Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

and crawled back in bed. Staff was warm, his arms strong as they curled around Burke. The bed smelled like sex. Staff's lips brushed his cheek and then Burke heard deep, even breaths. He listened as Staff slept, enjoying the warmth and intimacy of being in his arms, then he, too, fell asleep soon after.
    The sun was already up when Burke awoke, though not long. He had no clue what time it was. This far south, the signal of the sun was a mystery to him. He was alone in bed but the aroma of fresh, strong coffee hit his nostrils.
    "Good morning." Staff was already dressed in another pair of baggy shorts and a tight pale-blue T-shirt that hugged his well-formed chest, giving just a glimpse of large, dark nipples below the fabric. He sat on the bed and handed Burke a mug of steaming coffee.
    Burke took a tentative gulp so as not to scald his mouth and throat. Best. Coffee. Ever. "Wow."
    "It's a special blend. I brought it and had the kitchen make it up for me."
    Burke took another sip of coffee and across the room a cell phone rang. Not his ring tone. He didn't even have his phone. Staff cursed under his breath and ran for the phone. He clicked it and the sound stopped.
    "My alarm. I have to go, Burke."
    "What?"
    "I have to take care of something right now."
    "Okay, I get it."
    "No. It's not that."
    Burke frowned but he sipped more coffee, hoping to put off the inevitable for just a moment or two longer. He wasn't going to give up that easy. Staff grabbed his backpack and slung the binoculars around his neck. Burke took that as a definite signal and he started to get out of bed, now more than a little self conscious to be naked in the daylight as Staff kicked him out.
    "Don't leave yet. Take your time. Finish the coffee." Staff moved toward the door as he spoke. "Would you want to meet me near the beach around noon? I'll take you to lunch." His tone, while rushed, still sounded sincere and inviting.
    "Sure."
    The door slammed shut before Burke had finished speaking.
    He took his time and he had another cup of coffee. Staff had left him here, alone in the room. If he wanted to get rid of Burke he had done a weird job of it. He wandered around the room as he sipped coffee, not bothering to get dressed just yet. He realized the curtains were open and a guy walking outside was staring at Burke, giving him a thumbs up and questioning glance. Burke shook his head and slid the curtains shut. He did feel a little sense of satisfaction that some stranger liked what he'd seen through the window. Maybe Burke wasn't such a loser after all, if someone at all propositioned him for sex.
    Loser. He'd felt like a loser the day before until Staff had started talking to him. Then Staff had run off, but he'd shown up for their dinner date and it had been wonderful. Everything had been wonderful. Burke wanted to know what was up with Staff. His constant running off and those binoculars! He half expected Staff to wear them to dinner! Or in bed!
    Against his better nature, Burke opened each drawer in the chest, one at a time, glancing in before rolling it shut again. Nothing interesting, at least on the surface. He wouldn't poke around in another man's drawers. He padded over to the bed and slid the nightstand drawer open. A brand new box of condoms sat next to a Gideon bible.
    What do you know about that? Why had Staff lied about not having any condoms?
    Burke felt disgusted with himself for snooping but he was a little hurt Staff didn't want to have sex with him. He got dressed and headed back to his cabin for a shower. He momentarily considered emailing Janalyn and telling her about Staff and decided that was not an appropriate discussion to have with his sister. Yes, she wanted him to get laid, but she probably didn't want to know any of the details.
    Burke laughed as he imagined her face if he did tell her.
    ****
    He headed for the pier after his shower. He'd signed up for a 9 a.m. sailing lesson so it was a good thing Staff was an early riser, or Burke might have missed it. He spent a couple of hours trying to remember the difference between lines and sheets— why couldn't they just call them ropes like normal people?— and avoiding getting hit in the head with the boom as they tacked back and forth in the slight breeze. The instructor suggested he take the afternoon class as well, when there would be more wind.
    Burke was heading back to his room when he glimpsed a familiar baseball cap out of the corner of his eye. He noticed Staff