“Excuse me.” Felipe leaped down from the stump and adjusted his hat. “I have someone to abduct and molest.”
“Which one of them is dressed as the pirate?” Felipe heard Morris ask as he made a direct line for Trask. Behind him, Theo groaned, and Felipe smirked. He bet that before the day was over, Morris was going to get that man into one getup or another.
Trask whistled appreciatively as Felipe sauntered toward him. He stopped, crossing his arms as he gave Felipe a raking once-over. “Okay, that is fantastic. Did you make the whole costume?”
“Hold that thought.” Felipe threw his arms around his neck and settled for a hug. He’d dearly love to scandalize everyone within eyesight of them, but he didn’t want to be walking around in his tights afterward. It might be a little embarrassing. He brought his lips to Trask’s ear. “Please tell me you later plan on having your wicked way with me while holding me for ransom.”
Trask’s arms slid around him in a warm embrace. “That thought has definite possibilities.” He pulled back reluctantly and looked around him at the colorful array of booths with a wistful smile. “Thank you for insisting I come along. I’d forgotten how much I loved the Faire.”
Felipe winked at him, though he was inwardly relieved. He wasn’t sure how much was too much with Trask yet, and he knew he could be a pushy, nagging bastard. “Now you don’t have to worry about disappointing me,” he said airily. “Come on. You need to meet Theo, our pet non-geek, who is very disappointed in you for showing up in costume. He was counting on having a bosom buddy.”
As they approached, Theo threw his hands up in defeat. “Okay, I give. I’ll wear something, but not the tights. I don’t have Morris’s sexy legs.”
Morris lifted his fist in victory with a broad grin. “Yes! Felipe, take him in hand. You’re the best one to pick out something appropriate.”
Felipe studied Theo, walking around him slowly as he considered the options. Any kind of nobility was out. Theo would not be comfortable in all the frippery that Felipe adored. He’d look good as a common mercenary, a little leather, a little chainmail, but that would have to wait until next year. There wouldn’t be anything good at the rental shops. He’d work with Morris over the summer to get Theo properly outfitted for the following Faire.
“I’m thinking peasant,” Felipe said at last and held out his hand to Morris. “Give me your credit card.”
“Peasant?” Theo’s brow furrowed. “Wait, he’s a sexy Scottish warrior, you’re a rich Spaniard, that one’s a pirate…. How come I get to be the peasant?”
“Because you snooze, you lose.” Felipe caught Theo’s arm and grabbed Morris’s credit card. “We’ll get you something more appropriate and in keeping with your dignity next year. Trust me, you’ll look good and fit right in with Morris. Until then, common peon, you are of the lowest rank.”
Felipe led Theo over to his favorite place to rent costumes. This wasn’t the first time he’d come to the Faire with somebody who’d realized they wanted to be dressed up after all. He began going through the racks, tossing various breeches and shirts over his arm. He eyed Theo’s complexion and hair and picked colors to suit. “Okay.” He turned on Theo, who watched him apprehensively. “Into the changing room.” He pointed imperiously toward a canvas-walled area in the crowded back.
“I feel silly,” Theo complained as he disappeared behind the strip of fabric, carrying the pile Felipe handed him.
“It’s all in the spirit of fun. Don’t be such a curmudgeon.” Felipe went through various accessories as Theo changed. The good thing with a peasant was that he didn’t need a lot of decoration. “You’re acting like an old fart.”
“No, the old fart is dressed better than me,” came the muffled reply.
Felipe rolled his eyes and stole a peek out the storefront. Morris and Trask were leaning against a tree, talking as they watched the shop. His gaze lingered on Trask. He had an aura about him that went so much deeper than being one hot silver fox. Every time they had a conversation, Felipe couldn’t wait until the next one.
“He’s not an old fart,” Felipe said with irritation.
“I know. I’m just screwing with you.” Theo stuck his head out. “Okay, did I do it right?”
Felipe looked over the rough breeches, the flowing coarse-spun shirt, and the outer long vest, all in varying shades of brown that set off his tousled, honey-haired cuteness. He was a walking case of diabetes. God help Morris. “You’ll do.”
“Killing me with praise.” Theo glanced at the belt in Felipe’s hand. “Where are the holes?”
Felipe shook his head. “Wrong era. I’ll show you how it goes.” He circled it around Theo’s waist and looped it into a knot. He stepped back to study the results and met Theo’s curious gaze. They hadn’t hung out too much, and most of what he knew about Theo was through Morris and Lincoln. Still, he’d seen the influence Theo had on Morris, and Felipe felt it was time he said something. “Hey, just between you and me, say a word to anyone and I’ll kill you. You and Morris, you’re good for each other. I like seeing him so happy.”
Theo’s eyes glinted with a teasing light. “You going soft on me, Felipe?”
Felipe shoved a finger at him. “You tell anyone and I’ll deny it to my grave. Now come on and let’s get out of here. I have a pirate to ogle, shows to watch, and a giant-assed turkey leg screaming my name.”
“Let’s do this.” Theo stuck his thumbs in the belt and struck a pose. “Dilly dilly!”
“No.” Felipe gave Theo a gentle shove toward the counter. “No dilly dilly from you. No huzzahs. Nada. You’re trying too hard. Just have fun. Follow Morris’s lead. Should be easy enough with as much as you googly eye him.”
“You’re having that problem yourself.” Theo put his hand over Felipe’s as he pulled out Morris’s card. “Let me pay for my own getup. Morris can buy me one of those turkey legs he doesn’t shut up about.”
“Now that’s more like it.” Morris straightened and clapped as they emerged. He gave Theo a look of loving approval that had Felipe raising his eyes heavenward even as his inner romantic did a happy squeal. Those two. “Let’s party.”
Felipe met Trask’s gaze and preened at the way he smiled in appreciation. Felipe loved having his ego stroked, and Trask was able to do it without words. He fell in next to Trask and brushed his fingers over the back of his hand. “Did I warn you that those two newly engaged fools are probably going to make us roll our eyes several times today?”
“No.” Trask cocked his head as he looked at Theo and Morris. “It’s good to see a happy couple. The world needs a little more of that kind of eye rolling.”
“You’re going to make me reveal that I’m a secret sap and not a cynic, aren’t you?” Felipe sighed as Trask gave him a gentle smile.
“Your secret is safe with me.” Trask pulled a map and program out of his belt pouch. “So what’s it going to be first? I haven’t seen the jousting in years, and it’s cold enough that sitting on the benches in the sun won’t be a misery.”
Felipe peered over at the map. “I could be down with that. I want to see Shakespeare’s Scum, too, and one of the madrigal acts.”
“Food first,” Morris demanded over his shoulder. “I’m hungry.”
“Dude, you were born hungry,” Felipe retorted.
“Actually, I wouldn’t mind eating first either.” Trask tucked the map back in his pouch. “It was a long drive from Richmond.”
Felipe shaded his eyes against the midmorning sun. “Why don’t we go down one of the lanes instead of hitting the tavern? It’s early enough that the booths shouldn’t have long lines.”
Morris turned and headed down the lane that narrowed to a rough, knobby walkway of pounded dirt. They were forced to walk single file as a stream of people came from the other direction. Felipe fell in behind Trask. He still couldn’t quite believe he was here. He’d thought he might’ve pushed him away with his nagging. Maybe Trask really was as chill as he seemed.
�
��I’m glad you came,” Felipe said softly.
“How could I not?” Trask reached back and caught Felipe’s hand. “First there were the texts, then the pictures from Faires past. Let’s not forget the reminiscing about your favorite acts to entice me.”
Felipe smirked. “Never let it be said I’m not persistent.”
“And you know just how to tempt a man,” Trask replied soft enough that Felipe wasn’t quite sure he heard him right.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Theo stopped in his tracks and pointed at a man striding by with one of the turkey legs. “No one person can eat that entire monstrosity.”
“Care to wager on that?” Morris asked, looking back the way the man came.
“It’s bigger than my arm!” Theo jabbed a finger in Morris’s side. “And no short jokes from you either.”
“What are you going to get?” Felipe asked as they reached the line of food booths. He scanned the menus as more than one item caught his eye. He did love the turkey legs, but he didn’t want to get anything on his costume either. He’d steal a bite from Morris instead when he wasn’t looking.
“The berry muffins, I think, and a large coffee.” Trask ate like a bird. He claimed to be hungry and he wanted a muffin. It was like he subsisted on deep thoughts.
“Let me get the food while you grab a table.” Felipe gave Trask a nudge toward the eating area. “You treated me on our last date, and I think my budget can handle some measly muffins and a coffee.”
He headed toward the nearest stall before Trask could protest, and when he returned, carrying a tray with their drinks, a paper holder with two muffins, and Felipe’s crab cake sandwich, he found them at a table under the spreading branches of a tree. Both Morris and Theo had turkey legs and a stack of napkins in front of them.
“I want a bite,” Felipe said as he slid in next to Trask.
“I’ll tell you what I told this moocher.” Morris cast a narrow-eyed glare at him. “Get your own or suffer the consequences.”
“You ain’t going to do anything, bitch.” Felipe smirked and yanked off a piece dangling on the side. It tasted as good as he remembered. “I’ve got too much dirt on you.”
“Leave the man’s meat alone.” Trask broke open a steaming muffin and made a sound of appreciation as he took a bite.
“There are so many places I could go with that comment that my brain doesn’t know where to start.” Felipe glanced at the enigmatic man beside him with a snicker. He was so hard to read, so quiet at times that he just didn’t know where he stood with him, and it drove him batty.
The corner of Trask’s mouth lifted. “You, at a loss for words. I don’t believe it.”
Trask did have the ability to tie his tongue and put him off-balance. “What made you decide to come, other than it’s been a long time since you’ve been to the Faire?” Felipe asked, lowering his voice.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Trask admitted with a long sideways look at him. “I went back and forth on it, impulse maybe. Not because you’re not cute, because you know you are, not because I’m not attracted, because I am. It’s just complicated.”
Complicated. Felipe had heard that one before. “Is it the age difference?”
“Twenty years is nothing to sneeze at.” Trask sipped his coffee, looking off into the crowd. “But it’s more different life experiences. We don’t have all that much in common.”
Felipe couldn’t argue against that. Not that he knew as much as he wanted about Trask, but he suspected Trask was right about different upbringings. They did have mutual burning interests, though, and that had to count for something. “Seems like we’re moving forward in the same direction now.”
“You are a persistent man.” Trask shook his head with a smile. “I’ve got to admire that. And I have to admit, I just wanted to see you again, even more than I wanted to see the Faire. Though I’m not sure what you see in me. I’m pretty quiet, borderline boring.”
Felipe didn’t think Trask would want to hear a comment about his drop-dead sexiness. “We both like the same things and we sizzle. That’s a good basis for starting out.”
Once again Trask shook his head, but he didn’t offer any further argument. If Felipe took him on his surface attitude, he might consider looking elsewhere. But he was a big believer in actions speaking far louder than words. Trask’s words made it seem like he came here on a spur-of-the-moment decision. You didn’t throw together a costume like that without putting thought into it, and you sure as hell didn’t drive all the way from Richmond to almost Annapolis on a whim, not when you had to get coverage for your store.
Trask was interested, and Felipe would follow this road as far as it took him.
Chapter Seven
THEO SNUGGLED closer to Morris and into the warmth of the tartan he had draped around both their shoulders. The Renaissance Festival had been interesting, with so much to do and see. He’d had more fun than he thought he would. Granted he didn’t get into it at the level of Felipe and Morris. Those two ought to go into theater, but it had been fun. He’d actually felt far less self-conscious in costume than out of it, and Felipe’s promises to make sure he was properly outfitted next year no longer filled him with wariness. Just as long as they didn’t put him in a short shirt and tights, he’d be good.
Raucous singing filled the night air, and torches guttered at the corners of the outdoor tavern as the diehards gathered to send off the Faire for another year, which seemed to involve a lot of bawdy songs. Not that Theo minded a good bawdy song one bit. It was all in good fun.
Morris slipped his arm around Theo’s waist and took advantage of the fact that they were sitting on the fringes of the tavern in the dark to steal a kiss. He tasted like the hard apple cider the tavern served, and if Theo wasn’t the designated driver for this outing, he’d probably ask for another glass himself. But really, all he needed was Morris.
“So what do you think?” Morris asked as he pulled back. “I told you it would be awesome.”
“I think you need to kiss me again.” Theo rubbed his cold nose against Morris’s cheek. “I still have numb extremities.” Once the sun set, the temperature dropped. The wind had picked up, sending occasional gusts that cut right through the clothes. At least it was warmer here, huddled among the crowd.
“Come on, no hedging.” Morris nudged his side. “Did you have fun?”
“You want me to say it, don’t you?” Theo gave a dramatic, long-suffering sigh worthy of Lincoln. “You were right and I was wrong about the Faire and the dressing up.” He supposed that if he managed to get Morris to give up most of his processed food, he could admit to enjoying a bit of geekery now and then.
Morris beamed his broad-cheeked smile but didn’t gloat more than that. “So, what do you think about them?” Morris jutted his chin out to where Trask was returning to the portion of the bench he shared with Felipe, carrying another round of hand pies and coffee. The couple sat in front of them, curled in almost as close as Morris and Theo.
Theo studied Trask and Felipe as they talked with their heads near, though given the way the rest of the day had gone, Theo was sure that Felipe was doing the talking while Trask got by with the occasional comment. “I think with the both of them wearing all black like that, we’ll never see them leaving when they opt to slip away to make out in the back of a car.”
Actually, Theo thought that sounded like a wonderful idea, and he wondered what his chances were of getting Morris back there so he could get his hands under that sexy kilt. Every once in a while his fiancé still got shy, and Theo loved to witness those moments.
Morris made an exasperated sound and nudged Theo’s ribs. “For real? That’s all you have to say?”
Theo gave Morris a mystified look as the band of singers launched into another song that had most of the crowd joining in. He leaned in closer so Morris would hear him without giving away the fact that they were sadly gossiping. “I’m lost. What’s got you so agitated about Felipe’s date? They seem like the
y mesh pretty well. They definitely have the same fashion sense.”
“You’re impossible.” Morris worried his lower lip. “And I’m overanxious. I just don’t want to see Felipe get his hopes all wrapped up again. I can’t deal with Felipe’s sad puppy eyes.”
Theo turned his attention back to the couple in front of them. Felipe’s face turned in profile to them as he laughed at something Trask said. He looked happy. “Felipe never struck me as the kind of guy who listened to advice unless he asked for it or wanted people butting in. Well-meaning or not.” He paused a moment and gave Morris a significant look. “Like your family.”
Morris grimaced. “I hate it when you’re right. Maybe I just feel guilty about the situation with Dakota. I could’ve issued a stronger warning. Though he surely didn’t listen to that one either. Which just proves your point.”
Theo didn’t know Felipe that well, but he suspected a stronger warning would’ve had the opposite effect. “You, Morris Proctor, are a mother hen. You know that, right? Always fussing over people and details.”
“So says the man who tries to single-handedly feed the world, starting with me,” Morris retorted. “Don’t think I didn’t see you trying to mooch some recipes today.”
Theo decided that comment didn’t even deserve a response. He’d just wanted to know what the ingredient ratio had been in those spinach pies because they’d been delicious.
“And who personally examines every plate that leaves your kitchen to make sure all the details are right?” Morris continued, and Theo could only nod to that as well, though he’d argue that Morris was just as picky over his own details.
Theo watched Felipe and Trask, trying to see them from Morris’s point of view. They looked good together. Trask seemed laid-back from what he could tell from hanging out over the day. Definitely not as volatile as Dakota and Felipe had been together. The first time he’d met them, Felipe had threatened to throw a plate at Dakota’s head.
“You know how you were convinced we’d never be more than a fling,” Theo reminded Morris. “Because we had such different interests?”
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