Read Online The Strength to Fall (McKinnon Brothers Book 1) by D.M. Chisolm - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: D.M. Chisolm
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“Here’s our breakfast menu. It’s 9:00 so we’ll cook breakfast items for 30 more minutes unless you would prefer to wait for the lunch menu and just have coffee or tea until then.” He handed me a small menu. I looked to Ozias as to what he’d prefer.
“Your choice. I could do either.” Ozias said.
“Well, I think we’ll just have breakfast then.” I glanced at the menu and saw a veggie omelet. “I’ll have the vegetable omelet with wheat toast and a medium caramel mocha, skim milk, but with whip cream.” I handed him back the menu.
“I’ll have the Greek omelet with wheat toast and a medium roast coffee, just bring cream and sugar.” Ozias gave Charles his order and Charles left to walk to the kitchen.
The shop was almost empty with just a few patrons so I felt the need to whisper when I talked. I decided to clear the elephant in the room.
“Ozias.” He looked at me nervously. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for my reaction last night and I hope you know how much I appreciate all you did for me. It was unfair of me to get that upset when I was the one who talked you into helping me in the tub in the first place. Plus, I could tell by your actions you were trying very hard not to look.” I couldn’t help but smile and lightly laugh when I said that. Ozias looked relieved at hearing me laugh about the situation. I also saw a slight blush.
“I really did just want to help. I know that seems impossible that a man really wasn’t trying to just take advantage of a situation, Hell, I know my brothers would have done just that. I’m just not that kind of guy.” He looked to his hand folded on the table and I wondered if he was trying to tell me he was gay. That would be startling to me only because of the reaction I keep having to him and the connection I thought we had. It would be my luck to fall for a guy that couldn’t be interested in me in any way. He must have realized what I was thinking because he started to speak louder and with more emphasis.
“Wait, that didn’t come out right. I don’t mean I’m not the kind of guy who doesn’t want to see a beautiful woman naked in my tub. I’m just not the kind of guy to take advantage of the situation….if that makes what I was trying to say more clear.” He seemed very concerned I wouldn’t believe him.
“I believe you, Ozias, and that is one of the reasons I’m apologizing. I was very tired and embarrassed and I behaved poorly. Please let’s just start over. Clean slate?” I extended my hand towards his as a peace offering.
“Clean slate.” He took my hand and shook it and that electric shock returned. We both snapped our heads up to make eye contact. His pupils dilated and his lips were tight, like he was trying hard to concentrate and I just smiled the goofiest school girl crush smile imaginable. God, I was hopeless. Thankfully Charles returned with our coffees and we had to break hands. If I had to keep holding Ozias’ hand for much longer I wouldn’t want to let go.
I watched Ozias prepare his coffee like he wanted, taking small sips and adding more cream or sugar until it was just right. He added two sugars and two creams, I made a mental note. Wait! That’s so a girlfriend type of thing! I’m in trouble if I don’t clearly set the boundary for this relationship right now—we’re friends and neighbors, that’s it. It can’t be more because if I allow that to happen I will never accomplish what I came here to do. I slowly sipped my coffee and when I removed my lips from the cup I had a whip cream mustache. I started to use my napkin to wipe it away when I felt Ozias’ finger graze my lip. I jerked back and met his eyes. He took his finger covered with whip cream and licked it slowly. What the hell!!!
“Your choice. I could do either.” Ozias said.
“Well, I think we’ll just have breakfast then.” I glanced at the menu and saw a veggie omelet. “I’ll have the vegetable omelet with wheat toast and a medium caramel mocha, skim milk, but with whip cream.” I handed him back the menu.
“I’ll have the Greek omelet with wheat toast and a medium roast coffee, just bring cream and sugar.” Ozias gave Charles his order and Charles left to walk to the kitchen.
The shop was almost empty with just a few patrons so I felt the need to whisper when I talked. I decided to clear the elephant in the room.
“Ozias.” He looked at me nervously. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for my reaction last night and I hope you know how much I appreciate all you did for me. It was unfair of me to get that upset when I was the one who talked you into helping me in the tub in the first place. Plus, I could tell by your actions you were trying very hard not to look.” I couldn’t help but smile and lightly laugh when I said that. Ozias looked relieved at hearing me laugh about the situation. I also saw a slight blush.
“I really did just want to help. I know that seems impossible that a man really wasn’t trying to just take advantage of a situation, Hell, I know my brothers would have done just that. I’m just not that kind of guy.” He looked to his hand folded on the table and I wondered if he was trying to tell me he was gay. That would be startling to me only because of the reaction I keep having to him and the connection I thought we had. It would be my luck to fall for a guy that couldn’t be interested in me in any way. He must have realized what I was thinking because he started to speak louder and with more emphasis.
“Wait, that didn’t come out right. I don’t mean I’m not the kind of guy who doesn’t want to see a beautiful woman naked in my tub. I’m just not the kind of guy to take advantage of the situation….if that makes what I was trying to say more clear.” He seemed very concerned I wouldn’t believe him.
“I believe you, Ozias, and that is one of the reasons I’m apologizing. I was very tired and embarrassed and I behaved poorly. Please let’s just start over. Clean slate?” I extended my hand towards his as a peace offering.
“Clean slate.” He took my hand and shook it and that electric shock returned. We both snapped our heads up to make eye contact. His pupils dilated and his lips were tight, like he was trying hard to concentrate and I just smiled the goofiest school girl crush smile imaginable. God, I was hopeless. Thankfully Charles returned with our coffees and we had to break hands. If I had to keep holding Ozias’ hand for much longer I wouldn’t want to let go.
I watched Ozias prepare his coffee like he wanted, taking small sips and adding more cream or sugar until it was just right. He added two sugars and two creams, I made a mental note. Wait! That’s so a girlfriend type of thing! I’m in trouble if I don’t clearly set the boundary for this relationship right now—we’re friends and neighbors, that’s it. It can’t be more because if I allow that to happen I will never accomplish what I came here to do. I slowly sipped my coffee and when I removed my lips from the cup I had a whip cream mustache. I started to use my napkin to wipe it away when I felt Ozias’ finger graze my lip. I jerked back and met his eyes. He took his finger covered with whip cream and licked it slowly. What the hell!!!
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