“Is this the place? I’ve been past here a bunch of times, but I never stopped in.” Saul pulled the door open for him.
“Troy! I was wondering if you were coming in. I have a drink to try out on you. Who’s your friend? You look familiar…” Sue smiled across the counter, waving.
Big Bean, Little Bean had a handful of comfortable seats and low tables. Between the cozy little niches for conversation, the gaming area, and the counter stools, it was a great place to unwind.
“Hey, lady. This is Saul. He’s at the bike shop.”
Sue squinted at Saul. “Which one?”
“Up at the Cycle Rack. I think you came in with your son-in-law around Christmas… to find a new seat for his road bike, right?”
She pursed her lips, then grinned, just all of the sudden. “Ah, yes. You were very polite. So many times those shops can be so intimidating. What can I do you for?”
Saul looked honestly pleased. “That’s a real compliment. Thank you. Um. Troy said I should try the hazelnut caramel latte, please.”
“Oh, those are our most popular. You’re getting white chocolate, mint, and peanut butter, Troy.”
White chocolate, mint, and…oh, man.
Saul grinned but didn’t say a word, just found them a comfy spot to sit while Sue got to work. The shop was half full, the buzz of conversation constant, familiar.
He paid, then he waited for the lattes. When he carried the cups over, the temptation to switch their drinks was huge, but he offered Saul the one he knew was good.
That didn’t stop Saul from sniffing it first. “Thank you for the coffee. Good luck with yours.” He could see the grin Saul was trying to hide behind a sip from that coffee cup.
“Yeah. I-Wow. Peanut butter.” And white chocolate. And mint. In his coffee.
He sighed softly and took a sip. Sweet. Very sweet. And minty fresh.
“The look on your face… You’re welcome to share mine.” Saul laughed, watching him. “It’s out of this world good. Wow.”
“That one is the best, absolutely. They do an iced one too.” He settled in, the sofa just perfect and cozy. “So you went to school here and stayed. I assume you like it?”
“I love it. Just… everything. It’s a city but it has a small-town kind of feel. It’s beautiful, busy, there’s a shitload of things to do. It’s pricey I guess, but it’s worth it to me.”
“Right? That’s how I felt when I got here.” He leaned over and put his coffee down. “I came here…at a bad time, and I fell in love.”
Saul smiled. “I totally get that. Just the view alone is… inspiring. Good for the soul. I’m putting down roots here for sure.”
“Where is home, originally?”
“Originally? Northeast Philadelphia. But almost everyone has moved on from there now.” Saul shrugged. “Even my friends from home are all over.”
“I get that.” Although most of his old friends were still in Texas, he’d bet. He’d never gone back. Hell, he’d never looked back.
“We were all pretty free-spirited, got in trouble a lot. Nothing serious ever, just stupid kid shit, you know? Everyone was so ready to get out of there. My best friend Deitz—Johnny Deitz, but we used his last name because there were too damn many Johns—Deitz is in California. He went to LA, about as far from Philadelphia as you can get. But he comes to visit a lot. He keeps saying he might move.”
“I liked Los Angeles.” He’d ridden there a number of times and had loved the busy buzz of the city. He couldn’t live like that, but he’d loved being there when he was riding.
“Yeah? I didn’t care much for it, but the scene there is kind of amazing and the people I met were cool.” Saul took another sip, smiling like he was really enjoying his coffee. “Where else have you been that you liked? Do you have somewhere you go on vacation or anything?”
“Oh, I like traveling. I like cruising, I’ve been to Cancun, Cozumel. I loved Hawaii. New Orleans. I love to visit sandy beach places and then come home to the Rockies.” All his mad money was spent on his vacation fund, really. He loved to go.
“Wow, you get around, huh? I’ve never been on a cruise, but they seem like a ton of fun, and a great way to see things. And who doesn’t love the beach? We used to go to the Jersey Shore a lot in high school.” Saul grinned and that laugher was so carefree. “I’m an expert at getting a sunburn.”
He glanced down at his arm — he had scars and ink and his tan. “I haven’t had a bad one in a while. Probably since I started shaving my head. That first scalp burn was a stone-cold bitch.”
“Oh man, I bet. Why did you decide to do that? How long ago?”
Oh God. That was a story. Troy felt his cheeks go red hot, and he reached for his coffee again. “A while. Eight-nine years, I guess?”
He wasn’t sure he could tell that one. Although, why not, the man knew he was a submissive, so did he, there was nothing to be ashamed about.
Saul just nodded and didn’t push him on the why. “A while, then. What color was your hair when you had it?”
“Bright red. Bright red and curly.” It had been long too for a little while.
“Bright red! That’s no fair. I spend all this time fighting the blond stereotype and you, a ginger who could attract anyone just by looks, shave it off.” Saul put on a playful bedroom voice. “Although, I hear some really good things about you gingers.”
“Did you now?” It felt good to flirt, surprisingly good.
“Very creative, I’m told. Typically uninhibited. Fun. Any of that true? More stereotypes, of course, I wouldn’t know firsthand. I’m hoping to find out one day.”
He gave that a little thought — a very little, if he was honest — and nodded. “You know it. I was a rodeo cowboy once upon a time.”
“I know.” The smile that spread across Saul’s face said more than words. Eyes knowing and full of heat. “That might be another discussion entirely.”
“Well, then you know I’m fun and unhinged—I mean, uninhibited.” Troy winked. “I am a rare find, you know? The elusive ten-fingered roper.”
“Mm. Rare and beautiful.” Saul’s eyes didn’t leave his for a second, just as confident as anything.
Part of him really wanted to scoff, to say that no one had called him that in a long, long time. Maybe say ‘my ink is gorgeous’. He hated that in other people, though, so he just blushed and smiled. “Thank you, Sir. That’s good of you to say.”
“You don’t believe me.” Saul smiled, and again it didn’t feel like pity, just a statement. “Well, you are. But there’s more to being beautiful than looks, right? I know how those stunning eyes of yours make me feel, and I’m enjoying getting to know the guy I’m finally spending time with. I’ll make you believe it eventually. If you let me.”
“You’re something else. Honest to God.” Troy’d never been wooed like this. “I have to tell you, I’m having a good time. It’s been a great first date.”
“Me too. Thanks for letting me take you out. Hopefully, you’ll want a second one.”