Chapter Seven
Cameron
“Are you paying attention?” Kade’s voice rang through the speaker of my phone.
“Hmm?” I rubbed my eyes. The clock read six-thirty.
In the morning.
Jasper had just texted and said he hoped I was still asleep and he would be back at eight. Since I was only making him an omelet—with chives, diced ham, and shredded cheese—I didn’t really need to be up for another hour.
I’d texted Kade to see how he was faring. Assuming he’d be asleep.
Boneheaded move.
Truly. Because I’d stayed up way too late watching reruns of Vigilante Justice, a superhero television show shot in Vancouver, with Rayne and Everett.
Both of whom got giddy when Everett’s sister Denali appeared onscreen.
Not only was the woman uncommonly beautiful—she was also a phenomenal actor.
And I was so glad she and I had never gotten into anything.
Because then I might’ve missed out on Jasper.
“I’m here.”
“Okay, you never text me at six AM.”
“Why are you awake?”
“I have a one-year-old who believes waking up with the chickens is normal. No matter what time we put her to bed, at six AM, she’s awake. Sometimes she just lies in her crib and talks to herself. Some mornings, like today, she uses those very healthy lungs of hers to express her displeasure. But I love you, my sweet girl.”
He said that bit in a sing-songy voice.
“She’s there?”
“I’m feeding her oatmeal. And myself a bowl of cereal. Tanner’s exhausted from this big trial he’s prepping for. So I’m letting him sleep in.”
“Yeah. Everett’s prepping for some big trial as well.”
“Everett Williams is a damn fine lawyer.” Kade yawned. “Wouldn’t want to go up against either him or my husband in court.”
“I wonder if they’re working on the same case?”
“Mission City is big enough to have two big court cases. Tanner’s arguing his over in New West. I haven’t asked the details—he’ll tell me when he’s ready.”
“Right.”
“And so you texted…?”
“Oh, I wanted to make certain you have everything you need. It’s stopped snowing, right?”
“Several feet later? Yes, it has. I have to clear our driveway later. Oh, the joys of homeownership. I liked it better when I lived in a condo and the strata hired someone.”
“You’ve got two strong men in your house.”
“Which is why June will be bundled up—as long as it’s not too cold—while Tanner does Mr. Lunetta’s sidewalk. And probably Miss Jankowski’s as well.”
“You’re good men.”
“You still haven’t told me what’s going on. You don’t sound like yourself.”
Just be honest with him. He’s always been a good sounding board. He’ll be straight with you. After all, he came out to you before he even told his parents.
More tough truths.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text.
—I’m here early. I hope that’s okay. —
“Shit, gotta go.”
“But—”
I disconnected the call.
—It’s fine. I’ll meet you at the door. —
I hustled as fast as I could.
Sorry, Kade. Emergency.
He’d understand.
If I ever told him.
I shoved my feet into my slippers and grabbed my robe just before I hotfooted out the door and then ran down the two flights of stairs. I unlocked the door to the garage and then hit the opener. I should’ve given him my spare opener. Or a key. Why didn’t I just give him a key?
The door opened to reveal an exhausted-looking Jasper. And, beneath his feet, a plowed laneway.
He grinned. “My last job before calling it quits.” He squinted as he looked up to the sky. “I see tendrils of light. Forecast is for no more snow.”
“Come in.” I beckoned him. Not because I was worried my neighbors might see him—we were way past that at this point—but because the temperature was below zero and I didn’t want to freeze my nuts off.
“Yeah. Uh, thanks.” He stepped inside and stomped his boots to get as much snow off as he could.
A truly Canadian ritual.
Although I supposed anywhere that had snow would find people doing the same thing.
Focus.
I hit the button to close the garage door as we entered the house. I took the cooler bag from him and put it on the ground. Again, I bent to untie his laces.
“I can do that.” A feeble protest.
“I know you can. But you’re going to let me because I’m so damn appreciative of what you’ve done over the last twelve hours.” When I was done, I straightened. “And I’m just so glad you’re home safe.”
“That is true.” He toed off his boots, then removed his coat. “I’ve done snowplowing before, but I don’t remember it being this exhausting.”
“New town. New roads. People who aren’t used to winter weather.”
He blinked. “Yes. To all of that. Taryn rescued another nine people. Only one had snow tires.”
I shrugged. “I have them. I also have somewhere to store my all-season radials. And can afford two sets of tires. It snows so infrequently—” I stopped. “You don’t need to hear any of this.”
He grinned. “All stuff Taryn told me already. She needed help with a particularly ornery asshole—”
“Seriously?”
“Oh, the dog. The woman was fine, but her dog was being…something. Taryn owns a dog and the women thought it might be the smell…? Anyway, I took care of the dog while Taryn got the woman towed.”
“Right.” That didn’t entirely make sense to me, but I didn’t care. He was home safe. “Omelet? Sorry, I meant to have it ready—”
“I was early. You mind if I have a shower again?”
“Of course not. That’ll time things perfectly. Toss your stuff in the laundry if you need—”
He shook his head. “I stopped by my place to get changed before I started the back half of my shift. I don’t need a shower so much because I smell, but because my shoulders are stiff.”
“I can massage them later.” I flexed my hands. “The benefits of having a physiotherapist best friend.” I bent to scoop up the cooler.
He sighed.
Again, I straightened. “What?”
“That dressing gown covers your ass too well.”
I stilled. “You like my ass?”
“You have a very fine ass.” He winked.
“Maybe you should go up the stairs first.” Not because I was worried about him ogling my ass. But because he seriously looked like a breath of wind could knock him over.
“Oh, perfect. Then you can check out my ass. Which I totally hope you’re going to tap one of these days.”
Before I could respond, he sauntered up the stairs. While wearing another pair of tight-fitting jeans and a dark-gray henley that matched his eyes.
And yeah, he had a nice ass.
I don’t think I’ve ever stared at a guy’s ass before. If I’m bi, how come I never considered looking before?
Something I should definitely not ask my best friend.
We both continued up to the top floor.
He peeled off to the guest bathroom while I hustled into my bedroom.
I shucked my robe, whipped off the fucking reindeer pajamas, and yanked on jeans and a cable-knit sweater. I moved quickly back downstairs, even as I noted the shower running and had a sudden image of Jasper.
Naked.
Soaping his body.
Which went nicely with my memory of him when I’d jerked him to completion.
Yesterday.
No, Saturday.
Today was Monday.
Kyla had canceled all of today’s appointments, and we’d decide about tomorrow’s clients by this afternoon. The snow had stopped, though, and most of the roads would be plowed by the end of the day.
Taryn didn’t have the contract to clear the mall parking lot where our office was located, but the guy who did was amazing, so my patients would easily be able to get to us.
I want to call in sick and spend from now until Christmas in bed with Jasper.
I nearly tripped on the landing as I headed into the kitchen.
Okay, where the fuck did that thought come from?
Maybe something about him wanting me to tap his ass?
Yeah, that I hadn’t expected. Because I’d never thought about gay sex. Well, aside from that bit of porn I might’ve watched last night before bed.
Gay porn.
And yeah, okay, mind blown.
Kade and I never talked logistics. I didn’t know if he…or if Tanner…or if they took turns…
Same with Rayne and Everett. I didn’t ask because it was none of my business.
No clue about Felix and Jacob either.
I was a private man. I respected other people’s privacy.
Now? I was obsessed with knowing how things worked. Who did what to whom and, more importantly, how it felt.
I cracked six eggs into a bowl and then started chopping chives, onions, and ham. After I whipped everything together, I poured it into the hot skillet.
Wish I had bacon. Nothing like crispy bacon.
Except the damn stuff wasn’t the healthiest, and we were eating ham.
I want to take him to Fifties.
Aside from amazing milkshakes, they also fried bacon to perfection. The bacon cheeseburgers were the best in Mission City.
No, best burgers in Cedar Valley.
I stirred the egg mixture.
“Hey, that smells amazing.” Jasper pressed against me from behind and nuzzled my ear.
I giggled.
He laughed. “Do you have orange juice?”
“Yep. You don’t want coffee, do you?”
“Actually, I’ll take some. Taryn hired Wally to do some plowing for her today. She doesn’t want to see me until tomorrow at six am.”
“Wally?” I cocked my head. “Does he have experience?”
“Enough so she’s not worried. I said I was good to go tonight, but she said—with the snow stopping—that she’s not going to run the plow overnight.”
“Ah.”
“The critical stuff is mostly cleared. There are some driveways up north of the city she wants Wally to do. That’s easy stuff.”
“Is she taking a break as well?”
“So she says.” He shrugged. “I’m not going to argue with her. I’m about ready to drop. That was super intense.”
If I hadn’t had to keep stirring the eggs, I would’ve taken him in my arms and held him tight. Until this moment, I hadn’t realized how stressed I was. “If you’re so tired, why the coffee?”
“I’m going to try to stay awake until about seven o’clock tonight and just call it an early night. Up by five and ready to go at six. You don’t have to—”
“Of course I’m making you breakfast. If you’re up early, so am I. I’ll do a workout before I go to the office.”
He sighed. “So yeah, coffee. You want some as well?”
“Sure.”
“Not tea?” He grinned.
“I’m living dangerously.”
After he snickered, he held my gaze. “You’re incredible.”
I continued to stir. “How so?”
“I invited myself here three days ago, and you’ve done nothing but take care of me. That’s way above and beyond friendship.”
“I think I invited you here. And, well, be careful what you say. I would’ve done this for Kade or Tanner. For Nita. Although she’s more like a sister. Well, both. If Rayne or Everett needed help, I’d do something for them. Hell, I’d even help Kyla, my receptionist. And she drives me nuts.”
“Then why do you keep her?”
“Because she does the billing perfectly, and that’s no easy feat. Does she spend way more time on her phone than should be legal? Yes. Are my books perfect and everything done the way I want? Also yes.” I cleared my throat. “And she’s forever trying to set me up with various women. I’m…I would be happy to tell her not to bother anymore.”
Jasper pressed a hand to his chest dramatically. “Well, Sir, are you asking me to be your boyfriend?” He effected the most horrific southern accent ever.
I laughed. Then grabbed a tea towel and threw it at him.
He caught it easily and chuckled.
I continued to watch the mixture, pleased the meal was almost ready. Then I sighed. “I just…”
“It’s okay, Cameron. Seriously. It’s been three days.”
“But—”
“No buts. Well, okay, yes butts. Definitely butts. No recriminations, though, okay?”
“Everett and Rayne seem to be under the impression we’re…together.”
“Do you want me to talk to them?”
I blinked. “They’re my friends.”
“True. But I was the one who might’ve implied we were more to each other than just a fling. That’s on me.”
In my mind, that wasn’t the scenario at all. And the fact he was willing to shoulder some of the responsibility overwhelmed me. “Give me time?” I flipped the omelet in half.
“You can take all the time you need.” He took the coffee mugs to the stools at the breakfast bar. “Or at the table?”
“Table. I want to see you.”
He snickered. “In all my disheveled glory? I haven’t shaved in days.”
“I like stubble on you.”
“Makes me look older?”
A laugh bubbled up from me as I cut the omelet into pieces and dished it up. “Do you want orange juice? Sliced tomatoes? More cheese?”
“Cameron?”
“Yes?”
“Breathe.”
I hesitated. I hadn’t literally stopped breathing, but the idea of having a boyfriend was breathtaking.
“Yes to the OJ and extra cheese. Only someone very odd would say no to extra cheese. And I’m surprised you have any tomatoes left after all the ones you’ve fed me.”
“One more. They’re a favorite of mine.”
“Me too.” He smiled as he sat. “Which was why I really appreciated them.”
“But I didn’t know.”
“I told myself you did. Something to carry me through when I was shoving down the food between runs.”
I blinked.
“Yeah. That.” He cleared his throat. “Do you need a hand?”
I shook my head as I moved toward the table. I placed the plates down, then headed toward the fridge.
Pouring two glasses of juice took little time, and soon I sat across from him.
He held his fork. Poised.
“Oh God, Jasper, eat.”
He grinned, cut a piece of omelet with his fork and shoved it down.
“Oh, we need toast.”
He swallowed. “Given how much egg is on my plate, I’m good.”
I sized up my own pile of food. “Yeah, I did go a little overboard.”
“No worries on my end. I’m starving.”
“Did I not pack enough—”
He held up his hand to halt me.
Which I did.
He swallowed his mouthful. “You did amazing. I just wound up being even hungrier than I could have imagined. I wanted to get home as soon as I could, so I didn’t go to 7-Eleven or anything. And here I am.” He shoved another forkful in his mouth.
I wanted to get home…
Every time he said something perfectly innocuous, meaning layered itself—whether intentional or not. He didn’t mean this was his home. That was some studio over on Second Avenue.
Yet he didn’t just pick up his car and go. He’s here. Clearly planning to stay.
Well, I’m not asking him to leave.
“What do you want for dinner?”
He blinked. “I haven’t even finished breakfast…”
“I like to plan ahead.”
“Yes, that doesn’t surprise me. But how about you surprise me? Unless there’s leftover lasagna. Because that was amazing.”
“I shared with Rayne and Everett last night. We did a potluck of leftovers. They had roast beef, mashed potatoes, and brussels sprouts.”
Jasper mimed retching.
I laughed. “Actually, with cheese sauce, they’re—”
“No.” He held up his hand, again to stop me. “You will not defile cheese by adding brussels sprouts. That’s a hard no.”
Again, I chuckled. “I’ll tell Everett you feel that way. I believe Rayne would echo your sentiments except I had the feeling some kind of…sexual favor…had been promised if brussels sprouts were consumed without complaint.”
Jasper pursed his lips and squinted. “Yeah…sex…” He shook his head. “I would forgo sex if I had to consume brussels sprouts.”
“Well, I’ll never make you choose.”
“You’re a good man.” He grinned and sipped his coffee. “Oh nectar of the gods, I do love you.”
“You love frapuccinos as well.”
“A man can have more than one love. A frapp is a nice treat after badminton. Coffee is for when I need to stay awake.”
“Do you want to have a short nap? We can set the alarm. Or would that mess up your schedule?”
“We?”
My fork froze halfway to my mouth. “Well…”
“So you’ll spoon me? We can cuddle?”
What’s the right answer to that question?
Go with your gut.
“That sounds perfect to me.”
He grinned. “Yeah, me too.”
Twenty minutes later, we were curled under my duvet with him spooning me.