From The Night Gardener
Architect, Dane Lovell takes an off-season vacation in an old New England mansion. One night, the sound of the back door smashing open in the wind and rain shocks Dane from his work.
Spooky, gorgeous, and enigmatic Zachary Yarrow has brought logs for the fire. He brings with him not just passion and a love affair for Dane, but a strange, spine-tingling mystery.
Dane sat in
front of his laptop and gazed unseeing at the architectural plan before him. He
recalled what Zachary had said about the computer. It struck him as odd that a
guy his own age wouldn’t have a laptop or tablet, unless, of course, Zachary
had no use for computers. There was still a passable postal service and
newspapers, although Dane thought they were probably destined to fade away,
eventually. He shrugged.
Zachary’s
sweater still lay draped over the radiator. Dane got up and checked it. He read
the label on the inside seam as he wondered if it would go in the drier. The
woolen mix indicated no tumble-drying so he turned it inside out and put it
back onto the radiator.
Dane went
back to work. He sat for a full five minutes just staring at the plans on the
screen and then he closed the application. Zachary Yarrow filled his head. Dane
could think of nothing else but the sight of Zachary’s muscled chest and blue
eyes. He spent ten minutes considering how Zachary saw well enough in the dark
to prune rosebushes, and if the guy was warm enough out in the night. Then
exasperated with his lack of work, Dane opened his sketchbook and picked up his
drawing pencil.
After an
hour, he put down his pencil and leaned back from the drawing. Dane had added
extensive gardens to the plans. He laughed aloud. His usual practice of working
until dawn wasn’t going to happen. At one AM, he’d achieved next to nothing. I don’t know why I’m laughing. I can’t write
and now I’m doodling gardens...
He stood and
walked to the window. The rain had slowed and Dane gazed out into the night, seeing
only dark and darker shapes that in daylight were shrubs and small trees.
The back
door opened and Zachary strode through.
A wave of
happiness put a smile on Dane’s face. He had no idea why it pleased him so much
that Zachary was back but it did. “Hey, did you prune the roses?”
Zachary
walked to him. “Not even half the bed. For some reason I couldn’t concentrate
tonight.”
Dane offered
a suggestion. “Maybe it’s the rain.”
Zachary
shook his head. “Nope, I’ve been able to work in the rain before, lots of times
in fact.”
“Perhaps you’re
tired. Do you work here during the day, too?” Dane remembered Zachary saying he
liked the peace of night, but not that he didn’t work on the gardens during the
day.
Zachary
leaned on the sink unit. “Not usually. I work here at night.” He slipped off
the old parka that he must have retrieved from the garden shed and tossed it
over a chair back.
Dane watched
the coat flop over the chair then flicked his gaze to Zachary.
“There’s
some brandy in the larder. Do you fancy a nightcap?”
Zachary’s
eyes glittered. “That sounds great. I know where the glasses are.” He walked to
one of the wall cupboards and opened it.
Dane went to
the larder and brought out the brandy. A melody entered his memory and he
hummed it as he approached the kitchen table where Zachary had placed the
glasses. He poured the brandy and then pushed the fragrant cork back into the
bottle.
Zachary
picked up a glass and sat, his long legs stretched out in front of him by the
radiator at that end of the room. “I don’t often have the chance to sit with
someone like this. It’s great.”
Dane joined
him and sipped at the drink. “I used to have someone, months ago.” He spoke the
words softly, not sure it was appropriate to be so open with Zachary so soon,
and yet he wanted to tell him.
“What
happened to them?” Zachary sat up and leaned toward Dane, his eyes wide with
curiosity and concern.
“They jilted
me. The person I was to marry left me waiting at the venue with all our friends
and family.”
“Fucking
hell, that’s rough. Have you seen him since?”
Dane
wondered how Zachary knew it was a man. “No, but he messaged me a few weeks
later wanting to pick up his belongings.”
Zachary took
a drink of his brandy.
Dane
couldn’t resist the question. “How did you know it was a guy?”
His guest
smiled. “I saw the way you looked at me earlier. Don’t worry I’m into guys,
too. You’re safe from derision.”
A sweep of
tenderness and puzzlement went over Dane. It was on the tip of his tongue to
ask if Zachary had been the subject of contempt for his sexual preference, but
he drank some brandy instead.
Zachary
leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. “He’s a fool. His loss, but I
get to have your company, so…”
A tingle
went down Dane’s spine. “Zachary, do you spend the entire off-season here—gardening,
I mean?”
Zachary grinned.
“Every night.”
The words
were out of Dane’s mouth before he knew it. “I’m here for eight weeks, alone.
You can stay here … if you want, instead of finding a hotel or other
accommodations.” He cringed just a little. Did
I sound needy?
Zachary’s
eyes sparkled with happiness at the offer. He smiled and leaned over to place a
hand on Dane’s arm. “Thank you, I do want to. I’d love to. No one’s actually
offered before.”
A question
popped into Dane’s mind, but he couldn’t quite form it. He knew there was
something strange about Zachary’s statement, but pushed it away under a spell
of attraction to the handsome man.
“That’s
settled then. I took the bedroom that looks out on the river, so take you pick
of the remaining rooms. There are linen and quilts in the big press at the end
of the landing, oh and towels are there, too.”
Zachary
gazed at Dane, his eyes ranging over his face. “Your name is interesting. I’ve
never come across anyone named Dane before.”
“I’m named
after my great grandfather. My mom liked the name since she was a child. She
told me she’d always planned to name her son, Dane, if she had a son.” He
smiled, remembering his mom’s words.
Zachary’s
eyes filled with an emotion Dane read as affection. It sent warmth through him.
“I like it,
too. It has a warrior-like ring to it.”
Dane fought
a strong urge to hug Zachary. “Thank you, although I’m more of a bard than a
warrior.” Dane’s need to know more about his guest’s life had him pick up the
brandy bottle and offer Zachary another drink.
Zachary
shook his head. “Better not. I’m keeping you from your work. I don’t usually
sit for so long myself…”
Dane hurried
to assure Zachary. “I stopped work for the night. To be honest, motivation’s
deserted me. I don’t know what’s going on.” He laughed softly before he
continued. “The place has already worked its magic on me. I came to recharge my
energy, and although I wanted to work, I’ll take being refreshed.” He stopped
talking under Zachary’s intense gaze.
“You’re the
first person to notice the magic.”
A prickle
went up Dane’s spine. From somewhere deep inside came an unbidden thought. There’s something magical about Zachary…
Dane gave a rapid shake of his head, as if the physical movement could dislodge
the strange thought, because he didn’t mean Zachary was delightful, even though
he thought that, too—Dane meant supernatural.
Zachary
stood and took the pace to where Dane sat. He leaned over Dane, and in a
mesmerizingly slow move, he brought his lips to Dane’s mouth. The unexpected kiss
set Dane’s heart pounding with the tenderness and extraordinary sweetness it
contained. Instinctively, he lifted his hands to run his fingers into Zachary’s
hair and hold his head to prolong the kiss. Streaks of pleasure thrilled down
his stomach and hardened his cock.
When Zachary
drew away, Dane had a difficult time letting him go.
Zachary
straightened. His glass still held a mouthful of brandy and he downed it in a
gulp. His sigh as he put down the glass held anything but regret. “Sorry, I
don’t know what came over me.”
Dane needed
to say something. His heart still pounded. His body had gone into overdrive and
desire surged through him. “It was surprising, but delicious. No need to be
sorry. It’s been a long time since anyone kissed me like that.”
Zachary
bowed his head. When he raised his face again, Dane saw tears glisten in his
eyes.
“I’ll finish
the pruning.” He dragged on the parka.
Dane stood
to watch him. “Hey, I’ll leave the back door unlocked for you.” There was no
answer and Dane gazed around the empty kitchen. He placed his fingertip on his
lips, remembering the kiss. That was so
good. I’d sure like more of those kisses. Dane smiled.
He had no
idea how it had happened, but it was close to five. By the time I shower, it’ll be dawn. Dane put the glasses he and Zachary
used into the dishwasher. He checked Zachary’s sweater. Dry. Dane smiled as he folded it and left it on the table.
Copyright E.D.Parr , Evernight Publishing, 2017
About the story
Zachary Yarrow came to me in the night. There are lots of natural noises in the night where I live. Recently something larger than usual has been padding along the patio and wooden deck at the side. As I listened one night, I suddenly thought, its gardening, the animal is the night gardener, and it made me laugh. Then Zachary dropped into my mind like the hot stuff he is and I had to write. Dane Lovell is the guy who’s had some heartbreak. He’s still shaken by it and perhaps he doesn’t need the paranormal side of Zachary but the tradeoff comes because Zachary is such a happy character and there’s no inkling of what’s really happening with him until they fall deeply in love and Dane asks Zachary to live with him. That’s the catalyst for Dane to give Zachary the support he’s needed all along.
I love them both. They’re perfect for each other. They have the kind of love we all deserve.
By the way, this is a happy story, it can tug on the heartstrings but there's a HEA
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Amazon global link http://a-fwd.com/asin-com=B06XH4TFSS
