Chapter 14 #2
Dad studied him for a moment. “You’re going to a lot of trouble for a bloke you’ve known a relatively short time.”
Matt waved his hand. “I’d have done it for anyone.”
Judging by the way Dad raised his eyebrows, it was clear Matt hadn’t convinced him.
What does he think is going on?
Matt’s mind boggled. He’d been about to share an idea he’d had, something to make Owen smile, but given his dad’s present frame of mind, he was having second thoughts.
“Forget I said anything.” Dad picked up his mug. “I just haven’t seen you take to someone quite this quickly before.”
Matt didn’t know how to answer that.
Because neither had he.
Hurricane Jamie had landed, and within five minutes, Matt was longing for a little peace and quiet.
The three-year-old had charged into the house, a large soft toy stegosaurus tucked under his arm.
He’d tried to get the dinosaur to snack on Matt’s arm, until Matt grabbed the nearest potted plant and informed his nephew that plants were what steggies liked best.
Mum was not going to be happy when she discovered the leaves of her jade plant all over the lounge floor. Right then, she was blissfully unaware, making tea and talking to Beth in the kitchen.
Zach poked his head around the lounge door. “Just checking you’re still alive.”
Matt snorted. “Not for much longer. I’ve been attacked.” He pointed to Jamie who sat on the rug, feeding leaves to Steggie. “I’m not sure how long it takes to die from a dinosaur bite, but Mum’s plant will probably croak before I do.”
Zach widened his eyes. “Oh God.”
“And before you ask, I may be more handy than you, but my skills do not extend to sticking leaves back on.”
“Now you tell me.” Zach wandered over to the window and gazed out at the garden. “Dad was saying last night you’ve practically moved in next door.”
Great. Zach was always on the lookout for ammunition. He’d been that way ever since Matt could remember.
He opened his mouth to protest, but Zach grinned. “Relax. I’m only winding you up.” He leaned against the windowsill. “So what’s Owen actually like? Compared to all the stories we’ve been told.”
“He’s okay. Funny, intelligent, a massive film buff.”
Zach snorted. “Ah.”
“What?”
“You started listing his qualities.”
Matt blinked.
“You didn’t say, ‘He’s all right.’ Instead, you gave me a character reference.”
“He’s interesting.” And how many times have I used that adjective now?
“Exactly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Zach shrugged. “Nothing.” His grin suggested otherwise. “It’s just been a while since I’ve heard you sound so enthusiastic about meeting somebody.”
Matt opened his mouth, then realised he couldn’t argue. He narrowed his gaze instead. “I thought you had to go to work.”
Zach snorted. “Trying to get rid of me?”
“Desperately.”
Zach headed for the door, then glanced back. “Tell him thanks, by the way.”
“For what?”
“For giving my little brother something to get excited about besides old films.”
Before Matt could answer, Zach disappeared out of the room, and suddenly a stegosaurus pounced, aided and abetted by a roaring Jamie.
“Arrgh! Help, help!” Matt grabbed the little boy and wrestled him to the rug, resorting to tickling.
Jamie squealed with laughter, and Matt laughed too. Okay, this was fun, but the prospect of doing it all day already had him looking at the clock.
Another hour, then he was heading next door.
Owen surveyed the paving slabs around the pool. Matt had purchased weed killer, promising no more than a week before every last little bit of moss and weeds would be obliterated.
Right then, the pool was calling to him, and his Speedos were up in his bedroom.
Fuck it. This is what high hedges are for.
Owen stripped off his clothing and dove naked into the pool, the cold water closing over him briefly before he broke the surface, shivering as the breeze wafted over wet skin.
Damn, that feels good.
He stood in the middle of the pool, his dick soft and bobbing, and ran his hands over his head to brush the hair from his face.
Thank God Matt had checked the water the previous day.
And speaking of Matt…
Owen had to smile. Matt was probably up to his eyeballs in family shenanigans by now. A day away from Owen’s garden wouldn’t make much difference, and the flat packed wardrobes would wait another day.
Owen sank beneath the water and swam to the far end, turning as he reached the tiled wall. When he got to the shallow end by the pool house, he stood, the water around his waist.
“Oh.”
He froze and jerked his head in the direction of the choked sound.
Matt was standing by the side of the pool, lips parted, face flushed.
Owen arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t expect you today.” He resisted the instinct to reach for a towel. They were both adults. Besides, Matt had interrupted him, not the other way round.
Matt coughed, then averted his gaze. “Sorry. I should’ve called. I had to get out of there.”
Then Owen spied a bag slung over his shoulder.
Matt touched the strap. “If your offer of the barn still stands….”
“Of course.” Owen gestured to the water. “Come in for a swim first, if you like.”
“I… maybe later.” Matt’s eyes betrayed him, dropping for the briefest second before snapping back to Owen’s face. More colour crept into his cheeks. “I’d better get some work done.”
He didn’t move, however.
“I think I need a cold beer.” Owen waded to the edge and hauled himself out, water streaming from his body. He caught up his discarded clothes without bothering to dress, then headed towards the house.
Halfway across the patio, curiosity got the better of him, and he glanced back.
Matt was still standing exactly where he’d left him. The instant their eyes met, Matt looked away.
Owen smiled to himself and carried on walking.
It’s going to be an interesting summer.
Everywhere Matt looked felt wrong.
Come on, it isn’t as if you haven’t seen naked guys before. There’d been locker rooms, dorms, shared housing at university.
Then it hit him. It wasn’t nudity itself that unsettled him.
It was context, and in this case, context was everything.
Owen hadn’t been showing off. He hadn’t seemed embarrassed. If anything, he’d seemed comfortable, totally at ease in his own skin.
Matt wasn’t sure he’d ever met anyone like that. Maybe it was an age thing. And speaking of age, Owen appeared to be wearing very well.
As Owen walked away, Matt’s gaze slipped before he could stop it. He jerked it back to Owen’s shoulders almost immediately.
So much for pretending this was all academic.
That settled one thing, at least.
Whatever this was, it wasn’t just in his head anymore.