Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“Tell me, do you normally go to that same grocery store every Wednesday?”
He nodded. “Every Wednesday.”
“Then more than likely, whoever is after you knows your schedule. Visiting Pike Place would be out of the norm, so I doubt anyone will know we’re there. And like you said, you have me. I showed you yesterday what I’m capable of, remember?” Bain simply couldn’t resist the tease.
Clive obviously did remember. He sucked in a deep breath, his nostrils flared, and his cheeks turned red, very clearly from something more than embarrassment. When he surreptitiously stepped behind the kitchen island, it was all Bain could do not to grin with delight.
“Yes, you certainly took that much bigger man down. It was impressive, really.” Clive cleared his throat, still hiding his lower body behind the counter.
This human was such a captivating mix of contradictions. Bain had the feeling he’d never, ever, find him boring. He stood and took his plate to the sink, chuckling under his breath when Clive quickly stepped around the island. Bain didn’t need to see that Clive was turned on and probably hard, but he sure would like to see how those pajamas clung to an erection. He could smell his desire, and it was heady as hell. He quickly washed his plate and when he turned to dry it, he leaned against the counter and lazily eyed the intriguing man before him.
“I think a day out sounds perfect.”
Chapter Eight
Clive
Pike Place was certainly famous and did have a lot of tourists, but Clive had always enjoyed it. Well, he’d wanted to. Because it attracted so many people, he’d always spotted those who weren’t…well, people. And it didn’t help that the first street performer they came upon today had horns. Huge ones that curled up out of his forehead to brush a small flag on a pole on the building behind him. He didn’t seem threatening, maybe because he was singing and strumming a Carpenters’ song.
How could anything be scary when singing “Close to You”?
Still, years of avoidance had Clive skirting far around the musician while inwardly cursing himself for being so weak. Having Bain beside him helped set him at ease, though. He did stare, but since all the people gathered around the performer to enjoy the music were also staring, he didn’t feel he stood out.
Clive was surprised the guitarist was already playing; they had arrived at the market so early only the Starbucks and a bakery were open. He glanced at Bain nervously. “Did you want to get coffee from Starbucks?” He was still feeling awkward about that morning. Had Bain noticed how turned on he’d been? Just the reminder of how he’d reacted watching Bain wipe the floor with that assassin had his dick so hard it had hurt.
Bain shrugged. “I can wait for this other café to open.”
“You don’t like Starbucks?”
“It’s not that. I like them fine. It’s just this other place has an amazing cinnamon blend.”
“So you come here a lot?” Clive moved around a slow-moving couple on the sidewalk. There weren’t a lot of tourists or city people there yet, but that would change within the hour. Soon, the streets would be noisy and full of lines feeding into the more popular stores.
“I actually do. There’s a restaurant with salmon chowder and fantastic salmon mac and cheese.”
Clive snorted in amusement. “Big salmon fan?”
“The biggest. I like it fresh, dried, in dishes or alone, but I especially love it in the mac and cheese here. Of course, that particular place makes their own cheese. It’s so creamy, the pasta fills you up fast.”
“I know that one. We can go there later. I haven’t tried it with salmon, but I’m more than willing. I love salmon, too. I plan to pick some up from the fish market before we leave. I make a great lemon herb and dill sauce for it.”
Bain’s stomach growled loudly; he laughed and patted it. “I think my belly heard you. I love a good lemony sauce with fish.”
“I’ll make it tonight, then. I have everything else I need.” Clive felt like skipping. He was just so happy to be out and to feel safe. For some time, he’d been fed up with all the fear, but he had been so bogged down by his inability to change his ways, to let his life get even a little out of order. It was a vicious cycle with walls of steel he hadn’t been able to break through. To be out like this, without a schedule in mind, should have had him cowering at his first sight of that horned man with the guitar, but instead he was moving on. Enjoying this unexpected outing with a stunning man others stared at. Some were even doing double takes.
He got it. Bain stood out. Couldn’t blend even if he tried because he looked like he should be playing an elf in Lord of the Rings. Albeit one who wore overly bright colors. Today, his hair was in a high ponytail that swished along his back as he walked, and though he’d said he came here a lot, he looked around like everything was new.