Stood Up

Chapter Three

"I think I know the man for that job, David," Noah said after David had told him all about how hard it was to find a fucking professional to do this little restoration job for him. His usual guy had told him he was booked solid for the next few weeks and David didn't have the patience to look for someone new he didn't know or trust with his family heirlooms.

David gave him a look. "You just know all the people, don't you?"

"Well, my wife is an artist," Noah replied with a grin.

David smiled at him. "She really is. So is that guy any good?"

"Would I ever steer you wrong, David?" Noah asked. The truth was of course that Noah actually didn't know how good Kyle was. He hadn't seen any of Kyle's furniture yet, but the comments and reviews on his professional website had been positive. Besides, Kyle had talked with passion about his work. He really liked what he was doing and could talk about it for hours.

"You haven't so far," David replied. "Alright, give me the guy's number and I will give him a call."

Noah nodded, he wasn't going to give David Kyle's private number of course. He wrote the business number and email down and handed it to David.

"Should I tell him you sent me?" Davis asked, getting up from his chair.

"Looking for a discount?" Noah replied with a grin.

"Don't we all? Besides it's a set of six chairs," David said. "They're antiques, had been in the family for generations, if you can believe my grandmother and you know she sometimes likes to tell wild stories."

"Yes, I know. Your grandmother is seriously something else. I guess you could mention my name," Noah replied.

David nodded and left the office.
Noah finished his coffee and then called Kyle on his cell.

"Yes?" Kyle asked. He sounded a bit breathless. It did all kinds of things to Noah. They had been on five dates so far and Noah hadn't even kissed the man yet. He was getting a bit impatient.

"Hi Kyle," Noah said.

"Sorry, hi, how are you?" Kyle asked.

Noah laughed. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No, I was just...no," Kyle answered and Noah wondered what he had just been doing at three o'clock that made him breathless. "You called for a reason, I assume?" Kyle asked.

Noah blinked. Shit, his mind had wandered off to sexy land.
"I just talked to a friend of mine. He needs six dining chairs done and I sent him your way. I just wanted to call and make clear that I don't expect you to give him any kind of discount on the chairs, just because he throws my name around."

There was silence on the other end for so long that Noah thought the connection had been interrupted. "Kyle?"

"Yes, I'm still here."

"Was it alright to send my friend your way? Should I not refer people to you anymore in the future? I don't want to overstep." Shit, he hadn't thought he overstepped, but Kyle's silence made question him that whole business.

"No. I mean, thank you for thinking of my business."

"You are welcome. You also sound surprised that I would send people your way," Noah said.

"I guess I am? I mean, it's not like my friends don't support me, but my lovers not so much."

Noah wondered if Kyle's lovers had somehow found his business embarrassing. He wanted to ask, but wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Besides he felt kind of giddy that Kyle had referred to him as his lover. He wasn't sure if Kyle was even aware of that and he didn't want to spook him if he hadn't been.