Chapter 5

By the time he finished, it was well after nine in the evening. Tired, but happily so, he returned to the kitchen to fix a snack, taking it into the living room to eat while he watched the news. He was about to turn on the TV when he thought he heard something moving outside the front door. Given the strange feelings he’d been having since moving into the house, he wasn’t about to go open the door to see who, or what, was on the porch.

Moving carefully to the window, he inched back the curtain just enough to peer outside. The moon was just coming up over the tops of the trees, giving him enough light to see a man standing there, his hand lifted to knock on the door.

Now what the hellis he doing here? And at this hour?

Even though he expected it, Daniel jumped slightly when the man rapped. Shaking his head at his unwarranted fear, he unlocked the door then stepped aside to let his ex come in, asking scathingly as he did, “What brings you to the wild, wild west, Ray?”

Ray Ayers looked down at Daniel from his six foot two height, smirking. “I could say to see you. In reality, a business trip and I figured while I was in the neighborhood I’d stop by and say hello.”

“Presuming your business is in Denver, this is hardly ‘the neighborhood’.” Daniel sighed when instead of replying, Ray walked into the living room.

“This,” Ray waved his arm, “is what you left Cleveland and a very upscale condo for?”

“It is. I know it’s not up to your superior standards, given that any furnishings that haven’t been featured in the latest architectural magazine are beneath your contempt. But it works very well for me. I’ll have nothing to distract me from my work.”

Ray snorted. “Like me?”

“You. The parties you insisted we go to. Nights when you thought our having sex because youwere horny preempted my wanting to finish a painting before I lost the inspiration.” Daniel blew out a long breath then said something he never would have been able when they’d been together. “Believe me, Ray, you were not my inspiration for any of them.”

“That’s bull and we both know it,” Ray spat out.

Daniel shrugged, leaning against the arch between the entryway and the living room. “It’s the truth, like it or not.”

Ray shot him an aggravated look then asked, “Mind if I look around?”

“Yeah, but you’ll do it anyway so have at it.”

Ray did, while Daniel remained where he was standing, since he had no intention of following his ex on a tour of the house.

Ray returned several minutes later with a smile on his face. Going over to the fireplace, he rested an elbow on the mantle. “This place actually has possibilities to become one hell of a restaurant. At least the ground floor does. You’ve already screwed up the second floor. What you need to do is build an addition off the dining room to make it three times as large. Double the size of the kitchen.” When Daniel started to reply, Ray held up his hand. “Hear me out. As I was saying, this room can be a comfortable bar and waiting area. Play on the age of the place. You have plenty of room outside to make a decent parking lot if you—”

“Enough,” Daniel exclaimed. “Who the hell do you think you are, marching in here and trying to tell me what to do? Why the hell do you think I’d want to turn the house into a restaurant? Or anything else for that matter?”

“Because under you rather timid exterior and your artistic delusions, you’re a practical man. You can’t survive here on what you make on your paintings. A house as old as this one will takebeaucoup dineroto maintain. Turn it into a fancy restaurant and you’ll be able to afford to live upstairs in style.”

“I hate to point out a salient fact, but I’m way out in the boonies. Speaking of which,” Daniel looked hard at Ray, “how did you find me in the first place?”

“Stopped by Gallery Six and asked if they had your new address. All you bothered to tell me was that you were packing up and moving to a house you inherited, close to your sister.” Ray smirked. “It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that meant Denver. Ms. Allen at the gallery was quite willing to tell me exactly where, when I said I was coming out here on business and wanted to stop by and say hello. I will admit I figured the place was in the city.”

Daniel managed to chuckle. “Boy, were you wrong.”

“No shit. So what do you think of my idea? With my experience in the restaurant business, we could have this place up and running in.” Ray paused momentarily, then nodded. “I’d say less than six months.”

“Wewill not be doing anything of the sort. Even if I was the least bit interested in your idea, and I’m not, for damned sure I wouldn’t let you be part of it no matter how good you are at opening new and unique restaurants.”

“But this place would be perfect! All it would take would be the right advertising. People love discovering places that are off the beaten track.” Ray crossed the room to stand in front of Daniel. “Come on, Danny boy. You know I’m right about this. We could make a small fortune once it’s up and running. Hell, you could move back home and we could be together again. You wouldn’t need to do your silly painting anymore.”

Daniel stiffened, glaring at him. “Get. Out. Go.” He pointed to the front door. “No way, no how, would I ever consider getting back together with you. I don’t need you. I don’t need you trying to run my life. I don’t need—” He couldn’t finish his sentence because Ray was kissing him. Or at least trying to. Daniel shoved him away, moving swiftly to open the door.