Owen stood at the counter in the bakery kitchen, rolling out dough for a few pie crusts. He’d been completely lost in thought about dinner the night before. It was obvious that Brody had been overwhelmed. And let’s face it, his family was a lot to take in. Hopefully, their brand of crazy didn’t scare him off.
Even though it hadn’t been his idea, Owen was glad Brody had shown up for dinner. He couldn’t deny that he wanted to know the man. He knew he couldn’t pull back anymore. He’d tried—twice—and he still ended up in Brody’s bed. Owen didn’t want to fight it anymore—because fuck, he wanted back in that bed. Or Brody in his. He wasn’t picky.
Truth was, Owen wanted to have that connection to someone again. If he was being really fucking honest, he wanted a connection with Brody. He’d felt it last night, and he wanted to see where it could go. Logically, he knew it didn’t make any sense. This thing between the two of them was moving way too fast.
But something about it felt right.
When the dynamic between he and Jonah started to shift, it took a lot of getting used to. They had spent their days and nights together, shared every secret, every thought—except the most important. He didn’t realize it at first. They’d become so accustomed to avoiding the elephant in the room. After all, he and Jonah started out as friends. And without a doubt or questions asked, they would do anything for each other.
It wasn’t until Gerdy had said something to Owen one day that the lightbulb went on. It was, of course, after one of her hair appointments, about eight months ago.
Gerdy’s daughter had dropped her off at the bakery for her bi-weekly muffin and Earl Grey, before returning to the salon for her own hair appointment. It meant Gerdy would sit there a little longer at her favorite table, giving the people coming in a hard time and pretending to be put out. But Owen knew she looked forward to her hair and bakery days—or, “fluffin’ and muffin days,” as Leslie had coined them.
Gerdy sat and stared out the window. Her usual banter was nowhere to be found and the light seemed dim behind her usually observant eyes.
Owen brought over her favorites and studied the woman. “Are you okay, Gerdy?” When it seemed that the older woman wasn’t going to reply, he turned to walk away. Had it not been for a mostly empty bakery, he might not have heard her soft voice.
“My Ira loved fall. Have I ever told you that?” She never looked at Owen, never stopped gazing out the window.
Owen sat in the chair across from her, taking in her solemn face and distant eyes. “No, you haven’t, Gerdy.”
“He did.” She fiddled with the tag on the tea bag, and given her withdrawn expression, Owen figured she probably did it absentmindedly. “You know,” she continued, “today is the first day of fall.”
“Yeah, I know. Soon the leaves will be covering the ground.”
She nodded slightly and a small smile graced her face. “He used to decorate for Halloween on the first day of fall. I’d laugh at him and tell him it was entirely too early, but he just couldn’t help himself. Had to be the first house decorated. Pumpkins and witches and goblins—but not too scary. No, not my Ira. Said Halloween should be something to look forward to, not be scared of. And besides, what would we do with all that candy if our decorations scared the children away?”
“Smart man,” Owen said, and patiently waited for Gerdy to continue.
She was silent a few minutes before softly saying, “You know, he’s been gone five years and I can still feel him. He’s in every jack-o-lantern, every fallen leaf. He’s in my daughter’s eyes and my grandson’s smile.” She paused then asked softly, “Do you know what it’s like to love someone so much your heart feels like it can’t beat without them? To know the second your heart stops beating is really the day it will truly beat again, because you’ll be reunited with the one who completes you?” A single teardrop slipped down her weathered cheek, and she wiped it away. She shook her head, as if waking herself up. “Of course, you do. What am I saying?”
Owen opened his mouth to reply, but the words seemed lost. He squirmed in his chair, feeling like a fraud, his hands clammy, his heart pounding. He couldn’t answer that question the way Gerdy thought he could, because suddenly he realized that no, he didn’t know what that was like. He’d do anything for Jonah. He loved Jonah.
But did he love Jonah like that?
Did Jonah love him like that?
They’d been together for so long that they both should feel that way. Shouldn’t they?
That had been the beginning of the end for Owen and Jonah. That last night of awkward intimacy they’d had several months ago truly sealed the deal. Given the fact that they could talk to each other about anything, it surprised him that it took them so long to end things.
With Brody, there was a renewed sense of hope. It was probably crazy to think that far ahead, but the excitement was there, the intrigue and anticipation to see where this thing between them could actually go. He lives in Boston. He’s going to leave again. Owen sighed and lifted the last pie crust into the round, aluminum pie tin. He was getting ahead of himself.
Leslie peeked her head around the door of the kitchen. “Hey, Owen, your carpenter is here.”
He felt a nervous fluttering in his stomach and couldn’t help the smile forming. Owen wiped his hands on his apron and walked out to the front of the store. Would his heart always beat this hard at the prospect of seeing Brody? Do you know what it’s like to love someone so much it feel like your heart can’t beat without them?
Owen stumbled a bit as that thought crossed his mind. Love? Is that where this was heading?
Brody lifted his head, and when he spotted Owen, a gorgeous smile spread across his face. Owen inhaled sharply; the intense feelings he had whenever he saw this man still threw him off. Whatever this feeling was, it was incredibly strong. There was no denying that.
He tried to reign those thoughts back in as Brody gave him a speculative look. Could Brody tell what Owen had been thinking? Was he that easy to read? Nervously, he cleared his throat. “Hey. I didn’t expect to see you back in the bakery so soon.” Owen leaned on the counter, glancing down at the white paper bag in Brody’s hand.
Brody lifted the bag and chuckled. “Cookies, this time. Somehow, I think I’m going to gain a lot of weight while I’m here.”
Well, didn’t that feel like a punch to the fucking chest. While I’m here. Temporary. Not permanent. But you knew that.
“I told him he didn’t have to pay for them, but he’s being a stubborn ass,” Leslie said bluntly, before going into the kitchen.
“She really is lovely,” Brody said with a glint of playful humor in his eyes.
Owen barked out a laugh, pointing to the bag in Brody’s hand. “You really didn’t have to pay for them.”
Brody shook his head in disagreement. “Nope. Gotta support the local businesses.”
Owen gave Brody a nod of thanks. “Are you headed to your mom’s?”
“No, I stopped by but she was sleeping.” Brody leaned closer, and Owen breathed in the now familiar, and somehow comforting, scent that was most likely cologne, sawdust, and a hint of something all Brody. “Any chance you could take a break? Grab some lunch?”
Owen opened his mouth to reply, but Leslie beat him to it. “Go. I got this,” she said confidently.
“Are you sure? It’ll just be you and Billy.”
“It’s not like it’s the first time we’ll be here without you. You’re training me to run the place on Mondays anyway.” Leslie looked to Brody. “Please, get him out of here. Guy has no life.” She winked at Brody then turned back to Owen. “Seriously, cuz. If you’re gonna start taking Mondays off, you have to trust me to be here on my own more often.” She glanced around the empty bakery. “I think I can handle the crowd.”
“Yeah, okay. You’re right.”
Leslie cupped a hand to her ear and leaned closer. “I’m sorry. What was that?”
“Forget it. I’m not saying it again.” Owen turned back to a laughing Brody. “Hang on a second. I just have to put a few things away in the back.”
When Owen came back out, Leslie was waiting on a customer.
“Call me on my cell if you need anything,” he said as he walked around the counter.
His first instinct was to kiss Brody, but the way Brody glanced at the customer had all sorts of alarms going off in Owen’s head. Brody looked back at Owen with apprehension. Shit. Is this how it’s going to be? You could cut the awkward tension with a knife.
Before Leslie could call them out on it, Owen walked around Brody and held the door open. As Brody walked through—without meeting his eyes—Owen couldn’t help the twinge of disappointment.
He followed Brody out the door, took a few steps behind him to the diner, and immediately bumped into his hard body with an ompf. Brody abruptly turned, grabbing Owen’s arms to steady him. “Sorry.”
They stared at each other, Owen’s frustration growing by the second. Maybe Brody wasn’t staying in Haven’s Cove, but Owen was no dirty secret.
Brody slid his hands up Owen’s arms and cupped the sides of his neck. “You’re gonna have to help me out here.”
“With what?” He better not say what I think he’s going to say.
“You and Jonah just broke up. Do you want people seeing us together? To know something’s going on between us?”
“Huh?”
Brody held his gaze with worried, hesitant eyes, as if searching Owen’s face for the answer. “Because I have to tell you, kissing you is starting to become second nature to me.”
Well, fuck. You’re an ass, Richards. And what do you know—there’s the guilt.
“No, I don’t care if people know. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole town already knows Jonah moved out.”
“Shit.” Brody released Owen, taking a step back. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I didn’t even think about that.”
“About what?”
“The fact that people are going to think I broke the two of you up.”
Owen closed the distance between them, immediately felt the surge of energy when he placed his hands on Brody’s hips. “Let them think whatever the fuck they want. My family, Jonah, you…you’re the only people I care about. Fuck everyone else.”
A small smirk lifted the corner of Brody’s sexy mouth. “So, it wouldn’t be weird if I kissed you right now?”
Owen wrapped his arms around Brody’s waist, undeniably happy that Brody was willing to do that in the middle of town. “Not weird at all.”
It no longer surprised Owen when that rush of heat washed over him as their mouths came together. Brody deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue into Owen’s mouth, but entirely too quickly, he pulled back and leaned his forehead against Owen’s. “There’ll be more of that later...when we’re alone.” Taking Owen’s hand, he started pulling him in the direction of Max’s. “Come on. That smokehouse burger is calling my name.”
They sat at the counter in the busy restaurant. With how packed the place was, you’d think Max was giving away free food. Neither one of them looked at a menu, knowing exactly what they wanted when they walked in.
Max came over and stopped in front of them, eyeing them skeptically. “Let’s see here...smokehouse burger, extra bacon for you,” he pointed to Brody then looked at Owen, “and bacon cheeseburger for you, no pickles.”
“You’re good, Max,” Owen said, laughing.
“Damn right, I am,” Max said, slamming a hand down on the counter. Then he was off, calling out their orders and grabbing two glasses. Of course, he didn’t ask them what they wanted to drink—he already knew that too. He put the two drinks down in front of them, but his eyes were focused on the front door, waving to a couple of regulars as they left. “Next time you’ll try my corned beef hash, Kenny.” He held up a hand as the guy began to protest. “I don’t want to hear another word. You may not like corned beef, but you’ve never had mine, now have ya?”
Kenny laughed and nodded his head. “All right, I’ll give it try, but I’m not making any promises, Max.”
Max slammed his hand down on the counter again with a boisterous laugh, pointed at Kenny, and shouted, “I’m gonna hold ya to it!” He waved as the guy walked out the door, turning back to Owen and Brody. “So, how’ve you fellas been? How’s your mom, Brody?”
Brody shrugged his shoulders. “Tired. I usually sit with her at lunch, but she was sleeping when I got there. I didn’t want to wake her.”
“That can’t be easy, but you’re a good son. She’s lucky to have ya here,” Max said in approval then turned his attention to Owen. “And how are you, Owen? I heard about you and Jonah.” He chuckled. “Gotta love small towns, huh? How ya holdin’ up?”
Owen glanced at Brody out of the corner of his eye and looked back at Max. “It was completely mutual, and we’re still really good friends.” He let his eyes drift over to Brody again and saw Brody giving him a side glance, his mouth curved in a half smile.
“I see.” Max looked back and forth between the two of them with narrowed eyes and smiled. “Looks like you’re holdin’ up just fine.” He winked, swung a towel over his shoulder, and went back to the kitchen.
Owen laughed, turning his stool to face Brody. “I have a confession.”
Brody swiveled his stool toward Owen. “Okay.”
“I thought that you didn’t kiss me in the bakery because you didn’t want people to know about us, even though you told me that you’re out.”
“I told you, I don’t care what people think anymore. I mean, I didn’t come back and put an ad in the Haven’s Cove News, but I’m not going to deny it once people realize that I’m gay.” He put his hand on the back of Owen’s neck and gently squeezed. “Besides, you’re finally giving me a chance; I’m not screwing that up for anything.” He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Owen’s mouth. There were eyes on them, Owen knew that, but he couldn’t help but feel happy and relieved that Brody didn’t seem to care. It was going to take time for the people in town to get used to the idea of seeing him with Brody instead of Jonah, but they’d get over it.
And who gave a shit if they didn’t?
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Lunch went by way too fast, and Owen wished he didn’t have to go back to work. He’d love nothing more than to take Brody up those stairs outside of Max’s and right into Brody’s bed. Unfortunately, it would have to wait.
As they walked outside, Owen felt himself being pulled, Brody obviously having his mind on the same thing Owen was just thinking about. They quickly climbed the stairs. It didn’t take Brody long to unlock the door, yanking Owen in behind him. Taking Owen’s face in his hands, Brody took his breath away in a scorching kiss. Seconds turned to minutes as they got carried away in the moment.
From God knows where, Owen gained the strength to pull away. He leaned his forehead against Brody’s as they both fought to catch their breath. “I’ve got to get back to the bakery so Leslie can take a lunch,” he said, his voice husky and low.
“Sorry, couldn’t help myself,” Brody whispered. He kissed Owen again softly, his arms wrapped around Owen’s waist.
Owen reached around, grabbing Brody’s ass and pulled him closer. “Who knew Brody Walker would grow up to have such an incredibly fine ass? You gonna let me claim it? Are you into that?”
“Fuck, yeah. Whenever you want.”
“Good. Then, I plan to, very,” he leaned up and kissed Brody, “very,” then ran a finger up Brody’s jeans over the divide of that great ass, “soon.”
“Can’t wait.” Brody leaned down and kissed him again, sliding his erection up and down against Owen’s.
Again, Owen had to pry himself away. “You’re going to have to.” He put a hand on Brody’s chest and put some space between them. “Now, excuse me, while I adjust myself so I don’t walk into my bakery with a hard-on you could crack an egg on.”
“Yeah, I don’t think that would pass a health inspection,” Brody quipped.
“No, but I’m pretty sure I’ll pass yours later on,” Owen said, barely brushing his lips over Brody’s before pulling back and winking at him.
Brody groaned, hanging his head back. “You’re killing me.”
Owen hit Brody’s chest with the back of his hand and walked toward the door. “Come on. Walk with me back to the bakery.”
Brody reluctantly followed and said, “Fine, but when you walk in your door later, we’re gonna have an eggsperiment.”