Rico was out the door and off the porch when Mitch caught up with him. "Please take my car," Mitch said while lightly holding him by the arm.
"This is called pushing your luck," Rico told him.
Watching raindrops sliding down Mitch's face, Rico couldn't resist him. His hands reached out. Fingers tracing his beard then threading through his hair, Rico leaned in and kissed him.
The kiss was soft but not hesitant. It was hot and wet from the rain and their tongues sliding over one another. Mitch pulled him close and held him tighter all the time. Then an indrawn breath ended it and Rico stepped away.
"Now we're even," Rico told him and started to walk away.
"We're not even," Mitch yelled after him.
In that Rico heard a promise, but he wasn't sure that's how Mitch meant it. As he walked away, reluctant to leave, the rain felt good cooling him off a little. But as soon as he thought of those two kisses, he was hot all over again and dying for more.
Chapter 11
For the next few days, it was all work and no play at the house. That didn't keep Rico's mind free of what might happen and what it might mean.
Night and day he wondered about the possibilities that might be opening up. But so far nothing more had happened.
During lunch service at the café, Rico was complaining to Sam about Mitch while waiting to finish with his last customer of the day. "He's always doing provocative things like standing around, being hot and sweaty, saying handyman things in that deep voice of his."
Sam grinned at him. "Have you tried telling him to stop?"
"Don't take his side. He can't claim innocence after what he did." Rico had told Sam about the kiss Mitch planted on him.
"That was weird," Sam said.
Rico objected. "Whoa. Kissing me is not weird."
"I mean it's weird for a guy who says he's straight to do that. But I guess actions speak louder than words," Sam said with a shrug.
"I need a lot more action than that," Rico said, feeling frustrated in more ways than one. Mitch caused him so many sleepless nights already.
"Your last table might be ready for their check," Sam pointed out, and Rico rushed off.
He was in a hurry to finish out his shift so he could go and be frustrated by Mitch some more.
Arriving at the house, Rico found that Sammy was a little hyper and seemed to be ready to go somewhere.
"Rico, Rico, Rico. Is this dress good for cooking?" she asked and looked down at her denim dress with cutouts of orange and lemon slices sewn into it.
"It has food on it. Of course it is," Rico told her.
"Sammy was invited to a cupcake baking party at Lara's," Mitch said.
At the mention of Lara's name, Rico bristled but told himself to simmer down. "Sam told me about that. The boys are going too. Sounds nice."
"Sammy has been apologizing to the kittens because they can't go," Mitch said and that reminded her to go and console the kittens again. She ran off to the back of the house while Mitch filled Rico in on what he needed help with.
A few minutes later, they saw Lara's car pull into the driveway and a whole bunch of kids piled out along with Noreen. She had come along with Lara, Gloria and the Hayes boys. After a quick hello, the kids all went around to the back to see the kittens, and Lara went with them. Since Noreen hadn't met Mitch, Rico introduced them.
"So you're chaperoning the cupcake party?" Rico asked her.
"I don't know how I got roped into it," she said. "I don't even like sweets, but Lara wanted some adult company for the cupcake extravaganza. Her sister, Stella, will be visiting her for a few weeks. Lara said she wants to make her fat. Or barring that, tempt her until she makes her life a living hell." Noreen shrugged.
"Ahhh, sisterly love," Rico said.
He went to the kitchen to get a soda and then out to the back to see what the kids were up to. Or maybe he did it because he felt weird being around Mitch, and he was afraid Noreen would notice something.
