Page 10 of Heartstrings & Hijinks

“Because you’re friends with my brother and I work for you?” he asked. He knew the answer already, though. Perhaps he needed more assurance that I meant what I said about my interest in him. If we weren’t in a moving car, I’d take the opportunity to show him again physically how I felt.

I met his questioning gaze with a steady stare. I knew how to put heat behind my gaze, and I was doing it now.

“Oh.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“You had a lot to say last night. Do you recall any of it?” I asked. “Let’s start with what I’m saved as in your phone?”

“Oh, goodness.” Evan groaned and buried his head in his hands, leaning so far forward he was practically under the glove compartment.

“Evan, there’s no need to be embarrassed.”

“There absolutely is! You could fire me for the things that came out of my mouth. You could fire me for having you saved as ‘Hot Gregory.’”

“So you remember what you said?”

“I can imagine the things I might say if given the opportunity, and I had no filter.”

I smiled. “Yes, you did mention fantasies.”

“Oh God.” This time, he slammed his head back against the headrest. His face was redder than a ripe tomato. “Listen, I won’t make anything awkward at work. Of course, I’m attracted to you. Any gay man would be. It doesn’t have to be awkward, and please don’t fire me.”

“You absolutely are not fired. You didn’t do anything wrong. Did you forget the part where I told you I feel the same way? And I kissed you. What I’m hoping for is the opportunity for us to get to know one another better.”

“What?” He turned to face me. The cramped space of my car may not have been the best place for this conversation. The hitch in his breath and the way he licked his lips while he looked at me was going to be my undoing. “How will that work?”

I didn’t realize just how quick a drive it was to his apartment. We were pulling into the lot faster than I would have liked. I needed more time if I was going to be making my pitch. But I also needed air if I was going to have this conversation without jumping him.

“I’ll cut to the chase, Evan. I’ve always been attracted to you, too. Before, you were my best friend’s little brother, and obviously, I couldn’t act on that. Plus, we were both younger then.”

“And now I work for you.”

“That is accurate. However, you do not directly report to me. If you say that you’re not interested and would prefer to keep things professional only, I’ll respect that. Or, if you feel the need to go to HR with a complaint against me, I’ll respect that as well.”

“No, nothing like that. It’s just… I’m having a hard time catching up with this conversation. Until last night, I didn’t know that my interest in you was reciprocated. Never in my wildest fantasies did I think this could ever happen for real.”

“That’s fair. I tend to keep my feelings to myself. Now that I know you’re attracted to me as well, I’d like to take you on a date and see where that goes.”

Evan’s eyes bulged. “For real?”

“Yes, for real.”

“A date, like dinner and a movie?”

My mouth turned down in a frown. “I think I can do better than dinner and a movie as far as date activities, but yes, for the sake of this conversation, that is what I am asking.”

“Oh, I—”

“If you need time to think—” We both spoke at the same time.

“Yes. No, I don’t need time to think. Yes, I want to go on a date.”

Relief flooded me, but I kept my expression neutral. “Great. Next Friday, six o’clock?”

Evan bit his lip. “That’s karaoke night.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t start until nine, unless the bar’s website was incorrect. If our date starts at six, we should be able to get to karaoke in time to meet your friends.”

Evan’s brow raised, and he tipped his head toward me. “You’re going to go to karaoke?”

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