What was this now? “You’re saying I don’t know how to have fun?” He knew how to have fun. He couldn’t think of any examples at the moment, but he could have fun.
“Prove it.” Bea took his hand and poured a load of flour onto it. Joe was less than inspired.
“I don’t have to prove it. And these are my ingredients you’re tossing about willy-nilly.”
Bea pursed her lips and chucked another handful of flour at his face. “That’s for saying willy-nilly. No grown man says that.”
“I say it, and I’m a grown man,” Joe protested, wiping the flour from his face.
“That’s debatable,” Donnie replied with a giggle.
Joe gasped. “Et tu?” He pointed behind Donnie. “Is that a spider?”
“Where?” Donnie turned around. “I don’t see it.” He turned back to Joe and got floured.
Joe grinned smugly. “Debate that.”
He should have known better. Everyone peered at each other before they launched into an attack. More flour floated through the air than, well, air. It was snowing down, covering them from head to toe, except for Tom. Tom was a little too clean, so Joe decided to enlist the help of his enemies. He caught Donnie’s attention and motioned toward Tom. Donnie enlisted Elsie, who then recruited Bea. The four of them grabbed a handful of four and set their sights on Tom.
“Oh, I see how it is.” Tom narrowed his eyes as he backed away. “Gang up on the new guy.”
“Someone has to take the fall, Tom, and you’re too darn good.” Joe had prepared to launch his attack when Tom pulled some super spy move and ended up with his arms around Joe before he knew what hit him. He let out a yelp as Tom lifted him off his feet, the flour in his hand falling away as he was thrown over Tom’s shoulder. Joe couldn’t stop himself from laughing. “Put me down!”
Tom turned to Bea, Donnie, and Elsie. “All right. Lower your flour or the cute guy gets it.”
“Hm.” Bea seemed to be considering this.
Joe peered at her from over his shoulder. “You’re taking awfully long saving me, Bea.”
“I’m considering my options.”
“What options? You’re supposed to drop the flour and come to my rescue!”
“What’ll it cost him if we don’t surrender?” Bea asked.
Tom smacked Joe’s butt, and Joe let out another yelp. “You scoundrel!” Joe wriggled and pushed against Tom’s back, coming up against nothing but muscle. Damn the man and his finely sculpted figure. Nice view, though. Very nice indeed. Tom had a perky round butt, and Joe had the strongest urge to squeeze it, but he restrained himself. He really shouldn’t molest Tom in front of everyone.
Tom thought about his reply. “It’ll cost him… a kiss.”
“Extortion!” Joe declared. “What kind of kiss?”
“I’ll decide once you accept,” Tom replied cheerfully.
Joe pretended to think about it. “Well, I suppose I can afford one kiss, and of course, I’m hardly in the position to refuse. You drive a hard bargain.”
Tom chuckled and put Joe on his feet, a wicked gleam coming into his eyes. “I get to claim the kiss.” He took hold of Joe and bent him backward, kissing him within an inch of his life, while their friends cheered and made catcalls behind them. Joe wrapped his arms around Tom’s neck and returned his kiss. He never wanted this moment to end. Being in Tom’s arms—feeling his lips against Tom’s, the taste of him, experiencing the need coming from Tom—was heavenly. Unfortunately it did end, interrupted by a knock on the glass door out front. Tom pulled Joe up and let out a breathy laugh. “It’s probably a good thing they interrupted us, or we might have ended up giving everyone quite the show.” Tom wriggled his eyebrows, and Joe put a hand to Tom’s chest.
“Restrain yourself, sir. We are in the presence of gentlefolk. And Bea.”
Bea huffed and took a step toward Joe. “Why you—”
With a laugh, Joe darted from the kitchen. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun. Joe wiped his hands on his apron and headed out into the café. With the blinds closed on all the windows and the front door shade pulled down, he couldn’t get a good look at who was on the other side. Joe opened the door and his smile fell from his face. His heart dropped to his stomach.
“Hey, Joe. Long time no see.”
Joe swallowed hard, unable to believe it. “Blake? What are you doing here?”
“Is that any way to greet a customer? Where’s the warm and friendly service I hear so much about?” Blake gave him a wide toothy grin. At one point that smile and those chocolate brown eyes had sent tingles up Joe’s spine. Now they made him feel sick. To think he’d fallen for that soulless gaze. How could he have been so na?ve, to ever believe the man loved him? The only man Blake ever loved was himself.
“What do you want, Blake?”