For more than a decade, renowned chef Alain Tiessart has been married to his restaurant, driven to make it one of the finest in Paris. But time is slipping away. Lonely and ready for a change, he packs up his bags on one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year and drives into the French countryside.<br><br>Retired Brit Simon Hastings is prepared to spend Bastille Day as he always does -- quietly and alone. When his oldest friend arrives on his doorstep prepared to spend the next few days together, Simon is surprised but welcomes him in. He’s even more surprised when Alain suggests they move their relationship to a deeper one.<br><br>Unwilling to jeopardize their friendship, Simon turns him down, a decision Alain accepts gracefully. Until a friendly bet and an eager young man cast Alain in a new light. Now, Simon doesn’t know what he wants. Or who ...

Vintage

Simon pulled him toward his closed door. “Ours.”


Alain was glad he walked behind Simon those last few feet. It hid his buoyant smile. Nothing had ever sounded so good.


He pressed behind Simon the moment they crossed the threshold, wrapping his arms around his hard waist in order to nuzzle against his neck. There was so much he wanted to say, so many sentiments he wanted Simon to hear, but the emotion overwhelmed him, making him unable to do more than lick and kiss along the sinewy neck.


Chapter 23