Page 40 of Something Like Hail

“Check you out!” Haroldsaid, looking him over. “Got a date soon?”

“Not unless you’re takingme to dinner.”

Harold laughed at this,then gestured for him to enter. “I ampooped!” he said once they were inthe kitchen. “Coffee?”

“Sure.” Noah didn’t likecoffee breath, but if they both had it, and they just happened tokiss, neither would notice. The idea was almost too exciting tocontemplate.

“You look happy,” Haroldsaid. “How have things been? Marcello still throwing you curveballs? I kept waiting for you to call.”

Noah now wished he had, even without a goodexcuse. “Actually, I haven’t had an assignment since Chester.”

Harold paused before filling two mugs. “Didsomething go wrong?”

“It was fine,” he saidquickly. “Chester is really nice.”

“Yeah, he is. So you justwanted the time off or what?”

“Nope.” Noah accepted amug, then followed Harold’s lead and sat at the kitchen table. “Ikeep asking Marcello for work, and he keeps saying there isn’tany.”

“That happens. I didn’twork once for two weeks. A lot of our guys must have starteddating, or had more important things, like business or traveling.They don’t always take you with them.”

“That’s right! Where didyou go?”

“Puerto Rico.”

“Really? Wow! What was thatlike?”

“It’s a tiny littleisland,” Harold said with a grin. “I love it there, but the guy Iwas with is a total bully. He’s always telling people off, orshoving his way to the front of a line. You wouldn’t believe theamount of clothes I had to take with me. He made me change threetimes in one day.”

“You had to change youroutfit?”

Harold shrugged. “Dude’s a control freak.He’s got family down there, and they really get it bad. I’d neverwant to hang out with him for free, but at least he’shandsome.”

Noah felt a stirring of jealousy. Were looksso important to Harold? Noah couldn’t say they didn’t matter, butpersonality counted for more. He had learned that from dating Ryan.As pretty as he was, and as amazing as the sex had been, Ryan’ssour moods tended to overshadow any of his good traits. What use isa handsome face if you can’t stand to be around it?

“Coffee too strong?” Haroldasked, misinterpreting his expression.

“No. I just, uh… I’m justoverwhelmingly jealous. I’ve never been out of the country. I’venever even left Texas.”

“No! Really?”

“For real,” Noah said. “AmI missing much?”

“Wow,” Harold said,chuckling and shaking his head. “Um... Yeah, it’s a big world outthere, but if you ask me, nothing beats home. Know what Imean?”

Noah nodded eagerly, even though ages hadpassed since he’d been there. Despite his parents kicking him out,the farm in Fort Stockton was still home, and he did sometimes longto return. “Did you take any photos? Show me what I’m missing.”

Harold rose to get his phone, then moved oneof the kitchen chairs closer to Noah to show him everything. Theywere sitting near enough for their arms to touch occasionally. Hefound this distracting, so most of the photos were lost on him,especially those consisting of scenery. Some were of Harold and hisclient, who as it turned out, was just okay-looking. The best photowas on the beach, Harold bare-chested and brown. His body wasn’texceptional. His muscles were small and not overly toned, but itdidn’t matter, because he was so damn beautiful. That smile managedto outshine the sun!

“Don’t look too envious,”Harold said, noticing him gawping. “There must have been somethingin the water, because I spent most of the next day on thepot.”

“Gross!” Noah cried. “Tellme your client isn’t into that sort of thing.”

“I wouldn’t put it pasthim,” Harold said, shoulders shaking with laughter. “I felt cruddy,but I was glad for the night off.”

“A little downtime can begood.” Noah fought down a smile. “Like tonight. Got anyplans?”

“None!” Harold said. “Whatwere you thinking?”