Love Is Always Write Volume 4

it?
    He'd stick around and ignore his other agenda. They talked about the kitchen Stefan designed and Greg nodded his appreciation of the details. He liked the way Stefan took his work seriously and he had no problem talking about joints and hinges and pneumatic drawer stoppers.
    They talked about how much trouble it was dealing with customers and what they liked best about their jobs. They talked about restaurants in the city. At long last a comfortable silence fell.
    Until Stefan apparently felt the need to make the atmosphere less relaxed. "Why are you here, Greg?" His voice was low and way too intense.
    Greg wasn't sure if he wanted to slide closer to that voice or get up and leave. "Well. Ah. I just wanted to see how my niece is."
    "You could have gone with Pete to the park. You can still go catch up. It's only a couple of blocks away. You'll be in time to walk them back."
    "And you. I wanted to see how you are." Honesty. He'd go for that. Right? Couldn't hurt to not lie. "I've thought about you a lot."
    Stefan's smile was broad and knowing and delighted. "You're kidding. Really? Because truth is, I've thought about you too. Particularly in the shower."
    He forced himself not to look away but he could feel the heat of the blush. No way. He did not blush. "So we're attracted to each other."
    "Umm hmm."
    The eager way he hummed made Greg laugh—and his face went hotter. "But see, I don't do this long term relationship thing. And I don't want to screw up the strange…the um, whatever you have with Mellady. I know she hasn't come by. She told me so. But I know she likes being able to see her baby and it could be awkward if you and I did more than hook up."
    "And you're loyal to your family, I know that. It's cool."
    Greg had managed this kind of negotiation after a couple of drinks so he'd had practice. Surely he'd manage straightforward sober too. "Anyway. I want to fuck you." The next part was newer. "But I also don't want to fuck up with you. Staying friendly is more important than a good time."
    Stefan made a gurgling sound that could have been surprised laughter. "So you want to be friends with benefits?"
    He nodded. "Yeah. That sounds really good." Just the thought aroused him. He'd been celibate too long. It had been months. That mouth looked delicious. He scooted his chair even closer just in case it was time to reap the benefits.
    Stefan's gorgeous lips parted as he sighed. He shifted his own chair back. "Here's the thing. I can't."
    "What?"
    "I'm a father now. I don't want to do casual. I mean Emily's not going to see me as a bad example for a number of years yet, but I don't want to be dishonest with her. It's hard to explain."
    Greg wanted to roll his eyes. "Okay," he said, wondering if he could point out that at the moment, Emily wouldn't have a clue. But it occurred to him that he liked Stefan for taking this stuff sort of seriously. China didn't. He didn't. Mellady hadn't.
    Stefan said, "Anyway, except for Phillip, I haven't done one night stands. He was my first and then we kind of stopped being a one night stand within a week."
    "You're not into casual."
    "Yeah, I like it better after I get to know someone. Dinner. That sort of thing."
    Chocolates and flowers and coaxing. Crap. Greg felt a wave of disappointment and checked his watch. Did he have time to go home, change and go out to a bar?
    Stefan's chair creaked as he leaned forward. "Do you want to stay for dinner? I'd offer to go out, but Emily will be tired and it's always a crapshoot taking her out in the evenings."
    Greg wanted to thank him for the conversation and coffee and walk out, eventually head to that bar. But getting his rocks off could wait for another night.
    "Sure," he said without too much regret. He'd get a chance to see his niece.
    And the dinner tasted great. Emily sat in a car seat thing--nothing this fancy back when Mellady and the others were babies. Emily ate some pear gunk and a bottle.
    Greg handed her a chicken bone and Stefan made a shocked noise.
    "No it's fine. Babies like 'em." Greg insisted. He grinned as he stopped Stefan from snatching back the bone.
    Stefan closed his eyes and gave a dramatic groan. "I'm trying to be less of a neurotic about this baby thing. But honestly, you could do with a few more neuroses."
    Greg realized this was the first non-work related dinner he'd enjoyed for years. He liked his siblings, but there was a tension between them. They expected stuff from him--money, support in other ways.