Elijah felt the cold in the pit of his stomach as he stood staring at the empty rack in the cellar. How could the euphoria he had been feeling just a moment before come crashing down around him like this? He had been on cloud nine, infatuated with Noah and feeling for the first time in a long time that he could truly open up to someone and share in the bliss of his dreams finally coming true, and now he felt like it had all come crashing down around him.

His lips still tingled where Noah had kissed him. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it since it had happened ten minutes ago. It was like a fairy tale for him. He should have known better, though. He should have known he couldn’t have his cake and eat it too. Noah stood there staring at him a moment, looking perplexed, before it dawned on him the severity of the situation. To most people, a bottle of aged wine was just that, a bottle of aged wine. To Elijah, however, this bottle represented the pillar of the hopes and dreams he had built this business on. He was set to open it for his guests this weekend, and in fact it, had been advertised on the invitation that it was going to be the treat that all of the guests were given. A small glass of the first bottle ever corked. To a vintner, that bottle represented their livelihood. Elijah felt the loss of it was like the loss of a limb. Noah took a step towards him, and he held up his hand.

“No! No, we can’t disturb anything. There are people that need to be called. I…I should call the police.” He felt the lump in his throat as Noah paused and let his hands drop to his sides. Elijah looked at the rack one last time and slowly backed toward the door. He was torn. He wanted to rush into Noah’s arms and be comforted, even though they had just met. On the other hand, he could feel himself drawing inward. It was a response he had mastered over the years to block out anyone who might hurt him, and this theft hurt the worst. His therapist had once said it was a coping and defensive mechanism. He could see why Dr. Denali would say that. He respected the man and figured there was no shame in having a therapist. Sometimes a person just needed someone to hash things out with. Dr. Denali had instructed him to try and remain calm and not close himself off, but he was so torn.

He didn’t touch the gate as he backed out, and Noah took a few steps back to give him some space. He turned and walked up the stairs without casting a backward glance at the empty rack, and he heard Noah follow him which was both a comfort and a source of anxiety. His proximity was so close that all Elijah had to do was turn around and accept the hug he had been willing to offer.

When they crested the last step, he dug his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed the police. He felt his anxiety rise further when it was apparent he was being given the brush off.

“Did you search the rest of the cellar?” The officer on the other end of the line demanded.

“No, I left everything as it was so that an investigation can be done. You have fingerprint kits, right?”

“This isn’t CSI, Mr. Montgomery. The police department can’t go on the hunt for a singular bottle of wine in an entire winery. You do realize the enormity of that endeavor, right? Someone probably just mixed it up with another bottle.”

“That bottle was priceless. It was also locked up. It isn’t just something that just goes missing.”

“Look, Mr. Montgomery, there are any number of things that can happen. Kids may have busted in thinking it would be fun to get wasted one weekend. Your vineyard isn’t the first this has happened to. You say it was locked in a cellar? I’ll send an officer out in the morning to have a look around if you like. I can’t promise anything. The likelihood of the thief being caught is small, and we have enough caseloads on our desks that there isn’t going to be a lot of time spent on this.”

“Thank you, I would appreciate that.” Elijah felt numb, like the officer had just thrown ice water over his already icy skin. He hung up the phone and then let himself sink into one of the comfortable chairs next to the door. Noah sat next to him as he stared at the wet bar.

“Was the officer right?” He blurted.

“What?”

“Do you think the officer is right? Am I over reacting to something that shouldn’t matter too much?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Noah’s voice was quiet but firm. Elijah glanced over at him and he was sitting, ready to jump up and go to him. He appreciated that Noah was being so attentive.

“Thank you for being here.” He wasn’t sure why he said it, just that it was important to recognize that he was.

“I’m glad I am. I can’t imagine how upsetting this is for you. I don’t think you’re overreacting.”

“It seems silly to be so devastated by a bottle of wine, but this company—I’ve worked so hard to make it right, to make it mine.”

“I can understand that. It must be very frustrating that the police aren’t taking it seriously.”

“I suppose he has a point about priorities and the chances of figuring it out, but I just wish there was something I could do, someone who…” He trailed off. He was remembering all of the people who had ever been kind to him like Noah. There were a select few, one of whom had been studying law enforcement. He had kept a small tab on everyone who had been somewhat close to him, and Ray had been one of those select few. He had tried to date Elijah, or at least befriend him, and Elijah had shut him out. It wasn’t Ray’s fault, but he had never given him an explanation as to why. He just recognized, at the time he had been too hurt by his family, and it was too soon since leaving them for him to be able to open up and trust someone in order to let Ray in. He was too focused on building his dream and too ecstatic that he had been freed from his past and able to pursue his goals.

Elijah’s fingers shook as he once again took out his phone and began typing in the search bar. He was sure he could track Raymond Knott down. He placed a call to the San Francisco police department and was told by a nice officer, a man named Harry Byron, that Ray had retired and was working as a private investigator at Knott’s Investigation Services. Elijah asked for Ray’s number, and he heard the sounds of papers shuffling as Officer Bryon searched for something. Elijah wagered a guess it was a business card. He read him the number, and Elijah thanked him.

Elijah hung up the phone and tapped Ray’s number into his contacts so he wouldn’t forget it. The feeling of the knot in his stomach lessened slightly. Ray had always been astute when they were in school, and now he was a P.I. It seemed like luck was favoring Elijah on this, and he might get his bottle of wine back after all, or at the very least discover who took it and drank it. Noah clasped the palm of his left hand and he gazed at him as he began dialing Ray’s number with his right. Please, please, please still be at the office. He was hoping Ray might be the kind of hard worker putting in late hours, despite the weekend being upon them.

When he heard his gruff voice answer the phone, Elijah gave Noah’s fingers a little squeeze with excitement. He then just had to convince Ray to take on his case, which only took a few minutes. His conditions were unusual, and Elijah wondered if Ray had a boyfriend, because he wanted to bring his friend, but he supposed it didn’t matter as Ray was coming to investigate, even if he was undercover.

When Elijah hung up the phone he turned to Noah excitedly. “He agreed to come! He is going to take my case.”

Noah looked speculative, not knowing who Ray was, so Elijah explained.

“Ray was one of the closest people I have had to a friend. He was in school for law enforcement, and I guess he was one of the best in the program. He became a detective but for some reason he retired early, and now he’s a P.I. He’s bringing a friend, and they are going undercover at the retreat to find out who did it.”

“That’s excellent news.” Elijah frowned because Noah’s words were elated, but his face was slightly pinched. He wondered briefly if—no, he wouldn’t possibly have been the one to take it. It was unusual for someone to arrive a day early, sure. But Elijah was convinced it was a mistake, an accident and not intentional. He had been so sincere.

“Are you alright?” He asked tentatively.

“What? Yes, of course.”

“You seem upset is all.”

“To be fair, I find myself a bit jealous is all.” Noah sat forward, still refusing to let go of Elijah’s hand.

“Jealous? I don’t follow.”

“Were you and Ray…did the two of you date?” He seemed hesitant to say the words, and when he did, Elijah sat stunned. “I’m sorry. That was a completely personal question to ask. You were just so excited talking about him, almost in reverie. I thought maybe you…”

Elijah’s chest lit up with warmth from the inside out. Noah was trying to tell him he was feeling possessive, and he didn’t understand why. It was ludicrous to be so after having just met one another, but Elijah understood that sometimes feelings can’t contain themselves.

“No, we didn’t date. I think we might have, but I refused to let him in. And you should know, I haven’t let anyone in the way I have with you tonight.” It was his turn to be daring. He leaned over in the chair and returned the brief kiss that Noah had given him earlier. He wanted to test his theory, to see if the tingling in his lips would return, and sure enough, when he leaned back, not only was that feeling present again, but the tingling spiraled down through his body, making him sway in his chair with the heaviness of the feeling. It was pleasant, like a weighted blanket, and he realized he wanted the feeling manifested physically. He wanted that blanket to be Noah, in a sense. He wanted to feel him on top of him as he allowed him even deeper inside him than just his feelings.

Noah seemed to sense what Elijah was up to next, because he began shaking his head. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is to say no right now? I promised this weekend was about finding a relationship, not taking someone to bed. It’s not that I don’t want to, Elijah. Oh, God, do I want to, but I want to get to know you and respect you. Please understand.”

Elijah was momentarily hurt, but when he looked into Noah’s pleading eyes, he felt he was being genuine. He wasn’t saying no forever, he was saying no, not tonight. Elijah shook his head. Perhaps Noah was giving him the reprieve from his tumultuous feelings that he needed. He might regret taking him to bed in the morning if it was done because he felt like he needed an anchor through this whirlwind, and not because he wanted to be with someone he was developing feelings for.

Elijah nodded once and then twice. He rose from his chair, went across the room to the wet bar, and opened one of the decanters on the shelf. He swirled the liquid in the crystal container and smelt the perfume that wafted up. He let it rest on the counter as he retrieved glasses and poured them each a generous amount, and then handed a glass to Noah. He set his own glass on the table between them, letting it breathe, and sat back down.

The crickets outside were singing a rampant song, and he listened, wondering what he should say next. He was so focused on the farm and the bottle and then the theft that he had quite forgotten they were spending an evening getting to know one another, and now he was faced with that awkward moment where he wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t think he would be able to sleep at all that night, and it would be rude to try to keep Noah up all night, although he found he would very much enjoy the company and the chatting all night. Elijah bit his lip and looked to see if Noah had taken a sip and was enjoying the glass. Noah was watching him earnestly, waiting for his next move, and Elijah laughed.

“It seems we are both tiptoeing around one another about what to do in such unusual circumstances.”

“Yes, that we are.” Noah seemed to relax a little. “You aren’t going in to bed, are you?”

“Oh, I might go in, but I doubt I’ll be able to sleep. It is chilly out here, but I’m too wound up. I do hope the wine will help you sleep, though. It is very good; it’s soothing.”

“I don’t mind sitting with you.” Elijah noticed it was Noah’s turn to color slightly in the cheeks. For a man who was so confident, he was bearing witness to a rare moment when he was being shy and didn’t that just turn him on even more. Elijah shifted in his seat, wondering if it helped to conceal the erection that had hardened in his pants. There was no denying his arousal and attraction, but he didn’t want to come across as crass when he had just been practically urging Noah to join him in bed.

“Alright, why don’t we go and fetch our towels. We can enjoy the hot tub with our wine if you like. I need to come up with decent cover stories for Ray and his friend in order to explain their sudden invitation to the retreat. Perhaps you would be willing to help me?”

“A hot tub, you say?”

Elijah held up his hands, grinning. “I will sit on the opposite side if you like. The tub holds six, and it will just be the two of us tonight.”

“I think that’s a splendid idea, and it is probably best if we stay on opposite sides of the tub. I’m sure we can come up with something.” His gaze raked Elijah and rested for the briefest of moments on the swell in his pants, and Elijah was positive he wasn’t talking about a cover story for Ray and his friend. He sucked in a breath as Noah rose, picked up his own glass of wine, and walked towards the door of the cellar. Elijah held in the groan as he walked right past him, so his ass was clearly well defined in front of him in the tailored suit. He was proving to be a wonderful distraction indeed, despite the complications and anxiety of the theft.