by Shea Balik
Jesse beamed. “Thanks, Zane.”
“Come on. Let’s chow down.”
CHAPTER 8
Aidan was ready to scream in frustration. First, he’d gone to the bakery for his coffee fix in hopes of talking to Zane again, only to find out Zane had taken the day off. Aidan hoped he hadn’t driven the man into hiding. He didn’t know where Zane lived, and it might prove difficult to chase the sexy man if he were unwilling to be found.
Then, when he went to the furniture shop Parker owned, he found out it was closed. Calling the number on the business card the man had given him hadn’t helped as it went straight to voice mail. How in the world did Parker expect to sell furniture if he closed his store on Mondays?
When he arrived at the construction site, the foreman told him one of the cranes had broken down and the only repairman in a two hundred mile radius had Mondays off and wasn’t willing to make an exception. That meant for the most part everything ground to a halt.
He had no idea why Mondays were considered a day off in this town, but according to the office receptionist, that’s the way it worked in small towns. It was unfathomable to him how any town could function that way.
Then to top it all off, the mayor was refusing to meet with him at all this week, or ever from what he’d overheard him telling his secretary, who apparently didn’t know how to work the hold button on the phone.
How was he supposed to get the town behind the casino when the mayor wasn’t willing to even talk to him? He needed help, but the only people he knew willing to even talk to him were Parker, who didn’t even have his phone on, and maybe Jesse, but because it was Monday, his flower shop was also closed.
That left him sitting in the office at the construction site spinning his wheels. Aidan grabbed his phone and stood up. “You might as well have the rest of the day off, Edith,” he told the receptionist before heading out the door.
By the end of the week he was ready to storm into the bakery and force Zane to talk to him. No matter what time of day Aidan stopped in, Zane was nowhere to be seen. Oh, he knew the man was there hiding in the back, but Aidan didn’t want to keep forcing himself on him. Zane needed to want to talk to him if they had any chance.
Even though it killed him, Aidan decided to take a step back. He’d even bought his own coffeepot so that he wouldn’t need to go to Sweet Buns for his caffeine fix. But staying away was proving harder than he had expected.
To top it all off, Mr. Carlisle was pushing Aidan to come up with a plan to get the town of Cedar Falls to work with the casino. The only upside was that this problem occupied his time, leaving him with few chances to think about Zane. The mayor was still being stubborn about meeting with him, but Aidan had been making the rounds of the artists at the local flea market.
Parker had ended up calling him back Tuesday morning, insisting they meet at Aidan’s home when Aidan indicated he wanted all new furniture. Aidan gladly invited the man to dinner, nothing fancy, just steaks and baked potatoes on the grill.
“What do you think?” Aidan had just led Parker through each room indicating what type of furniture he was hoping for.
Parker was taking dimensions of the kitchen, where Aidan was hoping to put in an island for extra counter space. “You understand it’s going to take some time to get all this done, right?”
“How much time are we talking?” Not that it mattered. The more he’d talked with Parker about what would work in each room, the more he could envision the house becoming his home, not just a place to live.
Parker stared at the list of pieces Aidan had agreed to as if they would give him an answer. The man lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “Best guess would be six months, but I have to warn you, it could be longer depending on the designs you pick.”
That was easy for Aidan. Just the other day Aidan saw his first bear walking through the woods behind his house. He assumed it was a momma bear because two smaller bears followed her.
The two smaller bears pounced on each other every once in a while, tangling in the brightly colored leaves that created a carpet on the forest floor. As if sensing her cubs were no longer following, the momma bear would stop, turn her head, and give a low roar. The cubs would come running but soon enough they were back to their antics.
It was in that moment that Aidan decided to stay in Cedar Falls. Not because he’d seen his first bear ever, but because as he watched the family interact, he couldn’t stop imagining having kids with Zane. He knew he was jumping the gun to be thinking about kids when he hardly knew the man, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get the image out of his mind.
“I want those bears. Are you able to do that?” He really hadn’t seen too much of what Parker could do as he’d only seen the few pieces Parker had been selling at the craft fair.
Instead of answering his question, Parker asked, “Do you have a piece of paper?”
When he handed over several sheets, Parker pulled a pencil out of the front pocket of his checked shirt and sat at the small table Aidan had bought to eat at. With each stroke of Parker’s pencil Aidan was in awe. Just like when he’d watched Parker at the craft fair, the picture came alive right before his eyes.
When Parker finally handed over the paper there were two small cubs with their paws outstretched toward each other looking like they were about to pounce. In front of them was their momma bear sitting with her back to them but with her head turned in their direction. The detail was so amazing that Aidan could see the fond amusement on the momma bear’s expression and the gleeful joy on the cubs.
All around them were leaves floating down from nearly bare trees. Even the detail of ground covered in leaves with small brush and sticks coming up through them was amazing. It was so real that Aidan found himself tracing over the lines of the bears with his fingers as if he could touch them. He lifted his eyes from the paper and focused on Parker. “It’s perfect.”
A blush crept up Parker’s neck, which he tried to cover by leaving. “Come by the shop the day after tomorrow and I will have the pieces you wanted drawn out for final approval.”
“Okay.” Aidan held the door open. “Can you ask the others if they would mind meeting with me to talk about what can be done for the town and to benefit the casino?”
Parker looked a little surprised. “Sure, but it’s the mayor you need to talk to.”
If only it were that easy. Aidan watched Parker leave before shutting the door. Then he glanced around his living room and smiled.
The new furniture would change everything. Even though he was frustrated with not seeing Zane, he was excited about the furniture. It would take time, but Parker promised as each piece was finished he would bring it over.
◆◆◆
Two days later Aidan went to Parker’s wood shop to see the various drawings. He was floored the man was so talented. “These are stunning.”
His compliment had Parker blushing once again. He was learning the big man was shy and easily embarrassed. It was weird to see a six-foot-three, two-hundred-fifty-pound man blush so often.
As promised, Parker introduced him to the other artisans in the flea market so Aidan could talk to them about hosting more events in Cedar Falls instead of the surrounding towns. Everyone had loved his ideas, but each unilaterally told him the mayor and the town council would never go for it.
The next Sunday Aidan invited them to his house for hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill while they watched a football game. It was nice to find a group of people he could relax with.
“Hey, Aidan, do you want another beer?” Parker asked.
Aidan was nearly done cooking the hamburgers and hot dogs for the group. “Naw, thanks, man. I’ll get one when I’m done and more able to enjoy it.”
“Guys, kickoff is in five,” Andrea told them as she walked into the kitchen to grab another beer for her and her husband, Vincent. They also made furniture, but they specialized in rocking chairs and swings for the most part. Aidan had already ordered t
wo chairs for his front porch and was considering more for his back porch.
“Thanks, Andrea.”
It was weird. They all competed for business, yet at the same time seemed to not only get along, but they looked out for each other as well. He’d heard Parker many times refer customers to Vincent and Andrea when they asked about rocking chairs. When he’d asked Parker about it, the man shrugged as if it were no big deal. Yet, in a town that refused to bring in visitors to keep all the businesses with enough orders that was necessary for survival, they did their best to make sure everyone were able to work.
That was what living in a small town was all about, community. Helping each other out not just during the good times but also during the bad times when it really counted. Aidan felt blessed to know these people.
“One minute,” someone from inside called out.
Aidan grabbed the platter, loaded it up with hamburgers and hot dogs, and took it into the living room where the rest of food had been set on a large piece of plywood on top of his much smaller coffee table.
As soon as he set it down the gang swarmed, nearly taking his arm off in the process. Aidan had to act quickly and grab his own plate before the food was all gone.
“This is so good,” Sebastian said. He carved household items, like paper-towel holders, towel bars, and soap dishes. His work was really intricate with astounding detail.
As the game started Aidan looked around at his new group of friends. He wished Zane were there, but he was willing to wait. Until then, at least he had friends to keep him company.
CHAPTER 9
When Aidan hadn’t come into the bakery in a week, Zane started to wonder if the man had given up on him. It had been what Zane had wanted, so why was he disappointed? He should be happy he didn’t have to keep running into the back to avoid him.
He wasn’t about to admit the way his heart sped up when he’d spot Aidan outside his shop. The fact that he’d been looking outside the window when the man had pulled up each day had to have been a coincidence. Zane definitely hadn’t been watching for him.
Nor was he going to admit the way his heart sank that first day Aidan hadn’t shown up. And the tears that had fallen this morning, when once more Aidan had stayed away, had just been allergies.
The bell over the door rang. Zane’s heart leapt into his chest as he rushed out to the front to see who it was. When it was only Jesse, Zane feared his allergies might be acting up again as tears once again sprang to his eyes.
“Explain to me why we moved here again?” Jesse groused.
His friend had been doing everything he could to try to find a way to spend time with Parker now that the man had finished the shelving units Jesse had ordered for his flower shop. Unfortunately for Jesse, Parker had just taken on a large job for someone, and even when Jesse went to the man’s shop, Parker didn’t give him the time of day. Apparently, Jesse had tried again today with no success.
In need of a hug himself, Zane went over and put his arms around his best friend. “No luck with Parker?”
He felt Jesse give a slight shake of his head before he pulled away. “That stubborn man hardly acknowledged I was there.” Jesse, with his boot-clad feet, stomped around the bakery, flailing his hands as he talked. “Is it too much to ask that he at least give me a few minutes of his precious time? Ignoring a person is just rude.”
Zane saw Megan roll her eyes before disappearing to the back. He admitted, Jesse on a rant wasn’t something everyone could deal with. He’d even suggested Jesse become an actor with all the drama he created, but his friend had just laughed at the idea.
“He should be grateful I’m willing to give him the time of day. I’m a great catch.” Jesse, with those dark eyes full of indignation, stood in front of Zane. “Aren’t I?” As if a switch had been flipped, Jesse’s eyes were filled with tears, his voice begging for confirmation.
“You are amazing, Jesse. If Parker can’t see that then he doesn’t deserve you,” he told his friend honestly.
“But he’s the one I want,” Jesse wailed. Sobbing, he threw his arms around Zane.
It killed him that Jesse was so heartbroken. Zane was sure Parker was interested in Jesse. He’d seen the man staring at Jesse when the man thought no one else was looking. So, why wouldn’t Parker at least talk to Jesse?
Of course, he could ask himself the same question when it came to Aidan. He’d done everything in his power to avoid the guy, and apparently, he’d gotten his wish. Except he wasn’t sure that was what he wanted to begin with.
Hell, the only reason he’d run into the back was he was hoping Aidan would come back and force Zane to talk to him. If that led to a kiss, who was Zane to protest? Ugh, he needed to figure out what he wanted before he lost his chance with the sexy man.
What he needed was to talk to his mom. They had missed last Sunday’s dinner because his mom had a checkup early Monday morning in Atlanta. She’d called when she got home, exhausted. But when the results came back with no trace of the cancer, they had all cheered.
At least they’d go to see her this Sunday. He could use her sensible logic when it came to his love life. Although he already knew she was going to kick his butt for hiding from Aidan, he wasn’t sure how to fix it.
“Come on, Jesse, it’s time to go home.” Zane led his friend outside, only to come up short when they saw Aidan and Parker going into the Collared Pup, an Irish Pub down the street. Aidan’s had his hand on Parker’s lower back.
All the air was sucked out of Zane’s body, as if he’d been punched in the gut. He wanted to sink to the ground and curl up into a ball while he cried his eyes out. Jesse did start to sink as his knees gave out. Zane gripped him harder to keep his friend on his feet.
A knot in the pit of stomach formed as he realized he’d screwed up. Aidan had moved on. Zane didn’t have anyone to blame but himself. He should have been honest instead of playing games. He hated to admit it, but when Aidan had acted like he was willing to chase him, he’d been flattered.
“We should go,” he whispered to Jesse.
But Jesse had other ideas. The initial shock of seeing Parker with another man had worn off and had been replaced with anger if Jesse’s expression was anything to go by. “No. It’s time I confront that asshole.”
Jesse stormed across the street wearing his signature boots with the three-inch heels, this time in pumpkin orange. Tan leggings hugged his ass like a second skin, while his sheer pumpkin-colored top perfectly matched his boots.
Zane ran, catching up just as Jesse threw open the door to the Collared Pup. Jesse zeroed in on the pair drinking beer and laughing at the bar with the pub’s owner, Bram. “Parker Flemming, I need to talk to you.”
All eyes turned to the door where Jesse stood with Zane next to him.
Zane saw Parker’s cheeks flush as he tried to make his body as small as possible so no one would notice him. Not an easy feat for someone as built as Parker. He wasn’t sure Parker was going to agree, but as the several pairs of eyes went from Jesse to Parker, the man seemed to understand they wouldn’t stop looking until he did something.
Sliding off the bar stool, he strode to the back of the bar down the little hallway where the bathrooms and the office were. With a determined stride, Jesse followed. Zane, on the other hand, stood there at the door trying not to draw any more attention to himself than his flamboyant friend already had.
His heart sped up when he saw Aidan slide off the stool he was sitting on and walk over to him.
“Hi, Zane.” Blue eyes glittered in triumph. Over what Zane wasn’t sure.
“Hi.” As much as Zane’s heart was ready to burst from his chest at finally seeing Aidan again, he couldn’t forget Aidan was there with Parker. Still he didn’t want to be rude. “How have you been doing?”
“Better now that I’m talking to you.” Aidan reached up to cup Zane’s face and Zane couldn’t seem to help but lean into Aidan’s warmth.
However, Aidan’s answer confused him. “If
you like talking to me, why haven’t you been to the bakery in a week?”
Aidan’s lips lifted up at the corners just slightly, melting Zane’s brain as he stared at the hint of dimples on his cheeks. “I’m surprised you even noticed.”
Damn. It would be easy to lean in and kiss Aidan. The man was right there. He swore those dimples were calling out to him. Heat coursed through his veins as his dick started to fill out in interest. But did he dare take the risk?
He needed to apologize for acting like an ass, but his mouth was suddenly too dry to get the words out. It didn’t help when Aidan’s hand slid along his cheek to his jaw, tilting Zane’s head up just the slightest bit. Blue orbs darkening with lust stared back at him and Zane swore his stomach did a flip.
He couldn’t ever remember a time when he was this turned on without having even being kissed. Aidan had only touched him and it was as if all his senses were on overload. What chance did Zane have to resist?
Aidan leaned down to whisper into Zane’s ear. “But I’m glad you did.”
Zane trembled at the way Aidan’s lips just grazed his ear as he spoke. Disappointed when Aidan pulled back instead of pressing their lips together, Zane had to bite back the groan of frustration. Everything within him was at war as to what he should do.
The fear of getting hurt and lust were at the forefront. Zane didn’t know which one to listen to, which instinct to trust. He wanted Aidan to take the decision out of his hands and just kiss him, but the stubborn man only seemed intent on torturing Zane.
Then again, they were in public. Cedar Falls would have to deal with two men dating, but Zane wasn’t a person who normally flaunted his sexuality. Not that he didn’t approve of public displays, but he tended to be a bit more reserved, especially in his hometown where just about everyone knew him.
Knowing that, and finding the will to get himself back under control when all he wanted to do was lean forward and press his lips to Aidan’s, was another matter. They were only inches apart and it would be so easy to do.