“Yeah, well.” People had asked about me before, in a few awkward get-to-know-you chats, but they didn’t really care. They’d forgotten what I said before the words practically left my mouth.
Theo told me, “Gravityhas a survival theme too, lots of exciting moments, and a happy ending.”
“Go for it.” I didn’t explain that what I loved aboutThe Martianwasn’t the adventure, the plucky man against a hostile environment, but the idea that even when all the higher-ups said no, there were people who wouldn’t abandon a friend. I hadn’t met anyone like that yet, but seventeen-year-old me had wanted to believe they were out there. Nine-years-later me was a lot more cynical, but I still remembered how that movie made me feel.
“Okay, movie and hot chocolate.” Theo scooted closer to me, cuing up the movie. “And then maybe I can show you my bedroom before you have to go.” He slid an arm around me slowly, as if I might run away.
Screw that. I’d take as much of a good thing as I could get. I leaned into his shoulder, kicked my sneakers back off, and curled my feet under me on the couch. “Hell, yeah. You promised I could blow you.”
“You say that like it’s a treat you’re waiting for.”
I kissed his throat. “It is. Now start the damned movie. Is there a hot dude like Matt Damon in it?”
“There’s George Clooney, if you’re into silver foxes.”
“Nah. More partial to twinks, myself. As long as they’re smart ones with a bit of muscle and not too high maintenance. And not too young.”
Theo laughed and tightened his arm around me. “Maybe we can dredge up one of those for you a bit later.”
Mimsy stretched out a paw and hooked her claws into Theo’s jeans. He didn’t react except to lift her paw off his knee gently. She yawned and stretched, sprawling across both our laps, front legs turned one way, back legs the other.
“That can’t be comfortable.” Theo gazed down at her with something like awe on his face.
I gazed at him.Damn, he’s pretty.“Let her be. What a cat finds comfortable is a mystery. Sometimes the best feather bed is too lumpy. Other times, they’ll sack out across a shoe and two paperback books.”
“Or my knees and yours.”
“Right.” I eased down enough to lay my head on his shoulder, my face close to his neck where I could smell his clean skin and traces of the bodywash we’d rubbed on each other. That smell could get me hard again already. He tightened his grip, snugged me in close.
Don’t get too used to this.
I waved at the screen. “Let’s watch the fucking movie.”
CHAPTER8
THEO
“Take the offer,”I told my real estate agent, clamping my phone to my ear with my shoulder while I buttered a bagel.
Melissa hummed dubiously. “We could probably get another ten K out of them.”
“Or some link in this chain could fall apart.” I was selling my latest project to a couple who were selling their house to someone who was selling their house. Those were always messy. “I’m making almost three hundred K on the deal for eight months’ work. I don’t need to be greedy.”
“All right. I’ll get the initial paperwork lined up for you to e-sign. Shall I start looking for new properties for you?”
I bit back an automaticyes. That was how I’d always worked. Finish one San Diego house and as soon as the money was locked in, buy the next fixer-upper. But the thought of running down to the city to look over properties didn’t appeal this time.
Hah. Distracted by sky-blue eyes. Two weeks ago, I couldn’t wait to see the back of this place.But Shane and Mimsy had me curious. I didn’t want to be off making money, thinking about Shane working with this Arthur guy I’d never met, caring for animals together, sharing hopes, maybe more.
You have no excuse to be jealous and no right, either.That didn’t keep me from feeling a twinge in my gut when I thought about Shane sharing his stories and smiles with someone else. “Do you ever work farther up the coast? Gaynor Beach?”
“Gaynor which?” A brief pause probably meant she was Google-mapping it. “Oh. No, I don’t go out of the greater metro.”
“Do you know anyone reputable up here I might connect with?”
“To buy a property?”
“Yeah.” Also, someone who knew Gaynor’s zoning and regulations. Whatever I decided to do with the tasting room, if it wasn’t demolition, I’d want a local agent.
