Page 73 of Stealing Home

Gavin tightened his fingers around Dom’s. “Ethan isn’t a threat to you.”

Dom’s eyes snapped back to him. “I didn’t say he was.”

Gavin released Dom’s hand and leaned back in his chair, needing a little space to think. “I loved him. I married him. It ended badly. Even before that, it wasn’t always good. All of that is true.” Dom nodded once. “But I’m sitting here with you, and there is nothing that Ethan could say or do to make me want to be anywhere else.”

Dom’s lips lifted slightly. “Okay.” He reached for Gavin’s hand again, and this time, he laced their fingers together. This time, Dom didn’t keep their joined hands beneath the table. He rested them on top of it, beside their cups, in full view of the patio.

Gavin’s eyes flicked toward the other tables before he could stop them. A woman was typing on a laptop, and two men in cycling gear argued over their times. A barista wiped down the table next to theirs, but nobody was looking at them. Dom had thousands of fans and a social media team, and Gavin didn’t want him to risk anything.

“I can hear you thinking,” Dom said.

“Are you sure about this?” Gavin kept his voice low. “Someone might recognize you.”

Dom glanced around the patio, then shrugged. “Someone might.” He turned Gavin’s hand over and traced the lines on his palm with his thumb. “I’m bi. I’ve never hidden it, even if I’ve never made an announcement about it. It’s just part of who I am. The world isn’t owed a press release.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “If someone takes a picture of me holding hands with a hot guy, I’m not going to be mad about it.”

The answer was so easy and unbothered that Gavin felt his shoulders come down from around his ears. “Okay,” he said.

“Okay?”

“I just wanted to ask.”

Dom’s expression softened. “I know. Thanks for asking.”

Something tightened in Gavin’s throat as he rubbed his thumb over Dom’s knuckle.

Dom took a breath, like he wanted to say more, but Lucia stirred in her stroller before he could speak. Her face scrunched and a small sound of protest quickly became a cry. Dom released Gavin’s hand and leaned toward her. “Hey, Lucky. I know.”

He unfastened the straps and lifted her against his chest. Lucia rooted impatiently at his shirt, her cries growing louder.

Dom checked the time. “She’s hungry.”

“I figured.”

“She has no patience,” Dom said fondly, dropping a kiss on his daughter’s head.

“Wonder where she gets that,” Gavin mused.

Dom gave him a flat look while shifting Lucia to the crook of his arm. “You’re going to insult me when I’m still considering whether to give you a second date?”

“I’m pretty sure my chances are good.” Gavin smirked around his straw.

“They’re slipping.”

Gavin laughed.

Dom dug a bottle out of the diaper bag hanging from the stroller handle. “I’m going to have to head home when she’s done eating. She’ll need a nap.” He looked at Gavin. “You should come back to the house with us.”

Gavin raised a brow. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Dom shrugged. “She’ll be asleep by the time we get there, and it’s lunchtime. I could make us something.”

“Are you extending the date?”

Dom rolled his eyes. “I’m giving you another chance to impress me. Do you want to come or not?”

“Yes.” Gavin didn’t even need to think about it.

The relief in Dom’s expression was quick but clear. “Good.”