“What’s something else you learned to make recently?”

“Turnovers. I just learned how to make really good flaky pastry, and I’ve been trying lots of combinations, even savory ones.”

Dash obviously put all of himself into what he did. Thorne understood that. When he had a chance to win a new contract, he fought hard for it. He might occasionally wish he had time for more than work, but he was passionate about helping others make their companies the best they could be. He began spinning a business plan for Dash, excited about all the possibilities.

“You’re smiling,” Dash said.

“It’s the cupcakes.” No way was he going to admit what he was really thinking.

“Maybe I’ll let you sample my turnovers one day.”

“Maybe right now you’ll do something about this.” Thorne parted his robe and skimmed a hand over his cock.

Dash licked his lips, clearly very interested. “Not yet. Tell me about you. I can’t believe you really don’t do anything but work. Surely you have other interests.”

“I’m on the board at the art museum, and I attend a lot of charity gatherings.” Was that it? When had he stopped doing things just for fun? “I used to sail.”

“That does sound fun. Do you own a sailboat?” Dash asked.

“I used to. After I got my MBA and started working for Symthson, I bought myself a boat, took lessons, and learned how to sail. It was a gift to myself.”

“See? There is another side to you. You lit up when you told me that.”

Had he really?

“What got you interested in sailing?”

“When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was Swallows and Amazons. Did you ever read that?”

Dash shook his head. “No.”

“The four main characters, siblings, are spending the summer at a lake in England, and they have a sailboat. They camp on an island, meet two girls who live on the lake and have their own boat, and all six of them have adventures together.”

“Sounds fun. Did you have adventures on your boat?”

Thorne pondered that. “Not too many.” He and Clint had taken the boat out frequently. They’d had some wonderful afternoons, but Clint had always had to go back to his wife. Then everything ended. “I sold it when I realized I hadn’t taken it out in over a year.”

“How long ago was that?”

“Seven, maybe eight years.”

Dash frowned. “You should buy another and take it out every weekend.”

“I don’t really have weekends.”

“Which is why you’re so tense.”

Thorne leaned forward to refill his coffee cup. Once again the plug reminded him that he’d yet to get what he wanted from Dash.

Dash must have noticed because he smiled. “Finish your coffee and then I’ll finish you.”

“Damn right you will.”