“Why would you be interested in a jewelrycatalog?” Roxie asked. “It’s just trash.”
She managed to turn another page, then athird, before Matt snatched the catalog from her. His name wasimprinted on the back address label. “This is mine. I’vebeen waiting for it.”
Roxie laughed. “You don’t make enough toafford the bling in there. You don’t even wear jewelry. What—”
Then she noticed the cover—two men holdinghands. Matt didn’t need Vic’s telepathic ability to read past herwide eyes and open mouth. In a small voice, she asked, “Wait. Youaren’t…” Her gaze raised to meet Matt’s, who saw her growingexcitement before he quickly looked away. “Oh my God, Matt. Are youand Vic exchanging rings?”
“No.” He opened a random desk drawer andtucked the catalog out of sight. Even though he shook his head foremphasis, Roxie let out a tiny squeal and clapped her hands. “Rox,no. I haven’t—I mean, we haven’t even talked about ityet.”
“But you will.” She did a quick little dancein his doorway, her hair flouncing out in time with her skirt. “OhGod, that’s so romantic. Can I be in the wedding? Can I—”
“No,” Matt said, shaking his head.“There isn’t—Roxie! Calm down already, will you? You’re moreexcited about this than I am.”
That wasn’t quite true. The catalog hadbrought with it a rush of conflicting emotion; if Roxie hadn’t beenstanding there, Matt would’ve been choked up just thinking aboutbuying a ring for his lover. This was a big step in theirrelationship, something he wanted to take slowly, something hewanted to think about and savor before making that sort ofcommitment. He wouldn’t let himself get caught up in it,he’d already decided. But Roxie’s reaction was infectious, and Matttried in vain to tamp down the silly grin that wanted to spreadacross his face. Her girlish behavior made Matt want to run throughthe halls of the gym shouting Vic’s name at the top of his lungs ashe brandished the catalog high above his head. He wanted to bust upinto the weight room, straddle the bench on which his lover lay,and pour over every ring in the book with Vic until they found theright pair.
Though he had turned his attention away fromhis lover while Roxie was in his office, Matt now felt theconnection between them yawn open and Vic’s voice spoke into hismind, filling him like a god’s. ::Be there in two minutes.::Brushing over Matt’s emotions, Vic paused. ::Matty? Youokay?::
Quickly Matt pulled himself together. It feltlike a shade being drawn in his mind, hiding his thoughts from hislover. ::Fine, babe, if you don’t count Roxie driving me crazy.Want me to meet you up front?::
Vic prodded at Matt’s defenses but knewbetter than to try to break through them. With a sigh, he admitted,::I’m almost at the pool. Wait there and you can walk meout.::
When Matt’s attention returned to Roxie, hefound her leaning over his open desk drawer, once more flippingthrough the catalogue. “These are nice,” she murmured, pointing toa pair of ornately chiseled gold rings. “A bit flimsy for Vic,though. How about—”
“How about stop it?” Matt closed thecatalogue and tucked it back into the drawer. “Roxie, listen.Forget it, okay? Please?”
She pouted, her lips drawn down like a blackscar across her face. “But I want to help—”
“No.” Matt stood, edging between her and thedrawer. “Vic’s on his way, and I don’t want him to know I’mthinking about this yet. I need to pick the perfect time to tellhim—”
“I won’t say a word,” Roxie promised. “Can’tI just look through the book?”
But Matt shook his head. “Not now. Don’t talkabout it, and for God’s sake, don’t think about it, either.He’ll hear your thoughts. I want this to be a surprise.”
Roxie rolled her eyes. “He can’t readminds,” she said, exasperated. “He’s not even here.”
“He’s on his way,” Matt told her. Reachingout with his own thoughts, he found Vic’s easily—his lovercurrently strode down the hall leading to the pool. “Just forgetyou even saw the rings, okay? For me?”
“Can I be in the wedding?” Roxie twirled onered strand of hair around her finger and gave Matt a look he’d lastseen on Sadie when she wanted him to give her another cup full ofkibble that morning. “I can be the maid of honor, or something.Please? What other girls do you know?”
The double doors scraped open a second time.Matt shook his head, eyes wide as he pleaded with Roxie, “Don’t sayit. Don’t think it. We’ll see.”
Roxie grinned. “That means yes.”
Matt ducked out of his office, unwilling toargue any further with Vic nearby, and walked right into hislover’s broad chest. The smell of sweat rose around him; he pressedhis face into Vic’s damp sweatshirt and breathed deep the manlymusk. Wrapping his arms around his lover’s ample waist, Matt raisedhis head back and set his chin on Vic’s collarbone as he grinnedup. “Hey, sexpot. Kiss me quick.”
Vic obliged. His arms came up around Matt’ships, holding him close. Lip-locked, he spoke directly into Matt’smind. ::She still here?::
It was Roxie who answered with a randy wolfwhistle that made Matt blush. He pulled back from Vic, resting hisforehead against his lover’s chin. “Roxie, do you mind?”
“Oh, yeah,” she snipped, “but the girls inthe pool can watch, can’t they?”
Matt glanced at the pool—the hydro-aerobicsclass had paused to watch Matt and Vic kiss. Most of the class wereolder women who thought Matt adorable; now they smiled wistfully ashe stood in Vic’s embrace. More than one sighed. When Vic turnedhis harsh glare their way, they began to giggle like schoolgirls.Matt’s cheeks burned.
Vic stepped back, slipping his hand intoMatt’s. “Come on,” he said, his voice gruff. “Walk me to thecar.”
As they left the pool, Roxie made kissingnoises that set the women in the
