Theo
THEO
He would have to give Grant credit, the man certainly knew how to pick a good food place. The ambiance had been sober but gentle, and the food had been excellent. quickly noted the name of the place and the street for future reference. He had a feeling he’d be revisiting the establishment.
’s mood was content enough that he didn’t even fuss when Grant insisted on paying. Grant’s logic had been sound. The man had chosen the first place they would go to, after all.
“You’re assuming my choice will cost us anything,” said.
Grant smiled. “Well, if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t. I’m not worried.”
Spoken like someone who had plenty of money. was familiar with financial flippancy. Lord knew his family threw money at almost anything and didn’t bat an eye.
His nose wrinkled at the comparison. The difference between his family and Grant had to be night and day. For one, the man had a real job, unlike most of his family, who chose socializing as a career. That and Grant didn’t seem too concerned with appearance. Besides the suit from the show, Grant’s apparel was simple, and his hair looked like it took minimal fuss.
Grant caught him staring as he stood up. “What?”
shook his head, standing as well. “Nothing, just getting lost in my thoughts.”
“Need a nap?” Grant asked.
“Why, Dr. Andrews, are you trying to get me into bed so soon?” asked with a grin.
To his mild surprise, Grant chuckled and waved off as he made his way to the exit. He’d honestly expected the man to at least blush, maybe sputter and shuffle his feet awkwardly. Where the hell had the bashful man from their impromptu coffee date gone?
They stepped out onto the sidewalk. They’d been in the restaurant for about ninety minutes, and the traffic had slowed considerably. Grant was right, it wasn’t the most dynamic or popular part of town. had no doubt that if they went closer to the heart of the city, they’d find plenty of people streaming around, eager to get their drink and dance on.
Grant looked down at him, smiling softly. “Now it’s your turn.”
Ah, yes, his part of the bargain.
looked him over thoughtfully. “Don’t mind those getting wet, do you?”
Grant looked down at himself, puzzled. “What?”
“Well, do you?”
“Uh, I suppose not.”
chuckled, taking hold of Grant’s wrist and dragging him down the sidewalk. “Perfect.”
“I’m not sure I like the evil grin you have going on right now.”
“Just call me Cheshire, and come on, it should be deserted.”
“What should?”
* * *
The salt air hit as they descended to the beach. As had predicted, there wasn’t a person in sight in either direction. Not that it was a popular part of the beach during the day, anyway. There were far better places along the coast to enjoy the ocean and the sun.
Grant looked around, eyes catching the moonlight. “I don’t think I’ve ever been here.”
nodded, looking toward one of the nearby cliffs. “It’s the only place within the city limits with a cliff. All the others are outside town.”
“You’d think this would be a more popular spot,” Grant said.
shrugged. “I guess people just want an excuse to get out of the city.”
That wasn’t totally fair. The cliffs outside the city limits were taller and far more impressive. The sea was rougher there, and watching it crash against the rocks and stone of the cliffs was both invigorating and somehow soothing.
They stood under the shadow of a cliff about half the size of those outside the city. The sky was clear, letting the light of the full moon dance on the water. The waves broke against the beach gently, but the hard crash as the waves hit the rocks nearby drowned out the distant sounds of the city behind them.
“You never struck me as a long walk on the beach sort of person,” Grant said, giving him a sideways glance.
smirked. “Probably because I’m not. Our destination is over there.”
He pointed toward the base of the cliff, where the water crashed on the rocks.
Grant raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
“Hey, you were the one who said you didn’t mind getting a little wet.”
“There’s wet, and then there’s drowning.”
hopped in front of Grant, holding out his hand. “You’re not going to drown, trust me.”
“The last time someone said that to me, I ended up with guts in my lap,” Grant muttered.
raised a brow. “Uh, ew?”
Grant chuckled. “Cadaver during medical school. It was supposed to throw glitter at me, but someone didn’t set the...trap right. So I got guts and glitter instead.”
wrinkled his nose. “You’re really trying to ruin the mood here, aren’t you?”
Grant took his hand, winking. “I guess if I can take guts in my lap, I can take whatever you’re going to throw at me.”
rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”
He didn’t want to admit it, but a flutter passed through his stomach when their hands touched. Instead, he focused on taking Grant to the side of the cliff and then down toward the water. As they neared a section of rocks near the base, the spray of the waves misted their skin.
“Your shoes can grip pretty well, right?” called over his shoulder.
“I’m no longer as confident in this plan as I might have been earlier.”
chuckled but guided Grant toward the rocks. The first few weren’t too slick, and hopped along them gently. However, as they neared the next few, he was forced to let go of Grant’s hand.
“Just follow me,” told him.
Grant watched him apprehensively as hopped to the next, then the next, and then a third. ’s foot slipped on the slick surface, earning him a sharp stab of pain radiating up his right leg and his boot in the water.
“It’s a bit slippery!” called over his shoulder.
“I see that. You okay?” Grant asked, concern laced into every syllable.
Being in the cliff's shadow made it too dark to check himself over. Yet he could move his leg without more than a twinge from his knee.
“Yeah,” he called back as he stood. “Probably fucked my pants up, though...and my boots.”
“Just come on back.”
grinned. As if he was going to back down now. Standing upright, he turned toward the shadows on his left. He probably should have told Grant what he was about to do, but thought it was more fun not to.
Sure enough, as he leaped toward the dark cliffside, he heard Grant shout. As expected, though, ’s feet hit the small rock shelf a few inches above the water. He was sure from Grant’s perspective, it looked like he’d leaped and landed on nothing.
flashed a grin at him, waving him on. “C’mon, we’re just about there.”
Grant was still staring at him, shaking his head and eyeing the rocks ahead. wouldn’t admit it, but he watched as the larger man made the first couple of leaps, wincing as Grant hit the third. Grant’s leg shifted uneasily when he landed but thankfully didn’t wipe out as had.
Grant stared at him. “I can’t see where I’m going.”
smiled, stepping back. “Just jump to me. You’ll be alright.”
Grant muttered, but the words were lost in the wind and waves. watched him take a deep breath before throwing himself forward. Grant hit the rock shelf, wheeling to catch his balance. ’s arm darted out, taking hold of Grant and yanking him toward the cliff.
“Holy shit,” Grant muttered, hugging the rockface for dear life.
chuckled, patting Grant’s back. “Ya did good, Doc.”
Grant let out a low chuckle, easing himself back. “Thanks, I think. For the record, this is an excellent way to end up back in the hospital.”
“Aw, then I could be back in your tender loving care,” cooed.
“ER isn’t my normal responsibility,” Grant said, finally releasing his death grip on the wall.
winked. “C’mon.”
The path was hard to see without proper lighting, but had walked it in both daylight and at night. It was wide and firm enough to walk comfortably, and they only needed to keep their hand against the wall to keep their footing. Within a few minutes, they rounded the cliff’s base, following the path to an opening.
Grant let out a low whistle. “A cave? I would never have guessed this was here.”
chuckled. “I don’t think a lot of people know.”
The sound of the ocean crashing against the rocks echoed through the cave. But the mouth of the cave was high enough that only the first foot inside the opening was damp. The rest was perfectly dry, and sat on what he considered the most comfortable spot.
Grant took a seat next to him, patting the ground first. “Much as I don’t mind getting wet, I’d rather not sit in a puddle.”
chuckled. “No one wants a soggy ass. Especially one as nice as yours.”
Grant shook his head as he eased down. “Oh, I’m going to feel this tomorrow.”
“If it makes you feel better, sitting on rock longer than a few minutes doesn’t exactly do good things to my body either,” told him.
Grant chuckled and turned his gaze outward. watched him, smiling softly as Grant’s eyes took on the same look he’d had when he’d looked at the painting. What little light made it into the cave caught in Grant’s blue eyes, brightening them and reflecting it like the sea itself.
“I can see why you like it here,” Grant said softly.
nodded, glad he was right about Grant. The ocean and the wind echoed around them, creating what called a symphony of the sea. Whitecaps flickered along the expanse of ocean spread out before them, and the silvery-white moonlight danced on the surface.
“I fell in love with it when I found it,” told him, letting his nerves settle.
“How did you find it?”
snickered. “Family outing. My father was looking at some ocean-front property for some business or another, I don’t remember. For some reason, I had to be brought along. I guess my parents thought I needed to see what my father did for a living.”
Then again, he’d never asked his parents for their reasoning. His father had been a stern yet quiet man and busy, so very busy. didn’t have many memories of his father, but the ones he had were fond. Unlike the bristling chill that surrounded his mother, his father had been a warm man. could almost remember the feel of his hand on his shoulder as he walked him through an art museum or explained something.
“And, of course, bored out of my skull, I wandered off when no one was looking. Wandered up the beach and found the rocks. In my head, hopping on them seemed like a great idea. That’s when I saw the path we jumped to; it was daytime and easy to see once you’re out on the rocks. And that’s when I found this place.”
“And I’m sure your parents were thrilled,” Grant said wryly.
snorted. “They didn’t even notice. Dad had been stuck in a meeting, and my mother was...eh, anyway. I came back later, and they scolded me for wandering off. They thought I’d just gone into another room for a few minutes. You know, not the solid hour I was gone.”
Grant’s face fell in shadow. “How old were you?”
grinned. “Seven.”
“Really?”
“I know, right? A little shit, even at that age. I guess I was destined to drive people crazy.”
Grant looked up, his brow furrowed. glanced at him, confused by the sudden intensity of his expression. The doctor said nothing, however, as if waiting for to continue.
Ignoring his jumbled nerves, shrugged. “My father kept up negotiations for a piece of property around here. Something about the city giving him trouble, I don’t know. He was the businessman of the family, not me. Never was gonna be me. I just loved coming out here with him and finding my little hiding spot.”
“I didn’t see anything on the beach,” Grant murmured.
shook his head. “My father didn’t make the deal. He died a year after I first found this place.”
And what little warmth had existed in his mother had died right alongside his father. The drunk driver who’d taken his father had inadvertently taken both parents from .
“I don’t come out here nearly as much as I used to. But I thought if anyone would love it like I always have, or at least appreciate it, I thought you might,” admitted, feeling his cheeks heat up and thankful the cave was dark.
Warm fingers brushed against ’s jaw, startling him. Grant turned ’s face toward him, the angle of the light making his eyes almost glow. ’s throat tightened at the look on Grant’s face as though he was seeing right through him.
“Thank you for showing me this,” Grant murmured.
’s heart thudded heavily as Grant leaned in. God, he’d never been worried when someone touched him. Man or woman, would always find himself leaning in, taking the initiative, and letting his body take over. Yet all it took was knowing Grant was moving closer, and his nerves popped and frayed, jittering all over the place.
What the hell was going on?
Then Grant’s lips, warm and gentle, were pressed against his, and all thought disappeared.