Page 70 of Love It or List It
He didn’t let go of Joe’s hand either.
He felt more than saw Joe glance down between them, and kept his eyes straight ahead, even if the smile showed through.
“Never skated before?”Joe said incredulously.
Austin hummed, tugged Joe around a slow-moving group of children.“Yeah, man, I don’t know why you bought that.You know I grew up north of Toronto.Even poor kids can buy used skates.Yard sales exist.”
Laughing, Joe put on a burst of speed and put them even again.“So, what?This whole thing was a ploy to hold my hand?”
Finally Austin couldn’t resist.He looked over to find Joe smiling, blushing.His hair ruffled in the wind; he probably should’ve put a hat on, but he was too vain.“Maybe,” Austin admitted with his own grin.“It worked, didn’t it?”
“Kinda convoluted,” Joe said.“You could have just asked.”
Austin looked at him consideringly.“Could I?”His tone serious now.
Joe licked his lips.“Yeah.”
“And you’d be into that?”
Joe snorted.“It’s handholding, not handcuffs.”
Oh, really?“You could argue it’s more intimate, in a way.”
“Oh, could you?”Joe asked, a clear parody of Austin’s earlier question.
“Joe.”Austin shot him a look.Now that they’d started this conversation, he was suddenly desperate to know Joe’s answer.So much for sneaky wooing.“Can I date you?”
They were still holding hands, still gliding forward.Joe’s cheeks were already pink from exercise in the cold, but Austin thought they were growing darker.
“Yeah.You can do that.”He looked bashful.“I think—I mean—the last few days have been good.”
“Yeah?”Austin couldn’t have stopped the grin if he tried.
“Yeah.”
They skated a few loops around the path and then decided to call it for the afternoon.They sat down on a bench to unlace.“So.”Austin glanced at Joe.“How’m I doing so far?”
“Top marks for the market and the skating.Deductions for the scheming.”
Austin worked his skate off.His toes were freezing and his arches ached.He’d missed this.“Hey, now.You have to admit you’re kind of skittish.”He paused.“So what is that?An A?A plus?”
Joe waggled his hand, smirking just a little.“A minus.”
Austin whistled under his breath.“Wow, tough grader.”He tangled his fingers with Joe’s again and tugged him toward the parking lot.“Come on.Let’s go find our dog.”
At home, they set their purchases on the table and got to wrapping.Austin’s thighs ached pleasantly from the exercise, and he knew he’d be sore tomorrow, but it was a satisfying feeling.They placed the gifts under the tree, and Joe fed the animals while Austin cleaned the litterboxes.Then they were both exhausted, so they washed up and had tomato soup and grilled cheese for dinner, defending their plates from Pepa and Walker, Austin tucked against the arm of the couch and Joe slotted between his legs, leaning back against his chest whileA Charlie Brown Christmasplayed.
They hadn’t even kissed since that night with the wine, and Austin was kind of desperate to do it again.But he was also enjoying the slow, easy comfort that waslivingwith Joe, touching him with no deeper purpose than because they both liked it.Maybe this was why people had pets.
He had the sudden unbidden mental image of Joe sitting at his feet the way Pepa did, looking up at Austin with big trusting eyes.He immediately pushed the thought aside.They were taking this slow.
Besides, he supposed it was Joe’s turn to top next.
Although—
Watch the damn movie, Austin told himself as he plucked Joe’s empty soup mug from his hand before he could fall asleep and drop it on the floor.He set it on the table behind him with his own empty dishes, then pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and spread it over—well, over Joe, mostly, and Austin’s feet, but Joe was covering the rest of him.The December chill couldn’t get him at all.
“’M not gonna fall asleep,” Joe protested, voice thick with exhaustion.
