Chapter 16 #2
Lately, he’d been pondering what he was going to do about Sam. He was thinking very seriously about moving his main base of operations to Sam’s house eventually, if Sam wanted him that way. But he thought he would keep his house, even if he used it as an Airbnb or something.
No matter what he did, he was going to end up back here in the Boston area, because the fact was, even if he found something to do there in New Mexico, he’d have to come here to find clients.
Besides that, Bobby was here; Annette was here. He had family, teammates, and he hoped he was going to get Sam to like it here.
Not enough to live here, because Sam did have an entire horse situation, but totally enough to come and stay when they needed to be in town.
One way or the other, it didn’t matter right this second, because first he had to figure out whether or not Sam was into him the way he was thinking now, and—
“Aye, guapo, I like your house.” Sam was all smiles as they pulled up.
“Look at this. How fancy! I like it though. It’s like a neighborhood.
” Sam looked around, eyes glancing around so quick, seeming to catch everything.
“It’s less industrial here, and more just a place where people live. I like it.”
“Me too. So pretty, Uncle Evan.”
He took a deep breath. “I’m glad.”
Sam smiled at him, bumped their shoulders together. “Me too. Otherwise, when I came to hang out, I would be miserable, and that’s no fun.”
Just like that, his worry sort of eased back, because Sam had said it.
It was like the evening at the house. Sam hadn’t hidden how he felt.
He’d just folded Evan in.
“You know it. Come on, guys. Let’s get you in and settled.
” He hopped out of the car, grabbing suitcases while Sam eased Hillary out of the back seat.
“Don’t let the foyer and front room fool you.
I haven’t changed those since I bought the house, and they’re weird and formal and yet an explosion of crap,” Evan warned.
Hillary laughed. “I bet there’s not horse shit on the floor.”
“Nope. But there might be stinky hockey gear lurking in the laundry room.”
Sam grinned at his girl. “Stay out of there then. Even without the morning sickness strong odors can make her queasy,” Sam warned. “Not like coffee or anything like it was, but—”
“Sure. I get it. With the last one, Annette never stopped. She barfed like every hour on the hour the whole time.”
“Ugh.” Hillary climbed the steps while he and Sam grabbed bags. He’d pull around to the weird garage space in the back in a minute. But he wanted them inside first. He had a decent spot and would only have to move if it snowed, really. Then he would be on the wrong side of the street for the plow.
“Oh, guapo, this is a hoot.” Sam glanced around when Evan let them in and turned on the lights.
The foyer opened to a curving staircase, the fancy parlor off to the left. Then a hall led to a smaller parlor, a powder room, and through the big room to what had probably been a music room at one time. Now he used it as an office.
“Wow! It’s so neat and old.” Hils giggled. “Did you redo the woodwork?”
“I restored it, yeah. The previous owners had painted it white, but I hated that. Come on. The kitchen and all is on the second floor.”
Sam blinked. “How many floors are there?”
“Four plus the walk-out basement. They call it the garden level.” He made air quotes with his hands. “The kitchen and main living is on two, the bedrooms I use for me and guests on three. I’ve billeted kids with young knees on four. The bottom has a guest suite with a kitchenette and a home gym.”
“Ooooh. Can I have the basement?” Hillary asked.
“Sure, let me haul your bags down.”
“You sure you want to climb two flights to eat, mi’ja?”
“Yes. If there’s a kitchenette I won’t feel bad about having a ton of snacks in my room.” She headed for the stairs.
“Be careful, mi’ja.”
She rolled her eyes. “I will, Papa, don’t worry.”
Still, Sam watched her all the way down, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s.
“You worry about her too much.”
Sam snorted and the corners of his eyes wrinkled with his smile. “I’ve been worrying about her for eighteen years. It’s a habit now. It’s not going to stop.” Sam winked at him. “Have I said I’m glad to be here yet?”
“I’m glad to have you here.”
It was the easiest thing on earth to grab Sam’s wrist and draw him closer, to lean down and bring their mouths together. It had been almost a month, and he was so here for this.
The mustache was new, and the beard soft, and Evan thought he liked it a lot. He wondered what that soft hair would feel like when they were making love, if he would notice it on his sac when Sam was sucking him. If Sam would rub his cheek along his shaft and let him feel.
God, he didn’t need to spring a hard-on just yet, even if he’d been half hard ever since the airport. He wanted to give Sam the tour.
He grinned, giving Sam one more lingering kiss, swiping his tongue over that slightly puffy lower lip. “You ready to see the rest? You think your knees can handle it, old man?”
“Ha!” Sam dug an elbow into his ribs. “Good thing you didn’t retire with a knee injury. You’d have to put an elevator in, guapo.”
Evan snorted. “Believe it or not I’ve thought about it. Just one of those little things that would carry enough weight to carry me and my laundry.”
“I bet you just slide your laundry down the stairs, don’t you?” Sam linked arms with his, and they wandered through the parlor, his office, and the back area behind the stairs, which, thank God, was fairly clean even though it was kind of storage.
Then they headed up to the second floor so Sam could see the kitchen and living room situation, which was way more casual. The kitchen had been updated before he’d bought the place, and it was all gleaming chrome and exposed brick and pretty cabinets that looked like birch wood.
“Think you could make pozole here, baby?” Evan could totally see mostly living in New Mexico but spending some time in this house when they needed to.
Maybe he’d rent the house parttime to players who got traded to Boston who needed a temporary living situation.
That way it wouldn’t be empty, but it would be blocked out when he needed to use it.
Because in his heart of hearts, he wanted to live with Sam.
“I could. It’s a good kitchen. It’s a good place.” Sam seemed as if he approved. “I can tell you love it, too.”
He wasn’t sure what that meant, at least not exactly. “I do love it here.” He searched Sam’s eyes. “Think you could come and visit? Like maybe stay here for a couple weeks every now and again with me?”
“Absolutely.” Sam frowned for a second and leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “Does that mean I should not ask you to move into my house? You know, I got horses and a grandbaby on the way. I’m not gonna be able to move, but I want to make sure that you understand that, if you wanted to come at any time, me and New Mexico would welcome you with open arms.”
His stomach curled with pleasure and his heart thudded in his chest as he grinned as wide as he possibly could. “That’s my thought too.”
Sam’s eyebrows flew up. “It is?”