Page 28 of The Christmas Accomplice

He needed to go out and get this over with. A deep breath—but not too deep—helped calm him a bit, and he left the bathroom.

Dean had started the fire and poured them each a glass of red wine. The lights were low, and the firelight played over Dean’s features. Dean had a very prominent nose and fine, limp hair, but his smile, confidence, and personality made him appealing to many different types of men. Prior to this trip, Welton most certainly would have cowed to Dean’s bluster and confidence. But now, even in this romantic setting, he suddenly understood how bad a match they were.

Before he sat down, Welton paused at the switch on the wall and brightened the lights a little. Dean squinted a bit, and Welton enjoyed seeing his slightly annoyed expression as he sat on the sofa on the other side of the coffee table. He took a sip of the wine and set his glass back down.

“I’m not trying to seduce you,” Dean said.

“Okay.”

“I was going for a calm and relaxing setting.”

“That’s nice. I just thought we needed it a little brighter in here.” Welton sipped his wine again. “This is good. Where’d you get it?”

“I bought a couple of bottles from the bar.”

Welton took another sip. When he set the glass down again, he pushed it a little farther away. He really wanted a clear head for this conversation.

“I don’t know how to start,” Dean said. “There’s obviously been a miscommunication.”

“On your part.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do. Once I have a chance to search through my emails and text messages, I’ll show you.”

“You’ve still got my text messages?”

Welton blushed, though he had no reason to. “I must have felt the need to have some kind of evidence trail.”

Dean’s almost hopeful expression quickly shifted. “Ouch.”

“Sorry. That sounded less mean in my head.”

“Is that really how you felt?”

“Yes. I always felt like I had to be prepared to defend myself at any moment. You questioned so many of my actions and decisions, as well as a lot of what I consider to be my personal traits.”

“I guess we are pretty opposite in a lot of ways.” Dean grinned. While it had always been a key move during their arguments because it made him look handsome and harmless, Welton resisted falling for it this time and simply stared back. Dean’s grin faded and he gulped some wine. “You seem different. What’s different about you?”

“Maybe it’s the altitude.”

“No, it’s something more. You’re carrying yourself differently, and when I saw you out on the path you had a big smile like you’d just won a jackpot or something.” Dean’s eyes widened. “You’ve met someone. Oh my God. You’re seeing someone new.” He sat up on the couch and looked toward the loft. “Did you guys come here together? Is he here now?”

“That’s a silly question. You and I shared the bed last night.”

“Yeah, but it’s a big bed. You could have snuck somebody in on your side, and I wouldn’t have known.”

“Well, I didn’t do that.”

“So, you’re not dating anyone?”

“I’m not dating anyone.” Although I would really enjoy the chance to date Reece Donaghy.

Dean leaned forward a bit more and fixed him with a steady look. “But there is something different about you. Have you met someone? Did you meet him out here?”

“Why should my ability to change have anything to do with me meeting someone new? Perhaps months living on my own again have helped me gain more confidence.”

“Yes, it could be that.” Dean studied him. “But there’s something more to it. You’ve got this strange half-smile and a kind of glow around you.”