Chapter 2

“So, you’ll just have to wait it out, or accept that this is what he wants. He’s an adult, after all. In the meantime, I don’t see why you can’t have some fun. With me.” His contagious grin charmed me.

“You remind me of Sonny Bonhomie, a friend of mine.” It still sounded a little strange, using that word “friend.” I tended to keep people at bay or scare them off, but Sonny wouldn’t have it. Now he and his boyfriend Bruce were a part of my world.

Trenton chuckled. “Sounds like someone I’d love to meet sometime.”

I tried out a wink of my own. “You never know.” Flirtation felt weird, but good. My date made it easy somehow.

Trenton pretended to be shocked, one hand on his chest. “Mr. Barfield! Are you suggesting we have further furtive frolics? I approve.”

I was getting used to his teasing manner, though I felt my cheeks heat. I cleared my throat. “I’m glad to hear it.”

“Oh, now, that blush is delightful. I think I need to get you to do that more often.”

I resisted rolling my eyes since that would be unseemly for a man of my age. I sat back as the server cleared our table. Then dessert appeared.

“I’m not sure I have room for more,” Trenton said, patting his stomach as he eyed the white chocolate cranberry cheesecake we’d both ordered.

“Let’s try anyway,” I suggested gamely as I grabbed a fork and took a bite. My eyes closed of their own volition. I was rigid about many things, but when it came to dessert, I had no restraint. “This is good,” I murmured, licking my lips and barely containing a moan.

“Mm, strike two, Mr. Barfield,” Trenton said, eyeing me knowingly as I savored every bite. “I now know two ways to get under your skin. What’s the third, I wonder?”

I didn’t respond in favor of enjoying the decadence on my plate. God, it was delightful.

Trenton chuckled. “No answer, eh? That’s okay. I’ll figure it out.”

When it was time to go, Trenton paid for our meal and ignored my arguments and heavy glower as we left the restaurant and stood next to each other on the sidewalk. It was a warm spring night, and I actually didn’t want the evening to end just yet. I hadn’t expected to feel this way.

“My place?” he offered, tucking an arm in the crook of my elbow as he studied me under the streetlight. He was my height, but not as bulky as me.

“You sure you want to spend more time with me? What you see is what you get,” I replied, knowing my demeanor could often be called “off-putting.” Noah had called me a stick in the mud many times. So did Sonny, actually, but he was only teasing.

Trenton leaned in closer. “Oh, I think there’s more to you than you allow the world to see. And don’t forget, I like stern and rigid, especially in the right places.” He bumped my leg and leered.

I swallowed as my cock responded to his words like a lightning rod. Need throbbed in my loins, pushing against my fly.

“And there it is, ladies and gentlemen, strike three!” Trenton was practically gleeful as we walked together down the sidewalk to find his car.

What had I gotten myself into?

* * * *

Trenton drove us in an old Cressida to a house on the outskirts of town. The friendly, flirtatious vibe that we’d had slowly dwindled until he was practically brooding next to me. By the time we arrived at his two-story home at the end of the street, Trenton appeared to be in a funk. Not sure what was going on and vaguely concerned, I followed him to the front door.

I couldn’t see much of the outside since there was only a tiny light in the doorway, but there seemed to be a lot of overgrowth in the yard surrounding the house. The paint on the porch, as well as the walls next to the door, was peeling. I didn’t make a comment as he let us inside.

From what I’d seen of Trenton’s personality, I expected lots of color, avant-garde paintings, and a love nest. So, okay, maybe I was stereotyping, but I was mildly shocked to see the walls bare of decoration. Even myhouse had more stuff on display than his did. Everything around me seemed somewhat shabby but clean. An air of loneliness and despair lingered in the space.

“You lived here long?” I asked as I watched him put a pot of water to boil on the stove once we entered the kitchen.