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Noe just might keel over. Heart attack? Pure joy? Hard to tell right now.

He had never in a million years expected Luca to walk up and kiss him on the forehead. He knew the man wasn’t attracted to his own sex—that wasn’t why they were dating. Still, he’d brought Noe warm tea on this chilly morning and kissed him on the forehead and wished him a good day.

The casual touch had sent a thrill right through Noe, and honestly, he didn’t know if he could survive this. If Luca was going to ambush him with kisses and touching, it would prove too much for Noe’s feeble willpower. He’d either collapse or—fuck that, he was made of sterner stuff. Noe was going to enjoy dating.

Now, this did bring up questions. Why being the first one. Because Luca had promised to try more kissing and such? Because he’d wanted to? Noe wasn’t in the habit of questioning a good thing, but damn, he couldn’t seem to help it right now. Also, how could he convince Luca to keep ambushing him was the other question. Hopefully the kiss hadn’t been so outside his comfort zone that he wasn’t going to repeat it.

A hand landed on Noe’s shoulder, and he damn near startled out of his own skin. “Giric, what?”

“That’s my question. You’ve been standing there in a daze for nearly ten minutes. What are you doing?”

Oh, had he? In his defense, Luca.

Giric’s eyes went down to the bamboo thermos in his hand. “I see steam. Ooh, is that hot tea? What does it take to get some of it?”

“Show some skin,” Noe retorted sarcastically.

Giric promptly turned to show his back and started tugging his pants down.

“Oooh whoa!”

“Oh, you like this?” Giric tilted his head over his shoulder, wagging his hips. “Will you pay me now?”

“Pull your damn pants back up, and no, you’re not getting my tea.”

“Booo.”

“This is, um…” Why was he feeling shy saying this? “It’s kind of special tea.”

“You’re not supposed to do that on the job.”

Noe rolled his eyes, praying for patience, but it didn’t feel forthcoming. “I mean, someone special brought it to me.”

There was a beat. “Wait. Wait, you went on a date last night.”

“You’re astute.”

Giric abruptly pulled up his pants and moved closer, all ears. “You went on a date and it went well ?”

“Why are you saying it like I’ve found a mythical being?”

“You found a man you can date. Someone who will bring you tea on a cold morning, no less. You have, in fact, found a mythical being.”

Considering their combined dating history…Giric made a good point there. Noe felt like he had to explain better. And brag. Mostly brag.

“So, um, I told you I went on a date last night with General O’ Broín.”

Giric wagged a finger. “All I heard as you ran out the door was you were late for your date. I figured it might have been him, since you kissed him, but wasn’t sure. Do go on.”

“Right, so, the date kind of started out awkward? More like a job interview, but we settled into it and just started talking to each other, and after that it was so much better. I got to hear about his home, his family, what he wants the future to look like. He asked me a lot of questions, too, about what I want and need in a relationship.”

Giric put a hand over his eyes and made a sad whimpering noise.

“You’re jealous right now.”

“So jealous,” Giric grumbled. “You found a man who actually has emotional intelligence. I’m torn between hitting you and hugging you.”

“Hugging has my vote.”

Ignoring Noe, Giric dropped his hand and looked him over like just Noe’s appearance could tell him everything. “So you had a good date, you’re getting warm tea this morning, and…? Tell me you have the next date planned, at least.”

“Well, we do. We discussed it last night. Our plan is to meet up casually for lunch today as well, but I think I want to take him drinking tonight.”

“Follow your instincts on this one. Do not let a man like him get away.”

“Trust me, I’m latching on. I’m also just…” Here Noe had to pause and figure out how to frame this into words. “I’m confused how he’s still single? I know he said most of the women he’d met in his country didn’t have the skill set to be his spouse, but still, how is he single?”

“Do not question miracles, Noe.”

“Ha. Guess I shouldn’t, at that. Anyway, if he can be this sweet to me while he’s still trying to figure out how to date a man? Then I’m certainly not letting go.”

Giric gave a sage nod. “Do not. But I have to ask. Sex?”

“Hasn’t happened yet. Honestly, he’s worried about it. He’s not sure what he’ll be comfortable with, which is fair. I’ve tried to tell him we can figure it out together. I’d rather be married to a good man and have a limited sex life than no husband at all.”

“Also fair, considering your options.”

Which were abysmal, granted. “Still, I like him a great deal. I’d prefer to stay with him unless there’s something that breaks us apart. I also think he’s stressing more about this than he should. He kissed me on the forehead as he gave me the tea and seemed quite comfortable doing it. A truly straight man would never manage that, right?”

Giric’s shake of the head brooked no disagreement. “No chance in hell. Maybe he’s overthinking it?”

“That’s what I think.”

“Think or hope?”

“It can be both, you know.” Noe sipped his still warm tea and felt another delicious thrill go through him. A thrill that had little to do with the tea itself. “In any case, we need to get some work done.”

“Because you have a lunch date.”

“Why are you saying the obvious?”

Giric followed after him, whining. “Are you still not going to share the tea?”

“Get your own man to bring you tea.”

“You bastard. To think we’re friends.”

Noe grinned and kept sipping his tea.

He did hustle and get his inspection done, though. Tormenting Giric was one thing, but missing his lunch date was another. He managed to wrap everything up for the morning on time and hustled to the wharf.

Luca stood at the crossroads, clearly waiting on him. He wore a lovely smile as he spotted Noe, and it made him a little giddy in response.

“Thank you for the tea. It was truly what I needed this morning.”

“You are very welcome. Perhaps we’ll stop at a tea shop after lunch for a refill so you have something warm this afternoon as well.”

“It’s a good thought. It’ll make everyone even more jealous, though.”

Luca’s head tilted in question. “That made people jealous?”

“Oh so much. Giric—ah, he’s my best friend—kept begging for a sip. I told him to get his own man to bring him tea.”

Luca sniggered. “I didn’t realize I’d started something. I just wanted to do something nice for you.”

“I appreciate it, trust me. You’ll have to tell me your favorite tea so I can return the favor.”

“Let’s talk favorite foods over lunch,” Luca invited. “Speaking of, what would you like to eat?”

“The fried chicken rice bowl. I can never remember what it’s called.”

“Oh, the katsudon?”

“That’s it.”

“On a cold day like this, something hot and fried is indeed perfect. Let’s get it.”

Noe fell into step with him. He was happy to have lunch together, of course, but he was also a bit twitchy. He had an urge to reach out and connect to this man physically, no matter how slight the contact. Part of him strongly hesitated trying anything, not wanting to push too far, too fast.

On the other hand, Luca had spent a considerable amount of time last night asking Noe what he needed from a relationship. Didn’t that mean he should voice these kinds of desires? What was the point in bottling it all up? Wasn’t voicing those needs and desires the whole point of dating?

Still, he felt nervous asking.

Noe sucked in a breath and forced the words out of his mouth. “Um, how do you feel about perhaps holding hands?”

Luca paused mid-step, head tilted as he regarded Noe. Nothing about his expression said upset. Instead, he seemed thoughtful, as if he were considering the question.

Was that a no…?

Luca abruptly held his hand out, then stayed there, waiting.

Noe couldn’t help but light up in return, his smile wide and instinctive. He immediately latched on, his hand dwarfed by Luca’s. Then again, his date was a good head taller than himself, so it made sense his hands were also larger.

Neither had gloves on, and the skin-to-skin contact was lovely. Especially since Luca’s hands were warmer. He apparently handled cold better. Noe couldn’t remember the last time he’d been able to hold hands with someone and was surprised by how happy the gesture made him.

Was it all right with Luca, though? Noe didn’t want this if it made him feel awkward. This was more than just holding hands, too. Luca had laced their fingers together.

There was no tension in the man’s face, just a sort of bemused air.

“Do you know, I think you’re the first person I’ve held hands with?”

Noe hadn’t expected that. “Ever? Not even your parents?”

“Mine aren’t the affectionate type, and I can’t recall a single instance. I quite like holding hands with you. Let’s do this more often.”

Thrilled right down to the tips of his toes, Noe said, “I’ll hold hands with you whenever you’d like.”

“That’s a promise, then. To lunch, shall we?”

Holding hands while walking around in Mizuno Harbor might not be the smartest decision, but if someone tried to break them apart, Noe would punch them.