::It’s a lost cause and she knowsit,:: Vic said. ::She just really wanted to keep intouch.::
Matt wasn’t so sure. He replayed the memory,watching carefully, listening to her persuasive arguments as to whyVic should be a cop. She of all people should know how dangerousthat would be! Matt hated that he gave Vic powers in the firstplace; they were his fault, and if anything ever happened toVic while using them, Matt would never be able to forgive himself.Vic was the single best thing that had ever happened to him,period. Matt didn’t know what he would do if he lost his lover. Hedidn’t even want to think about it.
To change the subject to something morepleasant, Matt asked, “Any plans yet for Friday?”
Vic focused on his dinner and didn’t look upat Matt when he countered, “Why? What’s Friday?”
“What’s Friday?” Matt echoed. He laughed,incredulous, but saw the grin creeping at the corners of Vic’s lipsand nudged his lover under the table with his foot. “Valentine’sDay, silly. You, me, and a night of hot romance.”
With a smirk, Vic teased, “And that’sdifferent from every other night how?”
True—they had a very active sex life. If theydidn’t make love so often, Vic wouldn’t have to always contend withthe powers Matt gave him. But who could say no to a man like Vic?Firm, muscular, brawny, with strong arms and legs and tattoos allover his body. Just knowing he could bed a man like Vic made Mattweak with lust. The fact that they were perfect together outsidethe bedroom only enhanced their loving experiences between thesheets.
And on the sofa, and the floor, and in thelaundry room…
“You better have something special plannedfor Friday night,” Matt purred.
“Me?” Vic grinned up at him between forkfulsof spaghetti. “What about you? Why don’t you come up withsomething?”
Matt sat back. “Fine. I will. How aboutdinner? Somewhere fancy.”
Vic sort of nodded. “What do you have inmind?”
“Roxie told me about this place up inAshland…” Thinking of his feisty coworker, Matt laughed. “God, Ihave to tell you this. Do you know she’s anti-Valentine’s Day now?Like, all of a sudden. I guess she finally called it quits withthat Sam person she was dating.”
Vic’s brows drew together as he frowned.“Sam? Boy or girl?”
“You know, I’m not sure,” Matt admitted. Asmuch as he had heard Roxie talk about her new love interest, hehadn’t ever really heard her mention any pronouns, and he knewbetter than to ask. “All I know is this morning she was up at thefront desk slamming drawers and throwing things, and I didn’t evendare to go find out why. She sent out an e-mail that said basicallyif anyone gets anything delivered on Friday—chocolate, flowers,whatever—and leaves it out where she can see it, she’s going totoss it in the trash.”
With a smirk, Vic shook his head. “Guess thatmeans no bouquet for you.”
“No, man, I want flowers!” Matt cried.“A dozen red roses—no, two dozen. The biggest damn display you canfind. And I’ll leave it right up at the front where she hasto look at it. She wouldn’t dare throw out anything from you.”
Roxie’s little crush on Vic was commonknowledge at the gym. On more than one occasion, Matt had caughther staring as Vic worked out in the weight room, which was easy tosee from her spot at the reception desk. She often threatened tosteal Vic away from Matt—she loved getting under his skin—but Mattknew it was nothing more than wishful thinking on her part. She wasbossy and loud and mouthy, and those were her goodqualities. Vic wouldn’t have put up with her for long.
Plus, despite his brawn and build, Vic likedMatt to top him in the sack. Roxie simply didn’t have the rightequipment to satisfy him, even if he could handle her abrasivepersonality.
As it was, Matt didn’t really handle her allthat well, himself. He didn’t like to admit it, but Roxie wasprobably one of his best friends, and most days she even annoyedhim. He wondered how much of her crush on his lover was for his ownbenefit, trying to make him jealous. He’d love to call her bluffFriday when he received a Valentine’s present from Vic. Shewouldn’t be able to toss them.
“She’d probably take them for herself,” Vicsuggested.
Matt had to agree. Yeah, she probably would.“Still, I want flowers,” he said. “Roses.”
Vic nodded. “Done.”
“And dinner in a fancy restaurant,” Mattadded.
Vic was almost done with his dinner, so hedidn’t bother looking up from his plate as he finished off thenoodles. “Fine, but you make the reservations. I don’t have timeduring the day.”
“And a sappy card,” Matt continued.“Something sickening sweet…”
Now Vic glanced up. “I don’t do sappy.”
Ignoring him, Matt finished, “And a night ofmind-blowing, sheet-clenching, hot and dirty sex.”
A slow grin spread across Vic’s face. “Nowthat I can do.”
Matt laughed. “And pretty damn well, too, ifI say so myself.”
* * * *
Unfortunately, time got away from Vic. Inorder to take off on a Friday night—and a holiday, at that—he hadto switch shifts with a coworker of his named Kyle Munley. As muchas he didn’t like Kyle, he knew it wouldn’t be a problem to switch.As Kyle was quick to make it known, he wasn’t seeing anyone at themoment and was available for any and all dates he could get. A longtime ago, eons ago in Vic’s mind, Matt had dated Kylebriefly, and it was through a chance encounter with his coworker inthe gym that Vic met Matt.
Kyle wouldn’t let Vic forget it.
Though Matt left Kyle on his own—for Vic,true, but it wasn’t as if Vic stole him away—Kyle stillliked to say he was the one who brought them together.Whenever Kyle went for too long without a boyfriend, he’d casuallysuggest maybe Vic knew someone he could get with…?
Yeah, no. Vic wouldn’t wish an annoyingbraggart like Kyle on his worst enemy. Too bad he was gay; if bothhe and Roxie were dateless on Valentine’s Day, Vic could haveintroduced them. The thought of such a meeting hurt Vic’sbrain.
Kyle might not have had plans for Fridaynight, but he didn’t take Vic’s shift just
