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Bill grins and looks at me. “And what can I get for you?”
“I’ll have an Earl Grey and the lemon pound cake.” I lean in until my lips brush against Jocelin’s ear. “You can have some of mine.”
His grin is wide, and it makes my heart feel too big for my chest. “Are you sure?”
“For you, I’m absolutely sure.”
He kisses my cheek, and Bill gestures to the other end of the counter. “Go pay and have a seat. I’ll bring everything out to you.”
Jocelin tugs me toward the register, where a forty-something woman of average height, light brown skin, and dark wavy hair stands behind the counter. “Amanda, how was Arizona?”
Her face lights up when she sees Jocelin. “Hot. But it was nice to see the family.” She glances pointedly at me and raises an eyebrow at Jocelin. He grins and squeezes my hand. “Gunnar, this is Amanda. She’s one of the owners of the shop.” He turns and points to a tall, red-haired woman chatting with a couple near the fireplace. “That’s Amanda’s wife, Georgiana. She’s the other owner.” Georgiana hears her name and looks over at us. Jocelin waves and she returns the greeting before going back to her conversation. “Amanda, this is my boyfriend, Gunnar.”
She holds out her hand, and I shake it. “It’s very nice to meet you, Gunnar. What can I get for you?”
“Earl Grey tea, a slice of lemon cake, an oolong, and one sfogliatella.”
I reach for my wallet, but Jocelin shakes his head. “I picked the place, I pay.”
“Is that so?” I cock an eyebrow at him, but he just nods and hands his card to Amanda. “Okay, I’ll remember this rule.”
He grins and takes his card back, then leads me to an overstuffed loveseat by the fire. It’s cozy without being uncomfortable, and we’re close enough for me to stretch my arm along the back of the loveseat and still slip my fingers into Jocelin’s hair. “So you come here a lot?”
“Yeah. It’s one of my favorite places. I love the ambiance, but I also love the pastries.”
His grin is almost boyish, and it’s completely charming. “Is this your go-to date spot?”
Jocelin shakes his head. “I don’t really do a lot of dating. Work and friends keep me busy. Though I haven’t been doing as much of the friend thing lately.” He wrinkles his nose. “It’s kind of depressing being the only unpaired person most of the time.”
I know what he means. Tom’s been married for as long as I’ve known him, and with Astrid dating Gary, and Erik with Jules, I’ve been even less social than I normally am. “You make it sound like you haven’t had a boyfriend in years.”
He shrugs. “I haven’t.”
“How is that even possible?” Jocelin makes a self-deprecating snort. “No really, I’m serious Joce. You’re intelligent, fun to be with, and you’re gorgeous. Like, seriously everyone-thinks-so gorgeous. How come someone hasn’t snatched you up already?” I don’t mean to embarrass him, but it doesn’t make any sense to me.
He blushes. “I grew up in a conservative family where same-sex couples were tolerated but not easily accepted. I’m not the first queer member of my family, but the rest aren’t wearing rainbow T-shirts and marching in Pride parades. That message sunk in very early on, so even though I knew I was gay by the time I was ten, I didn’t come out until I was in my teens. Even then, everyone kept asking why I didn’t have a girlfriend. Mygrand-mèrewas the only person in my family who would openly talk about it with me. She’d ask which boy I liked at school, and we’d gossip about which famous people we thought were attractive, and that helped a lot. But my parents preferred not to discuss it.”
He leans into me, and I drop my arm around his shoulders, offering him what comfort I can so many years later. “I did have a few boyfriends during my six years of undergrad and graduate school, but none of them lasted. They wanted to party, and by then, I was too focused on my studies for most of them. It’s been all about my career since graduation, trying to be the best lawyer I can for my clients. Meeting you was pure coincidence and luck. I’m not sure we’d have connected, if it hadn’t been for Victor.” He winces, then snorts. “Damn! I guess I actually owe him for this, don’t I?”
I chuckle. “Yeah, I guess we both do. Though I think Astrid might have eventually succeeded in getting us together.”
“Alright. Here we go.” Bill sets his tray down, then unloads everything onto the small coffee table. “You both enjoy.” He turns to Jocelin. “Let me know what you think of the sfogliatella.” He tucks the tray under his arm and wanders back behind the counter. I nudge Jocelin. “So speaking of Victor, how’s it been this week, now that you’re officially off the market?”
His cheeks pink. “He’s completely pissed, and it’s been a bit unpleasant at work, but it’s totally worth it.” He chews on his lower lip. “I may have made things worse by telling his aunt off within earshot of several people.”
My eyes go wide. “What did you say? And why?”
His indignant huff is too cute. “Well, she continued to insist that Victor should have the Hibernian Press imprints because I had too much on my plate. Even though Alistair told her this morning, in no uncertain terms, that it wasn’t her decision, and that I was responsible for the imprints and would remain so until he and Nando decide otherwise. I just reminded her of that. I take my job very seriously, and I’m not a slacker.” He scowls. “She had no right to continue pressing her point, and I told her so in a very professional and non-confrontational way. Sort of.”
I chuckle. “Sort of?”
Jocelin grins. “I might have raised my voice. And I definitely had a tone.”
“Good for you.” I squeeze his hand. “Astrid says you’re a wonderful lawyer, and Blake counts on you. I’m sure others see that, too.”
I pull him closer, and the air thickens around us, becoming supercharged with possibility. “I’d like to kiss you now, in this very public place. Is that alright?” I drag the pad of my thumb across his lower lip, remembering how soft and plush his mouth felt against mine. Jocelin nods, staring right back, and he’s so serious I can’t help teasing him. I blame my birth order. “There may be tongue and everything. Are you absolutely sure?”
“Gunnar.”
