Professional Distance (Thorne and Dash 1)

“You’re what?” Riley couldn’t have heard that right.

“I told you I’d made changes. So what about Monday at noon?”

Riley didn’t have to stop and consider. He had to find out if there was still a chance for them. “Yes.”

“I’ll send a car to pick you up.”

Riley shook his head. “I’ll meet you. Just tell me where.”

“There’s an Italian place, Molto Bella, down the street from my office.”

“Is this your kind of place? Should I wear a suit?”

Thorne smiled. “No. It’s unpretentious but excellent.”

“I’ll be there.”

Riley studied Thorne for a few moments, allowing himself to truly take in the sight of him now that they were potentially moving forward. “You look good. I like this.” He reached up and stroked Thorne’s beard, but as soon as he felt the rasp of hair, he pulled his hand back, realizing he shouldn’t be touching Thorne.

“I don’t mind,” Thorne said.

“It’s not fair to you, though. I can’t tease you when I don’t know what I want.”

Thorne smiled. “I know what I want.”

There was the Thorne he remembered. “Thank you for telling me, for showing up here. I was too chicken to call you.”

Thorne’s eyes widened. “You wanted to call me?”

“Every fucking day.”

The emotion in Thorne’s eyes was strong enough to knock Riley over.

Thorne turned to go to his car. One slow step. Then another. Then another.

Riley didn’t want him to leave, not yet. “Thorne?”

“Yes?” He stopped but didn’t turn around.

“There’s a twenty-four-hour doughnut place down the street. They actually have really good coffee. Would you—?”

He spun to face Riley. “Yes!”

“Okay, let me just tell Marc. I’ll be right back.”

THORNE LET DASH pay for their coffee and doughnuts though it wasn’t an easy concession. He’d gone with Dash’s recommendation of a cinnamon cake doughnut, but he wasn’t sure he could actually eat. What if he said the wrong thing? This might well be his last chance with Dash.

Dash gestured toward a corner booth, and Thorne headed in that direction. Once they were seated, an awkward silence settled over them. The walk to the shop had been short, and traffic made the street loud even at that time of night, so they hadn’t really had to talk until now. Obviously, neither of them knew what to say.

After staring at his coffee for far too long, Thorne blurted out. “I came out at work.”

Dash looked up, his eyes wide. “You did?”

“I did. And I told my family too.”

Dash whistled. “How’d that go?”

Thorne smiled at the memory, no point in letting it get him down. “Yeah, it was a fun Thanksgiving.”

Dash’s mouth dropped open. “You told them at Thanksgiving?”

“Yes. I’m an ass, aren’t I?”

Dash snorted. “That’s hardly news.”

“Do you want to hear the story?”

“If you… Yes.” Dash nodded.

“I told my sister first. Right after you…after we… She wasn’t surprised. My parents on the other hand… I told them at Thanksgiving, because I’m an asshole. Dad stomped out. Mom had a fit. But I got through it. I also took two weeks off.”

“Two whole weeks?”

Thorne laughed. “Yes, the senior partners were equally shocked.”

“Did you go sailing?”

He nodded.

“Did you buy a boat?”

“No. I…” Wanted to wait for you. “Might get one in the spring.”

“I’ve made changes too,” Dash said. “I quit my job.”

“Really? I… I’m sorry if I…” As much as Thorne had wanted him to quit, he didn’t want to be responsible for Dash being unemployed.

“No. It was time. I’ve got enough saved.”

He’d have more if he’d taken the money Thorne wanted to give him. “Dash, are you sure… I—”

“Do not bring up the money you tried to give me. That was… What made you think that was okay?”

“You deserve to go to school, and I wanted to help.”

Dash lowered his head into his hands and ruffled his hair. “You don’t get it, do you?”

Thorne hadn’t until Kathryn had talked to him. “I insulted you.”

“I’m not working for you, and I’m not taking your ‘gift.’” Thorne heard the sarcastic air quotes.

“What if I said it was a scholarship?”

“Thorne.” He was pushing it, and he had to stop.

“Fine; I felt terrible after you left; guilty, stupid, ashamed. I wanted to make it better, but I ended up doing something stupid again. I get that, but I just wanted you to be able to follow your dream without having to work anymore.”

“You didn’t want me to see any other clients, even if I was no longer seeing you.”

Heat rushed to Thorne’s face. He wasn’t going to deny it. “Yes, that too.”

Dash’s expression softened. “I didn’t want to see any more clients. The job had been fun, but it wasn’t anymore unless I was with you.”

“Could we start over? Try dating? I can go slow.”

Dash closed his eyes. And Thorne measured off the seconds by tapping his fingers against the cup he’d yet to take a sip from. Neither of them had touched their doughnuts.