A familiar, vertical crease appeared between his eyebrows, and Ben crossed the room, smoothing his thumb over it with a smile. Gavin did love to worry, even about the good things.
“You should be proud of that,” Ben reminded him. “What you’ve done with Delicious in such a short time is remarkable. Most small businesses go under in their first few years. The fact that yours is running so smoothly, even when you had to step away unexpectedly, is a testament to how well you’ve set up your internal operational systems, Gavin.”
Gavin’s eyes lit up, and he gave Ben a two-dimple smile. “Thanks. My friends like to give me grief about working too much. As much as I love them, I don’t think any of them actually understand why I’ve put so much into it. My friend Jeremy—he owns Sir Reads-a-lot?—”
Ben nodded. The man was another banking customer.
“—he loves books, not business. Opening a bookstore was just his excuse to get his hands on more of them, and he gives it just enough attention to keep his doors open so he can feed his habit.”
Ben laughed, knowing exactly what Gavin meant. “Small business owners have to wear a lot of different hats. Not all of them do it as well as you, Gav. You’re incredible.”
“I wasn’t fishing for compliments,” Gavin said, his cheeks going pink. “Or criticizing Jeremy. I just meant that it’s nice to have a friend who gets it; who isn’t utterly bored when I bring business up.”
“Nothing about you bores me, Gavin.”
Gavin’s breath hitched, then he laughed. “Oh, Lord. Ben,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re going to be a tough act to follow.”
Before Ben could ask what that was supposed to mean, the timer on Gavin’s phone pinged.
“I need to take the chicken out of the oven,” Gavin said, levering himself out of the chair and reaching for his crutches. “And you should go get naked.”
Ben’s cock jerked again, making him glad he’d positioned his shirt in front of it. “Gavin Campbell, are you flirting with me?” he asked before he could stop himself.
“Apparently I like to torture myself,” Gavin said, grinning as he headed into the kitchen. Not denying it. “But don’t worry,” he threw over his shoulder. “I absolutely will not be thinking of you naked while you’re in the shower.”
Ben laughed as he headed up the stairs, but didn’t bother to reply.
He couldn’t make the same promise, but given that he wasn’t ready to do anything about it, it was probably for the best that he didn’t say anything at all.
12
Gavin
“Should we go undercover?” Ben asked, resting his hand on Gavin’s lower back and leaning down to whisper the question in his ear. “Pretend we’re a couple?”
Gavin laughed, doing his best to ignore the tingles that Ben’s breath sent skittering down his neck. He pushed open the door of the bakery—Sweet Nothings—and gave himself a split-second to fantasize about saying yes.
“No,” he said, after his second was up. “The owner knows me, and besides the fact that I already told her I’d swing by sometimes this week to talk to her about wedding cakes, she’d never believe we were engaged.”
“Why not?” Ben asked, looking too comically affronted to be taken seriously. “I’m not your type?”
Gavin rolled his eyes, reminding himself for the eight hundred and fifty-fourth time that the man was not, in fact, intentionally torturing him. It wasn’t Ben’s fault that Gavin wanted more than he had to offer.
“I know I’m no James…” Ben teased, sliding his hand around to rest on Gavin’s hip. He was looking down at him like they were the only two people in the world, with that sexy little half-smile hovering over his lips that always made Gavin want to jump him. Or lick him. Or just… wish that things were different.
But they weren’t.
Gavin smacked Ben’s shoulder, taking a step away to put a little distance between them and preserve his own sanity.
“You can’t keep holding James against me, babe,” he said, trying not to smile. “Otherwise I’ll have to track down some of your exes and turn the tables.”
“It wouldn’t do you any good,” Ben said, grinning. “None of mine can hold a candle to your—”
His words were cut off by a feminine squeal.
“Ben!”
The leggy blonde seemed to appear out of thin air, although maybe that had more to do with the way Gavin’s attention had been riveted on Ben than any stealthiness on her part. She latched onto Ben’s arm, rising up on her tiptoes and pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
Gavin’s stomach clenched.
“Oh, oops! You’re not here with my replacement, are you?” the blonde asked Ben, peering around his shoulder to try and answer her own question.
“I’m with Gavin,” he said, shifting away from her with an easy smile. “It’s good to see you, Meg. What are you doing back in Tulsa?”
“You remember my friend Tanya?” Meg waved a hand in the general direction of another blonde woman who was looking through cake designs at the counter. “She’s getting married, and I’m her maid of honor. I’m just in town for a few days to help her get organized. But seriously, Ben, what are you doing in here? Wedding cake shopping is the last place I ever thought I’d run into you.”
Ben’s phone buzzed before he could answer.
“Sorry, it’s the bank,” he said with an apologetic shrug. He stepped away as he swiped the screen to answer, heading to the far end of the store to take the call.
Meg bit her lip as she watched him walk away. “That man has the world’s greatest ass,” she murmured appreciatively.
Gavin had to agree. “Preach it, sister.”
She whipped her head around, taking notice of Gavin for the first time. She looked back and forth between him and Ben, then her eyebrows shot up as a delighted smile split her face.
“Are you two…?”
“No,” Gavin said regretfully.
“Well, damn,” she said, sighing. “At least that would have made me feel better about why he never wanted to take our relationship to the next level.”
Gavin tamped down the uncharitable burst of glee that her statement caused. That was just catty. The woman was clearly no James, and Gavin had no reason to be happy that things hadn’t worked out between her and Ben.
It really wasn’t his business.
“Is he dating anyone else yet?” she asked.
“No.”
“Good,” she said, then clapped a guilty hand over her mouth.
Gavin laughed, liking her despite himself. If nothing else, they clearly both had an infatuation with Ben in common.
“How long were the two of you together?” he asked.
“A couple of years. It was exclusive, but never serious.” She frowned, then shook it off. “I’m not going to take it personally, though. Ben just doesn’t do attached. He’s lovely, but I swear, that man just isn’t the settling down type. I thought I was okay with that, but lately…” She laughed at herself. “Don’t mind me. I’ve been looking at cakes and dresses and place settings with my girlfriend all week. I think I’ve just got wedding fever.”
“Or maybe you’re just ready now,” Gavin offered. “I get that.”
“You, too?” she asked, picking up on his wistful tone.
“Well, I don’t know that I’m looking to get married quite yet,” he backpedaled, laughing at the thought. “For one thing, that would require finding an eligible man.”
“Tell me about it,” she agreed. “God, dating is a pain in the ass. I don’t know if I’m ready to jump into it again. Ben spoiled me, but I guess I’m going to have to give it a go. I want more.”
“Me, too,” Gavin said, smiling tightly.
She was right, on all counts. And even though Gavin didn’t really expect anything to come of the date he’d agreed to go on with Jeremy’s cousin, at least it was a way to start getting back in the swing of things.
It was time.
“Time for what?” Ben
asked as he came back to join them, making Gavin realize he’d spoken out loud.
Ben tucked his phone away, casually resting his hand on Gavin’s shoulder as he looked between him and Meg curiously. His fingers slipped under the collar of Gavin’s shirt, playing lightly against his skin. Making Gavin tingle.
The man was always touching him.
It was maddening.
Especially because Gavin couldn’t talk himself into pulling away.
“Your friend and I both agree, Ben. It’s time we each started dating again,” Meg said, watching Ben’s face intently.
Ben’s eyes met Gavin’s with a look of shock, his fingers tightening almost painfully on his shoulder for a split-second before he dropped his hand to his side.
“Would that bother you?” Meg pressed.
“If Gavin started dating?”
“No,” she laughed, smacking him. “If I did.”
“Of course not,” he said distractedly, still looking at Gavin even though he directed his words at her. “You should, Meg. I’d be happy to hear you found someone.”
She rolled her eyes, laughing. “Of course you would, Ben. God, you don’t have a jealous bone in your body, do you?”
“Megan, come look at these,” the other blonde—Tanya—called from the counter, beckoning her over.
“You’re going to start dating?” Ben asked Gavin with a frown as soon as Meg left to join her friend. “Since when?”
“Since tomorrow,” Gavin said, refusing to feel guilty about it. There was absolutely no reason for that. None. Unfortunately. “Jeremy’s cousin is taking me out.”
Ben opened his mouth, then closed it again without saying anything. He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, then finally spoke.
“Tomorrow?” he asked, his voice sounding strained. “I thought you’d be coming to family dinner. Mom’s making that Italian dish you guys talked about last week.”
“I guess I should have mentioned it earlier,” Gavin said, immediately tempted to call the whole thing off. But no. He really needed to break his Ben addiction. “The day just sort of snuck up on me. Honestly, I’ve sort of been avoiding thinking about it, in case it’s awful. I don’t normally do blind dates, but I’ve got to start somewhere.”
“You don’t even know this guy?” Ben asked, frowning. Good Lord, even that expression looked good on him. “I don’t think you should go.”
“Do I have a reason not to?” Gavin snapped before he could stop himself, feeling like an ass as soon as the words left his mouth. He took a breath, letting it out slowly. Ben was just being his usual over-protective, do-gooder self.
“He’s a stranger,” Ben said before Gavin had a chance to apologize. “You need someone who…”
Gavin raised an eyebrow when Ben’s words trailed off into silence. Who… what? What kind of someone did Ben think he needed?
The silence between them stretched to the point of awkwardness as he waited for Ben to finish his sentence, and when it became clear that Gavin wasn’t going to break it, Ben finally spoke.
“I just didn’t realize you were going to be… dating.”
“I didn’t, either,” Gavin admitted. “God knows, I haven’t really had the time for it before now, but honestly, Ben, it’s your fault.” Gavin laughed, refusing to feel self-conscious. It’s not like Ben didn’t know the effect he had on him.
“What have I got to do with it?” Ben asked, since apparently he could, in fact, still not get it.
Gavin bit back a sigh. There was no point wishing things were different. None.
“Let’s just say that being with you these last few weeks helped me realize what I want.”
“Me?”
Yes, Gavin stopped himself from saying.
Oh, Lord. But of course that’s not how Ben meant it.
“Someone to share my life with,” Gavin said, which was, after all, another version of the truth.
And yes, maybe it sounded a bit over the top, given that they’d started the conversation by talking about a blind date that Gavin couldn’t seem to muster that much enthusiasm for. Gavin laughed at himself, shaking his head at his own ridiculousness. Maybe Meg was right, and wedding fever was contagious. Still, best to tone down his expectations.
“At least, for a start, someone to bake for,” he amended. “Someone to laugh about my day with. Argue over the remote with. Come home to at the end of the day.”
Ben blinked. “But that’s… us,” he said, making Gavin want to kiss him.
Or throttle him.
“Exactly,” he said, instead of doing either. Which, really, should earn him some kind of medal for self-restraint. How one man could be so perfect and yet so perfectly clueless was beyond him. “That’s what I’m talking about, Ben. I love ‘us.’ You’re a great friend, but let’s be real, you don’t want to be my boyfriend.”
Gavin held his breath. He couldn’t help it. What had Danny told him? Hope is never false. But Ben just looked away, his lips tightening into a thin line, proving Danny wrong.
“How are you going to manage?” he asked after a moment, his eyes flicking down to Gavin’s cast.
“My foot’s broken, not my dick,” Gavin said, letting his disappointment make him snarky.
Ben recoiled as if he’d been slapped. “You’re planning on sleeping with this guy tomorrow?”
“I didn’t say that,” Gavin said, once again feeling like the world’s biggest ass. God. Especially because he hadn’t meant it.
Sure, he’d been horny as hell the whole time he’d been staying with Ben, but the thought of hooking up with anyone else wasn’t doing it for him. Which, obviously, at some point he’d have to get over. He couldn’t pine for Ben forever.
“Honestly, Ben, this conversation is starting to feel weird,” he said, falling back—as always—on the truth. “Yes, we’re friends, but is it so hard to understand that I want more than that in my life? And, honestly, not to be rude, but unless you can give me a reason why you care who I sleep with, I don’t think what happens on my date tomorrow is really any of your business.”
“Right,” Ben said, biting out the word. “Of course. Sorry.” He looked flustered. Very un-Ben-like. He reached out a hand as if he was going to touch Gavin, but after an awkward fluttering motion, he shoved it in his pocket instead. “I’m going to wait in the car while you finish here, if you don’t mind.”
Ben started to turn away, but—since apparently Gavin couldn’t take his own advice and let it alone—he grabbed his arm to stop him.
“Can you give me a reason not to go out with this guy tomorrow?” Gavin asked.
Just in case.
Just to be sure.
“I…” Ben paused, looking torn, but then shook his head. “No. I can’t.”
Gavin sighed, letting him go. “That’s what I thought.”
Ben’s answer was exactly the one he’d expected, and Gavin told himself he wasn’t disappointed. He hadn’t been foolish enough to hope for anything different.
Which officially made it the first time he’d ever lied to himself.
13
Ben
Ben let himself into his parents’ home, juggling the cake dish in his hand as he shut the door behind him. He’d been out of sorts about Gavin’s date all day, and as much as he loved his family, he’d almost decided not to come to the weekly family dinner. But besides the fact that he knew his mother wouldn’t let it go if he canceled for no reason, rattling around his empty house—alone—hadn’t sounded good, either.
He put a smile on his face, determined to shake off his funk, and followed the sound of voices toward the kitchen. Will’s fiancée was perched on a stool at the counter, chopping vegetables while she chatted with his mother.
“Feeling better, Em?” he asked, giving his future sister-in-law a quick hug after he set the cake down on the counter.
“Yes, thanks,” she said, eyes sparkling.
“That flu bug didn’t want to let you go,” he said sym
pathetically.
“You’re early, Ben,” his mother said, turning at the sound of his voice. She bustled over and hugged him, then peered over his shoulder. “Where’s Gavin? I could use his help with this sauce.”
Ben felt his smile falter, but before he could answer, his sister walked in.
“Hey, Ben,” Hannah said. She had her phone in her hand, and she flipped the screen to show him. “Where’s Gavin? Did he show you the YouTube video I just sent him?”
It looked like something to do with pigs, but he just shook his head. He really didn’t feel like looking at funny videos.
Will followed Hannah into the room, instantly gravitating toward Emily. He leaned down to kiss her on the temple, stealing a carrot from her cutting board while he was at it.
“You can wait for dinner,” Em said, mock-glaring at her fiancé as she smacked his hand away.
Will just laughed, eying Hannah’s phone. “Is that the ‘Babe’ video, Hann?” he asked, smirking. He clapped Ben on the shoulder, making a show of looking around. “Speaking of which, where’s your other half?”
“Jesus,” Ben snapped, jerking away from his brother. “This is family dinner. Why is everyone suddenly so concerned about Gavin’s whereabouts? He’s not part of the family.”
Will’s eyebrows shot up, and as one, everyone paused what they were doing and looked at him with varying expressions of surprise. Hannah found her voice first.
“Did you guys have a fight?”
“Is everything okay, Ben?” his mother asked, her brow furrowing.
“I’m fine, Mom. Sorry,” he said, forcing himself to relax. Maybe he should have skipped dinner and gone for a run. His family certainly didn’t deserve to have his bad attitude taken out on them. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, Will. Sorry about that. It’s just been a long day.”
His mother was still looking at him with an expression of concern, and even though Will nodded his acceptance of Ben’s apology, he kept staring at him as if he’d suddenly grown a second head. Ben wasn’t normally one to lose his temper, or, really, get that riled up about anything. His siblings liked to tease him that nothing could ruffle his feathers, and had often amused themselves in the past by trying and failing to get a rise out of him. Hannah and Will exchanged not-so-subtle looks, waggling their eyebrows at each other and darting glances at Ben in a ridiculous show of “silent” sibling communication.
The Delicious Series: The First Volume Page 35
