Love Means No Shame - Andrew Grey

the books, shut off the computer, and turned out the light. “Let’s go bake some bread.”
    Geoff led the way to the kitchen, opening cupboards and pulling out bowls, spoons, and measuring cups. “I know some of these things are different from what you’re used to. I hope you can manage.”
    “I should be able to.” Eli watched as Geoff got out some whole wheat flour. At least this Eli would be used to. Dad had gotten it at the Amish bakery. “What else do you need?”
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    “Yeast, salt, milk, a little sugar, and some water.” Geoff got the ingredients together while Eli started setting everything the way he wanted it. “I need a board.” Geoff got one from one of the cabinets. Then Eli went to work measuring the ingredients. He looked up, smiling, “Do you want to help?” Geoff smiled back and stood next to Eli. “You can measure the flour.” Eli told him how much, and Geoff started measuring it out, pouring it into the bowl.
    Just as he was finishing, the bag slipped and a handful of flour hit the counter and sprayed back up in a white cloud, covering them both. To Geoff’s relief, Eli started to laugh, and he joined in, the two of them shaking their clothes and sending more flour dust into the air, covering them both in white.
    “You look like a ghost,” Eli teased.

    “And you look like a demented snowman.” The laughter was infectious, and every time one of them would stop, the other would start again, flour going everywhere. At one point, Len walked in, took one look around, and walked right back out again, shaking his head and not saying a word.
    Finally, the laughter subsided, and the air cleared. Eli’s eyes were dancing with delight, and Geoff felt his breath catch a little but refrained from turning away. That face was just too happy not to look at. “I need to get this flour out of my shirt.” It was starting to itch. Geoff unbuttoned and took off his shirt and opened the back door, shaking out the flour. He came back inside and put his shirt back on, watching Eli as he did. Maybe Len was right; Eli did seem to be watching him pretty closely. Once he had his shirt on, he went back to work and finished measuring out the flour, watching Eli out of the corner of his eye as the young man took off his own shirt and waved it outside to shake off the flour. Geoff didn’t get more than a few seconds' peek at his skin, but what he saw was flawless.
    Damn ….
Geoff kept his mind on the task at hand as they finished the bread dough and set it to rise. They spent the next half hour cleaning 70 Love Means … NO SHAME
up the flour, but it took Geoff a lot longer than that to get the image of Eli’s bare chest and bright smile out of his mind.
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    Andrew Grey

    “JESUS CHRIST, I’m glad that’s done.” Geoff walked stiffly into the kitchen, hanging his hat on the rack near the door. “I swear I planted half of Mason County in the last week.” His legs hurt and his rear hurt, but he kept moving, trying to keep his muscles from seizing up. Len got up from the table and brought him a cup of coffee,
    “You did really good. After the rain last week, I didn’t think we’d get everything planted in time. But you did.” Geoff started to sit but thought better of it. “I feel like I have that tractor seat attached to my butt, but I got it done.” He actually felt really good, like he’d accomplished something pretty amazing.
All the fields were planted, and it was still a week before Memorial Day. Granted, it had almost killed him, but it was done.
    “Did Eli like driving the tractor?” Len asked. Geoff gave him a
“how did you know?” look. “I saw the two of you when I was going into town this afternoon.”
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    “Yeah, he seemed to. At first he was nervous, but then he really seemed to get into it. I think he likes trying new things.” Eli really was an Amish rebel.
    “You should go to bed.” Geoff nodded and went upstairs, passing Eli as he made his way to his room.
“Geoff, are you all right?” The concern in Eli’s voice made him stop and turn.
Geoff smiled; the tightness in the face he’d come to think of as almost angelic was really touching. “I’m fine, just really tired.”
    “You can barely walk.” Eli stepped toward him, taking his arm and helping him into the bedroom, settling him on the side of the bed. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
    “Yes, just really tired.” The concerned look on Eli’s face made Geoff want