Peach Tree Christmas (Gay Romance) - Trina Solet - E-Book

Peach Tree Christmas (Gay Romance) E-Book

Trina Solet

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Beschreibung

After a difficult breakup, Gabe moves to the small town of Peach Tree with his shy little girl, Mazey. Gabe is looking for a fresh start and a quiet place to raise his daughter, but he didn't count on his brash new neighbor, Stan.
Stan is a little bit crude and not into relationships. He's absolutely sure he could never fall head over heels for any guy, much less his uptight neighbor with a kid. But then Stan gets a dog, and who can keep a dog a little kid apart?
As Stan and Gabe spend time together, things get physical between them. Still, Stan is not Gabe's type, and the feeling is mutual. But their hearts don't care about types, and spending the holidays together only brings them closer.
Will Stan realize that Peach Tree is where he belongs and let himself finally fall in love?

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Peach Tree Christmas (Gay Romance) By Trina Solet

Copyright © 2020 by Trina Solet

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales or actual events is entirely coincidental.

All sexual activity takes place between persons eighteen years of age or older.

This novel contains material intended for mature readers.

Cover image is only for illustrative purposes. Any person depicted is a model.

Peach Tree Christmas

Gay Romance

Trina Solet

Chapter 1

Driving down Peach Tree's Main Street, Gabe parked in front of a smallish grocery store called Monty's Grocery. He wanted to buy a few things on the way back and also let Mazey, his little daughter, have a look at the town. Peach Tree was going to be their new home after all.

Gabe needed a change after his breakup with Pearce. All that time waiting for him to be ready to come out, to commit, and all Gabe was left with was disappointment. Good thing he didn't wait for Pearce before he adopted Mazey. She was his joy.

As they walked toward the Peach Tree Café, Gabe was staring at his phone while Mazey pointed at things saying, "lookie, lookie" and otherwise chattering to herself in a whisper. She had turned three over the summer, and she was painfully shy and never raised her voice around strangers.

If Gabe wanted to hear what she was saying, he would have to lift her up. As they stopped in front of Peach Tree Café, that's exactly what he did.

"Now we go in there to see the lady who has the key to our new house," he told Mazey.

Mazey nodded her blond head as she peered inside the café and blinked uncertainly behind her glasses. Then she looked at Gabe. "House with the flowers?" she said.

He had showed Mazey pictures of the house that were taken in the summer. Now it was mid November and the house was going to look very different. "There won't be any flowers right now," Gabe told her. "But we're going to decorate for Christmas soon."

Mazey said a very soft "yay" to that.

"OK, let's go see Mrs. Del Rio." She was the owner of the Peach Tree Café and their new landlady.

Gabe set Mazey down and they went inside the café where it was warm and delicious smelling. "Maybe we'll get something to eat," he said to Mazey. She wasn't a good eater when they ate anywhere but at home, so it would have to be takeout.

They went toward the back where a slim young guy behind the counter was talking to a bearded guy wearing a tight t-shirt that showed off some thick muscles. Gabe tried not to stare at those muscles. That guy wasn't his type at all. It was just that the bearded guy was underdressed for the weather. There was a beat up leather jacket on the stool next to him. Just as Gabe noticed it, it fell off.

"Oh no, it fell down," Mazey whispered. Gabe didn't expect anyone but him to hear her but the bearded guy turned.

He was really handsome with chestnut brown hair and blue eyes. He looked at Gabe first then down at Mazey. "Thanks for the heads up, pipsqueak," he said and picked up his jacket off the floor.

Mazey was mouthing some version of pipsqueak, but at least the guy didn't seem to have scared her. Gabe went up to the counter and told the young guy, whose name tag said Sam, that he was there to see Mrs. Del Rio. "She's expecting us."

Sam smiled in a warm, welcoming way and went to get her. Now the bearded guy turned to face them again and spoke to Mazey. "That's her on the wall, you know, Mrs. Del Rio." He pointed to the pictures on the walls of the café. They were all posters and photos featuring Vegas showgirls.

Mazey looked and then nodded. "Princesses," she said.

The guy let out a booming laugh then called out, "Hey, Mrs. Del Rio. This pipsqueak thinks you're a princess."

"Once upon a time, but I'm a queen these days, sweetheart," Mrs. Del Rio said as she came over and greeted Gabe. "Mr. Larsen. Wonderful to see you. And who's this little darling?"

Now Mazey clammed up so Gabe introduced her. "This is Mazey. It's nice to finally meet you in person, Mrs. Del Rio."

"It's lovely to meet you both and see your sweet faces. Will you be eating with us?" Mrs. Del Rio asked.

Looking around, Gabe knew that the place was way too busy for Mazey to relax and eat there. "We'll get some takeout."

"Alrighty then. And here is your key," Mrs. Del Rio said.

"Key?" the bearded guy said, butting in.

"Don't mind him," the guy behind the counter said. "I'm Sam Hayes. This is Stan Wexler. He's just visiting and minding his own business." After a glare at Stan, Sam took their order. But it looked like that Stan guy continued pestering Mrs. Del Rio.

She told him that she was renting Gabe a house and Stan griped, "You renting out houses. Where's mine?"

"You're staying with us," Sam told him.

"I'm sick of couch surfing," Stan said. "Not that I don't appreciate the hospitality."

Gabe moved off to let Mazey have a closer look at the pictures of Mrs. Del Rio as a showgirl, so he didn't hear any more. Then their takeout was ready. Before they left with it, Stan called out, "I'll be seeing you around."

Gabe didn't know how he felt about that, so he just gave the guy a tentative smile.

On the drive over to their new house, Mazey kept looking out the window eagerly. Whenever they passed a house, she asked, "That one, Daddy?"

Gabe just hoped she wouldn't be disappointed when they reached their house. "No, but it's coming up soon," he told her then turned onto a road lined with trees. The trees hardly had any leaves hanging on their branches and the surrounding fields were yellow and brown.

The tree lined road was basically their driveway though there was a small cottage off to one side. The cottage was on the same property, but Gabe didn't have a use for it so it was excluded from the rental. Their house was just past the cottage. It was a pretty country house with a big stone chimney and a wide front porch.

"The little house, Daddy?" Mazey said as they passed the cottage.

"No, ours is the big one," Gabe told her but being little she gravitated to the littler house. Parking in front, Gabe pointed out the chimney to her. "See the chimney, that big thing sticking up. That's the way Santa is going to come down to bring you presents and eat the cookies."

"Do we have Santa cookies, Daddy?" She sounded worried, like she expected Santa might show up any minute and they wouldn't be ready.

"Not yet, but we'll get some," Gabe assured her.

They went in to find their own furniture in a completely new setting. Their furniture had been delivered and placed more or less as Gabe wanted it.

Eventually he would need to shift a few things, but it wasn't his first priority. He wanted Mazey to see her bedroom with all her furniture in it so she would feel at home. He wished the rest of their things were there, but that shipment got delayed.

On the way to the bedrooms, they passed a den with big windows that he would use as his office and art studio. The smaller bedroom was Mazey's, but it didn't have any of her bedding or toys in it yet, or the ballerina lamp.

"When our other stuff gets here, we'll make it nice for you," Gabe promised her but she already seemed pretty happy just to look around their new house. She was such a little sweetheart.

Gabe was pretty happy with it too. Overall the place was as advertised. Everything was a little older than he liked but in really good shape.

Old wood floors went throughout the house. In the kitchen, there were marble countertops that had seen decades of use but somehow only looked better for it. Other than that, there were attractive but older fixtures and appliances and old solid wood cabinets.

Gabe hardly had time to walk around and turn the heat on before there was a knock on the door. Going over, he answered the door while Mazey hid behind him. On his doorstep, he found the bearded man from the cafe.

"Umm, hello. Stan, wasn't it?" Gabe said as he wondered why that guy was here.

Stan gave him the answer with a big grin. "Right. I'm your neighbor." He pointed at the cottage.

"The little house," Mazey whispered.

"That's right, pipsqueak. It's little." He then asked, "What's your name again, pipsqueak?"

Mazey whispered her name too low for him to hear but Gabe was surprised she said it at all.

"It's Mazey," Gabe repeated.

"Nice one," Stan told her with a wink then he eyed Gabe. "I have you guys to thank for my new digs. Mrs. Del Rio was eyeballing me like she thought I was gonna chicken out. But I wasn't bluffing. I was like, 'You're on, lady.' I wasn't planning on renting, but a change of scenery isn't so bad."

"Right," Gabe said noncommittally.

"My new place won't be fit to live in till after New Year's. I never even got a chance to move in before it got flooded. Now they're ripping out floors and pipes. My dad tried to get me to move in with him so I escaped down here," Stan told him though Gabe didn't ask.

Mazey was listening very attentively while Stan recounted his rental saga and Gabe tried to figure out how to get rid of him without being rude. They were neighbors now whether he liked it or not. He couldn't just shut the door in his face.

"I'm sure you're busy moving in and all..." he tried but Stan waved him off.

"Nah. Don't have much with me. It's mostly in storage. But I will be grabbing my stuff from Wyatt's. That's Sam's hubby. You're cool with that, right." Stan asked, but Gabe didn't understand what he meant.

"Am I cool with you moving into the cottage?"

Stan chuckled. "I'm asking if you're cool with two guys being married to each other," Stan said and gave him a look that made it clear to Gabe that his new neighbor was gay.

"I'm cool with two guys being married," Gabe told him archly.

Now Stan wanted to know, "How cool?" He wiggled his thick eyebrows and Mazey giggled.

Gabe sighed.

"Alright, alright," Stan said letting him off the hook. "I'll leave you to it." He winked at Mazey then left with a wave.

He was going to be a terrible neighbor, but Gabe couldn't help admiring how his ass filled out his jeans or the swagger in his step as he walked away.

Chapter 2

When Stan got back to Wyatt and Sam's house, Wyatt had just brought the boys back from school. He was serving DJ and Ry their afternoon snack in the kitchen, but Stan caught him when he went into his office.

"I can't believe you rented a house here," Wyatt said as Stan leaned in the doorway. Sam must have given him the news.

"Why not? It's nice here except for the lack of gay fun times," Stan said.

Of course Wyatt got plenty of action from his hottie of a husband so he didn't get his point. "I don't know what you're talking about. You just want someplace with gay guys stacked on top of each other," Wyatt accused him then noticed that Stan was lost in thought. "What are you picturing? That all the guys are naked?"

"And not all married to each other," Stan added. "But I'll put up with your marital bliss and enjoy the scenery. I didn't have plans for after you kicked me out anyway. My dad issued an open invitation. But I just got in shape. I can't let that man feed me."

"You're not eating healthy now," Wyatt said.

"I do what I need to, but that man is out of control," Stan said.

"Either way, we weren't kicking you out," Wyatt said. He was a good guy.

"Then I guess I kicked myself out," Stan said.

They went into the kitchen where the boys were still eating their snack, and Stan grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. He would rather be drinking a soda, but the boys weren't allowed to have soda just any ol' time, so he couldn't either. Just as well, but one of the dangers, or maybe a perk of moving out, was eating and drink all the bad stuff.

Tilting the bottle of water back, Stan noticed the kids looking from him to their dad. "Did you guys hear the news? I got myself a little house. You guys want to help me move?"

Both boys jumped up from the kitchen table and ran over eagerly.

Stan eyed the boys then he told them, "OK, you guys look strong. Help me load this fridge in my car."

"That's our fridge, Stan," DJ told him reasonably.

That didn't stop his younger brother. "I can lift it," Ry claimed and tried to do it.

Wyatt grabbed the back of his sweater and pulled him back to the table. "Eat your snack. I'm sure Stan's new place has a fridge, right?"

"Yeah, it's all set up. And the neighbor isn't bad looking either," Stan said, and he flashed back to those sky blue eyes, light brown, wavy hair and a very promising body even if he couldn't see much of it the way Gabe was all covered up by his stuffy, dad clothes. "Mega uptight though. Has a little girl."

"A kid?" DJ said. "What's her name?"

"Mazey."

"We don't know her," Ry said while looking at his older brother.

"Sounds like Stan found you a new kid," Wyatt told them.

"You can meet her when you come over to visit me," Stan said and then he went to pack up his stuff.

That didn't take long and then the boys were waving to him as he drove away.

Going inside the cottage, Stan found it was kind of nice to have a place of his own again. It was pretty small with just one bedroom, a narrow kitchen with everything super old but not used much by the look of it.

The living room wasn't bad and it had a desk where he could set up a workstation for himself. He brought two bags total with him, but he only unpacked his laptops and set them up where he wanted them.

Out the window that was right by the desk, he saw a delivery van pull up. It was one of those big ones, and there were plenty of boxes getting carried out and inside Gabe's house.

Stan didn't have anything better to do, so he went over when he saw the delivery van pulling away. The front door was still open, so he leaned in the doorway and knocked lightly on the open door. Gabe was right there in the living room with Mazey, both of them still wearing their coats and checking over the boxes stacked all over the place.

"You guys look busy," Stan said. "I saw a van bring a bunch of your stuff. You need any help putting anything where it goes?"

"No, but thank you for offering," Gabe said. He was not a friendly guy, but Mazey seemed to disagree as she pointed at a big box.

"That's just bedding," Gabe said then explained to Mazey. "It's stuff for sleeping like pillows and comforters."

"Froggy Princess?" Mazey said in her small voice that Stan could barely make out.

"Yes, your Froggy Princess comforter is in there," Gabe assured her. Then his phone chimed. "I just have to get that." He eyed Stan like he meant that he should leave. But as Gabe looked at him expectantly, Stan just kept leaning in the doorway.

"Don't mind me," he said and crossed his arms. He wasn't that easy to kick out.

Now Gabe couldn't shut the door in his face and he had to deal with his phone. He grabbed it from the charger, and Mazey whispered to Stan, "Daddy's working."

Gabe looked over at her like he couldn't believe that she was talking to Stan. She did seem really shy, but now she was stalking that big box, circling it like she was looking for a way inside.

When Gabe was done with his call, Stan told him, "You are gonna have to turn that box into a playhouse for her." Stan had stepped inside and Gabe shut the door behind him.

"Playhouse!" Mazey said, getting excited about the idea.

"A door, some windows, pow!" Stan said and Mazey stared at the box like she was picturing it.

"You have her imagination going," Gabe said as he took off his coat and Stan checked him out real quick. Not bad, but too stuffy to be eye candy. "I feel kind of bad that I didn't think of that idea myself."

"Everyone can't be the creative type," Stan said.

"Well, I should be. I do freelance work in art and design," Gabe told him.

Looking him over one more time, Stan couldn't help being skeptical. "You, an artist. I don't know, man. You're too neat and tidy." Stan pointed out the dark blue sweater and khakis he was wearing. The pants weren't even a little bit creased and the sweater didn't have so much as a speck of lint on it.

"Sorry I'm not all paint spattered. I do a lot of my work digitally," Gabe said.

"Ah, so you're an art nerd, not a scruffy art dude," Stan said.

"What about you? What do you do?" Gabe asked.

"I do maintenance and security for a corporate website, boring crap."

Gabe jumped on that. "Then you're a nerd too."

Stan did not like the sound of that. "Hey, hey, we were talking about remodeling that cardboard box into a playhouse, and it sounds like you're the perfect man to make it happen."

Gabe looked from the box to his little daughter. "Helping Mazey make the box into a playhouse would be a fun project," he said.

"Now? Now?" Mazey asked eagerly.

"Soon. It's still full of stuff," Gabe told her.

Stan was looking past the big box and noticing a nice feature of the place. "Why do you have a fireplace?" he asked as he stepped up to it for a better look at the neat old mantle.

"Are you jealous?" Gabe said.

"I'm not the jealous type. I'm totally easygoing," Stan said, but since he was there now, he figured he might as well make himself useful. "I see these boxes are labeled. Want me to help carry them where they go?"

Gabe looked like he was about to say no thanks, but Mazey was pointing at the big box.

"The sooner you empty that, the sooner it becomes a playhouse," Stan reasoned and Gabe gave in.

"All right. I could use the help," he said. "I just got a confirmation for some commissioned artwork. The sooner I get unpacked, the better."

"Cool," Stan said and started hefting boxes. He picked the ones that went into the kitchen so he wouldn't intrude on the bedroom side.

He had no interest in Gabe's bedroom or bed. The man just wasn't his type. That's one reason Stan didn't double-check that Gabe was into guys, but he already had a strong hunch.

He didn't need to want to jump a guy to help out a neighbor so he carried the boxes to the kitchen and stacked them.

The whole time Mazey was looking at the boxes curiously and whispering, "What's this? What's this?"

Good thing she didn't expect answers. Stan just piled boxes and then asked Gabe, "Want me to open up the kitchen boxes? You might need some of this stuff."

"Mazey cup," Mazey said.

"Your special cup is in there, huh?" Stan said.

"I meant to bring her cup in the car, but my friend Asha was helping us pack, and it went into one of the boxes," Gabe said.

"Asha was sorry," Mazey said with a pout.

"She was," Gabe said and kissed her on top of the head. He then went and dug around in the boxes that Stan opened. Mazey's cup turned out to be a red, plastic cup with her name on it.

"It is a Mazey cup," Stan said. "Cool."

Mazey hugged it to her then Gabe filled it with juice. While he had the fridge open, he showed Stan that he didn't have much in there. "I don't have any beer or anything. I can offer you a water."

"How do you know I'm a beer guy?" Stan asked.

"A hunch?" Gabe said and looked like he wasn't sure if Stan was offended for real.

Good thing he didn't mind being easy to read. "You got me, but I'm good for now. You can owe me a beer." Leaning against the kitchen counter, Stan asked Gabe, "So if it wasn't work, what got you to move here. Family in the area?"

"Uh, no," Gabe said. Whatever his reason for moving, he wasn't eager to talk about it. Finished with her juice, Mazey had skipped off somewhere, so he could speak his mind, but he didn't say much. "I just needed a change of scenery."

Stan summed up Gabe's reason in one word, "Breakup."

Gabe said nothing and that was as good as a bingo.

"That's why I don't do relationships. No relationship, no nasty breakup."

"Must be nice," Gabe said, sounding kind of bitter, but Stan wasn't trying to make him feel bad.

"I get that it's different when you have a kid," Stan said.

"But you're glad you don't have one of those either," Gabe said.

Stan thought about it. It wasn't exactly true or false. The kids he knew didn't make him hate the idea, but he wasn't running out to make it happen either. "Kids are OK," he said. "You seem to have yourself a pretty good one."

That put a smile on Gabe's face. "She's my sunshine." He looked shy now and so sweet. Stan could almost see himself going for him.

Chapter 3

These last few days, Gabe had been busy catching up with an assignment he picked up just before their move and getting a start on a new one. That meant that he and Mazey didn't have a chance to explore Peach Tree or the surrounding areas.

To make up for it, Mazey spent a lot of time looking out the windows. There wasn't that much to see though she had spotted birds and of course their neighbor coming and going.

It was midmorning and Mazey was looking out the window, saying something that sounded like pipsqueak. That meant Stan was out there. When Gabe looked out the window, he saw he was right.

Mazey wasn't bothered by Stan calling her pipsqueak. She seemed to get a kick out of the word, but Gabe wasn't sure how he felt to have such a forward, pushy guy as a neighbor.

Mazey kept peering curiously out the window while Stan lingered on his porch. Her excited chatter let Gabe know something new was happening. A delivery van had pulled up, so Stan wasn't out there just stretching his legs.

Mazey had another update. "Boxes, Daddy."

The guy who drove the van was stacking boxes on a dolly then wheeling them over to the front steps. After a little while, the van pulled away leaving the stacks of boxes on the small, cottage porch.

"Stan is going to have to carry those boxes all by himself," Gabe said to Mazey and she looked up at him with concern. "He helped us with our boxes. We should help him too." Despite his reservations about Stan, Gabe needed to set a good example for Mazey.

They got their coats on and went over. Stan had already started taking the boxes inside.

"So you have boxes to move too," Gabe said as Stan stopped what he was doing to greet them.

"I had this stuff in storage. But since I'm paying rent on this place, I figured I could stash my stuff here," Stan said.

"I guess you're making yourself at home."

"I wouldn't say that," Stan said, sounding kind of defensive for some reason.

"Can we help? Pay you back for helping us," Gabe said.

"Mazey wants to help, is that right?" Stan said leaning down. "I have just the box for you." He then picked up the biggest box and pretended to hand it to her.

Mazey made a squeaking sound and Stan laughed. "I got this one. You can get the door for me."

Mazey ran and held the front door open, but she was too scared to go in. Gabe picked up a box too and followed Stan inside, and Mazey tiptoed in after him.

"This place isn't too small," Gabe said as he set his box down next to Stan's.

"How's it look to you, Mazey?" Stan asked her. "Is it small?"

She shook her head. "It's big."

"But I bet it will feel a lot smaller once I cram all this stuff in here," Stan said.

They went out for more boxes and had them in pretty fast. When they were done, Mazey asked, "Open them?"

"I won't be opening them just yet," Stan told her.

"For Christmas?" she asked.

"Maybe," Stan told her with a wink. "Now that you helped me out like this, I have to treat you to some barbeque for lunch. What do you say?"

"Barbeque?" Gabe said. He didn't think Stan owed them, and it would never occur to him to have barbeque for lunch.

"They have this joint over by the river called L&L Barbeque. Have you been there?" Stan asked.

"Ah, no. We haven't had time," Gabe told him. Plus a barbeque place wouldn't be his first stop, or his second.

"You want to go there for lunch? Check out some local flavor? My treat," Stan said.

"You don't have to treat us," Gabe said, but he was already thinking that it might be fun for Mazey if they went out somewhere, even if she had trouble eating much around too many people.

"I can tell you're mulling it over," Stan said. "Come on. We can take your car. I know you dads have cars with kid seats and all that."

"Yes, Mazey needs her car seat," Gabe confirmed, but he hadn't agreed to go yet.

"I have to sit in the back, not next to Daddy," Mazey said sadly, surprising Gabe. He had never heard her say that though when she was younger she would point to the front seat like that was where she wanted to be.

"Daddy's girl, huh," Stan told her.

"You can sit next to me when you're bigger," Gabe told her.

"OK," she said.

"So we're going, right?" Stan looked ready to go, and Mazey did too. Gabe couldn't say no.

"I guess we are, but we can split the bill."

Stan agreed and they met up again by Gabe's SUV. Mazey pointed to the front seat. "For Stan?" she said.

"I get to sit there?" Stan said. When she nodded Stan smiled at her. "Thanks, pipsqueak."

Gabe had gotten her knit cap and he put it on her head before securing her in her car seat. Getting into the drivers seat next to Stan seemed weird to him, but if he was expecting any uncomfortable silences, he was very wrong.

As Gabe drove, Stan kept the conversation going the whole way, sometimes talking to him but most of the time to Mazey. The strange thing was how she took part.

She seemed to express herself more around Stan, and Gabe couldn't figure out what it was about him that inspired her to open up. Stan only made Gabe even more nervous than was usual for him.

They had to park well away from the barbeque place, which was mostly an outdoor eating area with a small, brick structure and a large chimney. With a brisk wind from the river blowing, they came down a slope and saw there was a lot of outdoor food preparation. The smoky smell of meat and open fires filled the air.

The whole way, Mazey's eyes were wide as she tried to take it all in. She was looking at the river, the shore on the opposite side with the colorful foliage and a lone boat bobbing among the yellowed reeds.

Gabe was taking in the autumn scenery too, but Stan was all about the food, rubbing his hands together. "Can you smell that?"

"I just hope they have something healthy," Gabe said.

Stan turned to frown at him. "Huh? That's not why you come to a barbeque joint. You need to let your appetite loose. Let it run wild," Stan urged him, but Gabe had no intention of doing that.

In the end he ordered corn on the cob for Mazey as well a barbeque smothered chicken leg.

"She will get epically messy," Stan predicted like that was a good thing. "Lucky there is a river to wash up in."

Gabe shook his head. "That is not an option." But he was hoping Mazey would actually eat.

They got their food and went to sit on a bench by the river with a great view of autumn leaves on the other riverbank and the river reflecting the noonday sun. There were plenty of other people there. Quite a few of them were taking photos, so they must have been tourists attracted by the beautiful countryside.

Gabe had ordered some ribs for himself because it did seem pointless to go for barbeque and have a salad. Stan was having a messy, pulled pork sandwich and he made embarrassing noises as he ate it.

While Gabe glared at him for it, Stan refused to get the message. With corn and a chicken leg in each of her little hands, Mazey sure got messy, but she actually ate her food, so Gabe was happy.

After lunch, they walked along the riverside and Mazey looked at everything excitedly. But she got really animated when they saw two guys walking a dog with a little girl about Mazey's age, who was running ahead of them. The little girl ran straight for Mazey then stopped in front of her jumping excitedly.

"You have glasses like my daddy. Wanna see Rosie?" the little girl asked and took Mazey by the hand.

"Nola!" one of the guys called out. He was slim, wearing glasses while the other guy was tall and buff.

"I know those guys," Stan said. "Friends of friends."

They all met up while the little girl, whose name was Nola, was showing off her dog to Mazey. The dog, Rosie, was well behaved and Mazey seemed comfortable around her.

Stan introduced everyone. The guys were Lane and Joss and they lived right next to the river in one of a row of houses.

"Sorry about Nola running at your daughter like that. She's irrepressible," Lane said with irony.

"She's a great kid," Joss said.

Nola was now throwing pebbles into the water with a big motion that didn't actually send the stones very far. Then she was encouraging Mazey to do the same thing.

"Bye bye," Mazey said as she threw her pebble.

"I think they're best friends already," Stan said.

Gabe credited Nola. Mazey was very hesitant with other kids, but Nola didn't let her hold back. She seemed oblivious to Mazey's shyness.

Stan was updating the guys on his living situation and telling them, "Gabe here has a fireplace." He then asked, "Have you lit it yet?"

"Not yet," Gabe said and Stan shook his head disapprovingly.

"My grandmother goes crazy for any kind of open fire. She wants a fireplace so bad," Lane said.

"I'm sure I'll get ours going one of these days," Gabe said.

"Invite me over when you do," Stan demanded. "I want to roast something on there. Marshmallows, chestnuts, maybe some hotdogs."

Gabe wasn't promising anything, especially hotdogs.

They talked some more with Lane and Joss, who were engaged and mentioned that two other guys they knew would be getting married on Christmas Day.

While the girls played with the dog, Gabe noticed Mazey was really enjoying herself. She didn't seem to mind that Nola was so forward and energetic. They were complete opposites but Mazey was smiling, happy to have found a friend, and she seemed to like Rosie very much too. When they parted ways the girls kept waving and waving to each other.

"Those guys weren't in town two minutes before they got taken off the meat market," Stan said and shook his head disappointingly. "There's something in the air or the water around here. You better watch out or someone will be sticking a ring on your finger."

"I'm not worried," Gabe said.

Stan eyed him with suspicion. "I don't know. The only one I'm sure is immune is me," he boasted and Gabe rolled his eyes. "Is that a challenge, you testing me?" Stan asked then did some punching motions in the air.

"I'm sure neither one of us will have any trouble staying single."

"Yeah? All right. It's a deal." Stan put his hand out for a handshake. When Gabe didn't take it, Stan grabbed his hand and shook it.

"Are you friends now?" Mazey asked looking up at them like she might have been worried that they were fighting.

"That's right," Stan told her and let go of Gabe's hand. "We're founding members of the Staying Single Club."

Mazey blinked behind her glasses then said a tiny "Yay?" with an unmistakable question mark after it.

As for Gabe, he didn't know what was going on either, only that Stan's hand had felt big and strong, the grip more forceful than it needed to be but also warm even if it was a little bit crushing.

Chapter 4

 

Over for a quick visit at Wyatt and Sam's, Stan was greeted by dogs barking and kids yelling. It was nice to get a loud welcome.

"Figured you missed me," Stan said to all of them. He ruffled DJ's and Ry's hair, petted their two dogs and then greeted Wyatt who waved him into the kitchen.

"We're cooking dinner. You staying?" Wyatt asked.

The boys answered for him by yelling, "Yes, yes, yes!"

"Guess I better," Stan said and the boys yelled some more.

In the kitchen, Sam was just closing the oven so Stan didn't get to see what was in there. If Sam was in charge, there was a real danger it might be something healthy.

"How's it going at your new place?" Sam asked him.

"Not too bad. The neighbor is practically on my doorstep though," Stan said, not that he really minded.

"Is he hot?" Wyatt asked.

"He is," Sam said, but Stan was shaking his head.

"Nah. He's stuck up, up tight, a tight ass."

Wyatt looked like he wasn't buying that. It was like he knew Gabe's ass was nothing to complain about. "Is that right? You better watch out or you'll fall victim to the Peach Tree curse. You said it yourself. Guys get hitched as soon as they step foot in Peach Tree," Wyatt said reminding Stan of his pact with Gabe.

"Don't call it a curse," Sam said.

"Don't worry. I'm a willing victim," Wyatt said and kissed him first on the cheek then on the lips.

They were cute, but Stan was made of stronger stuff. "Not me. In fact, me and Gabe swore a blood oath to stay single at any cost."