Page 12 of Starting Over in Cedarwood

“Right here.” Kyle kissed Shaun on the lips. “Missed me?”

“I…” Shaun paled, then met Kevin’s gaze. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Kevin let go of Shaun’s hand and stood. “I see I’m interrupting. See you around.” He left the table without looking back. He’d started developing feelings for Shaun. Granted, Shaun wasn’t necessarily his and they weren’t a couple, but why did he have to pick Kyle? Kevin shoved his hands into his pockets and walked the four blocks home. He couldn’t compete with Kyle for Shaun’s attention. Not when Kyle looked like he’d stepped out of a fashion magazine.

He sighed. He liked Shaun and wanted to think running into Kyle was a coincidence, but Christ, he was forty years old and too far gone to waste time with someone who wanted to play around.

One day, the right man would come along and sweep him off his feet.

Just not today.

Chapter Three

Shaun shoved Kyle away and growled. He’d lost perfectly good time with Kevin because Kyle had to be a dick. “What are you doing?” He wiped his mouth and twisted in his seat to see which way Kevin had gone. “I was here with him.”

“Waiting on the friend?” Kyle asked. He polished his watch face on his shirt. “Or was he the friend?”

“It’s none of your business, but he was the friend, yes.” Probably not now. He’d seen Kevin’s reaction to Kyle and could feel it, too. Kyle had done a number on him, but what did Shaun expect? Kyle was a toxic person, just like Kevin said. Shaun would be lucky if Kevin spoke to him again.

“Why would you want to meet up with him? Kevin’s so boring and he’s a server. I work in the offices and have access to the team.” Kyle pushed Kevin’s empty cup aside. “At least he still has decent taste in coffee. I taught him everything he knows about it.”

Shaun sighed and put space between him and Kyle. “I’ll bet you did. You molded him into the man he is today, right?” He shook his head. “What did you do? Visit every coffee shop in town until you found me? Stalkerish much?”

“I was making a coffee run and saw you, so I stopped.” Kyle shoved another napkin into Kevin’s cup. “Why? You looked like you needed rescued.”

“I was fine.”

“With Kevin?” Kyle crooked his eyebrow. “Really?”

“He’s not so bad—not as bad as you think.”

“Ah. Not so bad, eh? Translation, he’s not fuckable and you’re not dying to get him into bed, but you’ll give him a pity date. Sounds like you’re biding your time.” Kyle rolled his eyes. “Oh well. I hear the band is good tonight.”

“Might be.” Shaun wasn’t interested in listening to music tonight, not even his precious Mozart. “I need to go. I’ve got emails to answer and it’s getting stuffy in here.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Kyle slapped the table. “Let’s go.”

“You can go anywhere you want. I’m heading home—alone.” He put a five-dollar-bill on the table, then stood. “I need to pay the tab.”

“He left you with the bill? What an asshole.” Kyle snorted. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“It was my treat.”

Kyle sighed. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come along? I’m great company.”

“I’m sure.” He left the table. Shaun had thought he’d made some headway with Kevin. Thought they sort of liked each other. Might even be able to start dating. Then Kyle had come along. Jesus Christ. He paid the bill and thanked the girl at the register. “Thanks.”

Kyle fell into step beside him out to the lot. “Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere? It’s early.”

“I had plans and they changed, so no.” He stayed by the door of his car. Kyle was too clingy for his tastes.

“Then come with me. We’ll hit Sum51 in Cleveland. It’s a great club and loaded with hot men. Lots of dancing and music,” Kyle said. “You might want to change. Denim is frowned on at the club.”

“No thanks.” He’d done the clubbing thing and was over it.

“Don’t like the music?”

“I’m not in the mood for a concert or dancing tonight.” Shaun folded his arms. “But you are, so you should go. Get some of your energy out and have a good time.”

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