Matt snickered. “Yeah, really, who wouldguess?”
One of Roxie’s elbows flashed out and caughthim in the ribs. “At least someone remembered Happy HooplaDay. This is why Vic doesn’t deserve you.”
“I’m the one he sleeps with,” Matt remindedher. Why did he let her goad him into sounding like a childwhenever they argued? “I’m the one who got a dozen redroses. The symbol of eternal love. True love.”
Roxie smirked. “One black rose is worth ahundred red ones. They really do last forever.”
“Yeah, because it already looks dead,” Mattreplied. Still, he was glad Vic had remembered her, if only so shewouldn’t really throw his flowers away when he left forlunch.
* * * *
Meeting Matty for a bite to eat was apleasant break in Vic’s already hectic Valentine’s Day. He’d had togo to three different florists before he found one with a dozen redroses left in stock—he made a mental note not to wait untilthe last minute next year. When he’d seen the black rose, itsurprised him, and he instantly thought of Roxie. The cashier hadchuckled when he bought it. “A dozen for your lover and one foryour enemy, eh?” she’d teased.
Vic didn’t reply. Roxie wasn’t an enemy, butshe was a little weird. The black rose was right up heralley. He knew she’d be tickled to receive it, and he wished it hadbeen Matty who thought of it instead of him, since the two of themworked together and were friends. Matty might deny it, but Vic knewhe liked her, no matter how badly she got under his skin. Actually,because she could, and so easily, too, said more aboutMatt’s feelings for her than any protest he might make to thecontrary.
After lunch, Vic dropped Matt off at the gymand finished his errands. He had a ton of them, too—his lover hadapparently been making his “honey-do” list for quite some time.There was the grocery store, and the post office, and the drycleaner’s. Back at the apartment, there was laundry to wash, dishesto put away, bed sheets to change, clothing to fold, carpets tovacuum. Because their dinner reservation was at 6:15, Matt wouldn’thave time to pick up the dog from daycare before coming home tofreshen up, so that was on Vic’s list, too. By the time he wasfinished with everything Matt wanted him to do, he was more thanready to go back to work and leave the day-to-day housekeeping tosomeone else.
Around quarter after five, Vic was sitting onthe sofa in the living room, watching Judge Judy on TV withSadie curled up beside him, when he felt Matt’s presence click oninside his mind. ::Home,:: his lover sighed. ::Give meten minutes to change and we can head on out.::
Even though Vic didn’t say anything out loud,didn’t move, didn’t do anything to indicate he was telepathicallylinked with Matt, Sadie still raised her head off her paws andlooked over at the apartment door. She had better super powers thanhe did, it seemed.
Scratching the top of her head, Vic toldMatty, ::Don’t know why you didn’t just let me pick youup.::
::I’m planning a sexy dinner with a sexyman,:: Matt told him. ::I’m not arriving in your piece ofshit, unsexy car.::
Vic grinned. ::Show-off.::
Vic’s battered 1982 Toyota ran, but onlyjust. Still, it was good enough for him, but Matty had expensivetastes when it came to cars. His Jaguar was a point of pride, andfor his last birthday, Vic had surprised him with a remote starter.While Vic wasn’t a fan of riding in the sports car—it was toocramped for him, and too low to the ground—at least it’d warm upfaster than his. And the temperatures had dropped during the day,so they would definitely need to use the heater tonight.
When Matt finally came upstairs, Vic met himat the door. Sadie tried to wedge her way between them, but a firmhand on the back of her neck kept her from interrupting their kisshello. Matt was wearing a pair of sweat pants over his swim trunksand a thermal top. “Give me two seconds,” he said, stripping offthe top as he headed for the bedroom. “You look great, by theway.”
Vic glanced down at his jeans and black,long-sleeved T-shirt. He wouldn’t have said great, but theshirt was tight enough to show off his muscles, and the jeans werestill warm from the dryer. He looked respectable, nothing more.“You look hot just as you are,” he called after Matt. “Yourass in those sweats…damn.”
Matt’s laugh trailed down the hall. “Keepyour eyes on the prize, bub. That’s dessert tonight. Hey…”
Vic following after his lover, who had duckedinto the kitchen and found a vase of three long-stemmed roses onthe counter. Vic knew Matty would leave the bouquet at work, andhad bought a little something for home, too. Now Matt turned andgave him a smoldering grin. “Come here, you,” he purred, grabbing afistful of the front of Vic’s shirt.
Vic let himself be reeled into another kiss.“Happy Valentine’s,” he whispered against Matt’s lips.
“One for each of us,” Matt murmured. At Vic’sfrown, he clarified, “You, me, Sadie—”
“I didn’t buy a rose for the dog,” Vicassured him.
Matt laughed. “No, but you did get hersomething.” His hand drifted to a package of dog treats—peanutbutter squares on rolled rawhide sticks. “These weren’t here thismorning. You love her.”
“I love you.” Vic wrapped his armsaround Matt, savoring the touch of his lover’s warm, bare back.Their kiss deepened as Matt gave in, and pressed his whole bodyflat against Vic’s. “Do we have time for a quick one?”
“I don’t want quick.” Matt’s arms eased overVic’s shoulders to cradle the back of Vic’s bald head. “I want slowand drawn out and all night long.”
“We can cancel our reservations,” Vicsuggested.
But Matt snickered against his cheek. “Hell,no! They charged my credit card fifty bucks already! We get it offthe cost of the meal, but if we don’t show up, that’s money downthe drain. Let me get ready…” He gave Vic a flurry of tiny kisses.“And when we get home, we’ll pick up right…here.”
One
