Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(29)

“You makin’ fun of me?” The corners of Key’s mouth inched up, but he never looked over at Alec as they reached the meat counter.

“Why would I make fun of you?” Alec asked in the way he did when his lover threw him a curve ball in the middle of a discussion.

“You know,” Key said and left him standing there. The biker walked along the curve of the display, looking at the selections as a woman came to the counter in front of Alec, drawing his attention her way.

“Can I help you?”

Alec opened his mouth and nothing came out. His thoughts were too focused on everything Key had casually tossed out like it wasn’t the biggest deal in the whole world. All Alec could do was turn toward Key and say, “Help him. I’m doing the salad bar.”

It took five minutes for Alec to pick his salad ingredients, because every fifteen seconds, he lifted his gaze to Key and studied his guy, wondering over the possibilities. Key chose a meat and potato before they were heading back toward the cash registers. Alec held his tongue, not asking any of the dozens of questions he want to, forcing himself to wait until they were alone again.

On the way to the front, Key picked some cheese, a small fruit tray, and fresh baked bread. As always, Key was efficient in his choices. He didn’t peruse the selections, waffle back and forth on what to buy. He took what he wanted, barely breaking stride as he passed by.

“Do you like coffee cake?” Key asked from a few feet away as Alec unloaded the basket onto the conveyor belt.

“Get what you want,” Alec said, so he did, picking a cinnamon cake. When the cashier, who had ogled Key before, finished scanning the groceries and gave them the total, he and his boyfriend had a first. Key reached for his wallet at the same time Alec did. Key had a wallet full of cash, but Alec was faster, pushing his card into the chip reader while his biker counted out his bills.

Since Alec was the winner, he reached for the bags, watching as Key and the cashier got confused when the purchase completed while cash changed hands. Alec was already walking toward the doors, chuckling at the absurdity of the moment, before Key caught up with him, reaching for the grocery sacks. “I can pay. I have money.”

The struggle was real until Alec just gave in and handed Key a grocery bag so he could lift the hatch to his car. “I know you can.” He listened for the locking system to release as he got closer and opened the back, placing the grocery bags inside.

“Then why did you laugh?”

“Because she was all about my guy and hadn’t noticed I paid. That look of startled confusion as she tried to understand why her drawer didn’t open made me laugh,” he said, rounding the car. He opened his door, dropping down to the seat, leaving Key still standing at the back of the car.

“She wasn’t into me. I get that same look everywhere. People watch me, because they tag me as a threat,” Key said once inside the car.

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” Alec pushed the ignition button and the car roared to life.

Key’s whole attention remained focused on Alec, the club and their outing seemingly forgotten in favor of the conversation they were having.

“It’s true.”

“So back to the meat counter. How was I making fun of you over the duffel bag?”

That had Key rolling his eyes, turning away from Alec, and staying silent. Key pointed him toward the street, a gesture Alec took to mean he needed to get moving.

“No, don’t go silent. Talk to me. I’m not driving until you do.”

“All my stuff fits inside a duffel,” Key said and rolled his eyes again with dramatic flair this time as if that explained anything. Key again pointed him toward the street. “Not anymore though. I got a shit load of crap tied on the back of my bike. That woman sold me too much.”

Alec narrowed his eyes and tried to work out how Key thought he’d been making fun of him. He did start for the street, thinking over the possibility, and he couldn’t figure it out. Nothing he came up with made sense. “I asked about your duffel, because if you brought it over, then I assumed you’d be moving in, which I’d love to have happen.”

Key flipped his head Alec’s direction, so horrified he made Alec laugh as he merged into traffic.

“Stop. We’re building a relationship. It seems a natural progression, and you spend quite a bit of time over here already.”

Key’s full attention was back on Alec as he lifted a hand, using his fingers to tick off the obvious point about each of them. “I’m a biker. You’re an ADA. My club…”

“Stop with the doom and gloom. We’re safe, and we’ll continue to be, but my decisions are made. I’m not planning to be with the DA’s office for too much longer,” Alec explained, taking the curve into his neighborhood. “So what are you leaving at my place?”

“What? You’re leavin’ the DA’s office?” Key asked, sounding surprised. “When did that decision get made?”

“My questions first,” Alec insisted, just now realizing he’d let his plans accidently slip out. That didn’t happen too often with Alec. He did talk a lot, but he was always aware of what he was saying. He was truly comfortable with Key.

“Clothes. What else would I leave at your house?” Key asked, again like that was the most obvious answer in the world. Alec reached for his gate’s remote, slowing as the gate started the process of opening.