Chapter 3
Three
THEO
Walking down Main Street, with my grandmother hanging on my arm, I take in the overly stimulating Christmas decorations. The whole town is something out of a cheesy Hallmark movie.
My dad called and told me that my Grandma Patty had taken ill, and if I was able, could I come and stay with her over the holidays. Of course I said yes, as both of my parents are currently in New Zealand working with a company on building off-the-grid eco housing.
Even though my parents were, and still are in high demand with their company, they were still there for me through most of my childhood. It was only as I got older that they would leave me for weeks, sometimes months at a time, and I was okay with that.
I was a loner, anyway, not having many friends growing up. Being a nerd tends to keep people way.
I had always found it hard to make friends. Being socially awkward made it almost impossible to go up and speak to people of my own accord. My tongue would tangle, my mind would race, and I’d start to wish I could simply melt into the floor.
Sometimes I’d watch groups of people laughing together and feel there was something wrong with me because I could not join in.
Instead, I found comfort in video games. Playing and then moving on to designing. It is why I am able to come here and help my grandmother. I own part of a huge software company, and I can work remotely if needed, thanks to my set-up.
Three friends from college and I came together to start our software company and we make plenty of money. We have always had a good relationship because we all behave the same way and were very freaking lucky to have found each other.
We, as a company, always give our employees ten days off for Christmas, so I was only going to be lounging around my condo, junking out, and catching up on some TV.
So, when my parents asked me to stay with Grandma Patty, I jumped at the chance. Aside from my parents, she has been the one constant in my life and accepted me when I told her I was gay. Hell, she even tried to pimp me out when she came to visit me.
Being gay and a socially awkward nerd leaves Theo Moran a very old virgin. At twenty-eight, I have only ever kissed two men and received one blowjob, and that was sloppy. But my company took over my life, so everything else was put on the back burner.
Maybe in this festive, glittering town, where everything seems so open and inviting, I can find a way to step a bit beyond my comfort zone.
I huff to myself. No way in hell would I step outside of my comfort zone. I would freaking make a fool of myself.
Pushing my glasses up my nose, I smile when I see three boys throwing snowballs at each other. Their laughter and giggles mix with Christmas music and chatter.
“Look at them. Living their best life,” Grandma says next to me.
“That they are. I wish I had that when I was their age,” I muttered.
“Boy, you may not have had a good childhood when it came to friends but look at you now. I am so proud of you, and I know that your mom and dad feel the same way.”
“I know. I am proud of me too, and the guys.” I slip on some ice but correct myself, and my grandmother giggles next to me.
“Theo, darling, you would trip over fresh air if you could.”
I huff. “There was some ice.”
With a smile on her face, she pats my arm. “Sure there was.”
We walk a little farther down the street, and I look over to the bar I will be helping out in while I am here: Sidelines. I was informed that it is run by two brothers— twins— and their family is very well-known in this town.
My grandma volunteered my services to help Tatum and Tristan. She thinks it will do me some good socially, meeting and speaking to new people.
I am not doing it for the money, and if they pay me, I will donate it to the animal shelter here in town.
“Well, good afternoon to you, Miss Patty,” a sweet voice comes from behind us, and the sound sends shivers through my body.
I turn us so my grandmother can greet whoever spoke, and the air seizes in my lungs.
Standing before me is a man who is stunning beyond words. Not that I would ever tell him that. He is around my height, with dark hair that is brushed back and styled perfectly. It is shaved on the sides, and he has some facial hair—not much but it suits him.
The eyeliner he is wearing makes his green eyes pop, and those lips… Holy cow, they look kissable and shine in the sunlight thanks to the lip gloss.
Makeup on men has never been my thing, but seeing him, I am thinking maybe I do like it.
“Good afternoon, River. It is lovely to see you. I bet the salon is keeping you busy this time of year.” River. It suits him.
He smiles brightly at my grandmother and that in itself does something to me.
River steps closer, leaning in to kiss her cheek but his gaze lands on me and stays there— locking me in place with an intense, inviting stare.
Fuck me.
He looks down my body, then up, licking his lips before stepping back. It only lasted a split second but damn, it felt like an hour being under a microscope for him.
“Oh, you know it is, Miss Patty. Everyone from woman to dog needs a cut and color to be ready for that big sexy man in a red suit to bring us our most wanted gifts.” As he says, ‘most wanted,’ he looks at me again.
I clear my throat, looking across the street, and I swear I hear him chuckle. Patty must take my actions as me wanting an introduction, and I know all too well that she is more than happy to introduce me to this man.
“Where are my manners? River, this is my grandson, Theo. Honey, this is River; he owns the salon here in Silverpine. He and his girls are the ones who make my hair look this good.” The happiness in her voice tells me that she loves visiting this salon.
I bring my gaze back to River and see mischief in his eyes. He is trouble with a capital ‘T’, but I see softness in him, too.
“It is nice to meet you, Theo.” My name rolls off his tongue, and mine sticks to the roof of my mouth.
Damn it.
He doesn’t make a face or show any signs of annoyance at my lack of speaking skills, like some people. The side of his mouth tilts up in a knowing look that says he knows he is affecting me.
I cough, clearing my throat, and hold my hand out to shake his.
“Nice to meet you, too, River.”
His hand settles in mine and it's like a jolt of energy zipping straight up my arm, making me catch my breath. My eyes widen as I glance at him, searching for any sign that he feels it too.
He only grins, slow and utterly self-assured, while his thumb softly and very deliberately brushes the top of my hand.
The world narrows to the point of contact between us, and for a moment, it’s just River and me, the silent current arcing between our palms. Licking my lips, his gaze drops to my mouth, then he mimics my action.
I have to fight back a moan as heat floods my face. My palm becomes sweaty, and I try to pull it back, but he holds firmly.
“Careful,” he murmurs, low enough for only me to hear, “I’ve been told I have that effect.”
Fuck me sideways with a keyboard.
I try to summon a witty reply, but nothing comes out, so instead, I manage a shaky exhale and a lopsided smile, silently cursing the way my heart drums in my chest like it’s trying to break free.
He releases my hand with a reluctant slowness, fingertips lingering a second longer than necessary.
We are still staring at each other, and something passes between us, but I have no clue what it is. I was never good at social cues but did enough to get by without making a fool out of myself, unlike right in this moment.
“Oh, River, Theo is gay also. Maybe you could show him around all the gay spots.”
Fucking hell, shoot me now.
My face burns with embarrassment, while River just laughs it off, waving a hand around in front of him. He leans forward, winking at me before he addresses Patty.
“Patty, I would love to spend time with Theo. Showing him around town.” The way he says my name is like a promise that he will do more than show me the town.
Holy fuck, could I have a random sex hook-up? I mean, I am leaving in the new year.
“I like that idea, don’t you, Theo?”
I blink, then force a smile.
“Oh, yeah, sure.”
“Sounds like a date.” He winks and turns to leave, taking some of the heat with him.
What the hell is that?
I push it down and help my grandma into the coffee shop, where she is meeting with her friends while I go and do some training at Sidelines.
Thinking back to the family plan for me to help Patty while I am here now seems like a setup. Sure, she has had a bout of flu but nothing that would require me to stay for a month-long visit to help her.
I need to dig deeper, I think, into why I was brought here.