Free The Trouble With Valentine's Day by Rachel Gibson Page B

other side of the row of paper towels. “I was at the Cozy Corner just yesterday, having the lunch special, and Iona told me that your son Rob is gay.”
    Kate moved her head slightly to the left, and between the rows, she watched Grace’s eyes widen and her lips part. “Well, I don’t think—”
    â€œNow the reason I bring it up,” Regina interrupted, “is because my son Tiffer is coming up for the Easter weekend. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Tiffer is a female impersonator down in Boise.” Even Kate had heard that, but she couldn’t recall when and where. “Tiffer doesn’t have a partner right now, and I thought that if perhaps Rob is single, we should introduce the two of them.”
    Grace fingered her coat collar. “Well, I don’t believe Robert is gay.”
    Kate didn’t believe so either, and she wondered who’d started the rumor and why anyone would believe it. Not that she felt bad for “Robert.”
    â€œSometimes us mothers are the last to know,” Regina assured the other woman.
    â€œHe’s thirty-six.” A frown pulled Grace’s brows together. “I think I’d know by now.”
    â€œBeing a hockey player, I can understand him wanting to keep quiet about his sexuality.”
    â€œHe doesn’t play hockey anymore.”
    â€œMaybe he’s still in the closet. Some men never come out.”
    Hockey player ? Kate had heard quite a bit of gossip about Rob, but no one had mentioned that he’d played hockey. Although it did explain the knee injury he’d complained about the first night they’d met. It also explained his nasty temperament.
    â€œI assure you, Regina, my son likes women.”
    The bell above the door rang, and all eyes turned to the man in question as he walked inside and stamped snow from his boots. He pulled off his cap and shoved it in his coat pocket. His cheeks were red, and his green eyes shone. The overhead light bounced off his silver ring as he combed his fingers through the side of his hair. Somehow, he managed to look big and bad and boyish all at the same time.
    Regina leaned in close and said just above a whisper, “You be sure and talk it over with him. Tell him Tiffer’s a good catch.”
    The corners of Grace’s lips slid up. “Oh, you can be sure I’ll tell him.”

Five
    â€œRegina Cladis wants to set you up with her son Tiffer.”
    Rob reached for the door handle of his mother’s Bronco and opened it. In one part of his brain, he knew his mother was talking, but he wasn’t paying attention to her. His thoughts were on Kate Hamilton and their conversation. Not only had she wrongly believed he didn’t recall the night she’d propositioned him but she also didn’t seem to want to talk about it. Not that he blamed her, but he’d tried to give her some good advice about picking up men in bars anyway. He’d tried to joke with her, too. She obviously had no sense of humor.
    â€œRegina thinks you’re in the closet.”
    That got his attention, and he glanced over his shoulder at his mother. “What?”
    â€œApparently Tiffer’s taking a break from his career as a female impersonator just long enough to come home for an Easter visit. Regina thinks he’s a good catch.”
    Rob frowned. “What does that have to do with me?”
    Grace ducked beneath his arm and tossed her grocery bag on the passenger seat. “Regina just told me that Iona is telling everyone at the Cozy Corner that you’re gay.”
    It wasn’t the first time he’d heard the rumor, but he hadn’t given it much thought. He’d hoped that his denial had put out the fire. He should have known better.
    With one foot inside the car, Grace paused and looked up into Rob’s face. “Of course if it’s true, there’s nothing wrong with it. You’re my son, and I’ll support