Page 26 of Second Chances in Cedarwood

He kissed Jack. “You. I needed you in my life. The story part is just cake.”

“How do we do this? Us?” Jack asked. “I want all of it.”

“With patience and tenderness.” He kissed Jack again. “I don’t want anyone else. Just you.”

“Want you—only you.”

“Then we keep trying together.” He swayed with Jack, loving the feel of Jack’s body against his. “We keep doing our hometown romance thing.”

Jack laughed. “You’re corny.”

“Of course.”

“I like your corny.”

“I like you, too.” He continued to sway. “Let’s go home. You’re tired and are dead on your feet.”

Jack shrugged, but he grinned. “I’m perking up.”

“I can feel it.” The bulge in Jack’s jeans rubbed against the one in his own trousers. “Let’s go home. I’ll take care of you.”

“I can’t say no to you.”

Jack finished cleaning up then locked the shop. He ensured the security system was on and everything else was off before he followed Henry to the office to stuff the take into his bag. He held Henry’s hand. “I’m ready.”

Henry led the way to the lot. Jack spotted his car, but not Henry’s. “Did you drive?”

“I walked.” Henry toyed with the strap of his bag. “It’s not far and I knew it wouldn’t be dark out. Plus, we live in Cedarwood. It’s safe and I wanted exercise.”

“Then ride with me.” He squeezed Henry’s fingers. “I’m sorry I freaked out.”

“Don’t sweat it. We’re new at this.” Henry let go and rounded the hood. “My ex-boyfriend Nathan would’ve lost his mind. He hated my writing.”

“Why?” He joined Henry in the car.

“He wanted to travel. He wanted to go places on comped tickets and such,” Henry said. He settled beside Jack. “Most of the magazines I write for want me to make the trip and pay for only me. Any guests go on my dime.”

He engaged the engine. “So? Were the tickets that expensive? Or was he that much of a dick?”

“A dick. Nathan wanted something for nothing every time,” Henry said. “He’d have seen that email about the offer to write for the paper and flipped out because he’d hate staying here. He didn’t want me to go somewhere and settle down.”

“Are you?” He swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. He didn’t want Henry to go. “Staying here?”

“I bought a condo, so I probably should.” He reached across the console and held Jack’s hand. “Plus, I have this super-hot younger boyfriend.”

“I’m only a little younger, but I can offer you all the hot dogs you can eat.” He kissed Henry’s knuckles.

“See? Perks I wasn’t even trying for, but I’ve got them.” Henry held Jack’s hand tighter. “We’re silly old men.”

“We’re not old.” He didn’t consider himself middle-aged—not yet.

“We’re silly.”

“We’re getting our sea legs.” He sounded corny, too…like an old man. Jack laughed as he pulled into his garage. “But we’re romantic.”

“So…romantic legs?” Henry asked.

“Better.” He turned the car off then closed the garage with the remote.

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