Page 15 of Priest (Confessions 3)

Caught off guard, as he always seemed to be by this man, Priest turned to face Julien and said, “My life is already together.”

“Oh, I don’t mean that,” Julien said, and chuckled as he walked away, over to the patio door.

“Then I don’t understand.”

Julien stopped, looked over his shoulder, and licked those fantasy-inspiring lips of his again. “Si, you do. It’s your turn now. I did all this for you. So if you want me, and I think it’s pretty obvious that you do, then it’s your turn to work for it.”

“By…?”

Julien grinned, and that look alone had Priest close to falling to his knees.

“By begging, Mr. Priest. I’m about to be a big celebrity. I think it’s only fair you beg after everything you made me do for a date. Don’t you?”

Yes, Priest supposed he did. But before he could say that, Julien had disappeared back inside, leaving Priest to think about the best way to ensure that man became a permanent part of his life and never walked away from him again.

Chapter Six

CONFESSION

You don’t get to choose who you give your heart to.

It decides for you.

AS ROBBIE WALKED in the front doors of the retirement community where his nonna now resided, he scanned the interior, where bright sprays of flowers sat arranged on tables, and TVs played daytime soaps and the news.

The front desk was empty for the moment, but Robbie was in no rush, and as he soaked in the homey area that had the scent of freshly baked cookies wafting through it, a sense of relief washed over him.

He’d been worried when his nonna had told him she was going to move out of the home she’d lived in his entire life, that she would wind up in some drab, run-down, sad facility that would drive her to drink. But as he stood there and took in his surroundings, he realized the place felt like a fancy country club.

“Good afternoon, can I help you?”

Robbie spun on his toes toward the front desk to see a man—early to mid-twenties at the most—with short, spiky blond hair. He had a nice smile, a kind smile, that he flashed in Robbie’s direction, and his sunny disposition had Robbie grinning.

“Hi, yes,” Robbie said, and held his hand out. “My name’s Robbie, I’m here to see Cheryl Bianchi. This is my first time here.”

If it were possible, the man’s smile grew even wider and his turquoise eyes sparkled. “Right, you’re the only grandson,” he said, and shook Robbie’s hand. “I’m Noah. I’ve heard all about you. Your entire family, actually. I just love your nonna.”

The unexpected familiarity should’ve been disconcerting, but Noah’s easy nature and charming grin made Robbie feel at ease. “Well, if you’ve met my entire family and are still managing to smile, you have to tell me your secret. They usually send me running for the hills.”

Noah came around the desk, and Robbie noted the sharp uniform of white pants and a navy-blue shirt as Noah pointed to the clipboard and pen sitting on the counter.

“Compliments,” Noah said, and then laughed. “That’s my secret. Compliments work every time.”

“And especially on the Bianchi clan,” Robbie agreed, as he picked up the pen and wrote his name down.

“That and a smile.” Noah flashed his pearly whites again. “That’s what my grandma always told me.”

“My nonna, too,” Robbie said as he put the pen down.

“I can imagine Cheryl saying that. Okay, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you the way to her apartment.”

As Noah headed off down the hallway, Robbie followed and took in the wide-open space to the left, with tables full of wine and water glasses, napkins, and utensils, and Noah informed him that that was the main dining room. They passed by the common room that had a beautiful bar lining the back wall and a couple of pool tables, and Robbie had to admit that he wouldn’t mind moving in himself—in forty years or so, of course.

When they reached a set of elevators, Noah pressed the up button. “Your nonna is on the third floor, and make a right. Her apartment number is 307.” As the doors opened, Noah held them. “Tell Cheryl I said hi. It was nice to finally meet you.”

“It was nice to meet you too,” Robbie said, and found that he actually meant it, because even though this man was a stranger, he’d managed to take Robbie’s mind off his troubles for more than five seconds just by having a friendly disposition. That was something Robbie appreciated, as he always tried the same approach when he was at work.

As he took the elevator up to the third floor, Robbie’s mind drifted back to the night before. It had been a long, rough night—and not in a good way. He’d tossed and turned and barely gotten any sleep thanks to the hundred and one things on his mind, and by the time he’d finally drifted off, it had been close to three in the morning.

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