“Thank you for letting me come by. I missed you,” Gage said, walking in the front door. He leaned in for a light kiss on Trent’s lips. The click of a captured photo sounded in the background as Emalynn giggled the sweetest little laugh at the quick peck. It drew both their eyes toward Rhonny and the kids.
“Sorry, Sophia would want me to get this moment for her,” Rhonny said, looking down at her phone, sliding her finger across the screen, Trent assumed to text the photo. He was horrified, but Gage seemed to love it and walked over to Rhonny.
“You must be Rhonny. I’m glad I didn’t miss you tonight before you went to class,” he said, holding his hand out to her.
“I am, and I’m so happy you got here this quick. I’ve heard so much about you,” Rhonny said, her biggest grin in place.
“Me too, about you, Rhonny. Thank you for holding down the fort last night and letting me keep Trent out later than we originally planned,” Gage said. Trent came from behind and placed the chicken on the kitchen table, only a few feet away. He watched Rhonny’s reactions, grinning until he finally chuckled. Gage had that spellbound effect on people, and Rhonny’s grin proved she wasn’t resistant to his charm.
“Trent needed to get out of the house. It’s been too long,” Rhonny said. Trent immediately interrupted her. No way did he want this to turn into a poor Trent never got out of the house conversation. A worldly guy like Gage Synclair wouldn’t be interested in a guy who couldn’t find a date. Especially if everyone kept reminding Gage how easy it was to resist the current man he chose to spend time with!
“You’re going to be super late. You have to get going,” Trent said.
“Did the buyer contact you about tomorrow?” Gage asked, keeping his eyes on Rhonny.
“Yes, we’re meeting here at three tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for helping out in that department. I wouldn’t have known what to wear,” Rhonny said.
“Anytime. Only make sure you pick something you like and can wear again or not, whatever you want,” Gage said while tucking his hands in his pockets as he spoke. Gage had done it again, drawn Rhonny back into him, looking at her as if she were the only person on the planet who mattered to him. .
“Rhonny, go!” Trent said, jerking her out of her haze.
“I am, old man! Bye, everyone,” she called out, causing them all to laugh as she took off out the front door.
“You two, wash up. Dinner’s ready,” Trent said, but neither child budged.
“Is Gage staying for dinner?” Hunter asked.
“Yes, now go wash up,” Trent said to the sudden cheers. They tore past him into the kitchen, Em trying to get to the sink first. He could hear their stepstools scraping on the floor. For the first time since Gage arrived they were momentarily alone, and Gage took full advantage of it, stepping in to Trent, wrapping him in his arms.
His head descended immediately, hovering above his lips as he breathed in Trent’s scent and whispered quietly. “You were amazing last night. I thought about you all day. Just one kiss before we go in there.” Trent opened for him, meeting Gage’s tongue halfway until they were sliding and swirling together. The kiss was intense but brief, ending as the stools scraped back to their place in the kitchen. Trent kept Gage in the circle of his arms when he would have pulled away.
“Thank you for coming out here tonight. You have to be exhausted. Feel free to bail whenever you want,” Trent said, looking Gage directly in the eye. Before, he’d always found a way to avert his gaze because Gage’s stare reached out and touched his soul. But now, after watching this whole exchange in his front room, he seemed to crave those feelings, wanting the connection Gage seemed happy to give him and his family.
“I’m not leaving until I get some sofa time… It’s been twenty years since I made out on someone’s couch, and I think it was probably with a girl so it doesn’t count at all. That’s changing tonight,” Gage said, pulling free of Trent’s hold as Hunter and Em came around the corner.
“Daddy made my favorite tonight. Chicken and rice! Mmmm, it’s so good! Gage, you’re gonna love it,” Em said.
“Can Gage sit by me, Daddy?” Hunter said.
“No, by me!” Em said.
“Stop it, you two. You’ll scare him off before we even sit down. Get up at the table. I’ll get your milk,” Trent said, stepping away and herding them to the table. “Gage, you can have Rhonny’s spot. Guys, show him where to sit.”
Chapter 14
The table was set, loaded with the dinner Trent cooked. Gage took his seat in Rhonny’s spot with both Em and Hunter on each side of him at the small table. Trent filled the children’s glasses with milk and did a quick inventory of possible drink options. He stood at the refrigerator door looking over at Gage.
“I have a Chardonnay, probably something Sophia left. I have Heineken, Bud Light, tea, and water, what would you like?” Trent asked.
“The Chardonnay sounds good to me,” Gage said.
“Got it,” Trent said. He grabbed a Heineken and the Chardonnay bottle, pouring Gage a glass in his dollar store wine glasses. He made a mental note to pick something up a little nicer in the near future. Trent placed the milk glasses on the table in front of Em and Hunter and handed Gage his wine before he took his seat.
“It’s not much, but I hope it’s good. I’m not gonna lie. I’m not a super good cook,” Trent said as he sat, scooping spoonfuls of rice and green beans on the kids’ plates.
“Daddy, just three green beans,” Em said.
“No, let’s do four,” Trent negotiated back. “It’s close enough to your birthday for four.”
“No, it’s the rule, Daddy,” Em said, pushing one of the four green beans to the edge of the plate.