by Shea Balik
The bell above the door rang out and Tim looked up to greet whoever had come in through the door. His heart sank and for a moment, he was sure he was about to be sick, because standing there at the door was his boss, Armando, greeting Nick as he walked in.
“Welcome to Rockin’ Robins. How many in your party this evening?”
Fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck.
No way was Nick there by accident. Tim was about to lose his job and he hadn’t even replaced the last one he’d lost, yet. Sure Nick planned on ratting him out, Tim stood there in shock as Nick asked for a table in Tim’s section.
Huh?
Why…?
Maybe Nick wanted to humiliate Tim in some way first. Ready for whatever Nick had to say to him, Tim walked stiffly to his table. “Hi Nick. I don’t suppose you would consider not telling my boss about last week, would you? I mean, I know I deserve it, but…”
What was the point? A man like Nick would never understand what it was like for Tim to scrimp and save just to pay his bills.
“You know what? Never mind. I’ll just call over Armando so you can tell him what I did.” A hand wrapped around his wrist, stopping him from calling out for his boss.
Unsure what was going on, Tim glanced down at the hand on him and followed it all the way to Nick’s gorgeous body. It so wasn’t fair that anyone should look that good. Hell, Tim’s fingers practically itched for the chance to run through Nick’s dark curly hair or over his stubbled jaw.
Or better yet, have those firm lips kissing his skin, leaving a whisker burn for all to see. Tim felt a shiver race through him at the image of his reddened skin from Nick ravishing him.
Ravishing?
Since when in the hell had he become a heroine in some cheesy romance novel?
“Tim,” Nick said bringing Tim back from a fantasy he had no business dreaming about. “I’m not here to tell your boss anything. I was hungry and still have to head back into work.” Nick gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. “This place is close by.”
Tim stood there just staring at Nick, completely unsure what he should say. Did he say something? What was the proper protocol for groping someone and they tell you they’re not going to report you? Was there a proper protocol?
Confused and at a loss, Tim knew his mind was spinning, especially when he started to wonder if Nick expected Tim to finish what he’d started last week now that the man’s sister wasn’t there. Actually, he was hoping for it.
Wait. What? No. Stop. Fuck.
Tim took a deep breath and tried to focus but it was hard when the image of him getting on his knees and servicing Nick under the booth was forefront in his mind. If he didn’t find a way to get rid of that picture, he’d get fired for sure.
Not even his apron was going to cover the bulge starting to form in his pants. His boss might be a nice guy, but Tim doubted he’d accept one of his employees walking around a family diner with an obvious erection.
“Maybe we could start over,” Nick suggested when Tim still hadn’t said anything several minutes later.
Like a bucket of ice being thrown over his head, reality crashed into him. The noise of the unusually busy diner. Customers waving or downright yelling over the din to get his attention and his boss clearly annoyed with how long it was taking Tim.
“Oh. Sorry. Yeah.” Fuck, but he needed to get it together. Not sure where to begin, he went to his old standby. “Welcome to Rockin’ Robins. I’m Tim and I’ll be waiting on you today. Can I get you something to drink while you look at the menu?”
There. He’d done it. Tim wasn’t sure how, but already he was feeling more like himself.
Nick smiled. “I think I’ll go with water today. Just to be safe.”
Tim actually laughed at that. He even managed to wink at Nick. “Good choice.”
Maybe things really were going to work out. Tim wouldn’t necessarily count on it, but at least he wasn’t going to be fired, so that was something.
CHAPTER 4
There was no way Nick could explain why he’d eaten at that tacky diner down the block every Friday night for the past month. He didn’t even like their greasy burgers or overcooked fries. Yet, he continued to return there week after week.
What was worse? He had even begun anticipating his weekly trips. Yeah, he knew it had nothing to do with the bad food that kept him coming back. It was all Tim.
His shy smile that he only seemed to have for Nick. To be honest, he hadn’t been sure what to expect after the disaster that first night. Nick had feared having something else spilled on him, but much to his surprise, Tim had been relaxed around Nick, even showing off his quick wit.
But it was those blue-grey eyes that filtered into Nick’s dreams at night. Each time he stared into their piercing depths, Nick felt as if Tim could see right into his soul. There were times he would swear Tim was almost looking at him as if Nick were his knight in shining armor.
He couldn’t imagine what kind of dragons he was expected to slay, but Nick feared he wasn’t the right man for the job. No. That wasn’t entirely true. He just wasn’t sure he wanted that job.
Nick had already sacrificed a part of himself to save his sister from foster care. The thought of having to do that again for someone he didn’t even know was… well… terrifying. That was doubly true when he didn’t know anything about Tim beyond the fact that he worked at the diner.
A whole month of Friday’s, he’d sat at Tim’s table and eaten dinner, and Nick still hadn’t gotten up the courage to ask anything about the man who had him coming back time and time again. Maybe Tim wasn’t the only one who had dragons to slay, if Nick wasn’t able to get up the nerve to ask the sexy waiter out on a date.
In the past, Nick hadn’t been shy about dating, but things had changed since he’d started his job. Time was in short supply, causing Nick to push dating to the back burner. More like the downstairs closet he couldn’t reach because there was a stack of boxes in front of it.
It had been three years since his last actual date. Hook-ups were the most he’d had time for these days and even those were sadly few and far between. He honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d been with anyone.
His phone vibrated on the desk next to him bring him out of his musings. A glance at the screen had him groaning in dismay. Theresa. This was their monthly get together. There was no way she was going to want to go to the diner again for dinner, which meant he wasn’t going to be able to see Tim this week.
Damn.
He opened the message app and read what she wrote.
I’ll be at Rockin’ Robins at six. DON’T BE LATE!!!!
He frowned and started typing. What’s Rockin’ Robins? Need address.
Almost as soon as he had hit send her message was waiting for him. How she typed so fast on the little screen, Nick would never understand.
Diner we met last time. One block from your work. See you there.
Huh. Nick hadn’t paid much attention to the name of the place, but the name made sense. More importantly, he’d get to see Tim again.
With a smile on his face, Nick got back to work, determined to finish before dinner so he’d have some free time this weekend. He was going to ask Tim out on a date.
****
More than a little pleased with himself for managing to get everything done with ten minutes to spare, Nick shut down his laptop and packed up to meet his sister. If he hurried, there was a good possibility he’d beat her to the restaurant. It would be a first since taking this job.
“Leaving already, Nick?”
Nick had to bite back the curse on his tongue when his boss walked into his office. “I’m meeting my sister for our monthly dinner.” Why Nick felt it necessary to explain why he was leaving when he’d gotten to the office at five this morning and worked through lunch, he didn’t know.
“Was there something you needed, Mr. Givens?” Nick asked even though he prayed there wasn’t.
Sure enough, the huge file in his boss’s h
and was thrust in Nick’s direction. “I need a proposal on my desk by eight Monday morning. I have a meeting with the client at noon and I’ll need to have time to revise whatever lame pitch you give me.”
Without another word, Howard turned on his heel and walked out, not caring if Nick was available to work this weekend or not. He really hated his boss.
Resigned to working, Nick shoved the file in his briefcase. He may not have a choice about working on the proposal for his boss, but Nick was still going to carve out time to go on a date with Tim. He just hoped the cute waiter agreed to his request.
****
Dismayed to find the diner packed, with a several people milling outside as if they were waiting for a table to open, Nick feared his plans to ask Tim out tonight might be sidelined. There was no way he could spring that kind of a question on someone when they were running around trying to work.
He wasn’t even sure he and Theresa would be able to get a table anytime soon and if he had any hope of getting Mr. Givens’ proposal done this weekend and a date with Tim, he didn’t have time to wait around just to be seated.
“Nick,” Tim called to him as he entered the diner. Although he sounded a bit frazzled as carried a tray laden with enough plates to appear heavier than he was, Tim sounded happy to see Nick. With the ease of being used to his job, Tim set the tray on a stand and nodded to the booth Nick normally occupied on Friday nights. “I kept it open for you, but you better sit soon or someone’s not going to care that I put a reserved sign on it.”
He didn’t even have a chance to respond before Tim was unloading the various dishes to his customers. Heeding Tim’s warning, Nick walked over to his usual table, a goofy smile now on his face as he looked at the sign. Reserved for Nick.
“Awwww,” his sister said as she came up behind him. “Isn’t that sweet.” There was a twinkle in Theresa’s eye that said she wasn’t about to let this go. “So, brother dear,” she said with a smirk. “How did Tim know you were coming tonight?”
Fair question, even if Nick wasn’t sure how to answer it or even if he wanted his sister to know anything. Then again, if he was going to ask Tim out tonight, his sister would be around to hear him. “Because I’ve been coming every Friday night,” he admitted.
Theresa’s face lit up. “Oh, my God. Here I thought I would need to play matchmaker tonight.” She practically bounced on her seat in excitement. “Have you asked him out on a date yet?”
Caught up in his sister’s obvious enthusiasm, Nick didn’t even hesitate to tell her the truth. “I was hoping to do it tonight.” A loud burst of laughter from a nearby table reminded him how that might not be such a good idea. “But I’m not sure if I should when he’s this busy.”
Theresa glanced around the diner. “I’d admit it is a little crowded in here.”
“It wouldn’t be fair to ask him when he’s running around…”
“Ask me what?” Tim was suddenly there at their table with his notepad and pen in hand. Nick didn’t think he’d ever seen Tim write an order down.
He looked so adorable with a smaller drink tray tucked under his arm with pen and a pad in his hands. But it was the light in his blue-grey eyes that nearly took Nick’s breath away. The diner was packed, and it appeared Tim was having the time of his life. He was almost giddy and Nick had to admit to feeling its effects.
The moment wasn’t perfect but Nick also couldn’t keep the question burning within from forming on his lips. “Would you like to go out with me sometime this weekend?”
There was a flash of something Nick couldn’t name in Tim’s gaze as he stared at Nick without saying a word. Fearing he might have offended Tim in some way or maybe he’d misread the signals and Tim wasn’t even gay, Nick started stammering out an apology.
“I mean you don’t…It’s not like I expect…If you don’t want…” God he sucked at this.
Thankfully, Tim finally found his voice. “No.”
Nick tried not to be disappointed but it was hard when he was sure a part of his heart was breaking. He may not have known Tim all that well, but he’d thought they’d had a connection. Apparently he was wrong.
“Wait.” Tim froze as if not sure what to say. All that joy that had been there a few minutes ago, before Nick had screwed things up, was now replaced with what Nick would swear was apprehension and fear.
He would kick his own ass if Tim thought Nick was trying to force him to go out on a date.
“I mean,” Tim started before Nick could try to apologize again. Then Tim blew out a breath as if steadying himself. “Yes, I would love to go out on a date with you. When I said no, I meant no to all your other statements about me not wanting to go out with you.”
Then Tim chuckled. “Did any of that make sense?”
Theresa patted Tim’s arm. “Perfectly,” she answered for Nick. “It means you two are going out on a date. Now, before either of you make a bigger mess of this than you already have, when are you free this weekend, Tim?”
The next thing Nick knew he had a lunch date with Tim tomorrow. Go him.
CHAPTER 5
Happiness bubbled up within Tim like he was a shaken, freshly popped champagne bottle, he couldn’t contain the excitement that was pouring out of him like a fountain. This couldn’t be his life. It just couldn’t.
Yet, as if it had a life of its own, the hope that he usually did his best to keep under lock and key way down inside of him, burst free of its restraints. He kept trying to tell himself it wasn’t real, that he needed to wait for the failure that always came soon after something went the tiniest bit right for him, but Tim found it impossible to listen to that little voice, which sounded suspiciously like his mother, telling him nothing good would ever come his way.
In fairness, it was difficult to keep his dreams of finding happiness contained when he’d just landed a job, that he was actually good at, right after being asked out the night before by the hottest guy he’d met in at least a year. What was he supposed to do with all that good luck coming his way if not be ecstatic?
He had to admit, he was tempted to buy a lottery ticket after the day he’d had. Maybe, if his date with Nick went as well as the rest of his day, Tim might actually indulge in buying one.
The past twenty-four hours had been so surreal, Tim had to look down at his feet to be sure they were touching the ground as he walked to the diner where he promised to meet Nick for their date. Since he hadn’t known how long the interview would last, they had decided to meet at Rockin’ Robins, so whichever of them got there first, they would have somewhere to sit and wait.
A glance at his phone had Tim’s smile brightening even further. He should make it there right on time. A miracle, considering all that had happened.
“Tim.”
A shiver of pleasure raced down Tim’s spine at hearing Nick’s deep voice.
“By the grin on your face, I’d say your interview went well,” Nick said as they met right in front of the door to the diner.
There was no point in trying to hide it, so Tim didn’t bother to try. “I got the job,” he rushed out. “And it’s even better than waving that sign in front of the toy store.”
He was tempted to pinch himself just to ensure all of this was real. “They offered to hire me on as their display manager.”
Nick cocked his head to the side. “Display manager?” Then he scratched the scruff along his chin and said, “I have to be honest, I have no idea what that is. But you can tell me on the way. I thought we’d walk to Freedom Park, maybe pick up some lunch and sit at one of the benches along the water.”
Tim blinked at Nick. “Really?” Afraid the excitement in his tone wouldn’t come across in that one-word answer, Tim added, “That sounds perfect.”
He’d been nervous they would sit in some stuffy restaurant where Tim wouldn’t have a clue what half the stuff on the menu was or know what fork to use. Or worse, they’d go to a museum and stare at paintings that looked more like finger painting that art.
/> Clearly happy with Tim’s response, Nick placed a hand along Tim’s lower back and guided him along the sidewalk in the direction of the park. “I’m glad you approve. Now, what exactly is a display manager?”
Tim chuckled, he had the same response when his new boss, Jerry Sullivan, asked him to take the job. “Until about thirty minutes ago, I didn’t know the answer to that either. Hell, I didn’t even know such a job existed and to be honest, I still have trouble understanding why it does.”
The longer they walked, the closer their bodies moved toward each other. By the time they’d reached a deli near the park, Tim was tucked in close to Nick’s side. Bubbles of pleasure along with the nervous fluttering of butterflies competed for space inside his stomach. If they kept this up, he was never going to be able to take a single bite of the sandwich Nick had bought him.
After leaving the deli, they headed into the park. “Apparently, stores need displays both in the windows to attract customers to come in and, at least for the toy store, several of the more interesting toys to be set up around the place to gain the attention of their customers.”
Nick led them down a path that circled around the lake. Tim held the bag of sandwiches, while Nick carried the drinks. By each of them carrying something, it freed up Nick’s hand so he could once more place it on Tim’s lower back, something Tim was enjoying far more than he’d ever imagined.
Not that he had thought anyone would ever touch him in that way. Most of the time he had hookups. There had been boyfriends in the past, three to be exact, but they had never been fond of PDAs. Actually, they avoided them like the plague. Then again, it was rare for Tim to see boyfriends in public, so maybe they were fine with PDAs, they just didn’t want to take Tim out where people could see them.
“If you don’t mind my asking, how did you go in for an interview for twirling signs on the sidewalk and end up with a job as a display manager?” Nick seemed genuinely curious instead of skeptical, which was what Tim had been prepared to hear in his voice.
