2 Chapter 2

“Shelby, down,” Jesse ordered.

“Hey, no problem,” the young man said as he crouched and ruffled both of the dog’s long, silky ears and let her give his chin a good cleaning.

“Got one of my own,” he said, standing. “Clyde’s a basset. His main goal in life is to get my attention. Yeah, kinda like you, Shelby,” he said, bending to stroke the dog’s head once more.

If first impressions counted for anything, Jesse was impressed. The guy had looks, muscles and loved dogs: the trifecta. If this had been a couple of years ago, before Denny, he definitely would be a person of interest. Not that Jesse wasn’t interested now. Just not in the same way.

“What can I do for you?” Jesse asked.

“Can I use your phone? They haven’t hooked up my landline. My cell is dead and I can’t find where I packed the charger.”

“Sure, come on in.” Jesse held the door and his new neighbor entered, followed by an adoring Shelby. As the man passed by, Jesse had a chance to check out his cute little butt, which matched the rest of his muscular body.

The guy turned around. Jesse brought his eyes up just in time. “I’m Nick, by the way,” he said, offering his hand. “Nick Warden.”

Jesse took the proffered hand. It was warm and the grip firm. “Nice to meet you. Jesse, Jesse Jamison. Yeah, yeah, I get that a lot,” he said, laughing as Nick raised both hands as if Jesse James, the outlaw, had pulled a revolver. “The phone is over here,” he added, pointing to the handset on the coffee table. “You got a problem in the condo?”

“Yeah, the electric stove doesn’t work. I tried the breaker box and the coil insert. No luck. I’m calling the super to see if there’s anything he can do tonight.”

“Good luck with that.” Jesse laughed as he returned to the kitchen to finish the salad he had started. He checked the moussaka. It was ready for serving.

A few moments later, Nick came into the room. “Thanks for the phone. They can’t do anything until tomorrow, so I guess it’s McDonald’s again tonight. Hey, that smells great.”

Jesse looked from Nick to the food that was now ready to be served. On an impulse, he said, “Why don’t you stay for dinner?”

“Oh, geez! I didn’t mean…I mean I wasn’t hinting…” Nick was clearly embarrassed.

“No problem, man. I got more than enough here.”

“Well, okay if you say so,” Nick replied, the color that had risen into his cheeks receding.

“Come on. We’ll eat on the patio.”

He handed Nick the salad, picked up the moussaka and indicated Nick should follow him. When they reached the patio with its neatly set table for two, candles, flowers and champagne cooling in a bucket of ice, Nick stopped and said, “Are you expecting someone? Am I gonna create a problem here?”

Jesse sighed. “No, my boyfriend was supposed to come home tonight to celebrate our anniversary.” He thought he detected a trace of disappointment cross Nick’s handsome face. “He’s an attendant for Northwest…no, make that Delta,” said Jesse, reminding himself of the merger that was intent on interfering with his love life. “But he couldn’t make it…had to work…at the last minute.” Jesse felt his irritation at being stood up…again. It seemed to be happening a lot lately. “So, I guess you’ll just have to stand in for him.” Then realizing the implication of what he had just said, added, “Just for dinner, of course.” Now it was his turn to blush.

Nick chuckled softly. “I understand.”

Jesse popped the cork on the champagne and poured them each a glass. “This might as well not go to waste, either.”

Just then Shelby whined loudly.

“Oh, shit, I forgot,” Jesse said. “I promised her she could have a taste of the moussaka.” He got up and ran to the kitchen, grabbed a plate and the basket of rolls he had forgotten, then returned to the patio. While he was gone, Nick had lighted the candles.

“Hope you don’t mind,” he said with a smile that made Jesse shiver on the inside.

“No, no not at all. That’s what they’re for.” He returned the smile.

When he sat down, Nick commented, “You spoil her just like I do Clyde. I can’t help it, though. He was a rescue, and I just remember how forlorn he looked in that pen when I went to the shelter looking for a dog. Those big, sad eyes of his…and skinny? Man, I don’t understand how anyone can treat a dog that way.”

Jesse had been serving the moussaka while Nick was talking.