Page 48 of Dreams and Reptiles

“I’ve been waiting all day to do this,” I said.

He gripped my back and sighed happily. “I’ve been waiting all day to dance with you and then kick everyone out so I can be alone with you.” He pulled back and searched my eyes. “But now that you just saved the day and flexed those gorgeous arms, I’m only thinking about the alone together part.”

I clicked my tongue against my teeth. “Yeah, but the dancing will be fun. I put on my dancing shoes. I’d hate to not get any use out of them.” I stepped back and smoothed down my shirt. “Am I dressed okay? You look gorgeous.”

He wore another cropped shirt, this one a white muscle tee that ended just below his ribs and showed off nicely toned arms and a flat stomach with a lovely curve. He wore slinky, pleated black trousers that hung low and loose on his hips. He also had on dark leather Adidas.

“You have great taste in footwear,” I said, nudging his toe with mine.

“You look perfect, Kendall. Thank you for coming. Oh.” He covered his mouth. “We never said; do you not want me to tell people we’re dating, or⁠—”

“What do you want, Francis?” I tried to sound patient and understanding, but my heart was hanging in the balance.

He blinked and reached for my hand. “Kendall, you know more people here than I do. What do you want? My aunt, mom, and cousins know that as far as I’m concerned, you’re my person.” His eyes were wide as he waited for me to answer.

“Baby.” I cradled his jaw in my hands and ran my thumb over his bottom lip. “I would love to be your person. I like that very much. You’re the one I want, my only. Boyfriend, partner, person, whatever you want to call me is great with me.”

He shook his head slowly. “I can’t believe all I had to do to have everything I wanted was to say yes to a fresh start. My fresh start is turning into the best decision I ever made.”

“Good.” I brushed my lips over his, then my tongue over his bottom lip, my teeth over his top lip. “That’s so good.”

I could have stayed there staring at a beaming Francis all night, but any minute they’d come looking for us.

“Are you ready to get this party started?” I asked him.

“I am now.”

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

Francis

I grabbed Kendall’s hand and led him back through the pocket door to the kitchen. Mom and Auntie Judy were chatting, wine in hand, with guests who were clearly blown away by their appetizers.

“You like? Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and keep an eye on our socials. Anne and Judy will be hosting some cooking classes very soon.” I winked at the sisters, and they held up their wine glasses to us. Mom’s eyes lingered on Kendall’s hand in mine, and she tilted her head, her smile softening.

“Are you hungry?” I asked him. “Because that food is going fast.”

“I’m good.”

I hoped he really was, and it wasn’t a picky eater situation. Mom and Auntie Judy had made spring rolls, dumplings, lettuce wraps, and chicken wings with a honey soy glaze. With the attention they were getting, we’d have a full house for every cooking class. I thought Mom and Auntie Judy would love that. I loved sharing them with our new community.

At last count we had forty people milling in and out, which was great for a first party. I’d posted signs around town, Kendall had talked to the fire station employees, and Derek had put it in his real estate newsletter and on his website. I’d created Instagram and TikTok accounts, but I was doing my best to keep my face and name out of it. When I got around to hiring an assistant, I’d be looking for someone who was a social media natural. I didn’t want my past to cause any blowback on this new venture. There shouldn’t be much crossover between Silicon Valley finance circles and Northern California artists and such.

“Francis? Did you still want to start at seven-thirty?”

Finn and his husband Jim had been quite enthusiastic about partnering with me for these dance socials. We agreed to do them twice a month for now, with the option to add dates when they weren’t in rehearsals for the community theater program. Finn had apparently danced on Broadway until he was sidelined by an injury. Then he moved to Figgy Pudding and, you guessed it, started over. He and Jim were ridiculously happy.

Finn and Jim were smiling curiously at Kendall. “You joined the fire department a few months back, right? I’m Jim James, from the community theater?”

Kendall shook hands with both of them. “Great to meet you. Yeah, it’s been almost a year now. My grandparents, Dick and Louise Warren, lived here for years. They left their place to me, so I decided it was time to give California a try.”

Jim raised an eyebrow. “Looks like it worked out well for you. How did this happen?” He pointed a finger between us with a smile.

I slid my arm around Kendall’s waist, nearly bursting with joy that this man was mine. “He tried to steal my rainbow cupcakes at Pride.”

Kendall put his hand over his heart. “I would never.” He winked at me, and we all laughed. “You moved next door to me.”