Chapter 145

I knew I’d heard that word somewhere before. It had been years since I’d last seen Hondo, though. Licking the butter off my thumb and forefinger, I turned my head to gaze at my lover. “Varlebena is what you named your boat.”

“Yeah. I named it that just after I got it.”

“And when was that, Mark?”

“Two summers ago.” He met my eyes. “Right after the Wyman Bros. Warehouse.”

“You knew then?”

“No. Stuff like this doesn’t happen to me.” He put the book on his nightstand and reached for my hand, twining his fingers with mine.

“Except when it does?” I waited, wondering how he’d respond to that.

“Yeah. Surprised the hell out of me. Know what surprised me even more?”

“No. But you’re going to tell me, aren’t you?”

He continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “That a classy guy like you would go down on me in the men’s room of a restaurant.”

“Well, it was a classy restaurant.” I gave a self-conscious little laugh. “Yes, that surprised the hell out of me too.”