Chapter 5

“I’ve been looking forward to this all day, too.” He held up his glass. “To new friendships.”

Mal touched the rip of his glass to Alejandro’s. “To new friendships.” He sipped the wine with a look of satisfaction. “This is really good. What is it?”

“A pinot I got on a shoot in Washington.” He watched Mal catch a drop at the corner of his mouth. “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”

Mal got that surprised, pleased look on his face. The one Alejandro liked almost as much as his shy smile. “This is a special occasion?”

“It is for me.” He ducked his lashes and sipped at his wine, suddenly embarrassed at how needy he must look to the other man. “I guess it remains to be seen whether or not it is for you, too.”

“No. It already seems like one to me, too. I guess I’m just…still surprised.”

“Why? Not because I asked you out.”

Mal snorted. “Yes, because you asked me out. I don’t know what you’re accustomed to, but you…well, guys like you typically seem out of my league.”