Cartoonist Alexis Rhodes is well-known and very popular in his small community. Not only is he a gay activist, but he also teaches art at the local elementary school. A freelance artist, Alexis works from his home, and when he gets bored watching and drawing cartoons he cooks for his friends and visits the bars near the beach. It's on one of those occasions he meets the very attractive Madison Alleman, and has a one night stand. Things get complicated when Madison moves into the building Alexis lives in, but one-night-stand or not, the attraction is still strong. Will the fact that Madison has a six year old son make a difference in Alexis's pursuit?
It was like he had died and gone to doggie heaven. Why hadn’t he put two and two together and figured out the guy from the bar was the same guy as the one his brother had told him about? No wonder he didn’t have a problem about moving into a gay community. He was one of them.
The three of them sat down to eat. Scotty kept peeping over at Alexis.
“Have you registered him in school yet?” Alexis asked.
“Yes, he starts on Monday,” Madison answered.
“He looks just like you. I’d be interested in knowing how that happened.”
“Let’s just say I wasn’t sure of some things when I was a teenager,” Madison said trying to talk around Scotty. “I got married at eighteen to a girl I barely knew.”
“Are you sure now?”
“Well, let’s just say you made me sure,” Madison said.
They went back to eating.
“May I be excused?” Scotty asked.
“Sure,” Madison added.
Scotty put his empty plate into the sink and left the room.
“The kid has manners.”
“He does not know about that part of my life,” Madison said as soon as he heard Scotty’s bedroom door close and the video game turn on. Madison had made sure he hooked it to the television right after the delivery guys left.
“Oh, I see. Won’t he think it strange when he sees daddy bringing guys here?”
“I won’t be bringing guys here,” Madison said. “I didn’t date back in Boston and I have no plans to start now.”
“You didn’t date? How long have you been a widower?”
Madison supposed he found that out from Bill. “About four years. My wife died shortly after Scotty’s second birthday.”
“I was the first person you’ve been with in four years?”
Madison nodded. “You’re the second person I’ve been with ever. Brenda got pregnant our first time together.”
“I guess you didn’t know about protection back then?” Alexis teased.
“I knew but everything happened so fast. I was young and figured we’d be safe.”
“I regretted not getting your name and just leaving you the next morning. You were sleeping so peacefully.”
“The walk back to my hotel room was interesting,” Madison said.
Madison brain was spinning with confusion as he tried to play it cool, like having Alexis sitting across from him meant nothing. His heart was also doing foolish things like fluttering just because it thought Alexis was the handsomest guy he’d ever seen or had the privileged to have mated with. But deep down inside he knew he had to nip this little infatuation in the bud. The man was his landlord and the brother of his boss. Nothing good could come from this.
“Stop trying to turn this into something bad,” Alexis said as he ate.
Madison raised an eyebrow. Oh lawd. “I’m not doing that,” he lied.
Alexis raised his eyebrow this time.
Madison lowered his head and went back to eating.
“It happened, it was amazing and there is nothing you can do to change the situation.”
Madison raised his head again. “How did you know what I was thinking?”
“Because I thought the same thing when you opened the door.”
“So we both agree that nothing like that could ever happen between us again?” Madison asked.
“No, I don’t agree,” Alexis said. “That night was magical and I don’t know what might happen in the future. All I’m saying is that I’m not going to force you into anything you don’t want. I’m a patient guy. Sooner or later you’ll figure out that I’m the right guy for you.” Madison scowled at him. “The right guy for me is in the room playing video games. I’m all he has and I can’t let anything interfere with that. Not even the best s-e-x of my life.”
“I bet he can spell,” Alexis said about Scotty. “And thanks for the compliment. But like I said before, I’m a patient guy. But don’t take too long because there are plenty of other guys who are waiting to take your place.”
So arrogant. “You mean the pretty little blond from the bar you were dancing with that night?”
Alexis nodded. “And others. But I prefer the pretty little blond across the table from me.”
Madison rolled his eyes. “Eat.”
Alexis finished his meal. He thanked Madison for dinner and welcomed him to the neighborhood. He rose and Madison walked him to the door. “Thank you for the gift basket. Scotty likes fruit.”
“You’re welcome.” Alexis stepped into the hallway and beckoned Madison with his finger.
Madison stepped out into the hall and Alexis stole a quick kiss. Madison hurried back into his door and Alexis strolled over to his, chuckling. “Good night, Mr. Alleman.”
“Good night, Mr. Rhodes.” Madison closed his door and leaned against it. His heart was now racing.
“Daddy I’m thirsty,” Scotty called out from his room. “And I need someone to play with.”
Madison got his son a drink of water and then went into Scotty’s room and played a little while. Then he gave him a bath and put him to bed. Madison got in bed early too. He was tired and it had been a long day. And he was very confused about his feelings for Alexis.
