Page 54 of Finley
“I promise you’re not dreaming. Not tonight, professor,” Daniel said as he trailed a hand down Brantley’s arm to lace their fingers together.
Though the words were supposed to be a comfort, they hit with the same force as a sledgehammer smashing through every one of his dreams. Because no matter how good an illusion this was, it wasn’t real.
DANIEL SENSEDTHE change in Brantley almost instantly as he pulled his eyes away from his and made the excuse of having to find his keys. He was running. Daniel had seen this behavior in him before, when he’d first pursued Brantley, and he wondered what had triggered the response now.
When he’d first seen him standing in the living room, Daniel had taken a minute to really enjoy him before he’d gone over to him.
And fuck, he’d liked what he had seen.
Navy-blue pants pressed and fitted as Brantley always wore them, and a light pink shirt tucked in at his trim waist. His rolled-up sleeves were sexy as hell,and yeah, it’d been difficult for Daniel to keep his hands off him when he’d finally been close enough to touch.
But now… Now, Brantley was busying himself checking that every door in the house was locked, which was totally unlike him, considering he was so meticulous about everything he did.
As Brantley brushed by him to go to the sliding door, Daniel finally took hold of his arm and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Brantley shook his head, about to deny it. But Daniel brought a finger up to his lips and asked again, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He narrowed his eyes but let him go. “Okay. Have it your way. But if I did anything?—”
“No, Finn. It wasn’t—” Brantley lowered his eyes, putting an end to the discussion.
Daniel bit back the demand that Brantley tell him what the issue was. But if Brantley didn’t want to share, then who was Daniel to force him? They were each dealing with their own issues when it came tothem, and he sure as fuck wasn’t ready to lay his out just yet.
“All right. Well, if the house is safe from all the rampant burglars in this high-crime neighborhood, are you ready to get going?”
Brantley’s lips twitched, and Daniel held his hand out while aiming his most charming smile at him.
“Come on, professor. Let me take you to dinner.”
WHEN THE TWOarrived at The Waterhouse, they were led out onto the deck that overlooked the ocean. For a Sunday night, the place was busy, but that wasn’t much of a surprise considering that the kids would soon be on summer vacation and tourists were starting to arrive.
As they settled into their seats, the waiter took their drink orders and then left them to look at the menus. Brantley kept stealing glances of Daniel over his dinner menu, and the third time he raised his eyes and Daniel caught him, he winked.
Heat rushed to Brantley’s cheeks like a damn teenager as he dropped his gaze back to the food selection.What the hell is the matter with me?Daniel had him acting like a schoolgirl with a crush, and all because they’d gotten dressed up and gone out on a date?
No,it wasn’t just that.
It was the restaurant Daniel had chosen. Their favorite seafood restaurant. The one they used to order out from every Friday to eat on the beach. It was the look in Daniel’s eyes whenever they found his. That direct stare that held the hot promise from the morning and had a tendency to strip Brantley wherever he was standing—or, in this case, sitting. And finally, it was the way Daniel was now lowering his menu, leaning across the table, and licking his damn lips that all melded together and made Brantley’s skin feel overheated.
“You okay over there?”
Brantley reached for the water on the table and brought it to his lips. As he took a sip, Daniel glanced around the restaurant.
“I’m fine.”
When Daniel’s eyes came back to his, he raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Listen, if you’re uncomfortable to be seen with me?—”
Brantley’s eyes widened. That thought had never even occurred to him. “Trust me,” he said, and then shifted in his seat. “That isnotthe problem I’m having with you.”
That got Daniel’s attention, because he lowered his eyes over Brantley again as if seeing him for the first time, and sat back with a grin. “Well, then.”
“No need to be smug about it.”
“Are you serious? Of course I’m going to be smug. I’ve been sitting over here since we left your place thinking you didn’t want to be seen in public with me. But that’s not the problem at all, is it, Brantley?” Leaning forward again, Daniel lowered his voice and asked, “Just howmuchare you enjoying this?”
It was insane that sitting in a restaurant with Daniel, ordering a meal, and being able to freely be with one another was having such an effect on Brantley. But damn…it really was. And hell, he wasn’t above thinking what hekneweveryone looking at Daniel right then had to be thinking—his date was hot.