Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“I’m going to have nightmares tonight.” Jack uncrossed his arms, hesitated, and hovered his palms over Gray’s pecs. “I’m going to blame you when I don’t get any sleep and can’t wake up in time for my run.”
Over the decades he had known Jack, Gray thought he had seen every part of him. Clearly, he had been wrong because the slightly awkward, definitely nervous glimpses he had been spying over the last couple of weeks were new. By paying close attention, he had narrowed Jack’s nerves to situations when the two of them were getting physical, but he hadn’t yet figured out the reason.
Gray had no idea who Jack had slept with since his breakup with Jaime because he hadn’t asked. Jack was just buttoned up enough to keep his sex life to himself, so Gray knew that unless he broached the topic, it would never arise. That wouldn’t happen because Gray didn’t want to hear any details about Jack having sex with someone else and he didn’t want to tell Jack about his own hookups.
He wished he had a little more information in order to understand Jack’s nervousness, but he was still too jealous to handle specifics so, in lieu of asking questions that could result in answers he wasn’t ready to hear, he was giving Jack time to get comfortable with him and taking the physical part of their relationship slowly. In the meantime, he was enjoying the hell out of the extra time and extra closeness they were already sharing. With that in mind, he suggested something he thought they’d both appreciate.
“I don’t know why you’ve decided to take up early morning running, but I’m happy to keep you company tonight.” Carefully watching Jack’s facial expressions, he tugged him a little closer, causing Jack’s hands to land on his chest. “I probably won’t be awake at the crack of dawn, so I can’t motivate you to get on the treadmill, but I’ll cook you breakfast after to make up for it. Plus, I can cuddle you and keep the scary food nightmares away.”
“Cuddle?” Jack asked breathlessly. “Like on the couch or”—he licked his lips—“in bed?”
“Whatever you want. I’m all yours anytime, anywhere, any way.”
Eyes wide and lips parted, Jack stared at him.
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman,” Gray promised before winking and adding, “well, maybe not perfect, but as much of a gentleman as you want me to be.”
“I…” Jack’s normally smooth voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “I don’t—” Before he could finish his sentence, the instructor spoke.
“Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome back to Baking for Beginners. This is our last class: Elegant Desserts. Let’s get started!”
An hour later, they were both bent over their workstation counter, staring at what looked like a round brownie.
“How much longer?” Jack asked.
Gray glanced at his phone. “We’re halfway there.”
“So thirty more seconds?” Jack adjusted his oven mitts. “You put the plate on top and I’ll flip it over.”
Laughing at Jack’s exuberance, Gray set his phone face up on the counter, picked up the white plate, and hovered it over the cake. “Ready.”
“Okay good. We don’t want to wait too long or the lava will dry.”
“I’m pretty sure that instruction isn’t warning about a delta of point five seconds.”
“Grayson McClellan, take this seriously. I’m hungry.”
“We need to remember to feed you snacks before this class. That metabolism of yours is something else.”
“It has to have been a minute by now.”
“Go time!” Gray said, playing along. He placed the round plate on top of the cake and held both hands up. “Make sure you don’t drop it when you do the flip.”
One hand on the side of the baking dish and the other pressing on the plate, Jack shifted his gaze up to Gray’s. “Why would you say that? Now I’m worried about dropping it.” He glanced down at the plate and bit the side of his lower lip. “Let’s switch jobs.”
“Nope.” Gray shook his head and smiled at an adorable Jack. “Too late. I’ve already done my part. It’s all on you to get us past the finish line. Don’t let us down.”
“Gray,” Jack said, his tone a warning.
“I don’t want to worry you, but I’m pretty sure we’re over by at least thirty seconds at this point. If you don’t get to it right now, we’ll be eating a rock.”
Jack glared at him.
“No pressure though.” Gray grinned.
“Fine.” Jack took a breath and then raised his hands, flipped the baking dish over, and set the plate on the counter. “Done!” he threw his arms up in a flourish.
“You have to take off the hot pan, otherwise it’ll keep cooking.” Gray picked up his phone and held it out to Jack, showing the timer. “Tick tock.”
“I’m going to retaliate for this harassment,” Jack warned.
“Doubtful. You’re sweeter than this lava cake.”
Jack carefully wrapped his mittened hands around the cake pan. “Don’t underestimate me, Grayson.”