Chapter One

Coming back behind the counter, Keith told the unseen Joe, "Tuna on white with some chips and broth for Mr. Riggins," then took over a glass of water. A few more minutes passed, but finally he returned, leaning against but not across the counter. Wiping with the dishcloth at an invisible spot, he asked, "You want some ice cream?"

Keeping his voice low, John looked up, trying to meet Keith's eyes. "I'd love some cream."

Keith didn't blush or look scandalized. He just took a quiet breath, then made eye contact. "I can't serve that here."

It wasn't an outright no. John pushed for more. "There are other places we can go."

The tempted, conflicted expression on Keith's face gave John hope. Then it was like Keith made a decision. In a calm, nonjudgmental tone, he asked, "Were you listening to what I said earlier? About casual sex and-"

"And you being a hopeless romantic?"

"Right. I ... I really like you," Keith said, like it was an important point but not a brutal thing to say. "I'm really attracted to you, but I like you, too, and the more I get to know you, the more time I want to spend with you. I don't want to make a big thing out of this, but it seems like if we"-he coughed-"go too fast all of a sudden right now, it'll mess things up. If we wait, not forever, just for a week or so, it'll be better pacing. And pacing is everything."

"You're giving me a yes-but-not-now? You're saying yes and still putting me off?" John couldn't believe this. Oh, God, hell. "I hate you."

"You don't seem to mean that," Keith said, with an amused, perplexed smile. "At all."

"I freaking-of cours

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