Page 50 of Game Changer
“Wow,” Kip said. “All this for me?”
“I, uh, I’m sorry if it’s a little much. I just... I’ve never celebrated Valentine’s Day before.”
“You know something?” Kip said. “Me neither.”
“Really?”
“Really. Never.”
“I find that very hard to believe.”
Kip shrugged. “Never been in a serious relationship. I mean, there were a few guys that I saw for a little while, but never in February, I guess.”
“Wow,” Scott said. “Well, that takes a load off. I thought I’d have to live up to some stiff competition.”
“No.” Kip smiled. “And I have a feeling you would have won anyway.”
Scott kissed him, because he couldn’t help it. “I like winning.”
He led him into the kitchen. He poured two glasses of wine and put on an apron, which Kip seemed tolove.
“Look at you,” Kip said, leaning back against the fridge with his glass in his hand. “A whole other side of Scott Hunter.”
Scott rolled his eyes. “I have lots of sides.” He dumped the linguini in the pot of boiling water and turned on a second burner. “This won’t take long,” he assured Kip as he placed a sauté pan on the burner.
“Take your time. I like watching you work.”
They chatted while Scott prepared dinner. It was easy and comfortable, just how Scott had always imagined being in a relationship would be.
“Okay,” he said when dinner was ready. “Go sit down. I want to bring it over to you looking all nice on the plate.”
Kip did as he was told and Scott assembled the plates. He carried them to the table, and his breath caught when he saw how stunning Kip was in the dim light of the dining area.
He placed the pasta down next to the salad plates and slid into his chair. He held up his wineglass. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day. This looks amazing, by the way.”
“Oh, thanks. I wanted to keep it kinda light, y’know?”
Kip’s lips twitched. “I think I get it.”
“I was thinking,” Scott said after a couple of bites, “it’s not just Valentine’s Day that we’re celebrating tonight.”
“Oh?”
“It was also one month ago today that I met you for the first time.”
“Wow,” Kip said, “I didn’t think about that.”
“I’m really glad I decided to get a smoothie that day,” Scott said, smiling.
Kip smiled back at him, that easy, sexy smile that always completely disarmed Scott. “Me too.”
They ate and talked and laughed and drank more wine. Scott had positioned their chairs so they were facing each other across the table because he thought that would be the most traditional, but now he was regretting it. He wanted to be closer to Kip. As soon as they were done eating, he suggested they move to the couch.
Before he joined Scott in the living room, Kip paused and said, “Oh! Just a second.”
He walked over to where he’d left his backpack by the door and came back with a small paper bag. “I got you something. It’s... I mean, it’s nothing. I just saw them and... Anyway, here.”
