Page 14 of New Year

“You aren’t telling me anything I don’t already know, and I don’t hear a proposal.”

Zack smiled gently. “I’m offering you a spot on my couch, free use of my bathroom, and unrestricted access to my kitchen. I’ll even help you find legitimate work, if that’s what you want.”

Uh huh.“The couch? Is that before or after I spend time in your bed?”

“This is not a sexual arrangement. If I had a guest room, I’d offer that, but my place only has one bedroom, so the couch is the best I can do. It’s a fold-out, so you’ll have a bit of sleeping room. More than I imagine you’d have behind a dumpster.”

Nat wasn’t sure he believed this was a completely non-sexual offer, but he’d also never been given the opportunity to be someone’s house boy before. Even if it wasn’t a private room, getting a roof, four walls and a sofa bed, in exchange for possible sexual favors? A chance to save up real money without the stress of finding a place to sleep every night? Actually sleeping without wondering if he’d be woken up by an attacker?

It was almost too good to be true. “For how long?” Nat asked.

“If you are respectful and don’t steal from me, then for as long as necessary to reach your financial goals. And while I’d prefer you find a real job and quit hooking, I’m not your father or your parole officer. My only requirements are no drugs, no alcohol, and no bringing anyone over to my place, especially not a trick.”

Nat had smoked enough pot to know he didn’t like it, and he’d tried speed a few times, but hard drugs didn’t do much for him. He’d hated it when Austin slipped him things. “I’m not much of a drinker or partier, anyway.”

“Tricks?”

“Hell no, that would be crazy-rude. I wouldn’t bring anyone back there.”Ifhe chose to continue hooking. The idea of a place to live so he could get a real job? Tempting but also dangerous. “Why? Why are you offering this to me? We just met.”

“Because you’re worth more than eating leftovers out of the garbage.” Zack’s eyes glistened. “And I owe someone a debt I can’t repay them. Maybe the universe will accept this as my penance.”

Fair enough. Nat hadn’t trusted his instincts about Austin, too charmed by Austin’s charisma and energy and promises of how special, hot, sexy, unique Nat was. He’d painted a beautiful picture of their life together, stringing Nat along until he was hooked too deeply to leave. Zack wasn’t making lofty promises. He was making a realistic offer to help Nat get his shit together so he could leave. Start over.

He didn’t have anything left to lose, not even his pride. “Okay,” Nat replied. “I accept.”

CHAPTERTHREE

Chase is going to kill me.

For many years, Zack had possessed the means to help others get back on their feet, whether through an interest-free loan, a place to crash for a while, or a job reference for a position that never existed. He’d never thought twice about it. But in all those circumstances, he’d been living in his own place, making his own rules about who came or went. Right now, he was living in Chase’s in-law suite, which was attached to Chase’s home.

Even though Zack was paying rent, he didn’t have an official lease, and it felt strange to invite Nathaniel to live with him without running it by Chase first. He sensed Chase would understand, but still. They’d definitely talk first thing in the morning.

Zack and Nathaniel hadn’t talked much more in the diner after Nathaniel accepted his offer, which gave Zack more mental freedom to plan. Nathaniel feared public-facing jobs, because he was terrified his ex would stumble over him. Or that a friend of the ex would do the same. So, offering him a job at River Bistro was unlikely, unless he had some kitchen experience. And experience was a must. He’d never betray Chase’s trust by hiring someone off the street who couldn’t uphold their high standards.

When their waitress—and Zack appreciated how suspicious she’d been of him at one point—asked if they wanted dessert, Nathaniel said no. He still had food on his plate, so Zack asked for a box. He also ordered an assortment of pastries from the front counter display, since he didn’t have much food at the house for Nathaniel to eat. Zack spent so much time in restaurants, he rarely cooked at home.

Nathaniel was struggling to keep his eyes open by the time Zack parked in the driveway next to Chase’s car. The porch light was on, and Nathaniel seemed momentarily stumped by the sight of two identical doors on opposite sides of the small stone stoop. “Is this like a weird duplex or something?”

Zack chuckled as he unlocked his door. “No, the main house is over there. This is called an in-law suite. They were pretty common in homes built before World War II. Families could give their aging in-laws a place to live that was close enough for help when needed, but separate so they had some sense of independent living.”

“Oh. I’ve only ever seen them in movies.”

“Well, now you get to see one in person.” Zack let him in, turned on the main kitchen light, then disarmed the alarm. Nathaniel followed him, arms wrapped around his middle defensively, as if not quite trusting he wasn’t about to be dragged into the bedroom for repayment. “It’s small but serves its purpose.”

“Where’s the bathroom?”

“The bathroom is in the bedroom, through that door.”

Nathaniel bristled. “What?”

“It’s simply the way the apartment was built.” Zack hadn’t thought through the fact that this wasn’t built to accommodate overnight guests for long periods of time. “I work a lot, so we won’t be running into each other in the bathroom that often.”

“What if I have to go while you’re asleep?”

“Then tiptoe as quietly as you can through the bedroom.” Zack stopped beside the couch, unsure of his decision for the first time. It had been impulsive, just like inviting Nathaniel out for dinner. “I admit, it’s not terribly convenient, but it’s cleaner than a gas station bathroom or a dark alley. I’m putting a huge amount of trust in you, too, by allowing you into my private space.”

“I know. So, um, is this like a hostel situation? I leave in the morning when you leave, and then I come back when you’re off work? That way I’m not alone in your private space?”

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