Page 31 of Twice Shy

“Me? No. I moved here after my divorce. I was looking for…peace, I guess. A quiet life.”

Ollie gave a rueful smile. “I remember peace.”

“The kids keep you on your toes, huh?”

“Day and night.” Another sip of his coffee hid whatever expression crossed his face. “They’re great. Just”—a glance at Rory— “you know. A lot.”

Joel didn’t know, but he could imagine. A twenty-four/seven job with no weekends, no sick days, and no vacation? That was a lot for two parents, let alone one. “You have family nearby to help out?”

“Not really. My mom’s based in Colorado Springs, but she travels a lot for work. She’s a civilian auditor with the Air Force, based in Guam right now. She came back for a few months after…” A glance at Rory. “But she has to work, you know? And it’s a good job. The kids’ grandparents—paternal grandparents—live on the island, though, in Woodbury. That’s one of the reasons I decided to settle here, so the boys could keep that contact.”

“Do they help out much?”

Ollie met his eyes across the table, a very expressive look.No, it said.Not at all.“They love the boys. They want the best for them.” He hesitated. “They’re pretty conservative.”

Ah. And their idea of ‘the best’, Joel surmised, was probably not being raised by a young gay man. He wondered how Ollie had ended up with the boys, but it was impossible to ask with Rory sitting right there. He said, “I see,” and then heard himself add, “Well, if you ever need a hand, let me know. I’d be happy to help.”

Ollie gave a tight smile. “Thanks, but I’m fine. We get along fine.”

“I can see that, but the offer still stands. It’s not easy being new in town—took me a couple years to find my feet and I only had myself to worry about.”

“Yeah? You didn’t—?” He broke off as the bells above the door tinkled and a swirl of cool air brushed the back of Joel’s neck. Twisting around to see what had caught Ollie’s eye, his heart sank. Luca Moretti stood frozen mid-stride on the threshold of the coffee shop, staring in their direction. For a horrible moment Joel thought heknew, that it was obvious they weren’t just friends grabbing a coffee, but then he realized Moretti’s gaze was fixed on Ollie, not him, and that his expression was startled. Turning back around, he was surprised to find Ollie returning Moretti’s look with equal discomfort. After a moment Ollie gave a stiff nod and looked away, out the window. Behind Joel, Moretti walked past their table to the counter and ordered a couple of coffees to go.

Jaw locked, Ollie stared fixedly out the window. His fingers, wrapped around his mug, looked stiff and tense. “Okay?” Joel said uneasily.

Ollie’s gaze flicked to Moretti. Quietly, he said, “You know him?”

“No.” After a pause, he added, “Looks like you do, though?”

But Ollie shook his head. “Not really.”

Joel stirred his coffee, watching the tiny whirlpool he’d created. This wasn’t the first time he’d seen Ollie watching Moretti with interest. “I know he’s Theo Wishart’s partner at the Majestic.” Looking up and studying Ollie’s face, he added, “Romantic as well as business. Much to the regret of half the women in town. And a few of the guys, no doubt.”

“Is that so?” If Ollie was surprised by the news it didn’t show. In fact, he relaxed a fraction and caught Joel’s eye, smiling. “Anyone I know?”

The speculation—theinterest—in his gaze was overt and all Joel’s instincts warned him to retreat, to play straight and protect himself. No matter what Amy might think, this wasexactlythe kind of romantic adventure Joel needed to avoid. But there was something in Ollie’s direct gaze that demanded honesty. Joel swallowed, his dry throat clicking. “He’s not really my type.”

“No?”

“I prefer…brunettes.”

Ollie flashed a brilliant grin, leaning toward him over the table. “Well, that’s a coincidence. So do I.”

A thrill of pleasure raced through him as Ollie’s dancing eyes met his. But the strange tension Joel had sensed between him and Moretti left Joel feeling uneasy—and he couldn’t help wondering what it meant.

---