The day had cooled and a golden haze had settled over the broad meadow as Jack drove up and parked next to Ellery’s VW in the circular clearing in front of Captain’s Seat.
He turned off the engine and considered the house for a moment.
So godawful much work to do on the old place. It seemed like every week there was some new issue to be dealt with. But if and when the renovations were finally complete, the house would be a showstopper.
Even without the renovations being complete, Ellery could sell that property today, and walk away with a big fat bundle of cash. The idea had to be tempting. Especially now.
Jack opened his SUV door and got out. Gravel crunched beneath the soles of his boots as he walked up the front path.
The front door was half open and the smell of paint drifted down the weedy walk.
Jack went up the steps and knocked firmly on the front door.
It was not a cops-open-up! hammer, but the heavy door swung back a little—not a lot, but apparently enough to bang into the ladder directly behind it.
There was a startling clatter of sliding ladder, falling paint tray, and alarmed human.
“Yeeeowww…” yelped Ellery.
His jean clad legs appeared suspended in the doorway and Jack grabbed for him, arms locking around Ellery’s waist.
It was not a rom-com moment. Ellery had caught himself and was landing without any help needed from Jack. Which didn’t stop Jack from trying—maybe because it felt so good, so right to have Ellery in his arms again, even for just a few startlingly sweet moments.
The warm, hard imprint of Ellery’s body against his own, Ellery’s soft, springy hair brushing his mouth and tickling his nose, Ellery’s bright, startled eyes gazing into his own…
Why—how—did this feel so natural, so right?
It wasn’t like he and Ellery had ever shared more than a couple of hugs. They had never even kissed.
As much as Jack would have liked that. As much as he’d have liked to kiss Ellery now.
Ellery, however, was reading from an entirely different script. He couldn’t get away from Jack fast enough, pulling free and scowling. “What are you doing here?”
