Page 132 of When Ben Loved Jace

Marcello takes a deep breath, a cloud passing over his features. “And then that damn fool told the lawyer that he didn’t want a penny of Eric’s money and refused to take her calls. I had to intervene on Tim’s behalf. I’ve questioned if that was the right thing to do, since the inheritance hasn’t contributed to his happiness. But perhaps now…”

We both hear footsteps approaching.

“Ah! That’s the problem with champagne.” Marcello tips the bottle upside-down over the sink, only a drop or two coming out. “It evaporates much too quickly.”

Tim enters the kitchen, panting and sweating, followed by Chinchilla, who is in a similar state.

“Hey!” he says, grinning at us. “That felt so freakin’ good!”

“You went for a run?” I ask.

“Yup. What’s for breakfast?”

“I’ve already had mine,” Marcello says. “Speaking of which, you’re out of champagne.”

“That keeps happening,” Tim says, feigning confusion.

“I’ll be on my way.” The older man ambles over to him. “There’s much to attend to.”

“You don’t want to hug me,” Tim murmurs, backing away. “I’m a mess.”

“Precisely!”

Marcello traps him in a bear hug. Then he spares me a wink. “If ever you should need anything… Give him my number, won’t you, darling?”

Tim’s response gets caught in his throat when his ass is slapped.

Marcello waves on his way out.

“He’s a real trip, huh?” Tim says to me.

“Yeah. To say the least.”

I watch him go to the sink to fill a dog bowl with water and think about what Marcello told me—all the things that Tim went through and the sacrifices he made in the name of love. He notices my stare, which I don’t try to hide.

“What?”

“You’re awesome,” I say. “That’s all.”

Tim laughs. “Don’t tell me you want a sweaty hug too.” He sets down the bowl. Chinchilla begins lapping up the water. “Who am I kidding? Of course you do! Come get some.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I wouldn’t be able to resist the power of your pheromones. But Iwillmake you breakfast. Any requests?”

“Burnt toast and undercooked eggs.”

“My specialty! Coming right up!”

He joins me at the stove, not trusting my culinary skills, but I don’t mind. I like his closeness, and the way our bodies touch by accident. I adore him. I’m so glad Tim is free. Even though it all but guarantees that our time will soon come to an end.

Chapter Thirty-two

I’m pulling on my shoes and getting ready to leave when I finally realize why Eric’s house has such a different vibe. “Where’s the art?”

“Huh?” Tim glances up from where he’s rubbing Chinchilla’s belly. “Oh. I took it all down for safekeeping. Ryan and I got into a nasty argument, and he slashed up a canvas. Nothing valuable, thankfully, but I wasn’t about to risk the others. They’re all out back in the shed now. Do you wanna see?”

I have an afternoon shift at the hospital and need to return home beforehand to get changed and check on Samson. But I am curious. “Is your art out there too?”

“Yup!”