The Millionaire's Mistake (2 page)

AW shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m here for a different kind of dish.” At her blank look, he added. “Reid Allen.”

“Uh. Is he expecting you?”

“He is.” Although AW was willing to bet that Reid was hoping he’d either forgotten or hadn’t been serious.

“Just a second.” She peeked her head around the door to the kitchen. “Reid? There’s a man here for you.”

“His date,” AW corrected.

“I. Uh. Yeah. Okay.” God, she was young. “Reid?”

“I’ll be right out, Barb. Are you finished with your cleanup?” Reid sounded tired.

“Yeah. Everything’s ready for tomorrow morning.”

AW leaned against the counter, wondering how long Reid was going to make him wait. He wasn’t used to waiting.

“Okay, go on and head out.” Reid still hadn’t made an appearance. Just his voice.

“You sure?”

“I’m fine.”

Barb gave AW an awkward wave as she left, locking up behind her. AW glanced at his watch and tried not to be annoyed. He’d wanted this fight, right?

“What do you want, Walt?”

He wandered to the back, refusing to talk to Reid through the door like this. “I’m here to take you to dinner.”

“I didn’t say yes.” Reid looked amazing. Honestly amazing. Dark, with pointed features and a lean build, hair in a perfect little tuggable ponytail. Reid looked even better than he had five years ago.

“I’m not taking no for an answer.” He wasn’t. Not this time. That had been his mistake last time, giving up at that first no.

Reid’s eyes flashed. “Why not? What the fuck do you want, man? It’s been years.”

“I want you. And it’s been years because I wasn’t ready to win you back until now.” Because he’d been an idiot. Well, he was done being an idiot.

Reid shrugged, clearly trying for casual dismissal. “I’m not interested.”

“Come out to dinner. You might change your mind.” He had. Of course it had taken him years to do it… Reid was smarter than him, though.

“I won’t. Go away.” The words would have been more convincing if Reid wasn’t sporting a raging hard-on.

AW crossed his arms, his leather jacket creaking. “I won’t. Come out.”

“I’ve worked all day. I have to be back here in twelve hours.” Reid was being stubborn about this.

AW could be stubborn too. If he was properly motivated, and in this, he was definitely properly motivated. “So let someone else make you a nice supper. It’ll be like a hug from your food.”

“A hug from my… Are you high?”

Laughing, AW went to Reid. “How about a hug from me?”

Reid put a hand in the center of AW’s chest. “You’re… What’s wrong? Are you doing some weird twelve-step thing?”

“No. I want you back. I want you on your knees again, begging me to fuck you, calling me ‘sir’. I want you in my life.” He wasn’t playing games this time around and he figured his best bet was to be upfront, right from the start.

“I don’t do that anymore. That’s not in my life. I have sweet, easy love affairs. No kink, no leather, nothing extreme.” Reid met his gaze defiantly.

“Nothing exciting, nothing real,” AW countered.

“I have a life!” Reid poked him in the center of his chest, hard. “I fucking hate you!”

He grabbed Reid’s hand and held on. “I can change that.” No one with this much passion was done. No one. And that one angry sentence told him that he had a chance, that Reid still cared.

He used his hold on Reid’s hand to bring him in and dropped his mouth over Reid’s. The man tasted like coffee and like
Reid
. Reid jerked, went stiff for a second—long enough that AW considered pulling back—and then one hand wrapped around his head, and Reid dove into the kiss like it was the only thing keeping him alive.

Fuck yes.

AW took Reid’s mouth, put all their years of being apart into it.

“Fucking hate you.” Reid bit his bottom lip.

“I know.” AW could definitely work with that.

He slid his hand along Reid’s body, headed toward that ass to see if it was still as tight as it had been. Reid was in amazing fucking shape, slender and hard, and yes, that ass was like a rock.

Groaning, AW brought their mouths back together again. He was shit at talking and feelings, but this he could do. This he excelled at.

They rocked together, both of them hard as diamonds, both of them biting and moaning. He backed Reid up slowly, aiming to get him up against the nearest wall.

Reid managed to pull a glare up for him. “Not doing this. Go away.”

“Your mouth is saying no, your body is saying fuck me now.”

Someone hadn’t been treating this amazing slut with the attention Reid needed. AW could change that. He could make Reid sing and purr.

Biting at Reid’s lower lip, AW made Reid jerk and push against his body.

God, he wanted to hear Reid beg.

He got them to the wall, his body pushing hard against Reid’s. Then he grabbed Reid’s hands, putting them up over Reid’s head before going in for another kiss.

How many times had he plundered this mouth and tongue-fucked Reid into insanity?

Three years was a long time to be together. The years in between were even longer. He’d fucked up, thought an easygoing twink was the way to go. He’d been wrong. Over and over again he’d been wrong. For too many years he’d been wrong.

He was making up for it now, though. He’d make up for it as long as he still had breath in his body.

Pressing Reid harder against the wall, AW rubbed all along the sweet body.

“We can’t do this,” Reid insisted. “This is a mistake.”

“Doesn’t feel like a mistake to me.” It felt fucking good.

Yanking his hands away, Reid planted them on AW’s chest and shoved him back. “I’m not ready to play these games with you.”

Not ready. That wasn’t a get lost, it wasn’t a go away. AW would fucking take it. He’d take it and run with it.

“Okay.” He cupped one of Reid’s cheeks, changing tactics. “Come to dinner. You’re going to love this place.”

“What?”

Fuck, Reid looked good, lips swollen from kisses.

“You told me to back off, I’m backing off, but I still want to take you to supper. You need to eat, I need to eat. Let me treat you.” See? He could be reasonable. He sure as hell wasn’t giving up, though.

“We are not going to be friends, Walt.”

“That’s not my end game.” He wanted to be more than friends. Way more.

“I need to get out of here.” Reid grabbed his satchel, some keys.

“That’s what I’m trying to say. Let’s have supper. There will be a whole table between us, other people there.” A small table and if he was lucky, they’d be in a more or less private room, but there was the waitress, the other customers just around the corner…that counted, right?

“Fine. If I do that, you’ll back off?”

“This evening.” He wasn’t promising anything else.

“Fine. Let’s go. Fucking hate this bullshit.” Oh, grumpy now instead of angry.

AW would bet Reid hadn’t eaten much today. Good thing he was about to fix it.

Reid might be in a bad mood, but AW was buzzing, so fucking turned on it hurt, and he reminded himself, this was about seduction. He was playing for the long term. He could slow things down and have supper.

“Grandma’s Table is just down the street. We can walk.” It was one of the reasons why he’d chosen it.

Reid looked at him, but didn’t say a word. Instead he just locked the door, headed down the road.

“Babe. Stop. It’s in the other direction.”

Reid stopped, closed his eyes. “Is it new? I haven’t seen anything down there.”

“I’ve been going to it for two years, but it is kind of tucked away.” He put his arm around Reid’s waist and led him down the street. He could feel Reid’s muscles, jumping and jerking wildly. “It’s on the second floor of a converted house, just off the main drag.”

“What kind of food do they serve? Homey stuff?” It was a good guess, based on the place’s name.

“Yeah. They change up the menu every day depending on what’s in season, what they bought at the market.” He knew that was important to Reid, sustainability, local food.

“Neat. I live the other way.” Reid jerked his head back the way they’d come.

“You’re close to the coffee shop? That’s cool. I’m in the building.”

Reid went totally stiff against his arm, but all Reid said was, “It’s easier, to be close.”

“I imagine so.” They turned the corner and went to the little duplex with a sign on the lawn. There was a designer’s office on the ground floor. Closed for the day.

AW held the door open for Reid, the followed him up the stairs and into the restaurant itself.

“It’s tiny.”

It was. It was also very private. “Eight tables. It’s quiet and intimate and delicious.”

Reid looked up at him. “I’m in a T-shirt and jeans.”

“There’s no dress code, babe. You’ll be fine.”

Teresa came over, smiling, arms open. “AW! It’s so good to see you.”

He gave her a hug. “Hey, Teresa. This is my friend Reid.”

“Please. I have the private room in the back for you. Please, follow me.” He’d called at five thirty to book a table, but he wasn’t surprised she’d managed to make the private room available to him. He was one of their best customers, often picking supper up to eat at home if he wasn’t entertaining.

AW grabbed Reid’s hand and tugged him along through the little front room. Only a couple of tables were full, but it was early and only Thursday.

The room in the back was lit by candles in clumps set at strategic points. The wallpaper was old-fashioned and dark, as were the matching curtains on the window. But it was the table set for two that was the focal point of the room. It was the first time he’d been back here—this wasn’t the kind of place he brought his usual dates. “Oh, this is lovely, Teresa. Perfect.”

She was clearly pleased by his response, smile getting wider. “Good deal. Would you like the wine list?”

“No, I’ll let you choose.” He didn’t need to impress his wine choosing abilities on Reid and Teresa was really good at her job. He knew the wine would be perfect for whatever they chose to eat.

“Would you like something to drink to start with, then?”

AW looked at Reid. “You want something?”

“Water, please.” If Reid got any tenser, he’d shatter.

“You don’t drink gin and tonics anymore?” AW thought that would go a long way to helping Reid relax. He didn’t want to get Reid drunk, just more at ease.

“You remembered.” Reid didn’t have to look quite so shocked.

He nodded, though. “Yep. And extra lime.”

“So…two?” Teresa asked.

“Yeah, that sounds good.” It did. He could use a little relaxer himself, though he most assuredly did not want to be in any way impaired. He would need to be on his toes to convince Reid to give them another change.

“I’ll be right back with your drinks.” Teresa set two single page menus on their table and left.

AW held Reid’s chair out for him. He was going to give Reid the full-on experience, make the Reid feel like the center of his universe.

“Thank you.” Reid sat down, looking confused.

“What’s the matter?” AW asked.

“I just…it’s been an odd day, man. A bit.”

“A good day, in the end, I think.” He was going to put a positive spin on this no matter what Reid threw at him. After all, he wanted it to be a positive thing to Reid. No, he needed it to be.

“Why did you ask me to supper?” Reid blurted the question out.

That one was easy. “So we could spend time together.”

Apparently Reid still chewed on his bottom lip, tore at it with his teeth. Doing that used to earn Reid a punishment. Reaching out, he pulled Reid’s lip out from between his teeth and rubbed it with his finger.

Reid flushed a deep rose and he knew—
knew
—Reid’s cock was hard.

“Leave that poor lip alone.” His words were soft, his voice thick.

Reid’s breathing sped, the dark eyes searching his face. AW kept watching, looking into Reid’s eyes, holding that gaze.

Reid stood. “I can’t do this.”

“Sit down, Reid.” He just flat out made it an order.

Reid sat, eyes wide.

AW made an approving sound. Those instincts were still right fucking there. Reid needed this, just like he did. “Take a look at your menu, or I can order for you.”

“I…” Reid stammered and trailed off.

AW reached over, one hand on Reid’s thigh. “Easy. This is just dinner.”

“Nothing’s ever
just
anything with you.”

“For right now, let’s say it is. The food is too good not to enjoy.” He needed Reid to relax, to actually enjoy their dinner.

“What…what’s good?” That was a good faith effort on Reid’s part.

“Everything. Seriously. I’m happy to order for you.”

“Go ahead. I.” Reid waved one hand, dismissing everything.

Teresa came back with their drinks before he could respond. “Have you decided yet?”

Seeing as he was ordering for both of them, it only took a second to scan the small menu. “Yes, we’ll start with the mussels in white wine sauce, then have the bison steaks with local vegetables, please.”

“How would you like your steaks, sir?”

“Rare and medium-rare, please.” He assumed that Reid was still a mid-rare man. Reid offered him a single nod, proving he was right.

He leaned back, regarding Reid as Teresa left. “You’re looking good.”

“Thank you. I work hard.”

“It shows.” He took a moment to just sit and admire what he could see of Reid. Even in a T-shirt and jeans, Reid looked classy, suave. “Business looks like it’s doing well too.”

“I turned a profit after year two. I’m pleased.”

“Wow, that puts you ahead of a lot of business models.” Reid always had been ambitious.

“You know me. I like to make things work.”

“You do. You’re good at it.”

Reid shrugged, offered him half a smile. “And you’re still buying huge things.”

“Yeah, I’m still a spoiled brat.” He always had been and that had been what got him in trouble with Reid. He hadn’t known what he’d thrown away until it way too late.

“Some things never change.”

AW couldn’t argue with that. “Some things. Other things do change.”

Reid nodded. “This is true.”