Alan’s hand shook as he worked the key into the lock on the front door of Auntie Erin’s house. Diego stepped up close and peered over Alan’s shoulder as the door opened. He was impressed at first glance. He wasn’t quite sure what he expected. Maybe it was small, wooden tables decorated with lace doilies and fragile cut glass lamps. Instead, the furnishings were tasteful. Diego’s first impression was an Arts and Crafts sensibility with a masculine flair.

The rugs were thick, heavy, and splashed with bright, angular polygons of color. Diego said, “I’m sure that these furnishings didn’t all belong to Auntie Erin.”

Alan turned and found himself landing in Diego’s outstretched arms. The first honest smile since their reunion two days ago at Tar-Mor lit up Alan’s face. He said, “Thank you for noticing. Auntie Erin took most of her treasured pieces with her for her new apartment. I’ve slowly built my collection of furniture, and I splurged on a few new pieces when I arrived here in Coldbrook Bend.”

The surroundings made Alan even more alluring. Diego was an unapologetic child of wealth, and he indulged in surrounding himself with beautiful objects. All of the worry that filled his mind after observing Alan’s spartan office crumbled away. The smile on Alan’s face was replaced by a look of shock when Diego seated himself on a deep brown leather sofa framed by heavy, carved lumber.

“Didn’t you want a tour?” asked Alan.

“Is there a rush?”

Alan turn his head first right and then left. “I suppose not.” Their conversation was interrupted by a jangling sound and the unmistakable clatter of canine toenails on the hardwood floor.

Diego raised himself up to look over the back of the sofa. He saw a low-slung brown and black spotted dog. The dog’s ears were so long that they actually brushed the floor. “Who is this?”

“That’s Boomer. He’s been with me for four years now. This is his third home. Fortunately, he’s tolerant of change.”

“And friendly?”

“Very friendly.” Alan glanced toward a doorway leading to a kitchen at the rear of the house. He asked, “Would you like something to drink? If you don’t like dogs, just give Boomer a couple of gentle shoves. He’ll get the message.”

“I love dogs,” said Diego. “I grew up with a yellow Labrador Retriever named Arnold.”

Alan held a hand up to his mouth. “Arnold? Not exactly a…”

“No, not a Mexican name, but my father loved Mr. Schwarzenegger.”

“The drink?” asked Alan.

Diego reached up and stroked the dark stubble on his chin. “I’m trying to remember. It was a cabernet, wasn’t it? I know that you loved your wine.”

Alan’s chin dropped for a moment. “You remembered. That was years ago.”

“I think it’s safe to say I remember almost everything about you.” Diego looked down and rubbed the crest of Boomer’s head between his magnificent ears. Then he reached lower and chucked the dog under his chin. “I would bet you have a bottle of cabernet out in the kitchen. Why don’t we share a toast?”

Alan disappeared into the kitchen while Diego leaned back in the corner of the lush sofa. He luxuriated in the creaking noise of the real leather when his body shifted. He sniffed the air and inhaled the unmistakably rich aroma. Diego gazed around the expansive living room. A broad doorway to the right of the entrance led to a dining room. The furniture appeared to be more formal there. Perhaps Auntie Erin left her table behind.

Diego was surprised that he could see no photos decorating any of the furniture surfaces. Lamps, coasters, and a few books were the only embellishments. A few small-scale works of art adorned the walls. He guessed that decorating the house was a project still in process.

Alan returned carrying two wine glasses half filled with deep red liquid. He handed one to Diego. Within seconds, Diego held out the glass in preparation for a toast. Alan clutched his wine to his chest. “Okay, I’m going to come right out and ask. What do you want, Diego? We screwed around once, and it left a deep gash in my heart. I’m happy to negotiate a beneficial business agreement, but I have no idea why you’re here in my house. I don’t know why I let you inside.”

Diego held a finger up to Alan’s lips quieting him. They weren’t thin. When Diego encountered thin lips, they often rejected all that was warm, hedonistic, and erotic. Alan’s delightful lips promised more. They promised soft kisses and the sharing of erotic desire. The lips weren’t unnaturally swollen either. Like almost everything about Alan, they were perfect. Seven years later, Alan still didn’t realize the powerful lure of his everyday appearance. Diego whispered, “Figure it out, Alan. You’re smarter than this.”

Alan pulled his face away from Diego’s reach and held his wineglass to his lips. He sipped and stared into Diego’s eyes. “I can’t do it, Diego.”

Alan drew out the syllables of the name like his mouth and tongue were bathing the word. They enjoyed forming it again and placing it out in the world. That much was obvious. Diego knew he had a challenge on his hands, but he was patient. He could wait for Alan. He frequently thought about the sexy gringo the better part of a decade already. A few more weeks or a month or two would be easy.

Diego asked, “Can I have the tour now? It’s a beautiful house. Would those in Red Wing be similar?”

Alan nodded. His body visibly relaxed. The tension in his muscles eased. “Most of the river towns in this area boomed in the era of steamboats. Captains, their top crew, and business leaders built houses to show off their good fortune. Auntie Erin’s house is a modest one from that era. Some are much more elaborate, but this building will give you a good idea of what to expect.”

Alan led the way into the dining room. He said, “Auntie Erin didn’t have space for a table that seats twelve in her new apartment. I only have it set for eight right now, but it has two leaves available for expansion. The family legend says this was the first piece of furniture my great-great-grandfather purchased after his arrival in the United States from Germany.”

“And upstairs?” asked Diego.

“There’s not a lot up there. It’s fairly ordinary. Three bedrooms and a bath. There’s attic space above. It’s a large house.”

“So the tour’s finished?”

“I can show you the kitchen.” Alan turned to exit the dining room when Diego reached out a hand to grip his elbow. Alan stopped and slowly turned. “Do you want something?”

“I do,” whispered Diego. “I think you do, too.” He reached out his other hand and pulled Alan close wrapping him in an embrace.

Alan pulled back briefly, but then he gave in to Diego’s tug. He started to shake his head, but Diego raised a hand and gripped the back of Alan’s head. The swift motion led to contact. Diego’s lips met Alan’s for a kiss.

The first response from Alan was holding his lips tightly closed and shutting his eyes. His body tensed in Diego’s embrace, but he didn’t pull away.

Diego massaged the back of Alan’s head with his hand while he continued to kiss. It was enough to melt the resistance. Soon, Alan’s lips parted, and a low moan escaped. Diego stepped forward backing Alan up against the dining room wall.

They both came up for air panting for breath, and Alan opened his eyes. “This is why you wanted to come here, isn’t it? You aren’t concerned about the house. It’s a scheme.”

Diego held his right index finger to Alan’s lips. He asked, “You want to protest so much, but I want to know if you liked the kiss.”

Alan’s green eyes began blazing with a blend of frustration and raw lust. “Yes, but…”

Diego held his finger to the lips again. “You can’t deny what exists between us. We both felt it in your prison-cell office.”

“That doesn’t mean we have to act on it. There’s a reason why human beings are born with a brain.”

Diego chuckled softly. He pulled his finger back and leaned forward for another kiss. Alan turned his head. “I’m happy to see you again, and I’m happy that you are well. If we can’t do this, perhaps we can be good business partners and friends. Show me the kitchen, Alan. You were wrong about my interest in the house. I can be attracted to the house and you at the same time.”

Alan stepped away from the wall and brushed past Diego’s shoulder. He said, “Auntie Erin’s oven and stove were ancient. I’ve had them replaced. Fortunately, she used gas. I didn’t have to redo the hookups.”

Diego followed behind Alan. He wasn’t sure about the source of his attraction. Usually, the men he found most attractive were fellow wealthy Mexicans. They were often more worldly than their gringo counterparts. He mused that perhaps that was what made Alan stand apart. He was intelligent, and he had a sense of the wider world from having lived in so many different places. As his eyes wandered down from Alan’s shoulder and settled on his backside, Diego knew that he would be a fool to discount his physical desire.

Alan swept his arm around the ample kitchen space. He said, “It has an extraordinary amount of cabinet and counter space. I’m considering replacing the countertop, but the cabinets are sturdy. I think they are constructed out of maple.”

Diego turned toward the opposite side of the space. He asked, “Do you eat here in the kitchen? Or do you have someone hired to cook for you?”

“I often eat in the kitchen if it’s just me. I reserve the dining room for more formal occasions. No, I don’t hire a cook.”

Diego shook his head. He said, “You should always eat according to your station in life. You belong in the dining room, Alan. Don’t eat in your kitchen.”

Alan sighed and refrained from commenting. He said, “There is a backyard. It includes many of Auntie Erin’s favorite plants. She was quite a gardener. I’ll have to show you that sometime in the daylight.”

“I’ll be invited back?” asked Diego.

“You mentioned being friends.”

Diego struggled to hide his gleeful response. Alan wasn’t ready for something intimate, but he didn’t want to say goodbye either. Diego knew that he still had the opportunity for a real second chance. He also knew that it was a perfect moment to announce his intention to leave. He didn’t want to disturb Alan’s softening point of view.

“I think I will go for now. I hope you don’t mind. I still have an hour’s drive ahead of me, and I need to be in my office early tomorrow morning. One of my drivers has a dispute with a customer. I’m meeting him at 8:00 a.m.”

Alan listened closely. “How do you handle disputes like that, Diego?”

Diego recognized Alan’s lurch into talking about business again. The interview was still open. He said, “I listen carefully to the information I receive from both sides, and then I try to pull them together in a way that maintains honor for both. Then we can move forward with a workable solution.”

Alan smiled. The cheerful brightness of his face was well worth the slight diversion in conversation. Alan’s green eyes sparkled like jade when he was pleased.

Diego reached a hand forward to shake before leaving. He was happy to see Alan offer a hug instead. Both men gripped tightly and lingered for a few seconds longer than necessary. “I’ll look forward to your decision,” said Diego.

“Decision?”

Diego grinned. “Your business decision.”

Alan laughed softly and opened the front door of the house. As Diego slowly descended the porch steps to the sidewalk and eventually street level, Alan noticed a car on the opposite side of the street with the driver still inside. He waited to see if the driver exited, but it didn’t happen.

Diego waved just before he climbed into his car. Seconds after he drove off, the stranger in the car drove away as well in the opposite direction. Alan reached up and rubbed his stubbled chin before he turned and retreated into Auntie Erin’s house.