Henri – 21

 

Laughing, Taegan replied. "Probably not. It's still the truth. You're very handsome bait to boot, and I'm not going to let him get his hands on you again, no matter what."

 

"Handsome?"

 

"Figured you might latch onto that," Taegan said, kissing his temple. "From my perspective, yes."

 

"I'm not, you know. Not compared to you."

 

"What is it they say? It's all in the eye of the beholder. To me, you're quite handsome and charming and sexy…and quit blushing."

 

"I can't help it. No one's ever told me that before."

 

"Then you haven't found the right man. Or, I suppose, woman, considering you're admittedly bi."

 

"I thought I had, a long time ago. A girlfriend. But, as I told you before, she couldn't handle the fact she was aging while I wasn't." Henri chuckled. "And she never said I was charming and sexy."

 

"It's nice to know I'm the first one to see it—or at least to say it to you."

 

"Of course, if I said the same to you—" Henri grinned, "—you'd shrug and reply, 'I know.'"

 

"I wouldn't!" When Henri arched an eyebrow, Taegan admitted, "Okay, let's say I wouldn't be that blasé about it—I hope. I do know I have a certain…charisma. It comes in handy in my business. But that's it. I don't… Okay, I try not to flaunt it."

 

Henri smiled, kissing Taegan's cheek. "You don't." He pulled away quickly, looking flustered.

 

Taegan understood immediately why. Trying to defuse Henri's discomposure, Taegan joked, "You missed my lips by at least an inch."

 

"I wasn't… I didn't… Oh, what the hell."

 

Much to Taegan's surprise, Henri kissed him firmly—on the lips.

 

"Better?" Henri asked, pulling away.

 

"Much." Taegan gazed at him for a brief moment. "But…" Wrapping both arms around Henri, Taegan kissed him soundly. Far from resisting, Henri returned it in kind. When they broke apart, Taegan smiled at the slightly dazed expression on Henri's face. "I guess," Taegan said softly, "we've just proved we are a bit more than attracted to each other."

 

"I think that goes without saying at this point." Henri laughed suddenly, pointing. "And we have an audience."

 

"We what?" Taegan turned and grinned. "I suspect the geese have seen more than a few people kissing in their day."

 

"Undoubtedly," Henri agreed. "Still, I'd rather not be their entertainment de nuit."

 

"Which we will be if we don't get moving." Taegan gave Henri a swift kiss before gathering up the remains of their meal. Standing, he went to the nearest trashcan to dispose of the bags. Henri joined him and they strolled slowly through the Quarter to the rear entrance of Taegan's place.

 

"Do you want me to catch a bus home so you can get to bed? You have an early morning appointment." Henri asked.

 

"We have one," Taegan replied. "So, I'll take you home and pick you up around, ugh," he wrinkled his nose. "Five-thirty, I guess."

 

"People get up at that hour?"

 

"Apparently TV people do." Taegan unlocked the SUV. "Hop in."