Page 16 of Gin & Sin (Last Call #2)

SIXTEEN

STEWART

Nervous energy ripples through me as I pull into the driveway at Kit’s house. He wasn’t joking about it being a mansion. I’d heard about the renovation of this old place, the whole town did, but to see it up close is truly a wonder.

Headlights flash across me, and seconds later, Kit hops out of a car parked behind me. His smile could light up the night and warm me at the same time. The snow is falling more steadily now, which makes me think the forecast is accurate this time.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Kit says as I exit my car, looping his arm around my waist and pulling me in for a kiss. His face is still warm from the car, and I want to wrap myself as close as possible.

“Hi.”

“Did you get your things?”

I nod, breaking free long enough to reach into my back seat and grab the bag I packed. All I really need is my laptop, a few comfortable clothing items, and a book or two in case Kit or I need some quiet time. We’re not actually dating to the point where staying together feels natural. Still, I’m so grateful I don’t have to suffer through cold showers for the weekend.

“Come on,” he says, sliding his hand down to wrap it around mine.

We walk up to the front, and I crane my neck to check out the fully restored brick facade. “This old place looks incredible.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He unlocks the front door. “Lowen is a master.”

“Lowen?”

Kit nods, stepping to the side to let me enter. In the grand foyer, we both remove our coats and shoes, but I’m still swiveling my head around to take in all the details, from the original woodwork to the marble floors.

“Stunning.”

Kit grins, folding his arms across his chest. “I admit I never cared that much about furniture styles or lighting or what color to paint the walls, but living here feels like a dream sometimes.”

“I can see why.”

“Lowen is one of my best friends. He’s a designer by trade and was one of the best in Europe for over a decade.”

“And now he lives here? In Willow Bay?”

Kit chuckles. “Long story, but yeah. Ridley, another friend, inherited this house from his great-uncle. Together, we renovated it and made it fit for six modern men. We each have our own private suite.”

“Wow. You weren’t joking when you said you had the room.”

“Not at all. Are you cold? I could make you some tea or hot cocoa.”

I shake my head. “I’m fine. I don’t want you to feel responsible for me all weekend.”

Kit tilts his head. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re my guest.”

“I know, but I don’t want to put you out or interrupt your normal routine.”

Kit nods, searching my face. “Babe, we’re all gonna be stuck together if the forecast is right. There’s no normal to be had.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Plus…” He wraps his arms around me again, pulling me close. I have to tilt my head back slightly to maintain eye contact. “It gives us a chance to talk and get to know each other better.”

His comment should make me feel good, but alarm bells sound in my head instead. There’s no way I’m delusional enough to think I could keep a guy like Kit for long. He’s not the type of guy you can lock down, and honestly, I shouldn’t even want that. After being with the same person for the majority of my adult life and embracing a new sexuality, I should want to be out there dating all kinds of different people. Even if that’s not the type of person I am.

“Did I say something wrong?”

Kit’s question draws me out of my spiraling thoughts. “No. Of course not.” I rub my hands up and down his bare arms.

“Then what were you thinking?”

“Maybe that…” I shake my head, extricating myself from his embrace. Showing him all my vulnerabilities and hang-ups is a surefire way to scare him off.

“Come on, Stewart. Talk to me.”

Focusing on his face, his warm smile and kind eyes, draws the words straight past my defenses. “Maybe you’ll think I’m boring if you get to know me more.”

Kit’s brow furrows. “Why would you say something like that?”

I shrug, leaning against the wall behind me. “I’m a professor. My life consists of academia and not much else. I spend my private time reading books or going to museums if I feel like getting out. My ex told me…” I swallow down the harsh words, but Kit doesn’t let it go, stepping forward and grabbing my hand.

“Told you what?”

“I’d rather not tell you. Might ruin your current positive view of me.”

He nods, twisting his lips for a second. “A guy I dated for three months told me that all I had to offer the human race was a big dick and a nice enough face. He said my personality was about as exciting as a root canal.”

I pull back. “Damn.”

“The girlfriend I had in college told me I was lucky my face card would get me through life because my intelligence wouldn’t.”

“Oh my god.”

“And then there was the guy who said he could get better dick from a catalog order. He said I was selfish. He was right, honestly. Back then I only cared about my own nut. So if you’re worried I’ll think less of you because of what someone else said, you’re wrong.”

“Thanks for telling me that stuff. It helps.”

“Sure. What did your ex say?”

“That I could bore a dead person.”

He scrunches his face. “Damn.”

“Towards the end, she said having sex with me felt like more of a chore than something pleasurable. I guess I was phoning it in after a while.”

“It sounds like you guys fell out of love. It happens.”

“I know, but I would’ve never said anything cruel to her. She wanted to hurt me, and she did.”

“That says a lot about you as a person. You didn’t retaliate out of pain, right?”

I shake my head. “I took her abuse because I knew that’s how she handles things, but I guess…” I blow out a breath. “Maybe I believed it.”

“So what you’re saying is you need a new belief. Maybe spending a few days snowed in with a guy who thinks you’re—” His grin grows. “—exciting. Delicious. Sexy. Maybe that would help.”

“You’re kind of too good to be true.”

“I’m just a man. I believed it too for a long time, the things people said. But I learned something along the way.”

“What’s that?”

“If we can believe something someone else said, then we can believe something new. I decided to listen to my friends, my bosses, my positive relationships with people. I looked for proof that I wasn’t stupid or just a pretty face, instead of looking for proof of the opposite. Why not try believing me?”

My stomach does a flip that heats my body and brings a genuine smile to my face. “I think I’ll try that.”

“Good.” He closes in on me, nuzzling his nose into my neck and pressing me against the wall.

I want to believe Kit and enjoy every minute of this for as long as it lasts.

“Incoming!”

A male voice startles us apart.

“If you’re fucking on the stairs, tuck it in,” another voice says.

“What the hell?” Kit twists around, protectively blocking me from view. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We live here, moron,” a guy with bright green hair says as he pulls his coat off.

A very pretty blond man peels out of a fashionable wool coat, glancing over Kit’s shoulder at me. “Indy and Salem are right behind us. The storm shifted and it’s expected to be heavier here now. The bar pretty much emptied out, so we called it early.”

The door opens and two more men I recognize from the bar step inside, the smaller of the two kicking snow off his boots and shivering.

“It’s coming down so much harder now,” he says. “We could barely see in front of our faces walking over.”

“We helped Wren and Florian wrap things up. Everything’s a mess, but it’ll be there for us when the storm clears,” the taller man says.

The two men standing next to the banister look at me with curious eyes. “Introductions?” the one with darker hair says.

“Yeah, of course,” Kit says, pulling me by the hand so that I’m right beside him. “Guys, this is Stewart.”

The guys wave at me.

“From the left,” Kit continues, “Indy, the mastermind of the bar. His man, Salem. Lowen, the designer. Ridley, our loveable wild child, Bane, and Jerryn.”

“Hey, we don’t get titles,” Bane says. “Rude.”

“The twins?” Salem says with a cheeky grin on his face.

“You’re twins?” I ask, causing Kit to choke on a laugh.

“No.” Jerryn’s cheeks turn pink. “Friends.”

“I called them the twins until I got their names right,” Salem explains. “Now I would call Bane strong and silent, and Jerryn…” He taps his chin, narrowing his eyes like he’s really thinking it over.

“Do I want to hear this?” Jerryn asks.

“I’d call Jerryn our puppy,” Salem says. “Loyal, adorable, liked by all.”

Jerryn looks stunned for a second as he leans into Bane. “Um, thanks, Salem.”

“Welcome, Stewart,” Lowen says. “We heard you have a hot water problem?”

“Heater’s out, and of course no one is available until hopefully next week.”

“I have some good contacts around town. When the storm passes, we’ll call.”

“Thank you.”

“We’re gonna do a movie night,” Ridley says. “And it’s my turn to pick.”

Bane groans. “It is, but remember the rule from last time.”

Ridley huffs. “Fine, no sappy rom-com. Horror this time. How about a nice haunted house flick?”

“I’m in.” Salem rubs his hands together.

“I’ll watch it, but you owe me an art film,” Lowen says to the group.

Indy wraps his arm around Lowen from the side, pulling him close to kiss the side of his head. “As long as it’s in English this time. I can’t follow it and read the subtitles at the same time.”

“Maybe we should let our guest of honor choose the movie tonight,” Jerryn suggests.

“Oh no. I don’t want to interrupt your tradition.”

“Please?” Kit says. “We’ll give you anything you want.”

“Rude,” Ridley says, but his tone is amused. “Fine. I can bump my choice to next week. What does the good professor want to watch?”

“This is a lot of pressure.”

Kit kisses my cheek. “We’re an easier crowd than it seems.”

“Um, so I’m a late-in-life queer person. I’ve been slowly catching up on LGBTQ+ culture. Next on my movie list is the classic film Maurice .”

Lowen gasps softly as a warm smile spreads across his face. “I’ve always wanted to watch that.”

“If it’s gay, I’m in,” Ridley says.

“Never heard of it,” Salem says, “but I’m open.”

“ Maurice it is,” Jerryn says. “Kit, you’re on popcorn this time.”

“On it,” he says.

“It’s my turn to do drinks,” Bane says.

“Let’s get changed and meet back here in thirty?” Indy suggests.

“Is thirty minutes enough time, Kit?” Ridley waggles his eyebrows.

Kit rolls his eyes. “Guess we’ll find out.”

As everyone splits off in different directions, Kit turns to face me. “I think we’re gonna have a fun weekend.”

“I think so too.”

I just have to figure out by Monday how to make sure this stays the casual arrangement we agreed on.