Page 163 of Ghost

Mason laughed.“I said the same thing.But then I got to thinking, and it probably cost a fortune to build it back then, too.”

Nicky nodded.“I can see that.It would have taken so much longer to build as well.”

They stood there in the long hallway for several minutes.It started to feel a little uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry, where are my manners?”Mason said after clearing his throat.“Can I get you something to drink?”

“That’d be great, but first, there’s something I need to do.”

Nicky laid his hand on Mason’s shoulder and then slowly pulled him close.He was a little taller than Mason, so he had to lean down before he planted his lips against Mason’s.It was a nice, long kiss.Not passionate, just a good, warm kiss.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you,” Nicky whispered, his face only a few millimeters from Mason’s.

“Funny, I felt the same.”Mason pulled back a little.“I actually thought I’d drown in those blue eyes of yours.”

Nicky smiled.“You know, Pop was doing his best to fix us up together.”

“I got that impression.He never said he had a gay son.”

Nicky shrugged.“He never said his new neighbor was gay, so we’re even.”

“What would you like to drink?”Mason pulled away from Nicky.

“I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee, to be honest.The wind off the river is really cold.”

“I can manage coffee.”

Mason made them some coffee.They talked easily, telling a bit about themselves.

“Mom said that you were going to start on the apartment over the store after the first of the year.”

“That’s the plan.”Mason topped up their coffees.“I’d had hoped to get started on it long before this, but my friends who work with me needed to get their own places livable before we took on any other work.Well, we did a few small jobs just to bring some money in, but a lot of our time was spent on their places.”

“I might reconsider moving in there if your place is an example of what it might look like.”Nicky took a sip of coffee.“It really is a rat-hole as it is now.”

Mason laughed.“That’s an understatement.I do have some good ideas for it.When are you going back to Atlanta?”

Nicky grinned.“I’m not.”

“You’re not going to get your diploma?”Mason was shocked.

“Oh, hell yeah, I am.This was my last semester.I’ve got an internship here in Savannah, and I’ll graduate this coming spring.I have more credits that I actually need to graduate.”

“I see...smart and good looking.”

Suddenly there was banging on the door.“Mason, you in there?”

Mason sighed.“My friend, Mitch.”He looked apologetically at Nicky.“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“Come in, Mitch.Door’s open.”

Mitch flung the door open.“You got any beer?”He saw Nicky sitting next to Mason at the breakfast bar, each with a cup of coffee.“Oh.Sorry.Didn’t know you had company.”

“Mitch, this is Nicky.Nicky, Mitch.”

They shook hands.“We’ve met before,” Nicky said.