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“But what if nobody wants them?” Sylvia fidgeted with her tea mug, rotating it in precise quarter turns, and didn’t meet their eyes. “As lovely as the baskets are, we don’t really need to be stuck with dozens of them, let alone quarts of langoustine ceviche spoiling in the heat.”
“Sylvia,” Casey said severely, “you’re not trying to replicate your restaurant menu. You’re creating picnics. Like the one you put together for Dev and me. Food appropriate to the day.” He looked up at Dev with a wicked grin. “Maybe some rustic tarts.”
“Casey’s right, Sylvia,” Dev said. “This is a fabulous idea. Other people deserve to taste your food again.”
“But the waste,” she wailed.
“If you’re worried about how to plan for it, don’t give it a thought,” Casey said. “You and Kat can come up with some menu options. No more than three or four, though. Give people too many choices and they can’t decide squat. Once you’ve got it figured out, I’ll put a pre-order form online on the festival website, with the warning that we’ll have very few available on the day. I bet we’ll sell out both options. In fact?” He crossed his arms and jerked his chin down in a decisive nod. “I guarantee it.”
Sylvia’s worried frown softened into an expression of wistful, almost childlike hope that caught Dev right under the heart. “You really think so?”
“Positive.” The door opened, and Casey glanced over his shoulder. “Oh look. Here’s Kat now.”
“Morning.” Kat handed Sylvia a latte. “Did I miss something?”
“No, you’re just in time.” Casey left Dev’s side to lean on the counter again and give Sylvia the full puppy-dog eye treatment that he’d probably perfected volunteering at Ty’s shelter. “Fill her in, Sylvia? About the baskets, the artisans, everything? I know the two of you can handle it beautifully, but if you need me, just text and I’ll be here.”
As Kat settled on a stool next to Sylvia, Casey backed up a step with a satisfied grin. Gazing at his sparkling eyes, Dev’s chest felt as though it was three times its normal size—and points further south were threatening growth as well.
Dev surreptitiously tugged on his shorts. “Casey?” His voice broke, so he cleared his throat. “Can I, uh, speak with you for a moment? Outside?”
Casey blinked at Dev’s tone. “Sure?”
“Later, ladies.” Dev looped an arm around Casey’s waist and hustled him out the door.
“Dev.” Casey laughed as Dev propelled him across the field toward the willow tree that stood opposite the stage that Kenny and his shop kids were in the process of finishing. “What’s so urgent?”
Dev pushed aside the willow fronds and drew Casey inside their leafy curtain. “This.”
He lifted Casey off his feet so they were face to face and kissed him, hot and wet and slick.
Casey moaned and wrapped his legs around Dev’s waist, his arms around Dev’s neck, returning the kiss with enthusiasm. At his angle, Dev’s aching cock lined up perfectly with Casey’s erection. He cradled Casey’s ass in his hands and thrust against him, the friction almost enough to distract him from the heat of Casey’s mouth, the slide of Casey’s tongue against his.
A clatter from the stage made Casey gasp and pull away. He glanced over his shoulder. “Can they see us in here?”
Dev nibbled on the spot below Casey’s ear. “Don’t care if they do.”
“Dev.” Casey’s chuckle cut off when Dev nosed aside the neck of his T-shirt and sucked on the curve of his shoulder. “Do you have an outdoor sex kink you want to tell me about?”
“No. I have a Casey sex kink.” He kissed his way up Casey’s throat and captured his mouth again. “And other than that way too brief blowjob this morning, I haven’t had a chance to indulge it since we launched this goddamn time-suck.”
The worry wrinkle appeared between Casey’s brows. He laid a gentle hand against Dev’s cheek. “Do you wish we hadn’t done it?”
“Fuck no.” Dev kissed the little wrinkle until it smoothed away. “What you’ve done for the town, for its people, for me? Casey…” Dev took a huge breath. “I don’t even have the words. On the one hand, I’m so grateful I want to drop to my knees right now and blow you for the second time today.”
Casey’s pupils dilated. “Just so you know, I’d be onboard with that.”
“On the other hand, I want to wrap you in my arms and never let go because thanks to you, I’ve also discovered the joys of therapeutic cuddling. And you’re right. Sex isn’t the only reason for a relationship. Not the kind I want.” He gazed into Casey’s eyes, the willow leaves turning their hazel green and secret. “There’s something I need to tell you. I—”
“Oh my god!”
Casey was gazing beyond Dev’s shoulder in horror, and Randolph Scott’s muffled mew was a big fucking clue why.
“Don’t tell me.” Dev laid his forehead against Casey’s. “Another dead mouse?”
“It’s, um, bigger. I think it’s a rat. God, Dev, what if he does this during the festival?”
Dev angled his stance to block Casey’s view. “I think the guests will be safe. The only person he’s presented with rodent corpses lately has been you.” Dev glanced down at the cat, who was washing one hind leg in complete unconcern. “Cockblocker.”
