"Oh my, two bossy little girls. We're in for it," Lara said to Mitch and gave him a big, bright smile.
"If you give me your phone, I'll take a pic of the four redheads," Rico offered as he stepped between her and Mitch.
Lara had an amused look in her eyes as she handed over her phone while balancing Natalie on her forearm. Rico took some sweet pictures and tried not to notice that Lara really was attractive. But he couldn't read Mitch when it came to her. He acted the same as always. That man was a closed book.
Sammy had fun at least, and got to make a new friend. After Lara and Gloria left, Rico got to hold Natalie, "So you and the kittens made a new friend."
"Aha," Sammy said. "I'm gonna be friends with Gloria. But don't worry, I'm still gonna be friends with you too, Rico."
"That's good. Thank you," Rico said then he let Natalie scamper away so he could go back to doing some work.
The whole time, he couldn't stop thinking about Lara's visit. She and Mitch exchanged phone numbers for babysitting favors, but Rico hated the thought of her number in his phone.
Even at quitting time he was still worrying about Mitch being attracted to her. He wanted to stay over and guard Mitch, but he knew he had to go.
"I'll be making dinner with some of the food you got us, so you're welcome to stay," Mitch told him as he was putting away his tools.
Though tempted, Rico didn't think he should stay for dinner again tonight. "I better see if I'm needed at the café or something."
Sammy pouted at him for leaving then Mitch realized. "We brought you here. We need to give you a ride back."
Rico didn't accept that offer either. "Nah. I'll hike it to Grandma's and if she wants me at the café, I'll borrow her car."
"That's not a short walk," Mitch said.
"My legs aren't broken, and it's not that far when you cut across some fields."
"OK," Mitch said and walked him to the door. When Rico was a few yards away, he called out to him. "You left the light bulbs you bought in the car."
He came out and they went over to Mitch's car together. As he unlocked the door, they both ended up leaning in at the same time. Bumping into each other in the cramped space inside the open door, they stopped and just stared at each other.
For a moment Rico forgot what they were supposed to be doing. Instead of trying to remember, he let his instinct guide him closer to Mitch. He leaned into his space. Inching closer, he noticed that Mitch wasn't drawing back. Rico didn't stop until he made contact and his mouth was pressed to Mitch's.
At first their lips bumped like the contact was accidental, maybe even meaningless. Then Rico let his mouth open against his, and he heard Mitch grunt, felt him grab his arm.
That's when Rico should have stopped and apologized, but he only pushed in harder, opened his mouth more. Mitch's hand on his arm tightened, but instead of pushing him back, he held on while his mouth opened and his tongue licked the tip of Rico's. It was the most electric thing Rico over felt.
Then Mitch's mouth moved over his. His facial hair rubbed against Rico's upper lip and his chin. His tongue glided in between his teeth, and Rico moaned.
Maybe it was the sound of his moan that broke the spell, but suddenly Mitch pulled back. He looked startled as his gaze darted from Rico's eyes down to his guilty mouth. He then stepped back and seemed confused as he stared around him.
Sobering a little, Rico remembered what brought them over to Mitch's car and reached in for the shopping bag he left in front of the passenger seat. As he straightened, he heard Mitch try to speak then clear his throat for another try.
"What was that supposed to be?" Mitch asked, his voice tight and kind of stern, like Rico had something serious to answer for.
"Just confirming that you're straight," Rico said, like kissing straight guys was no big deal.
"Is that what you were doing?" Mitch said, but with hardly any accusation in his tone.
Rico didn't answer just stared at him with a look that was half dreaming, half questioning. Still breathing hard, Mitch couldn't hold his gaze. He looked toward the house where his kid was waiting for her dinner.
"See you," Rico told him vaguely and got on his way. At every step, he was afraid he would hear Mitch telling him not to come back. But he only heard the car door close and then the door to the house as Mitch went inside, and nothing else.
Rico left with memories of that kiss haunting him, replaying over his lips. But what the hell was he thinking doing something like that? Maybe it was Lara preening that pushed him into it. Whatever it was, it was dumb, and Rico was pretty sure that the fallout from what he did hadn't hit yet.
Rico didn't know what kind of damage he might have done. He would just have to wait and see, but one question was inescapable. Was that how a straight guy would respond if another man kissed him?
Chapter 8
