One Plus Two Equals... - 20

"Now…" Julyan twirled a lock of Duane's hair between his fingers, "what's this deep dark secret you were reluctant to tell me?"

Duane eyed him sleepily. "I'm really a secret agent, deep undercover as a mild-mannered restaurateur."

"Come on, you can come up with something better than that."

"But it's the truth, I swear." Duane put his hand over his heart, trying to look incensed when Julyan laughed.

"Then I guess that makes me what? The scoundrel you're seducing to get the secret to where my master's dastardly plans are hidden?"

"Exactly. And I'm going to keep trying until I succeed. But not until I get some sleep. For a scoundrel, you're very…active and seductive. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were the seducer and I'm the seducee."

Julyan snorted. "Is seducee a real word?"

"You're asking me?"

"No, I was asking the handsome man on my other side."

Duane lifted his head enough to look over Julyan's arm. "I'm handsomer, thank you very much."

"Conceited much?"

"Very." Duane rolled over onto one elbow, tracing the line of Julyan's jaw with his knuckle. "This has been fun."

"Why do I think there's a 'but' attached to that statement," Julyan replied worriedly.

"No 'but', just a suggestion. We should get some sleep because morning comes early and I do have a restaurant to run, plus I need you wide awake if you're going to help make me rich doing so."

"Good point." Julyan smiled and kissed him playfully. "Tomorrow night, I get to play the secret agent and you can be the seduced."

Duane almost said there might not be a tomorrow night but restrained himself. He wasn't about to destroy the mood they'd established with the truth so he smiled instead. "I think, technically, you seduced me tonight."

"Either/or." Julyan yawned. "You're right, we should get some sleep." He waited for Duane to lie back down then curled up next to him, his head on Duane's shoulder. "I never thought…" His words faded away as he fell asleep.

Me neither, and I shouldn't have let it happen. Now we have to live with the consequences. Duane sighed. Why does life have to be so damned complicated?

One Plus Two Equals... - 19

Julyan watched him, wondering what was really going on in his mind. Duane seemed…withdrawn somehow, despite the fact he'd readily accepted the suggestion to come here. "You don't have to stay if you have something else to do."

Duane shook his head. "Nothing to do and I like your company."

"So I'm a time-killer." Julyan meant it as a joke but the words came more terse than teasing.

"Not at all! I meant it, I like your company."

"And that's all it is, a need for…for someone to spent time with and nothing more."

Duane shook his head vehemently. "Julyan, I wasn't playing around when I kissed you, if that's what you're thinking. Sure, it was probably the wrong thing to do so soon—or at all even because you are my employee…"

"Damn it," Julyan broke in angrily, "I told you I wouldn't…"

"I know. Now shush for a minute. I was, I am, attracted to you but you know nothing about me. If we started something, you might regret it later."

"So tell me." Julyan locked eyes with Duane. "I can't think of anything you could say that would change how I think I feel about you."

Duane smiled slightly. "How you 'think' you feel? You don't know?"

"I know I like you. I did the first time I saw you."

"Okay, so you like me. But that's it, nothing more?"

Julyan didn't drop his gaze. "Much more." Leaning forward he barely whispered, "I said you could kiss me again."

"And I told you I would."

"Then do or…" Julyan decided he wasn't going to give Duane any chance for second thoughts. He put one hand at the nape of Duane's neck to pull him closer and initiated a kiss which instantly moved from tentative to smoldering.

When it finally ended, which took a very long time as kisses go Julyan thought distractedly, he was aching with need for more. One look at Duane's face and he knew the man felt the same. "Can we…?"

"Get out of here?"

"Yes."

"And go where?"

"Anywhere. I'd settle for your car."

Duane snorted. "No, you wouldn't, not once you've seen it. I'd say your place because it's closer but you have a roommate."

Julyan straightened, frowning. "How do you know it's closer?" he asked suspiciously.

"You put your address on your application."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry."

"I'm not a stalker, honest."

'I promise I'm not a stalker' Auden's words echoed in Julyan's mind.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Duane gripped Julyan's hand hard.

"Nothing. Nothing, sorry. Can we leave now?"

"You bet we can."

One Plus Two Equals... - 18

Closing time came and with it Duane was faced with a problem of his own making—what to do about Julyan. He knew what he'd like to do, explore his attraction to the younger man. An attraction he was certain was reciprocated. He also knew doing so would just lead to more problems. Don't mix pleasure with business, he admonished himself yet again.

"Do you… umm, feel like going out to that bar again?"

Duane turned to look at Julyan and couldn't help smiling at the hopeful look on his face. "What the hell. Sure, why not," he replied, effectively throwing every thought he'd had about not becoming involved with him to the four winds.

Chuckling under his breath at Julyan's apparent impatience when it took him several minutes to make certain everything was turned off before locking up, Duane finally announced he was ready. As they walked to the bar, Duane was tempted to put his arm around Julyan's waist, only resisting because he knew he shouldn't move too quickly. The kisses last night had been pure impulse. Tonight he vowed to take things slowly and see what happened.

After ordering drinks, Duane suggested they take them and find a table. The bar was crowded but luck was with them, a couple left and they snagged the small table at the back of the room before anyone else could.

Once they were seated Duane asked, apropos of nothing, "Have you been to college?"

"No. I was enrolled but money suddenly became a problem so…"

"You didn't apply for a loan? It seems to be what everyone does these days."

"It was too late by then. The money was there and then my mother got sick." Julyan barely whispered, "Very sick."

"And the money went for her treatment, I take it."

Julyan nodded. "I couldn't let them spend it on me when she needed it. Without it, she would have died."

Duane reached across the table to take his hand. "But she didn't, I hope."

"No, she recovered, thank God. I guess, now, if I wanted to try again I could put in for a student loan. Maybe someday I will. I just sort of lost the desire." He smiled ruefully. "I was never that good a student anyway."

"So you're going to spend the rest of your life being a waiter?"

Julyan shook his head. "What I'd really like to do, if I ever get any money saved, is open my own place the way you did."

"So I'm training my future competitor." Duane grinned, squeezing Julyan's hand before letting go.

"Maybe." Julyan grinned back. "I could have a worse teacher than you."

"Thank you." Duane toyed with his glass then took a drink.

One Plus Two Equals... - 17

Duane woke to bright sunshine, which did little to alleviate his dark mood. He was angry with himself for what he'd done to Julyan the night before. He should have explained rather than just dashing off. Not that there was any explanation the younger man could have understood, to say the least of accepted.

How do I get myself into situations like this?

"Simple, I do what I'm ordered," he replied aloud to his thought.

Sighing, he got up and began his day. Several hours later he was feeling a bit better. The restaurant was as busy, if not more so, than it had been on opening day. He recognized several of the customers from yesterday which he hoped meant people liked the place enough to keep returning.

"If this keeps up, you're going to have to hire more people," Julyan commented cheerfully.

Duane nodded at Julyan's words. "I'd rather do that than have to let some of you go once the newness wears off and the customers return to their regular eating haunts. Or even have to shut down if it falls flat."

"Yeah, well…" Julyan frowned as he hurried off, putting a smile on his face again while greeting a new couple being seated in his section.

Duane watched him and felt like a heel for bringing him down but what he'd said was the truth as far as it went. The restaurant wasn't going to close, that was a given, but for all that he'd put his heart into creating the place, it was just another endeavor in a long line of them with which he'd been involved and then had to walk away from.

Pushing his morose thoughts to the back of his mind for now, Duane headed to his office, taking a detour into the kitchen first to be certain everything was under control there. He smiled as he watched Maxine and Phil working together like a well-oiled machine to get the orders out with the help of their two assistants. He realized as he left he'd done well with his hires. When he had to move on, whoever took over would be walking into a restaurant which was successful and would remain so.

One Plus Two Equals... - 16

Julyan tried to scoot backward, saying "Why are you doing this?", but Auden gripped his knee to keep him there.

"Why not? I find you interesting and underneath your seeming reluctance I think you find me interesting as well." He slid his hand up Julyan's thigh then around his waist, shifting so he was beside him. "Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Yes! You're misreading me. I'm not interested in you. There's someone else. I just…"

"You just what, Julyan?"

"I don't know," he whispered. "You're not like him, but you are."

"That makes absolutely no sense at all."

"I know." Julyan's expression was filled with confusion. "It's your eyes, and you make the same gestures sometimes, and he kissed me the same way you did, like it was the natural thing to do. And I'm not making any sense at all, am I?"

Auden leaned back on his hands, staring at Julyan with a trace of amusement. "Not one bit, and yet I get what you're saying. My opinion, I think you've got a real thing for this Duane, but you still find me interesting and you don't know what to do about it."

"I don't."

When Julyan didn't say anything more, Auden shook his head, "You don't have a thing for him, you don't find me interesting, or you don't know what to do about it?"

"I…" Julyan chewed his lip. "I don't know what to do about why I feel this way."

"Come here," Auden said softly, holding out his hand.

"No." Once again Julyan scooted away.

"For the love of all that's holy, I'm not going to force myself on you," Auden growled. "I only want one kiss because, just maybe, it'll help you figure things out."

"I don't know you! You're this strange man hanging out on my roof that keeps coming on to me. That much I have figured out."

"And you wish I was this Duane."

Julyan nodded. "I do. And you're not."

"I… No, I'm not. You should go." Auden smiled slightly. "Or I should. As you pointed out, it's your roof." He jumped to his feet, paused long enough to cup Julyan's chin in his hand and bend to kiss him hard. Then, before the younger man could react, he was across the roof and going down the fire escape to the alley.

Stunned at the suddenness of it all, Julyan sat there. "What the hell…?" Finally he got up, walking slowly as he returned to his apartment. "Insane. Just… insane."

One Plus Two Equals... - 15

"This is crazy," Julyan told Jack while he waited for the coffee to finish brewing. "I went up there to try and sort out my feelings about Duane and there he was."

"Duane?"

"What? Oh, no. Auden. The man who kissed me last night."

"Oh boy. So now what are you going to do?"

Julyan shook his head. "I wish I knew. How come after months of having no one around who was interested in me, or who I was interested in, there's suddenly two men who seem to think kissing me is… Hell, why are they kissing me? Am I sending out vibes of some sort?"

"It's your sexy, pouty mouth."

"I don't have… Oh, damn it, why's everyone teasing me, too?"

Jack chuckled. "Because you fall for it so easily."

"I guess I do, don't I?" Julyan took two mugs from the cabinet, filled them with coffee and, with Jack's 'Have fun' lingering in his ears, he headed back up to the roof.

For a moment he thought Auden had left then he saw him at the side of the roof. He went over, handing him one of the mugs before sitting down cross-legged a few feet away. Safer here, he thought, staring up at the night sky.

As if reading his thought, Auden chuckled. "I'm not going to bite, and I promise I won't try to kiss you again."

"Oh?" For some reason that made Julyan feel less than happy.

"Well, not unless you want me to."

"Oh." Needing to get the subject changed and fast, Julyan asked, "What do you do?"

"For a job?" When Julyan nodded, Auden told him, "I'm a freelance photographer."

"There's money in that?"

"Yeah. It's sort of hit or miss but I've got enough name recognition now that magazines and newspapers will hire me for special assignments."

"I don't recognize your name."

Auden clapped his hand to his chest in mock dismay. "You wound me to the core. I'm famous. Well, in my own mind at least."

Julyan laughed at his antics, but something about the gesture reminded him of how Duane had done the same thing earlier. But then people do, it's a classic move. "What is your name? I mean your last name."

"Reviers. Auden Reviers, at your service."

"Weird. That's almost the same as my boss's name."

"He's an 'Auden' too? That is weird."

"No. His first name is Duane, but his last name is so close. Reives. Well, there's only one 'r' but… Okay, I'm tired if I'm trying to make them seem the same just because they have almost the same letters… and I'm babbling."

"Just a bit but it's okay." Auden took a drink of coffee, looking at Julyan over the rim as he did. "You're cute when you're flustered."

Julyan dropped his eyes. "Oh God, I'm not 'cute'. At least, I hope I'm not."

"No." Auden put down his mug and moved to sit in front of Julyan, mimicking his posture. "You're not cute. Good looking and sexy would be more like it." He rested his hand on Julyan's knee.

One Plus Two Equals... - 14

Auden trained the camera on the Crown Building. It was late, the interior lights were off, even on the first two floors which held the shops and restaurants. He wasn't certain why his boss had wanted him back here but when ordered he did as he was told.

Then a light came on in a window on the fourth floor. He pointed the camera at it, focusing in. Too much of an angle. He moved until he was directly facing it, smiling in triumph as he shot a series of pictures.

Well, it's beginning to look like we have the full complement of players now. So what's next?

He started to put the camera back into its case. He was certain he had what he'd been sent to get. Then he saw one more person come into the room.

"Shit and damnation," he muttered.

"Oh, sorry. I'll go."

Auden swung around. I'm losing my edge. How did he…? "Hey, I wasn't swearing at you. I didn't even hear you."

Julyan glanced down at his stocking feet. "Sorry. I was just coming up here to think and…" he shrugged. "I didn't know you'd be here. Why are you here?"

"Because it's a good place to think?" Auden grinned at him.

"Umm hmm, sure. Do you always swear when you're thinking?"

"Not always." He needed to get Julyan to leave so he could get pictures to prove the man he'd seen was indeed involved in Vicario's plans. "Look, I don't suppose you have any more of that coffee, do you? Well, not the coffee from last night, but coffee brewing?"

"Not brewing, but I could make some if you really want it."

Julyan looked so hopeful, Auden smiled. "I'd love some. We can drink it up here and commune with our thoughts together."

"I'll be right back!"

As soon as Julyan was gone, Auden started taking pictures again, this time keeping an ear open for him. When he had enough he took out his phone and texted his boss to let him know he'd been on the right track sending him back here.

With that done, Auden moved to the side of the roof facing the cross-street, sitting down to rest his back against the parapet. He figured that way, when Julyan got back, he wouldn't have to worry about anyone seeing the two of them up here. Or at least anyone who might care.

One Plus Two Equals... - 13

Once they were settled at one end of the bar, drinks in front of them, Duane turned to look seriously at Julyan. "Did it bother you I did that?"

Julyan slowly shook his head. "No. It was a surprise, but…no, it didn't bother me in the least."

Duane chuckled. "Then I did something wrong."

Uncertain how to respond, Julyan opted for silence, which obviously wasn't the right thing to do because Duane frowned, turning away to talk to Jack. Hesitantly he touched Duane's shoulder. "You could have kissed me. Really." And where the hell did that come from?

"I could have," Duane agreed, his attention now back on Julyan, "and risked you pushing me away, so I opted for being a tease."

Julyan's thoughts immediately flew to his doing just that to Auden the previous night. He met Duane's gaze, startled to see his eyes were deep amber. Why hadn't he ever noticed that before? Probably because I never really looked into them. They reminded him of someone else's. It took him a moment to remember whose. Auden's. His were almost the same color, maybe a shade lighter. Too strange.

The silence between them grew until Julyan realized he should say something in reply to Duane's words. "I wouldn't have pushed you away."

Duane's reply was to lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to Julyan's lips. Julyan didn't move for a moment then put one hand on the back of Duane's neck as he returned it.

"It's about time. I've wanted to do this since, well almost since I met you, but the time was never quite right, and I am your boss." Duane smiled. "Wouldn't want you reporting me for sexual harassment."

"I wouldn't!" Julyan said in shock before he got that Duane was teasing him.

"I hope not." Duane drew his finger lightly along the line of Julyan's jaw. "Because then I couldn't kiss you again."

"You… You can… Kiss me again, that is."

"I just might." Duane sighed when the sound of his cell interrupted him. He flicked it open, looked at what Julyan presumed was a text message, and closed it. "Sorry. Something's come up." He stood, bent to kiss Julyan lightly, saying, "More to come but not right now," and after tossing some cash on the bar strode quickly away.

"What the hell!"

Jack shrugged. "Probably something to do with the restaurant."

"At this hour?"

"Who knows? I'm sure he'll explain tomorrow. Are you ready to head home?"

"Yes." Julyan looked at his glass, which was still full, and pushed it aside. "Let's get out of here."

One Plus Two Equals... - 12

"I'm beat, but not tired," Julyan proclaimed as he got ready to leave the restaurant. "I was thinking, maybe we should go for coffee and unwind. It's only ten." He looked at Jack then glanced at Duane who was turning off the last of the lights. "Anyone up for that?"

Jack pounced on the idea, before realizing he wasn't really the one Julyan wanted to say 'Yes' to his question. "On the other hand," he said quickly, "I think I'll head back to the apartment. There's a show I wanted to catch."

Duane paused before nodding. "Sure, coffee someplace besides here sounds good to me. Or, there's a small bar a couple of blocks away if you want something stronger."

"A glass of wine maybe, that's my limit." Julyan suddenly wondered what the hell he was doing. Well, he knew, but he had the feeling he was going about it the wrong way and so was doomed to failure. Despite what Jack had suggested, he was still very sure Duane was straight. If anything, he'd decided to go along with the idea just to be nice. He quickly turned to catch Jack's attention before he disappeared. "Come on, you can miss the show. We need to celebrate, you, me, and Duane."

Jack shrugged and nodded. "Whatever. I guess I could use a beer. But just one because we have to do this all over again tomorrow."

"Go out to celebrate?" Duane asked with a laugh as he waited for them to leave so he could lock up.

Jack grinned. "No, work. And we have this slave-driver of a boss who expects us to show up on time."

"I am not a slave-driver."

"A stern taskmaster?"

"A benevolent employer."

"Okay, I'll accept that, I guess."

Duane suggested they walk to the bar. While they did, he and Jack continued their bantering. Julyan listened, amused even as he wished he had the ability to do that.

Apparently realizing Julyan was feeling left out, Duane slung an arm around his shoulders. "So which am I, the Grinch or an angel?"

"Definitely an angel," Julyan replied, trying not to react to Duane's touch. Now if he was as forward as Auden… He licked his lips, remembering the kiss.

Duane looked at him, a slight smile turning up the corners of his mouth. "Thinking of someone else? I do believe I'm hurt." He clapped his hand to his chest in mock dismay.

"No, no. I was…I, umm, ate a slice of Maxine's pie and the taste is still on my lips."

"Let's see." Duane pulled to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk, turned Julyan to face him then leaned close enough to brush his tongue over his lips. "It was the apple one," he said, grinning.

Julyan looked at him in shock. Did he just…? He heard Jack snort softly from behind Duane and saw him mouth, 'Told you'.

As if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Duane put his arm back around Julyan's shoulders to steer him toward the bar, which as just a few feet away.

It's time to meet 'The Detective's Apprentice'!

The Detective's Apprentice

https://www.jms-books.com/edward-kendrick-c-224_229/the-detectives-apprentice-p-2972.html

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YNC5RR1/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-detectives-apprentice-edward-kendrick/1133982183?ean=9781646560349

GENRE: Gay Erotic Romance
LENGTH: 42,793 words
RATING:

Nineteen-year-old Joe has been living on the streets since escaping from a sex-trafficking ring. When a blizzard hits the city, he takes a chance, accepting Derek Clarke's offer of a place to stay for the night. It wouldn't have happened if Derek hadn't been doing a stake-out in the alley at just the right time and taken pity on Joe.

The blizzard leaves the two men housebound for the next few days, and they begin to bond as Derek teaches Joe some of what being a private detective involves.

Loath to let Joe return to the streets when the weather clears, Derek offers him a job as his apprentice, while allowing him to continue staying in his guestroom.

Can their relationship grow from friendship to more, in spite of traumas in their pasts, or will Joe's fear of physical commitment ultimately drive them apart?

EXCERPT:

Derek turned on the TV, keeping the sound just above audible so it wouldn't disturb Joe's reading. He found a local news channel that was giving a special update on the weather. Among the stories was one about two deaths from hypothermia as a result of the blizzard -- a homeless man, and a girl who was barely sixteen. Their bodies had been found in downtown alleys.

He wasn't aware that Joe had been watching until the young man swore softly. "They could have been me, if you hadn't come along."

"I'm afraid so."

"It's not fair, damn it."

"No, it's not," Derek agreed, wishing there was something more he could say. Instead, he turned off the TV. "I'm going to find something to read, too," he told Joe. "After I let Sherwat out."

At the word 'out', the dog was off the sofa, making a dash into the kitchen.

"We could take him for a walk, maybe," Joe said.

"We could, if I can find some old boots of mine that will fit you and a jacket, although you'll probably swim in it."

Joe snorted. "That would be nothing new."

Derek found things that would work, saying when Joe donned the winter jacket, "You look like a kid wearing his big brother's hand-me-down."

"I'm not a kid," Joe grumbled.

"Nope, but you don't look nineteen, either. Are you sure you are?" Derek kidded.

"Yeah. The one thing I managed to escape with, other than the clothes on my back, was my wallet. Not that it had anything in it but my learner's permit. They stole my money. I was supposed to take my driving test to get my driver's license, but I got stupid before that happened."

"You got conned by an expert, Joe. It wasn't your fault. By the way, and maybe you don't know, did the men running the trafficking ring ever get arrested?"

"They did. It was the one bright spot in my life back then. I was dumpster-diving and found an old newspaper with a story about it. Well, I guess it was the same ring. It must have been because I recognized the name of one of the men who was arrested." He shook his head. "That, I'll never forget. Brock Weldon."

"Good to know," Derek replied as he hooked the leash to Sherwat's collar and opened the front door. "This could be interesting," he said as he surveyed the steps down to the sidewalk. "We'll let dog here blaze the trail. From the look of it, a few cars have made it down the street so we'll walk in the ruts instead of plowing through close to two feet of the stuff on the sidewalk."

"I don't think I've ever seen this much snow," Joe said as he trailed behind Derek and the dog.

"In all your nineteen years," Derek teased.

"Hey, you're not that much older than me," Joe replied. "If I figured right when you were telling me how you became a detective, you're only twenty-six."

"True. Good memory."

"It was only a few hours ago. Jeez."

Derek chuckled as they made it out to the street, where walking was easier as long as they stayed in the middle. When they got to the alley between a row of houses, they waited while Sherwat took care of business. Being a good dog owner, Derek picked up after him. He started for the curb, knowing there was a Dumpster where he could leave the plastic bag behind the first house. That wasn't happening he realized. No one had driven down the alley, meaning the snow was almost calf high, and deeper where it had formed drifts. He tied the bag around the dog's leash to dispose of when they got home, and they kept walking.  

One Plus Two Equals... - 11

Guess we're as ready as possible. Duane looked around the main dining room of '1803'. He smiled, seeing everyone standing almost at attention. Then Jack pointed to the still locked front door and Duane's smile widened. There were several couples and at least three families gathered outside waiting for the restaurant to open.

Within half an hour every table was filled with contented customers and by the time the lunch-hour was over and most of the diners had left, Duane was finally beginning to believe the restaurant might be a success. Of course there was still another seven hours to go so he wasn't taking anything for granted. He chuckled at that thought. Seven hours, days, weeks even, before he'd know for certain.

"You look happy, and you should," Julyan commented as he came into the kitchen to pick up an order.

"We all should, because without you and the others this wouldn't have happened. Especially you."

"I didn't do anything more than anyone else," Julyan protested.

"I'd be in traction if you hadn't helped me with all the shopping."

Julyan snorted. "Not hardly, with those muscles, that body." He instantly turned red, swiveled around to pick up the plates that sat on the counter and hurried out of the kitchen.

Maxine, who'd overheard the exchange, chuckled. "Someone's got a thing for you, Duane."

"I doubt it. He's just flattering the boss."

Looking him over with a practiced eye, Maxine shook her head. "It wasn't flattery."

"Oh for heaven's sake, quit," Duane muttered as he too left the kitchen.

Phil grinned at his wife. "You did that on purpose."

"No kidding. I may not have known either one of them for long but it's still pretty obvious they're interested in each other. They just need a gentle shove in the right direction."

"And you're the person to do that." He hugged her then they both got back to work.

One Plus Two Equals... – 10

When Auden released him, Julyan wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. "That was totally unnecessary and uncalled for," he said angrily.

"No shit, but you liked it."

"What the hell makes—" Julyan didn't get to finish his sentence as Auden was kissing him again. And he did like it, although he would never have admitted it. Instead he put his hands on Auden's chest to push him away. "I don't know what you think I am, or who you think you are, but that was it! Try it again and I'll…do something."

"Like return it?" Auden smirked.

"In your dreams." Julyan jumped to his feet, beating a hasty retreat off the roof.

* * * *

"You forgot the mugs," Auden muttered in amusement. He took a cautious look over the edge of the parapet, saw the building across the street was dark and decided to call it a night. After putting the camera away he picked up the coffee mugs and headed one level down the fire escape. The exit door to the top floor was locked but he had no problem opening it. It took only a minute to figure out which was Julyan's apartment by the light under the door and the faint aroma of burnt coffee. "Forgot to turn the machine off before you came up, didn't you?" he said softly as he put the mugs down beside the door. Then, unhurriedly, he made his way out of the building and headed home.

* * * *

"So some strange man you've never seen before kissed you. Twice." Jack stared unbelievingly at Julyan.

"I swear to God." Julyan actually held up his hand as if he was. "He was on the roof, taking pictures. I brought him coffee and then he said he owed me for it and kissed me."

"And just why were you taking him coffee?"

Julyan explained, ignoring Jack when he rolled his eyes once or twice. "So I figured when he didn't call, I'd see if he was still up there but I didn't want it to seem as if that's what I was doing so I brought along the coffee."

"Only you would think like that. And what happened to the idea you found Duane interesting?"

"I told you, he's straight."

"Do you know that for a fact?"

"He told me about his ex-business partner who wanted them to get married."

"That doesn't mean he's straight. He could be bi."

"He could be anything, but since he's shown no interest in me, I'm not going to try and find out."

"Faint heart and all that."

Julyan chuckled. "He's far from being a 'fair maiden'."

"You know what I mean." Jack stifled a yawn and stood. "For now, however, I'm going to bed. We do have to work tomorrow and it's going to be busy, I hope."

"Since it's the grand opening, I suspect so."

"So get to bed and dream about all the men in your life."

"Yeah, right. As if."