The room was a pale yellow. Mateo didn’t have a single room in his house painted that color. It was also bright. Mateo liked to party on the weekends and always kept his curtains drawn tight. He rolled. His arms and legs scrambled for purchase as he met nothing but empty air. Luckily, it wasn’t that far of a drop from the unfamiliar couch to the floor. Unfortunately, he landed on hardwood flooring. He blinked at the ceiling and tried gathering his bearings. A face appeared over him.

“You’re alive.”

Those sexy green eyes. That sweet smile. “Sean?”

“You’re alive and you remember my name,” he said as he bent to lend Mateo a hand up.

Mateo accepted, because even after trying to kill himself with alcohol, he still wanted to touch the sexy waiter, but he didn’t let the man bear the brunt of his weight. Mateo was solid muscle. He was too conscious of hurting the slim and sexy man who’d rescued him from the parking lot of Slip. It was all coming back to him. He’d been plastered and couldn’t remember where he’d left his Jeep.

“You brought me to your house? I might’ve been a serial killer or a rapist.” Mateo thought it over before adding, “Or both. A serial rapist.”

Sean’s sexy smile didn’t abate. “So you said last night.”

Mateo’s brows drew together. “Did I?”

A gorgeous laugh filled the air. Even feeling like death, with the world’s worst headache and cottonmouth, Mateo recognized he’d never heard a sexier sound. “Yes. Would you like some coffee?”

Mateo couldn’t let it go. “You could’ve gotten hurt. For real, Sean.”

Something dark passed over Sean’s features before quickly disappearing. “I didn’t. There’s some pain relievers on the table and I made a quiche.”

“You made quiche?” Mateo heard himself. He hadn’t been awake even five minutes and his brain wasn’t functioning. “Like from scratch? On a Saturday morning?” Mateo couldn’t stop. He didn’t know what time it was, but didn’t normal people sleep in, and not make food for strangers who could’ve killed them in their sleep?

Sean’s smile fell. He twisted his fingers and Mateo immediately felt like shit. The man had been nothing but nice and good. Mateo had been nothing but a dick. “It’s sort of my thing,” Sean said, sounding unsure. “I’m in my final year at Monsieur Julliam’s Culinary School.”

Mateo searched his fogged brain. He’d heard the name. It clicked. “Isn’t that place impossible to get into?”

Sean’s smile was back. He nodded. “Food is my passion.” He headed for the kitchen and Mateo followed because that ass. He couldn’t look away. A small glass-topped kitchen table came into view. Sure enough, there was a quiche and coffee. Jesus, this man might be the love of his life. It smelled freaking amazing. No wonder he’d been pulled from an alcohol-fueled sleep of the dead.

“Whoa. This looks delicious.”

“Thanks,” Sean said, blushing. He motioned toward an empty chair. “Please, sit. I’ll grab you a plate and mug.” It seemed wrong for Mateo to let Sean wait on him inside the man’s house, but he sat. Sean returned with a plate, silverware, and coffee mug. He filled the cup before motioning toward a small turntable at the edge of the table. “There’s creamer and sugar over there, if you need it.”

Mateo winked, hoping his head wouldn’t explode as he lifted the mug to his lips. It was black all the way for him. He didn’t need the extra calories and the hangover threatening to kill him demanded something strong. Sean claimed the seat across from him and doctored his cup while Mateo let the bubbling hot liquid scald him awake.

“I’m glad you didn’t die,” Sean said after a moment.

Mateo’s eyebrows rose. “Was that a fear?”

Sean nodded. “I’ve called a lot of cabs for a lot of wasted customers, but I’ve never seen one as bad off as you were.”

Sean’s words gave away more than Mateo thought he intended. The man didn’t bring home strangers, even while saving them. Mateo was unique in some way. “Why didn’t you call me a cab?”

Instead of answering, Sean nodded toward Mateo’s cup. “Is the coffee okay? I make it a little strong for some people.”

“It’s perfect.” Mateo couldn’t stop staring at Sean as he made the claim. To keep from making an ass of himself, especially since he didn’t doubt for a second he’d done that last night, Mateo took a bite of his food. Holy hell. It practically melted on his tongue. “Jesus. This is amazing, baby.” The endearment rolled off Mateo’s tongue without thought. It was mostly a habit. He grew up in a household where everyone was “baby.” Sean beamed. Mateo blew out an inner sigh of relief. Honest to God, he didn’t know how to act. Everything about the situation was more awkward than sneaking away after sex with a stranger. Sean couldn’t have been a nicer guy if he tried. The word “nice” was practically stamped on the dude’s forehead. The man had rescued a drunk stranger who could’ve killed him and it was obvious he didn’t regret it. Mateo’s discomfort slipped away. Honestly, that was the kind of crazy Mateo could get behind. This guy was great.

* * *

Sean had to practically threaten to break Mateo’s fingers to stop him from doing the dishes before they left the apartment. Despite the threat, Sean kept forcing his smile away. Maybe Mateo was a player, as his friend claimed, but he also had manners and worried over Sean taking home a stranger. There was a good guy in there. Sean didn’t think he’d have to dig deep to find him.

They pulled into Slip’s parking lot. Even though they weren’t set to open for a few more hours, there were at least five cars in the lot. It seemed Mateo wasn’t the only one who hadn’t been fit to drive home last night. “Which car is yours?”

Mateo motioned toward a black Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. “That one.”

Of course. It looked like Mateo’s car. Sean drove through the lot and parked next to the driver’s side. “Here you go. Driver’s side service.”

Mateo didn’t budge. “Let me see your phone.”

“For?”

The dimples were back. “I’m want to program my number in your phone. That way the ball is in your court if you want to see me again.”

Sean shook his head and dug out his phone. He handed it over. Mateo turned it over in his hands. The screen was cracked and the edges were scratched, but it still worked. Sean wasn’t the type to waste money on buying new things unless he had no other choice. “It’s seen some stuff,” Sean explained.

Mateo chuckled. Sean had to take a deep breath to fortify himself against the sound. “That’s putting it mildly. If it gets the job done, though,” Mateo said as he typed in his number.

“Seventy-five percent of the time,” Sean admitted, uncaring what Mateo thought. Everything he had, he’d worked for.

Mateo handed the phone back. “There. Now you can cyber stalk me.”

“It’s like a fairy tale ending,” Sean said, fighting the urge to find something else for them to do and dragging out their time together.

With a wink, Mateo opened the door. “Except it’s not the end. You’ll call.”

Sean’s cheeks ached. “I will?”

“Yep,” Mateo said, sounding confident. “You’ve already seen me drunk. That’s like fourth date material. Thank you for everything,” Mateo added before Sean could think of something witty to say.

The sincerity in Mateo’s tone pulled at Sean’s heartstrings. “You’re welcome. If I don’t call, it’s been great meeting you.”

“You too, but you’ll call,” Mateo said as he closed the door, stopping Sean from arguing. Sean glanced at his phone. It was open to his text messages, and he’d already sent one to Mateo. Sean snorted out a laugh. He texted him again.

Sean: Did you text yourself so you could save my number?

Mateo pulled his phone from his back pocket as he climbed in his Jeep. A half second passed.

Mateo: Yep.

Sean: I thought you said the ball was in my court.

Mateo: It was, and you texted me first. Now the ball’s in mine.

Shaking his head, Sean glanced over, wishing Mateo’s windows weren’t tinted so dark he couldn’t see him. He was torn—part of him wanted to see the man’s face while another part of him wanted to flip Mateo off. All of Sean hoped they’d see each other again.

* * *

The only thing that saved Sean’s pride was that Mateo texted him first. Well, that, and no one was there to witness his reaction to Mateo’s name finally appearing on the face of his phone. He might have done a happy dance. No one would ever know.

Mateo: Come see me.

Sean: I have 2 hours between school and work. I need to eat and then crash for a few because I’m SO exhausted.

Mateo: Let me take care of you. I’ll send you my address, have food waiting, and then I promise you can sleep.

Sean: Okay.

He wasn’t prepared, but seriously, there was no way he could’ve braced himself. Mateo’s house was huge. Sean should’ve expected as much when Mateo sent him a code to get through the front gate. Stupidly, Sean had thought Mateo possibly lived in one of the upper scale apartment complexes. Both those places had gates. Nope. Seeing Mateo’s home almost sent Sean running for the hills. The place cost a couple million easy. Sean couldn’t think straight, much less breathe properly. What had he gotten himself into?

From where he parked, Sean could see the brick boat dock and boat sitting on the water where Sean’s home had direct access to the ocean. The beige stone house was three stories high and everything about it gleamed. As he moved closer to the side door Mateo had directed him to, Sean spotted an L-shaped pool looking over the edge of the water. He wanted to die right then. Instead, he opened the arched door Mateo said would be unlocked for him. The scent of apples and cinnamon wafted over him as soon as the cool indoor air hit his skin. Of course the place smelled like freaking heaven. Spotting a pile of shoes by the door in what appeared to be a mud room, Sean toed off his shoes and left them behind. The instant he stepped through the doorway and into the kitchen, Mateo appeared. Everything else disappeared. His sexy smile held Sean captivated.

“You came.”

Sean smiled at the surprise in Mateo’s tone. “I said I would.”

Mateo shifted, looking uncomfortable. “Still, I wasn’t sure.”

He was so sexy. The way Mateo’s white T-shirt stretched across his cut body had nothing to do with it. Sean couldn’t explain what it was about Mateo. It was in his eyes. “Do you get stood up often?”

Something dark passed over Mateo’s features, fascinating Sean. “You’d be surprised.” Sean doubted anyone ever turned this down. “Anyhow,” Mateo said before Sean could voice his doubts, “I have zucchini lasagna. It sounds disgusting, but I promise it’s not.”

A smile tugged at Sean’s lips. “Actually, that sounds delicious. I’m starving.”

Mateo motioned toward an open doorway. From where they stood, Sean could see a large dining room table. The food waiting for them didn’t hold his attention anywhere near as much as the gorgeous view of palm trees and water through the window. “I kept everything warm.”

Sean’s feet moved even as his gaze remained locked on the window. “Your house is beautiful. I had no idea boxing paid so well. If I had, I wouldn’t have taken so many free ass kickings over the years.”

A bark of laughter escaped Mateo as if Sean’s words surprised him. “Some boxers make huge piles of money. I’m not one of them. All of this is thanks to being my grandmother’s favorite.” He held out a chair for Sean before claiming the empty seat next to him. “When she died, she left everything to me, because—for one—my parents didn’t need the money, and two, she knew I’d be homeless otherwise.”

Sean took a bite and swallowed. He pointed at his dish. “That’s delicious. Why would you have been homeless?”

Mateo sipped his wine before responding. “It’s takeout. Sorry I didn’t ask what you’d like. I’m a bit of a health nut.”

Sean smiled at Mateo’s obvious avoidance of the topic. “That’s fine. I told you food is my passion. I love all of it. You didn’t answer my question.” Mateo took a huge bite as if he didn’t intend to cooperate. Sean kept staring at him, leaving him no choice. “I don’t have all day,” Sean reminded him.

Mateo snorted. “Fine. My dad is a very successful acquisitionist. The richest of the rich pay him to procure things for them—like exotic cars and other items that are difficult to acquire or import. They like having nice things but don’t like working to find them, so my dad does the work.”

“I assume this is an extremely well-paying job.”

Mateo nodded. “But don’t let that fact fool you into thinking I’m spoiled.” Sean took another bite to stop himself from pointing out their current surroundings. Luckily, Mateo kept talking. “He’s big on working for what you want. If anything, despite my parents’ wealth, I had to work twice as hard for everything. Most kids got the latest gaming systems for Christmas. I had to mow lawns for two summers. That sort of thing. I’d already been informed that when I turned eighteen, I’d have to get out and make my own way. It didn’t matter I wouldn’t graduate high school for four months afterward. My grandmother let me come live with her. I worked just as hard for her, but unlike my parents, she tended to spoil me. When I told her I wanted to box professionally, she was all for it. She died when I was twenty-one.”

By the time Mateo finished his story, Sean had cleaned his plate and was polishing off the wine. He loved listening to Mateo talk. His accent wasn’t thick, but it was hot. Occasionally, he slightly rolled an R. Sean kind of wanted to feel it against his tongue. He straightened in his seat at the thought and pulled his mind back on track. “How did your parents handle her leaving you everything?”

A bitter-looking smile touched Mateo’s lips. “Not well. In truth, if she hadn’t ensured her will was ironclad, I’m certain they would’ve fought me in court even though they don’t need the money.”

“That’s sad.”

“You’re tired,” Mateo reminded him, as if hoping Sean would let the subject drop. He did. After all, his past wasn’t one he wanted Mateo digging around in. He should give the man the same courtesy. “Exhausted,” Sean clarified. “I don’t think I’ve had a solid eight hours of sleep in years.”

“You should take the night off and let me spoil you,” Mateo said, lifting his glass to his lips.

Sean bit back a sigh of longing at the thought. “Boston and Kaz—those are my bosses,” he explained. “They’ve been really good to me. I can’t leave them shorthanded on such short notice.” There. That sounded better than admitting he couldn’t afford to miss a single second of work.

“I actually know Boston well.”

Sean blinked. “Really?”

Mateo nodded. “He used to be Middleweight champion.”

“Oh,” Sean said, feeling a bit stupid. “Seems like I remember hearing something like that. Sorry. I don’t keep up with sports.”

Mateo’s smile had Sean’s stomach growling like he hadn’t just eaten. “Stop apologizing. I’m surprised you have time for anything.” He came to his feet. “Since you’ve squeezed me in, I’ll spend what little time you can spare for me, doing what you need—sleeping. Let’s go.”

Skepticism set in even as Sean stood. “We really are sleeping, right?”

Mateo flashed a wicked smile over his shoulder. “Trust me.”

Maybe he was stupid, but Sean did trust Mateo. After all, the man had slept under Sean’s roof and hadn’t killed him in his sleep. This was a small thing by comparison. “Okay,” Sean said as he accepted Mateo’s hand and let the man lead him down the hall. He caught glimpses of each room they passed. Despite not getting a good look, Sean was still impressed by how gorgeous everything was. There was so much polished wood and leather. He almost tripped over his feet when they passed a home gym. “Why do you go to the gym every day if you have one already?”

“I don’t have a trainer here.”

“Oh,” Sean said, still trying to keep up. When they reached the end of the hall, Mateo led Sean inside a huge bedroom. He knew immediately it was Mateo’s space by the smell alone. It was like squishing his face in one of Mateo’s shirts and inhaling his cologne. Sean fought the urge to close his eyes and breathe it in. Despite the size of the room, it still seemed like the man’s bed took up too much space. It was set up high and looked squishy. The comforter was balled up in the center of the bed.

“Don’t worry. I know it looks a mess, but that’s because I never make my bed. There’s a woman who comes in and cleans once a week. She was just here two days ago, and she always changes the bedding.”

Sean hadn’t even thought of cleanliness. His brain never moved past a woman coming in to clean. “I’m not worried.”

Mateo motioned toward the bed. “I sleep in the middle, so feel free to pick a side.”

Sean circled the bed and climbed in. “Holy shit,” Sean breathed as the mattress shifted with him, molding to his skin. “Okay, I’m officially in love with this mattress.” He rolled to his side and fluffed up the pillow, more than ready to let the amazing bed carry him away.

The bed didn’t even move at his side as Mateo climbed in. That was why it surprised him when Mateo’s arm draped over him. “Is this okay?”

Sean took stock of the situation at Mateo’s question. The man’s breath brushed over his neck every time he exhaled and his hard chest pressed against Sean’s shoulder blades, but the lower half of his body didn’t touch Sean. “Yeah. I’m good.” It was true. Mateo showed him more respect and kindness than anyone ever had. It was refreshing and made Sean’s chest feel heavy with some unnamed emotion. Still, he was certain there was no way he’d fall asleep with Mateo’s heavy arm pinning him to the bed. That was the last thought Sean had before a beeping noise had his eyes flying open. He searched the room with his gaze. Mateo’s phone was lit up on the bed, making a god-awful noise. Mateo slept on like a dead man. The screen flashed “stop” so Sean tapped it. The phone fell silent. He checked the time. Two hours had gone by in an instant. Sean still couldn’t believe he’d fallen asleep so quickly.

Rolling over, he stared at Mateo’s sleeping form. In his sleep, the man looked five years younger, which reminded him he’d never asked Mateo how old he was. He should do that. Sean wanted to know everything about the man sleeping next to him. There was a scar under his eye. Sean imagined it probably came from some fight, but he didn’t know and wanted to. He blew out a slow breath. As much as he wanted to stay there all night, Sean had to get moving. Being with Mateo wasn’t reality. Reality was working his ass off for little to no reward. Maybe Mateo would call him again. Chances were good he wouldn’t, since Sean had more than proved he didn’t put out. Either way, Sean would never forget Mateo’s kindness. The man gave Sean something he was certain Mateo hadn’t realized he’d given—hope.

* * *

Mateo blinked into the darkness, trying to remember where he was. He’d fallen asleep next to Sean, but he’d set his alarm for six. Mateo’s gaze shot to the spot where Sean had been. The bed was empty.

“Fuck.”

He checked his phone. It was eight twenty, and he’d missed two calls. They were both from his mom. He cleared his call history. Why hadn’t Sean woken him before leaving? Mateo rolled, trying to gather his bearings. After blinking a few times, the fog coating his mind cleared. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d fallen asleep so fast and slept so hard. After scrubbing his hand over his face, he pushed to his feet and headed for the bathroom. Damn, he hated not getting to tell Sean goodbye. The man didn’t have many free hours in the day. Mateo wanted them for himself. One hot shower later, Mateo knew what he had to do. Sean struck him as the type to melt away if Mateo let him. That was unacceptable. Mateo had the man in his sights now.

Thankfully, Slip was dead. There were only a few cars in the parking lot and one of those was Sean’s. The hostess smiled as he came through the door. “Hi. How are you tonight? You have your pick of tables,” she said, obviously running down some script rather than caring how he was doing. That was fine. Mateo didn’t care to chat.

“Any place in Sean’s section is good with me.”

She grabbed a menu. “Great choice. Sean is awesome.”

“He is,” Mateo agreed, following on her heels to a table in the corner.

She set the menu on the table. “I’ll let him know you’re waiting.”

Mateo nodded and sat. He didn’t watch her go. Instead, he chose to look over the menu as if he hadn’t been there a hundred times before. A shadow fell over him. Mateo glanced up and into the face of an angel. His mind went blank the way it always did when he saw Sean. “You didn’t say goodbye.” Even he didn’t know why those were the first words from his mouth when his brain screamed so many other things.

The bravery that Sean had shown when they met appeared, fanning the flames of Mateo’s interest. “You looked really sexy sleeping next to me. I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

Mateo sat forward in his seat. He was a confident person by nature, but Sean stroked his ego like no one else had in years. “We should do something when you get off.”

A flash of disappointment crossed Sean’s features. “I have to close tonight and then be up at five a.m. to head to school.” He winced. “I’m sorry. My days are pretty stretched for time.”

It was obvious Sean wasn’t trying to blow him off. His life was full. Mateo didn’t want to make the man’s life harder, but he wasn’t giving up. “So come see me again between school and work. I’ll keep you fed and well-rested.”

Sean pulled a face. “Even though that sounds like heaven to me, that’ll get old for you pretty quick.”

Mateo snorted. “Are you joking? Eating and sleeping are two of my top ten favorite things to do. Plus, you get nights off, right?”

Sean nodded.

Mateo beamed. “See? I won’t get left out. Come see me tomorrow.”

Even though Sean still didn’t look convinced, he gave in. “Okay. But,” he added, stealing the fire from Mateo’s triumph. “If you get sick of me, you have to tell me. I mean it.”

“You got it,” Mateo said, knowing it wouldn’t happen. “Now pick me out something good to eat. I’m sick of always eating the same things.”

The smile stretching Sean’s lips bordered on evil. “You should never say that to a chef. Well, chef-in-training.”

Somehow, Mateo managed to lean even closer to Sean. It still wasn’t close enough. “Blow my mind,” he said, daring Sean with his tone and stare.

“Don’t worry. I will.”

Mateo no longer knew if they were talking about food. It didn’t matter. Sean had already wowed him in a dozen ways. Everything from this moment on was just icing.