He’d witnessed Trent’s reaction to his penthouse and it wasn’t good. Several walls dropped between them as Trent glanced around his living room again before they’d left this morning. Trent had shut him out and it was an almost tangible feeling. He’d fought the urge to defend himself, to tell Trent this wasn’t really who he was as a person, but he couldn’t explain it without bringing his family into the mix, and he certainly wasn’t ready to have that conversation with his skittish new boyfriend.
Ahhh… new boyfriend… his boyfriend… Those words had never entered his vocabulary before, but he liked them, liked them a lot when applied to Trent Cooper. But he didn’t want to have to continue breaking the walls down every time they were together. Gage wanted to move this relationship along, not start from the beginning over and over again.
Trent walked through the gallery with one of his electricians and the movement caught Gage’s attention. They stopped at a lighting fixture where Trent used his hands while talking to the other man. Gage watched him for several minutes before he picked up the phone and called Trent.
“Coop Electric,” Trent said without looking at caller ID.
“You’re sexy dancing like that. We should have gone dancing last night. I would love to hold you in my arms, swaying back and forth… Mmmmm… And the club I frequent has excellent semi-private bathrooms,” Gage said, smiling as Trent turned toward him, then quickly away.
“Hang on a minute,” Trent said and dropped the hand holding the phone to his ear. “I have to take this. When you’re done out front, come in here, tighten all these fixtures the way I told you,” Trent said before lifting the phone back to his ear and turning toward the front windows. He stayed in Gage’s view, but with his head turned away.
“I’ve arranged for a friend of mine to dress you guys for the grand opening. Now, I see you about to open your mouth and tell me no, but let me finish. She can come to the house when Rhonny and the kids are home and let them pick out some things. Then come back and get your measurements for a tuxedo. Unless you have a tux, then it’s just for the kids. Now, go ahead and tell me no, I’m prepared,” Gage said, watching Trent the entire time he spoke.
“Gage, you aren’t buying my children something to wear. I’ll take care of it,” Trent said.
“Oh, really? And when will you do this? I have you working night and day until Thursday. No way you have the time. Now bring on the next argument,” Gage said.
“I work it out all the time. I’ll work this out. Thank you, but no.” Trent turned to look at Gage as he said it. Gage wondered if he realized he’d turned to stare at him in the crowded gallery foyer. Gage stared back at Trent, pleased to not be hiding this between them, but he could see the stares Trent got.
“I like talking to you better when you’re sleeping, you don’t tell me no as much,” Gage said.
“You know you keep referencing our conversation while I slept. At some point you’re gonna have to tell me what you said and what you think I agreed to,” Trent said, coming to stand right outside the front of the office. He was relaxed now, smiling, and the absolute hottest man Gage ever laid eyes on.
“I will, I promise. The next time I’m buried deep inside you, I’ll tell you. As a matter of fact that may be another time I can ask you questions, you give me lots of yeses then, too,” Gage said, giving Trent a wink and grin back. Trent just stood there, staring at Gage, the bulge in his pants growing more pronounced with each word he spoke.
“I’m hot for you, Trent Cooper. I can’t get last night out of my mind… I loved making love to you,” Gage said, his voice turning husky as he spoke.
“Me too,” Trent said, very quietly.
“Good, I’m glad. I can’t wait for the repeat. Now, back to this matter of the children’s clothing. I have already paid. This is a longtime friend who needs this sale. Emmie and Rhonny will love having their new clothes brought to the house. Please say she can come tomorrow at three. If you need her to come here and measure you, she can or she can come back tomorrow night, handsome. Now say yes,” Gage said, nodding his head to encourage the appropriate answer.
“Only if I can pay her directly or pay you back,” Trent said.
“Deal,” Gage said immediately.
“I don’t trust that quick deal,” Trent said. Gage laughed out loud.
“Think you know me so well already? Well, you do, but you’ve agreed. What’s Rhonny’s number? I’ll get Ladonda to call her directly and then call you to set up a time to be measured,” Gage said.
“I’ll text it to you, it’s in my phone. I should go, I’m on a strict deadline,” Trent said, lifting a hand to wave at him.
“Goodbye, sexy. I’ll talk to you later,” Gage said, disconnecting the call. Trent stood there a minute more, smiling, then turned and left the room completely oblivious to everyone staring at him and Gage. He couldn’t force the grin from his face either, so he just dropped his head and began to type an email to the buyer, giving her Trent’s number and Rhonny’s when the text came through a few minutes later.
****
Unsure what small children ate for dinner, Gage parked his Prius in the front of the Gourmet Haven grocery store and hightailed it in to the gourmet dinner section. The lines for both the deli and the pre-made dinner counter were long, packed with people just getting off work. Gage did a wide sweep around the displays looking at all the food. The specials for the evening were roasted lamb and bacon wrapped asparagus or spinach, feta, artichoke salad. Both looked good to him, but he wasn’t sure Em or Hunter would really like any of it after watching them go crazy over those chicken nuggets the other night. On second thought, if Trent’s kids liked McDonald’s he wasn’t sure Gourmet Haven would be on their list of acceptable food choices. Reaching for his phone, he stood in front of the counter and decided to forgo the surprise of bringing dinner over. Instead he called Trent.