Page 28 of Nicks and Cuts

He didn’t wait for Dante to disagree; he just did it, and Dante didn’t argue.

“I’m sorry I made you worry, and I will clean up the blood.”

“It’s okay. You should probably take it easy. I’ll only take me five minutes to wipe up.”

“Shannon, I mean it. I didn’t expect you to take care of me.”

He nodded and stripped off the gloves. “Maybe I wanted to.”

And the only reason he wanted to was because he was a fucking idiot. He needed to get back on the website and seriously look for another place. Before he knew, it the three months would be up, and he didn’t want to be begging to stay.

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

On his next days off, Shannon made the effort to go and look at some rentals, even though he wanted to be at Dante’s place, pottering around the kitchen or sitting on the veranda. It had taken him almost a month to settle in, but now he didn’t want to leave. The last few weeks had been nice. And not in the way some people used nice, but in a way that was calm and unpressured yet filled with anticipation and kisses.

He was sharing a house with someone who seemed to care about him. Dante always had a coffee, in the giant soup mug, ready for him when he got up after a night shift. Before he’d moved, he had worried he’d be bored by the lack of social life, but he wasn’t missing it at all. Putting on track pants and watching a movie after work with his head in Dante’s lap or Dante’s in his was…it was something he couldn’t have imagined enjoying four months ago.

He walked through the house that was just out of town. It was too big for just him, but the apartment in the town over had been too cold, and commuting wasn’t something he wanted to get back into.

“Any thoughts?” The real estate agent asked.

“It’s great, but I’m not moving here with family.”

She smiled. “That’s all I have on my books at the moment for rent. Have you thought about buying?”

He bit his tongue to keep from laughing. He did not have enough savings for that. His account had taken a hit even though he’d moved on a shoestring budget and a traded fish trailer. “I’m not sure about buying just yet. I’d like to get a better feel for the town.”

“Well, if something else comes up, I’ll give you a call?”

“That would be great.” He tried to sound enthusiastic before thanking her for her time once again and heading home, not that he should be thinking of it as home.

He parked in what he thought of as his spot and got out of his SUV.

Dante was in the workshop, so Shannon walked over, knowing he needed to say all the rentals were shit.

“Get all your errands done?” Dante put his gloves to one side and swept wood shavings onto the floor. His arm was still bandaged but was healing without stitches, though Shannon had been checking and making sure that it was still taped closed.

Shannon shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yes…but unsuccessfully. I thought I’d better look at some rentals.” He didn’t miss the fleeting panic that crossed Dante’s face at the admission that he hadn’t actively been looking. “I have been looking online…but I hadn’t gone in person before today. There hasn’t been much around that’s suitable.” Or that he liked as much as where he currently was.

“I know, I’ve also looked.”

“Oh.” Were things not going as well as he thought they were—housemates with a side of sex. Was he missing something?

“You can extend your stay. I’m not going to kick you out when there’s nothing out there.”

“Thank you.” An awkward silence hung between them. Did he need to say something else? “Maybe I should be less fussy, but family homes and apartments in Hartsville are not what I’m hoping for.”

He should not be hoping to stay there. He should not be looking forward to working days and falling asleep in Dante’s arms and waking up there. Was taking the bland apartment and commuting the smart thing to do? It would get him away from this messy situation.

“I get it. You want something close to work and with a small-town vibe. A few of them have been bought up and turned into short-term rentals, or holiday homes for people who want to get away.”

“I didn’t think I’d like staying in such a rural place, but I’m starting to see the appeal.” He kept his gaze on Dante. It was as close to the truth as he wanted to get.

This was a rebound, that’s all. And it was never going anywhere because Dante had made no steps out of the closet. Which made it very safe for Shannon, except now the expiration date had disappeared.

Dante laughed. “This isn’t rural. The alpaca farm is rural.”