“I think the biggest problem here is that it’s been too long since we tasted Mike’s cooking. How are we supposed to recreate something when we don’t remember how it tasted?” Miguel said as he watched Dominic clean up another failed batch of sauce.

Even with the list of ingredients Miguel had created, the flavors were still refusing to come together.

“What do you suggest then?” asked Dominic. He looked exhausted as he turned to face Miguel. It was clear that he hadn’t slept well, though he hadn’t said a word about it the whole time they’d been cooking tonight. “Because I’ve got work tomorrow night, so I don’t have time to go running around town figuring out where he’s cooking now.”

“I found him already,” said Miguel, digging a flier out of one of the bags he brought with him. “He’s been cooking at The Forest Hotel during lunch. We could take a trip up there and grab something.”

“Is it even safe for you to eat in public?” Dominic looked at him wearily. It was clear that the alpha was at the end of his energy reserves. “You still have that peanut allergy, right?”

“Yeah, but the hotel advertises themselves as peanut free. Apparently the head chef is allergic too. Why don’t you get some sleep now?” suggested Miguel. “I can finish cleaning up. We can head up to the hotel once you’re awake.”

“That’s a long walk on foot, and there’s no way you’re riding a bicycle. How do you suggest we even get up there?” asked Dominic as he dried his hands on a towel and made his way out of the kitchen.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got that taken care of.” Miguel smiled and awkwardly began to take over the cleanup. Sure it would take him twice as long, but he could do at least this much. Even after his ingredient research, he still didn’t feel as if he was bringing very much to the table at this point.

“Fine,” said Dominic, kicking off his shoes next to his bed. “Just be careful, and don’t hurt yourself.” He pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor.

Miguel bit his lip and tried to focus on the task at hand. Unfortunately, he found his gaze drawn back towards Dominic’s shirtless form as he prepared for bed.

Dominic wasn’t perfect. He had a little extra fat on his belly, and his body wasn’t all that well toned. He wasn’t shapeless though either. Miguel had heard that he’d been volunteering with the Coast Guard and guessed that that was why his shoulders and chest had the most definition. His pants hung low on his waist, as if he’d recently lost a lot of weight but hadn’t updated his wardrobe. The band of his underwear was just barely visible, and Miguel felt his cheeks flush at the sight. “Are you heading back home or are you just going to sit here and watch me sleep like some sort of stalker?” asked Dominic, turning back towards the kitchen.

Miguel hastily averted his eyes and went back to cleaning up. “I...” he coughed and cleared his throat. “I’m probably going to head home. You could text me when you wake up?” He slowly looked up at Dominic again.

“Is that your way of asking for my cell phone number?” asked Dominic, fishing his phone out of his pocket.

“It just makes sense,” blurted Miguel more defensively than he had intended.

Dominic raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“If we’re working together,” continued Miguel, “it’ll be easier to coordinate if we exchange numbers. That’s all.”

“Fine.” Dominic crossed the room to the kitchen. “Give me your phone.” He held out his hand expectantly.

Miguel felt his throat tighten. He could practically feel the heat pouring off of the tall alpha’s skin as he hovered almost too close. Why was he having this sort of reaction? He and Dominic hated one another. This was a partnership of convenience. Nothing more.

Besides, Dominic wasn’t even his type. At all.

“Miguel? Your phone?” Dominic repeated his request.

Miguel snapped out of his momentary confusion and handed his phone over without further hesitation. “S-sorry, I just lost my train of thought for a moment there.”

Dominic didn’t reply. He messed around with Miguel’s phone for a moment and sent himself a text message.

“That’s my number,” said Dominic, handing the phone back. He stifled a yawn. “You should get going.”

“I was going to clean up...” Miguel looked back at the mess around him.

“It’s fine, I’ll finish it when I wake up.” Dominic turned away and headed back towards his bed.

Miguel was about to argue, but he had seen the exhaustion in Dominic’s eyes. The other man just wanted to get some sleep.

“I’ll see you later,” said Miguel, gathering up the things he’d brought with him. “Hope you get some sleep.”

The nightlife was still going strong when Miguel finally stepped onto Main Street. People were laughing, music was playing, and streams of tourists drifted between the bars and clubs that line the street. The shops were mostly closed. A few vendors had night crews on their street stalls, selling fried foods and sweet treats.

Miguel turned towards home, slipping by on the edges of the crowds. Most of the locals that weren’t working right now had long since gone to bed. A few of them could be spotted rubbing shoulders in the bars and clubs. La Bonita was a great place to be a twenty-something. Lots of things to do, always new people to meet.

Miguel wasn’t all that old now, but he’d long since grown out of the club scene. He’d spent many nights dancing with locals and tourists, partying well into the daylight hours. The nights had all blended together, and he couldn’t pull any distinguishable memories from them.

As he walked along the street, he caught sight of a couple making out in the shadow of an alleyway. They blushed when they saw him and slipped away. Another couple was talking closely on a bench as he walked by. Their hushed conversation died away as they watched him pass. As soon as he was clear, they began once more.

It felt strange to be out this late alone. Miguel honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d stalked the streets of La Bonita at night without a companion.

His last boyfriend had kicked him out of their apartment a little less than a year ago. He’d been forced to move back in with his parents until he could find a place of his own. It had been a rocky relationship from the start, and if Miguel was being honest with himself, he’d known it was coming to an end.

He hadn’t really been that broken up about the relationship itself. What bothered him the most was the loneliness.

Miguel turned down the side street that lead towards his parents’ house. There were fewer people here. The shadows were longer and the chill in the air felt more pronounced.

Winter would be here soon. The storm season would be starting.

Miguel took a deep breath and tried to focus his thoughts. Winter meant the winter festivals. Plenty of opportunities to meet new people and find someone to connect with. Just because both of his arms were in casts didn’t mean he couldn’t try.

Either way, he had to do something. He hadn’t realized just how desperate he was until he’d caught himself checking out Dominic of all people. If he didn’t do something soon there was no telling what kind of mistake he might make.

On a small island like this, that sort of mistake was the sort of thing you’d never be able to live down.

* * *

“I’ll buy you guys lunch, all you have to do is drive us up there,” explained Miguel. He’d called up Esteban the next morning. He was sitting in the living room of his parents’ house. They’d both already left for work for the day.

“You’re not joking.” Esteban sounded confused. “You’re seriously taking Dominic out for lunch at The Forest Hotel? That place is, like, beyond fancy. We’re talking high class everything.”

“We’re doing research for the competition,” corrected Miguel. “Besides, I just said I was taking you and Blanca as well.”

“Yeah, but then it’s like some weird double date thing.”

“Look if you don’t want free lunch, then fine. I’ll find someone else to drive us.”

“No, no!” Esteban exclaimed. “I was just trying to make sure you weren’t pulling my leg or anything. I mean, the guy did punch you in the face just the other day. Now you’re having lunch with him. It’s weird.”

“I just want to win this competition, and since I don’t have anyone else to help me, I had to look for outside help.”

“Right. Right. I get it. I do. Look we’re both still sorry about that. I really do want you to win. So yeah, we’ll take you up on it. Surf report looks poor for today anyway, so we were going to take the day off. Just let us know when you want to head out, and we’ll come pick you up.”

“Yeah, will do.” Miguel hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief. If Esteban had said no, he didn’t really have anyone else to ask. He could’ve maybe called up the Aguados to see if they could hitch a ride on the tour bus, but that was also a long shot.

It was already mid-morning, and Miguel had been awake for several hours. He’d taken a nap after getting home last night. When he’d woken up he’d drank an entire pot of coffee. It was no surprise that he was feeling jittery.

Despite his best efforts, he still couldn’t shake the unsettling thoughts he’d been having about Dominic’s body.

He chalked it up to loneliness and desperation, but that didn’t change the fact that they were going to spend the afternoon eating at what was considered one of the nicest restaurants on the island. He was also going to have to spend every single day for the next four months working alongside Dominic.

Miguel bit his lip in frustration and sank back into the cushions of the sofa.

He and Dominic weren’t friends. They were just working together. Dominic wasn’t even his type. He was just the first eligible guy that Miguel had been in close proximity with in a while. Actually, he wasn’t even sure if Dominic was dating anyone right now. He could have been in a relationship as far as Miguel knew.

Either way, it didn’t matter. He just needed to keep himself grounded in reality. Their relationship was just a convenience until the competition was over. After that they would go their separate ways and everything would go back to normal.

The chime of an incoming text message made Miguel flinch. He hastily checked his phone’s messages. It was Dominic.

“Just woke up. What time are we heading out?”

“I should be at your place in about an hour.” Miguel texted back. That should be plenty of time for everyone to come together. At least, that’s what he hoped.

“Fine. I’ll hop in the shower. Text me when you get here.” Miguel read Dominic’s reply several times as his thoughts began to drift.

A steamy bathroom. A hot shower. Dominic’s naked body standing behind him, pressing him against the tiled wall. Hot lips capturing his own. Their bodies colliding beneath the water.

Miguel coughed and summoned himself back to reality. This was not the time for that sort of thing. Not only did it make matters worse but...he glanced down at his arms. He wasn’t exactly in a position to let off any of the built up pressure either.

He struggled to rein in his thoughts and calm himself down as he texted Esteban to let him know the plan.

All the while, silently cursing himself for letting his thoughts run away with him.