Seth made a tsking noise. “First rule of travel is always pack extra socks. And warm footwear.” He made a face. “I don’t think your fancy leather shoes are going to cut it.”
Erik had noticed earlier that Seth wore something much more sensible. They looked like a cross between an athletic shoe and a hiking boot. Sturdy. And probably much warmer than Erik’s.
“I didn’t plan for this amount of snow,” he admitted. “Much less this amount of walking in it.”
“The second rule is always plan for the unexpected.” Seth bent down and rummaged through his bag. Erik tried not to let his glance linger on Seth’s ass, but it was difficult when it was thrust up toward him.
“When I booked this room, I didn’t expect it to come with a walking, talking travel guide,” Erik said, tearing his gaze away.
Seth straightened with a smile, then pushed something soft into his hand. “A walking, talking travel guide with warm socks to share.”
Erik glanced down at the bundle of fabric. It was red and green, that much he could tell, but there was something printed on them. He unrolled them and laughed. The socks were green, with red at the toes, heels, and cuffs. But most amusing were the sloths coming out of red packages with white bows. “You have Christmas sloth socks?”
Seth’s grin widened. “I do. And you’re welcome to use them.”
“Thank you.” Erik sat down at the bed, still chuckling at them. “These are officially the weirdest thing I’ve ever put on my feet.”
“I think you need to get out more.”
“I know I need to get out more.” Erik gave him a rueful look. “I feel like I’ve been in stasis so long I’ve forgotten how to actually live.”
“Well, let me know what I can do to help you come to life again.”
“I think you’ve already helped,” Erik admitted. He wiggled his feet in the warm socks. They were ridiculous but undeniably fun. “I haven’t laughed this much in years.”
“Good.” Their gazes met and held before the intensity made Erik look away.
“Sorry, you asked me something earlier, I think. Do you remember what it was?”
A small furrow appeared on Seth’s forehead before it smoothed out. “Oh! I asked how your company acquired this hotel.”
“It’s a long story ...”
“Well, I’m not going anywhere,” Seth spread his arms wide. “And from the look of things outside, neither are you.”
Erik chuckled. “You want the full story then?”
Seth gave him a little grin as he got comfortable on the bed. “I always want the full story.”
“Okay.”
“So, I don’t actually know why we purchased it. It happened almost forty years ago. But I do know my father was the one who bought it. The weird thing is, it was hidden. There were layers of ownership through several other businesses. All legal but very odd.”
Seth’s eyes gleamed. “Ooh, a mystery. I love mysteries.”
Erik chuckled. “I’m afraid it may not be a very satisfying one. I don’t think we’re ever going to solve the why.”
“Was this an unusual thing for your father to do?”
“I don’t actually know how to answer that,” Erik admitted. “My father was ...” Erik hesitated. “Well, he was a womanizing bastard to put it mildly. Think Don Draper type. Pretty fitting this hotel is stuck back somewhere in the early sixties because that was the kind of businessman he was. He thought he had the right to do whatever he pleased. With whomever he pleased. No matter who got hurt in the process.
“I can be an asshole sometimes,” Erik admitted. “But I never cheated on my wife, and I never screwed anyone in business. I’ve had to make decisions that have put people out of work or that have pissed them off, but all of my dealings have been ethical and above board.”
“That’s no small thing.”
“It doesn’t seem like a terribly high bar to me. Although going years without any real physical affection hasn’t been easy.” He realized he was getting off topic but it felt like the words needed to come out, and when Seth was staring at him with such an understanding expression, he couldn’t stop them.
Seth grimaced. “I don’t advocate for cheating either, but I’m not sure anyone would have blamed you if you’d sought that elsewhere. Well, except maybe your wife.”
“I don’t even know that she would have cared.” Erik looked up at the ceiling. “We never discussed it, but as long as I was discreet, I don’t think Robin would have felt like it mattered. As long as I didn’t bother her, she didn’t care enough about me to be concerned about my involvement with anyone else.”
“That’s sad.”
Erik shrugged. “We weren’t happy together, but we agreed to stay together for our daughter Joanna.”
“Surely, Joanna realized you weren’t happily married though.”
“Maybe. I don’t know,” Erik said with a sigh. “We never fought in front of her. We never fought honestly. Neither of us cared enough to fight.”
“But wouldn’t Joanna have noticed the lack of physical affection?”
“We put on a show when others were around. A kiss on the cheek, that sort of thing.”
“I don’t know. I still feel like she must have noticed something, but maybe I’m wrong.”
Erik shrugged but he sat bolt upright when a thought occurred to him. “Shit, I forgot to call Jo today. I promised her I would.”
“Oh. Would you like me to leave so you can do that?”
Erik reached for the phone on the nightstand where he’d plugged it in to charge before they left for lunch. He’d totally forgotten to grab it before they left. Not typical for him at all, but he’d been distracted by Seth. “No, you don’t have to leave unless you want to.”
Seth shook his head, then settled back on the bed with his phone.
“Hey, Jo,” he said when the call connected. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Daddy!” Joanna sounded a bit like she had when she was eight and still small enough for him to still carry on his shoulders. She hadn’t called him that in years, but she sounded too happy for him to tease her about it.
“I’m sorry I waited so long to call you.”
“It’s okay. I know you have work.” He hadn’t worked that much today. Instead, he’d spent it flirting with a man he barely knew. He wondered what Joanna would think of that.
“You know you always come before work,” Erik said firmly.
“I know I do.” Her voice went soft. “Guess what? I have good news, Daddy. But I think you know what it is. Keith asked me this morning, and I said yes.”
“Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m happy for you.”
The voices in the background faded, as if she had walked to a quieter area. “Do you mean that?”
“I do,” he said. And this time, he really did. “I support whatever you want to do. Do I think you’re young to get married? Yes. But do I trust you to make decisions about your own life? Of course, I do. If Keith makes you happy, then that’s all that matters. I wish you both the very best.”
“Thank you.” Joanna sniffled a little, and he could picture her wiping at the tears beneath her big blue eyes. “That means a lot to me.”
“You mean a lot to me,” Erik said. “I love you, kiddo. When we’re all back in Philly, I want to take you and Keith out for dinner to celebrate your engagement. Okay?”
“I’d like that.”
“Now,” he said, injecting a little levity into his voice. “I want you to go have a wonderful rest of the day. Spend it with your fiancé and your future in-laws.”
Joanna sighed. “I will. I hate to think of you stuck in some old hotel room in Buffalo all alone though.”
“I am doing just fine,” he assured her. He stole a glance at Seth. He stared intently at his phone, and his nose was all crinkled up as he focused on whatever he was reading. “I met an interesting travel writer during my stay.” Seth’s gaze flicked toward him, and there was no disguising the surpris
e on his face. “We’re planning to get Chinese food together this evening to celebrate the holiday.”
“Oh. Well, it’s no four-course fondue dinner in Vail like we’re planning tonight,” Joanna said with a laugh. “But it’ll do. And now I don’t have to worry about you being so lonely.”
“No,” Erik said, still looking at Seth. “I don’t feel lonely at all right now.”
Seth’s lips parted with surprise, but his face lit up with a smile so bright Erik had to look away.
“Oh good!” Joanna sounded happy as well, and he wondered how she was picturing Seth. Probably some middle-aged schlub rather than the handsome, young man sprawled across the nearby bed. The man Erik still desperately wanted to kiss. How had he gone from being annoyed by Seth’s friendly chatter to this in twenty-four hours? Joanna continued. “Well, you have fun tonight then. Love you, Dad. Thanks for calling.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.” He smiled even though Joanna couldn’t see him. “And congratulations. I mean it. Pass that along to Keith as well, and tell his parents I’m looking forward to seeing them again.”
“I will. Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Jo.” He was still smiling as he hung up the phone.
Seth lowered his own phone to his chest. “It sounds like you have a really good relationship with your daughter.”
“I do,” Erik said. “She’s a great kid. She’ll graduate summa cum laude from a pre-med program this spring.”
“Impressive. Do you have a picture of her?”
“Sure. Give me a moment.” Erik pulled up a picture on his phone and passed it over to Seth. He glanced up at Erik, then back down at the phone.
He whistled lowly. “Wow. She’s stunning.”
“She’s also twenty-two. And engaged.”
Seth laughed. “I didn’t mean anything by it. She’s not exactly my type, you know? I just mean she’s a lovely young woman. She has your coloring but very delicate features. It’s a good combination.” Seth handed the phone back to him. “Though, I’m more partial to the taller, older, maler version, if I’m being honest.”
“Yeah?” Erik said. His voice came out a little hoarse. “Good to know.”
Seth frowned. “I should probably call my family too.”
“Oh, yeah. Don’t let me keep you from doing that.” He cleared his throat. “Do you want me to leave you to it?”
“Nah, you’re fine. Just don’t make a lot of noise or my mom will realize I’m sharing a room with someone.”
Erik raised an eyebrow. “I think you’re old enough to share a room with someone if you want to.”
A surprised laugh burst out of Seth. “I didn’t mean it like that. Just that she’ll think we’re involved, and I’ll get interrogated about you, and no matter how much I insist we’re only sharing a room because of a hotel mix-up, it’ll become a thing. She’s sweet but ... meddlesome.”
“We parents mean well,” Erik said. “But we can be a pain in the ass.”
Seth opened his mouth, then closed it. “Nope, not touching that one.”
Erik choked on air when Seth’s meaning sunk in. “Go call your mother.” Erik pointed a finger at him. “And if you salute me and call me Captain again, I’m going to give your ass a reason to hurt.”
Seth blinked. “Hmm. Kinky.”
Erik scowled and waved his hand. “Do it!”
“Fine.” Seth stuck his tongue out. “I will. I’m going to Skype them though.”
He retrieved his laptop from his bag and settled on the bed with his back to the headboard and set it in front of him.
Erik shifted to the foot of his own bed. “Am I out of view?”
“Yep. Thanks. Dialing now.”
“I promise I won’t make a peep.”
The familiar blooping noises of the program trying to connect filled the air before Erik heard a woman exclaim, “Seth, sweetheart!”
“Hi, Mom.” Seth pushed his hair off his forehead, smiling.
“It’s so good to hear your voice and see your face. We miss you!”
“I’ve missed you too.” Seth’s eyes were soft as he propped his elbow on his knee and rested his cheek on his hand. “All of you. Even Sara.”
“I heard that!” a younger woman’s voice said.
“You were supposed to, brat.” His tone was teasing but still filled with a lot of love. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it there today.”
“We figured you ditched us for a guy,” Sara replied.
“Oh, did you meet someone?” Seth’s mother sounded eager.
Seth shook his head, sounding exasperated. “No, Mom, I’m not dating anyone right now. Just got stuck in Buffalo because of the storm. I thought about driving there but—”
“You made the right choice,” his mom said firmly. “I wouldn’t want you out on these roads. It’s not safe.”
“I know. I know.” He cleared his throat. “What are you all up to?”
“Your dad and brothers are out clearing the driveway and the sidewalks.”
“For you and half the neighborhood probably.”
“Well, you know him. He has to take care of everyone.”
Seth smiled. “He always has.”
“He’ll be sorry he missed you though.”
“Give him a hug for me and tell him I love him.”
“I will. What about your brothers?”
“Tell Adrian and Mitchell I’m glad I didn’t have to see their ugly mugs today.”
“Seth!”
He grinned cheekily. “Fine, tell them I love them too.”
“What about me?” Sara piped up.
“Meh. I tolerate you, brat.”
“It’s a good thing you’re all the way in Buffalo!” she retorted.
“Yeah, this way I don’t have to look at your ugly mug for too long either.”
“Mom!”
“Don’t mom me. You two are grownups. Behave like it.”
In unison, Seth and Sara made scoffing noises.
“Oh, I don’t know why I get my hopes up.” Seth’s mom sighed audibly as something beeped in the background. “Oh! That’s dinner. I’ve gotta go.”
“I’ll get it for you so you can say goodbye to Seth.”
“Thanks, Sara.”
“I’ll let you go, Mom,” Seth said. “I know you probably have a lot to do. Sorry I can’t be there to help and that I called at the worst possible time. I thought I’d probably catch you after dinner. Or the weird mid-afternoon holiday lunch we usually do anyway.”
“Unfortunately, we’re eating a little later than usual because of the snow. I’m glad you called though. Sorry you can’t be here with us.”
“Me too.”
“Stay warm and try to enjoy your Christmas. We’re looking forward to seeing you when you can make it safely.”
“I will Mom, and I’m looking forward to seeing all of you too. Have an extra bite of everything for me!”
“I will.” She sighed. “I so hate to think of you spending Christmas alone though.”
Seth smiled over at Erik. “I’m not.”
“I thought you said you weren’t dating anyone!”
“I’m not!” he protested. “I ran into the owner of the hotel yesterday. We’ve had some interesting conversations since then, and we’re going to grab Chinese for dinner tonight. He’s stuck here too until the storm let’s up, so it worked out.”
“Oh. Is he cute?”
Seth grinned. “He’s not hideous.” Erik shot an outraged look at him. “I’m kidding. He’s pretty easy on the eyes actually.”
“Well, that sounds promising.”
“Mom.” Seth’s tone was firm. “No matchmaking. We’re just grabbing dinner because we’re both here in the hotel and no other place is open.”
“Oh, fine.” She sighed. “Be safe. I love you!”
“Love you too!”
Seth fiddled with his laptop for a second before he closed the lid with a sigh and flopped against the headboard.
&nbs
p; “So, three siblings, huh?” Erik asked.
“Yeah. Sara and I are twins. Mitchell’s a few years older, Adrian is a few years younger.”
“Your family sounds fun,” Erik said.
“They’re exhausting.” But there was a fond smile on his face.
“Over the years, I would have given anything for a holiday like that.” It came out more wistful than he’d intended.
Seth got up and walked over to the bed, taking a seat near Erik. He rested a hand on Erik’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
He shrugged. “Making you feel lonely.”
“That’s just it,” Erik said. “I meant what I said to Joanna earlier. This is the first Christmas in a very long time I haven’t felt lonely.”
Seth reached up and touched Erik’s face. His fingertips barely skimmed his jaw, but Erik still shivered. He wondered if they hadn’t been interrupted out in the courtyard earlier if they would have kissed. He’d wanted to; he knew that for sure.
“I’m glad,” Seth whispered. The sound of a door slamming somewhere down the hallway broke the quiet spell, and Seth dropped his hand.
“So, I have an idea.”
“Okay.” Erik eyed him warily. “And what does this idea entail?”
“We put on a Christmas movie, drink some of my world-famous boozy mocha cocoa concoction, and play cards until we’re ready for dinner.”
Erik considered the idea. “I’d be up for that. Do you have cards?”
“Yep. I always carry some.”
“Sure. That sounds fun then.” What else did he have to do with his Christmas afternoon? “What do you want to play?”
“Rummy?”
“Okay.” He’d half-expected Seth to suggest strip poker with a wink. “You’ll have to refresh my memory how to play though.” It had been years.
“Sure. You find a Christmas movie on the TV and grab the cards out of my bag”—he gestured vaguely to his belongings on the floor in the corner—“while I go downstairs and find coffee and cocoa.”
“Sounds good.”
After the door closed behind Seth, Erik crouched down, then flipped open the lid of Seth’s suitcase. Okay, where to start? Although Seth had given him permission, it felt intrusive to dig through another man’s belongings. He unzipped a large pocket on the inside of the lid and peered inside. Underwear. Nope, definitely no cards in there. Erik couldn’t tear his gaze away from the small scraps of green and red fabric though. Erik felt warm under the collar as he stared at them. They all seemed to be holiday-themed and covered in prints of reindeer, snowmen, and Christmas lights. One pair was even striped red and white like a candy cane.
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