted. “I’ve seen better-behaved children.”
“Okay.” Matt held up both hands. “I’m not sure who you’re talking about, but I’m done listening. You’re trashing someone you barely know and I don’t want to be in the middle.” He walked away, making a lap around the corridor before going to Len’s room. Interrupting Aiden’s time with his father wasn’t right, but wasn’t nearly as bad as allowing Ross to continue. Anything was better than being a witness to the character assassination of Aiden. He stood at the doorway to Len’s room and paused for a moment. He couldn’t tell what Aiden and Len were talking about. Shit.
“Hi.” Matt waved. “Sorry for the interruption.”
Aiden smiled and reached for Matt. “You’re fine. I should’ve introduced you before now anyhow. Dad, this is my boyfriend, Matt. Matt, this is my father, Len.”
Len offered his hand and a half-hearted smile. “Sorry we’re meeting on these terms. Aiden’s told me good things about you. He said you rescued him.”
“Dad.” Aiden blushed. “He towed my car.”
“I did.” Matt shook hands with Len. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d met the parents of his boyfriend, let alone had a boyfriend, besides Theo, who cared to introduce him to the family. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Aiden told me nice things about you too. As for the rescue, I did tow his car, but I’ve got an automotive shop and he’d messed up the front end of his vehicle. It’s good to see you’re better. You freaked Aiden out.”
“I’m right here,” Aiden muttered.
“It was just a scare,” Len said and seemed to ignore Aiden’s discomfort. “The doctor called it a reminder that it’s time to retire.” He shrugged. “When Ross comes back, I’ll introduce you.” His eyes lit up. “You own your business? A chain shop, or is it something else?”
“Not a franchise. It’s my own. Just me and two other employees.” Matt widened his stance. He loved talking about his business. He’d also have to make things up to Aiden when they got back to Cedarwood—not that being alone together would be a hardship. “It’s small, but we keep busy.”
“Nice. We’ll have to check out your rates. I can always use a good car man.” Len beamed. “And you own it. Aiden, you’ve picked a good one.”
Aiden’s blush deepened. He sprang up from his seat when a man in scrubs entered. “A word, Dr. McLean?” He stepped into the hallway with the doctor, leaving Matt and Len alone.
Len nodded to the chair Aiden had just vacated. “Sit.”
“Sure.” He settled onto the hard plastic seat. His ass ached after just a few moments. No wonder Aiden got up so fast.
“How’s Aiden doing?” Len asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Is he overworking himself? Do you get to see him enough?” The lines around Len’s eyes deepened, and he frowned. “Is he good to you?”
“We’ve got a system that works for us. Yes, he probably spends too much time at the hospital, but I’m at the shop most hours of the day. When we’re both off at night, we get together. We’re not at the living-together stage or anything, but we’re a twosome.” He hadn’t lied, but he wished he could’ve given Len a better answer.
“Keep an eye on him. He’s a good man and a brilliant doctor, but he forgets to have a life.” Len folded his arms. “My son had to endure a lot of crap. The divorce, me figuring out who I was, finding Keye, then us not having a ton of money. I know it wore him down. He thinks by working all the time, he won’t realize he doesn’t have a life. I don’t want it to pass him by.”
Matt couldn’t agree more, but he had little to add. Good God, he spent more time than he should at the shop. Less now that he’d been hurt, but still.
“You’re not his usual type.” Len grinned. The sparkle returned to his gray eyes, and the silver scruff on his cheeks glistened. “I’m glad.”
The tips of Matt’s ears burned. He wasn’t prone to embarrassment, but Len seemed to know what to say to disarm him. He could see a lot of Aiden in Len and knew Aiden would age just as beautifully. “We’re a lot more alike than Aiden realizes, but I’ve gathered I’m not his norm.” He rubbed his arms. “I’m just more colorful, but we both do our jobs with perfection. Anything less would mean he loses a patient and I screw up an engine. We’re both dedicated and can’t stand to get anything wrong.”
“You’re smart too,” Len said.
Matt smiled. He wasn’t sure what to say. If Len had seen his grades in school, he might have changed his tune. Book smarts weren’t his forte. He shook his head. “By the way… Aiden came almost as soon as he could. I made him shower and breathe for a moment this morning, but right after Ross called, we were on the road.”
“What?” Len tipped his head to the side. “That’s what I assumed. Why do you mention it?”
“Nothing. Just…I didn’t want you to think we’d blown you off.” Matt shifted on his seat. Well, shit. Had Ross lied to Len too? Or had he saved the honor for Matt because he’d assumed Matt wouldn’t care to check his story?
“I knew you hadn’t.” Len tensed, then fumbled. “Ross. Hi.” He smiled, though tightly, as Ross strode across the room. “I didn’t see you there. This
is my son’s partner, Matt.”
“Pleasure,” Matt said and offered his hand. He loved the way Ross’ eyes widened. Had he realized he’d insulted Matt’s boyfriend back in the waiting room?
Ross opened his mouth, then closed it without saying a word. He didn’t shake hands with Matt, either.
Good. The asshat could be stunned and rendered silent. Maybe he’d learn not to blow off about Aiden to just anyone.
Aiden entered the room again and paused at the foot of Len’s bed. “Ross.”
Matt left the chair. “How about we run down to the cafeteria and get a couple of coffees so Ross and your father can be alone?” He grasped Aiden’s hand. “Yes?”
“Sure.” Aiden nodded. “We’ll be back in a few.”
“Take your time,” Len said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Matt waited until he and Aiden were in the hallway and nearly to the elevator before he spoke. “Are you okay?”
“Me?” Aiden shrugged, then pressed the button for the elevator. “Yeah.”
“Who else?” He stepped into the car with Aiden. “You’re tense, and I know you’re not happy.”
“I’m better now that I’ve seen him.” Aiden sagged against Matt as the doors closed.
Matt’s heart swelled for Aiden. The longer he spent with him, the more he wanted to talk to Aiden and tell him all of his truths. But he needed the right time and now wasn’t it.
“It wasn’t a stroke. It was what’s called a trans-ischemic attack, or a TIA. It’s like a stroke, but basically the plaque in your carotid artery slows the blood flow to your brain. When they brought him in, his oxygen levels were lower than the doctors liked, so they’ve got him under additional observation. Springdale isn’t the biggest town, but we do have a good hospital.”
The doors opened into a larger room. The scent of baked chicken and coffee wafted through the air. Matt bit back a growl. He’d eaten breakfast, but damn, he was hungry again.