“You look happy.”
“You know, I am,” Robbie said, and took a sip of his coffee, savoring the sweet flavor. He’d become slightly addicted to the Dreamweavers that The Daily Grind was serving this month as its specialty drink. “But I’m worried about Nonna. I still feel awful about what happened.”
His mother reached out to take one of his hands. “I know you do, baby. But it’s not your fault.”
“I know that, but—”
“No,” she said, and shook her head. “I won’t have you blaming yourself for this, and neither will your nonna. She already told me how upset you were when you got to the hospital, and I won’t have you making yourself worried with guilt or stress or any other kind of nonsense. Do you hear me?”
Robbie nodded, but still wasn’t totally convinced he couldn’t have prevented what had happened.
“Now, I know Nonna told you yesterday about the ET she had been diagnosed with a little while back.”
“Yes, but she didn’t say much about it. She was too tired and I didn’t want to push.”
“I know,” she said, and patted his hand as she took a sip of coffee. “Basically, ET means your nonna’s arms and legs shake. The messages from her brain to her limbs kind of…malfunction.”
Robbie frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me that? Why didn’t she? I never would’ve left her by herself if I knew.”
“That’s exactly why,” his mother said. “The tremors weren’t bad to start with, just a few here and there, and she was able to cope with it and there was no point worrying you. But recently they started getting more serious, and she told me she was looking into different retirement communities. This has been on her mind for a while now, baby boy. But the fall, it’s sped things up a little.”
Robbie had a sudden sick feeling in his stomach. “She didn’t think she had to look after me, did she? Or Vanessa? She didn’t put this off because of us, did she? Because I would’ve worked something out.”
“No, don’t be silly.” His ma got out of her seat, came around to his side, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Are you kidding me, Robbie Bianchi? That old lady loves living with you. She feels terrible about what happened and that you feel so bad about it.”
Robbie leaned into his ma’s side and rested his head on her shoulder. “I was on a date when it happened.”
“That’s wonderful. I always say you need someone to look after you. Someone to fatten you up,” she said, and poked at his side. Robbie chuckled, and she pulled away a little to look at his face. “What?”
“It’s nothing. You two… You’re just like your ma, that’s all. She said the exact same thing to me the other day.”
“Then we must be right,” she said, and smiled warmly. “Are you going to go on another date? Or is it more than that now? Do you have a new boyfriend? You can tell me.”
Robbie thought of Priest, and then Julien, and decided something. “It is more than dating. But we’re still working out all the other stuff.” We’re being the operative word. When her eyes lit up, Robbie started laughing.
“Do I at least get a name?”
“Nope,” Robbie said, and made a show of zipping his lips. “That’ll jinx it.”
“Fine.” She sighed. “But can I at least tell you how pleased I am to see you so happy?”
“You can tell me that.”
She squeezed Robbie in close and kissed his cheek. “You crazy boy. I love you, you know that?”
“I know.”
“And all your father and I want is for you to be happy.”
“I know, Ma,” Robbie said as she kissed him again, and he did. Ever since he could remember, she had been her children’s biggest cheerleader, while their father was the backbone of the Bianchi clan. Neither of them had batted an eyelash when he came out, and had supported him every step of the way since. They weren’t immune to his…charm—in fact, they’d been the ones to nurture it and let him feel safe enough to be himself.
He had an amazing family, and he thanked his lucky stars every day that he had such a wonderful support system—even if most of them were a bunch of gossipy women.
“So,” Robbie said, “I guess I need to start looking for an apartment, then, huh?”
“There’s no rush,” she said. “And you could always come and stay with me for a little while.”
“In Oshkosh?” Robbie said, and then laughed. “That’s a bit of a commute to work, Ma.”
“Well, a mother can dream. I miss having your coats and scarves to go through when I need something happy to wear.”
“Yeah, that’s why I left in the first place. Damn females, stealing all my clothes.” Robbie laughed, remembering how his mother and sisters would rifle through his clothes and makeup. Used to drive him insane. “What about Vanessa? Have you heard from her? Does she know about this?”
“Yes. She stopped by the hospital this morning before she went home to get some sleep. She has a friend with a spare room she’s going to stay with.”
“Okay,” Robbie said, and then thought over what he was going to do next. “So how long are you here for? What can I do?”
“Nothing right now. I’m going to go and stay with Nonna tonight at the hospital, and then head back to her place in the morning and start to go through things at the house to get them in order for her.”
“Can I help at all?”
His mother smiled and shook her head. “No. All you have to do is look for a place and work on that love life of yours. Okay?”
Robbie rolled his eyes. “Do you really think that’s all I’m going to do? I want to help.”
“After you get your stuff in order. Then we can talk. But until then…”
Robbie knew his ma wouldn’t budge about this. She was as stubborn as a mule when she wanted to be. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to be there helping where he could.
“Then I guess I better get going so I can start looking for an apartment before I head to work tonight. Can you let Nonna know I’m thinking of her and I’ll come and see her tomorrow?”
“Of course. I need to head back to the hospital myself. Don’t work too hard and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I won’t, I won’t,” Robbie said, as she moved out from the booth.
When they were both standing, she said by his ear, “I know these aren’t the best of circumstances, but it’s so nice to be able to sit down and have a coffee with you, baby.”
Robbie wrapped her in a hug and kissed her cheek. “It really is. You call me if you need me. The hospital isn’t that far from The Popped Cherry.”
“Oh yes, okay. I might have to come and see you there one night.”
Robbie grinned. “You should. I think you’d like it.”
“I will before I leave. I promise. See you tomorrow.”
She slipped her purse strap over her shoulder and then gave him a final wave as she headed for the front door, then Robbie placed a coffee order for Priest—three sugars and cream—and started to think about everything that had happened over the past twenty-four hours.
He had a lot of decisions to make, ones he had a feeling would somehow set the course of his future. He just wondered what exactly that future was going to look like.
Chapter Twenty-Six
CONFESSION
Sometimes you don’t know what you want
until you actually get it.
ROBBIE STEPPED OUT of The Daily Grind and slipped his hand into the pocket of his black quilted peacoat as he tipped his face up into the morning sun. He had two coffees in a tray, and despite his life being in a bit of upheaval, he had a smile on his face. For a while now, he’d wanted to get back out on his own, and with his job at The Popped Cherry, he could finally afford it. This was actually the perfect time for him to hunt for a new place.
His nonna was going to need more help than he could give her, and his ma was right—she wouldn’t want him to put his life on hold to be her caretaker. It made sense with the tremors getting worse that sh
e move into an environment where she could get the care she needed, because God forbid this happen again with a worse outcome. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself.
Plus, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get his own place, since he had two men he was dating that he’d like to have stay over for the night instead of hiding away from prying eyes.
So, with a smile on his face, Robbie crossed the street and headed to the building that housed the law offices of Mitchell & Madison.
Priest had told him to stop by anytime, and when Robbie glanced at the clock in the beautiful marble lobby, he saw it was just going on ten. As he stepped onto the elevator with several other people, he hit the button of the new floor—the one where the infamous Christmas party had been held—and then moved to the back corner.
As the doors shut and the elevator began its ascent, Robbie couldn’t help but wonder if this had been the same elevator he’d been in the day Priest had first seen him. He smiled at the thought. He still couldn’t believe he’d been standing in such a small area with Priest and not sensed him there, because now, Robbie was convinced he or Julien could be in a room Robbie was blindfolded in, and he’d still be able to tell.
Hmm, maybe we could test that theory out, Robbie thought as the elevator hit his floor and opened. That would be fun.
He stepped out into the new lobby, and wow, this was the first time he’d been up here since the party, and it looked fantastic. Immediately off the elevators was a beautiful curved desk made of mahogany and marble, where the pretty brunette who’d worked downstairs had obviously moved.
She was perched on a chair with a headset on as she typed away at a computer, and behind her on a large mottled glass divider was a sign that read, Mitchell & Madison Attorneys at Law.
Off to the left was a new waiting room outfitted with comfortable-looking couches and chairs with magazine racks, a water fountain, and coffee bar with what looked like every coffee choice known to man, along with a very nice selection of fresh pastries.
Well damn, Robbie thought as he looked at the coffee cup in his hand. Guess Priest didn’t need this after all; he was just being nice. Wait? Priest being nice? No way. Robbie laughed to himself just as the woman looked up at him, smiled, and said, “Hello. How can I help you this morning?”
“Hi. Yeah. I’m here to see Priest,” Robbie said. “I’m sorry, Mr. Priestley. He’s expecting me.”
“Of course.” The lady—Tiffany, according to her nametag—smiled and pressed a button on her phone. “Who should I say is here?”
Robbie was tempted to say, “His princess,” but this was Priest’s place of business. “Robert Bianchi.”
“Okay,” Tiffany said, and waited for the phone to connect. “Hello, Mr. Priestley. There’s a Robert Bianchi here to see you.”
As Robbie stood there, he felt a frisson of excitement shoot up his spine at the thought of seeing one of the men he’d shared a bed with last night in mere minutes.
Tiffany ended the call and got to her feet. “If you’ll follow me?”
Robbie didn’t need a second invitation—he was eager to see Priest. He followed her down a hall that led past a glassed-wall conference room, and when they got to the end of it, Robbie saw the office Tate had dragged him into with a light off, but the name Logan Mitchell was on a plaque by the door.
Funny, but up until right then, Robbie hadn’t even thought about the fact he was standing in Logan’s place of business, and usually that would be the first thing on his mind. Huh.
When Tiffany stopped at a door midway down the long hall at the back of the floor, she knocked twice and waited.
“Come in.” Priest’s voice came through the cracked door, and it was like a bolt of electricity up Robbie’s spine. God, that voice and the word come shouldn’t be around him unless they were naked. His cock reacted to it as though Priest had just stroked him. Hmm, maybe we could get—
“You can go in,” Tiffany said, and then added, “Have a nice day,” as she walked around him to go back to her post.
Robbie pushed open the door, and when he stepped inside and saw Priest sitting behind a large mahogany desk that matched the one at the entrance of the firm, he smiled. “Why, good morning, Mr. Priestley.”
Priest’s lips twitched as Robbie walked further inside and looked around the sparse space. Unlike Logan’s old office downstairs—and no doubt the new corner one up here—there was nothing on the walls. No clock, no photos, no degrees—there was just one painting by the door, and Robbie would place money that that had come with the office.
“Good morning, Robert.”
Robbie’s eyes came back to Priest’s as he sat back in his chair and steepled his hands over his chest.
“You look rather happy this morning.”
That was the second time today he’d been told that, and Robbie wondered what Priest would say if he said that he and Julien were the reason. Instead, he took a sip of his coffee and said, “I had a good night’s sleep, an excellent start to my day, and I’m currently drinking something that is like heaven in my mouth.” He added a flirty little kiss in Priest’s direction.
“I once told you to come here and do that, and you said no,” Priest said, as Robbie walked over to the desk and put the coffees on it. “I believe your excuse at the time was that you didn’t know me well enough to let me near your tongue. How do you feel now? Because I’d really like your tongue in my mouth for the next five minutes.”
Robbie grinned, heat flushing his face at the thought. Then he unbuckled the belt of his jacket and shrugged out of it. He draped it over one of the chairs facing Priest’s desk, and then walked around it to where Priest sat.
When he went to lean back against the desk, Priest shook his head. “No. Over here,” he said, and then pushed his chair back and patted his lap. “I want you here.”
Robbie looked at Priest’s lap, and his cock throbbed at the erection he could see between Priest’s legs. Fuck, it was a toss-up on what he wanted most: to have that in his mouth or to sit on it. But Priest had been specific, and without another word, Robbie sat across Priest’s thighs and squirmed around a little, grinding his ass against the hard length he could feel.
Priest chuckled as he wrapped an arm around Robbie’s waist. “Are you quite comfortable?”
Robbie did it again, and this time waggled his eyebrows. “I am now. Are you?”
“I’d be more so if my pants were unzipped and my cock was in you. But I’m guessing that was the plan, am I right?”
“Yes. Yes, you are,” Robbie said, and winked. “I brought you coffee, just the way you like it. Cream and three sugars. But I saw the supplies you have out there and realized you probably don’t need any, so—”
“Robert?” Priest said.
“Yes?”
“I love that you brought me coffee. Thank you.”
Inordinately pleased by that, Robbie leaned in and pressed a kiss to Priest’s lips, and when he realized what he’d done right there in Priest’s office, Robbie raised his head about to apologize, but Priest’s hand was at the back of his hair, halting him.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Robbie lowered his eyes to Priest’s mouth, desperately wanting it back against his. “I… You’re at work. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not,” Priest said, and before Robbie could think beyond that, Priest’s mouth was against his, the soft scratch of his stubble tickling Robbie’s skin as Priest angled his head and slipped his tongue between his lips.
Robbie moaned and brought a hand up to cradle Priest’s cheek, and as he practically crawled up his lap, a rumbling growl came out of Priest’s throat.
“I like that sound,” Robbie said, as he looked into Priest’s eyes. “You sound like you want to attack me.”
“I do.”
Robbie giggled. “Why, behave yourself, Mr. Priestley. I didn’t come down here so you could have your way with me.”
“No?”
“No,” Robbie said, and then s
at up. “I came because you told me to.”
“Not yet, you haven’t,” Priest said with a smirk. “But that’s one of the things I like best about you. You come when I tell you to.”
Robbie rolled his eyes. “For the first time, I want you to be serious, and you’re making jokes. You said you wanted to talk to me about something.”
“We do, yes.”
“Okay,” Robbie said. “What is it?”
“Before that…” Priest said as he absently ran a hand up and down Robbie’s back, and Robbie wondered if he even realized he was doing it. It was nice. “How’d your talk go with your mom? Was it about what you thought?”
Robbie nodded. “Yeah. Once Nonna gets out of rehab, they’re going to move her into a community home. Apparently they’d been looking into it for a little while, but she was on the fence until now.” Robbie ran a hand over his face and sighed. “I know it’s for the best, and she actually seems pretty happy about it, but it’s still a bit of a shock, you know?”
Priest nodded. “I know. And what about you? Have you given any thought about where you are going to stay?”
Robbie shrugged. “Well, they need to get the house together and put it for sale—that will pay for Nonna’s new place—so I have a little bit of time. But I’m going to be looking for an apartment as soon as possible. Vanessa has a friend she’s going to room with, so she’s moving out in the next couple of days.”
Priest’s eyes narrowed. “Right.” Then he pointed to the phone on the desk. “Can you hit speaker and then dial one?”
Robbie did as he was asked, and as the phone began to ring, Priest ran a hand up the outside of his thigh and tugged him closer to him on his lap. Robbie relaxed against him as the phone connected. “Bonjour, mon amour.”
“Good morning, Julien,” Priest said, and his warm breath ghosted over Robbie’s cheek, making his entire body aware of who it was nestled against. “I have Robert here with me too.”