The Quiet Pull

The Landscaper Stays for Dinner

The tension from Jimmy’s outburst had barely settled when, as if nothing had happened, he looked up at Jake with hopeful eyes. “Why don’t you stay for dinner?” he asked eagerly, as if clinging to the last threads of the day.

Noah’s heart skipped a beat. Having Jake stay for dinner—sitting at the table with him, sharing a meal—felt like crossing an invisible line, one Noah wasn’t sure he was ready to face. The idea of prolonging Jake’s presence, sent a nervous flutter through Noah’s stomach.

For a moment, Noah hesitated, his gaze shifting from Jimmy’s hopeful expression to Jake’s shirtless form. Jake, for his part, seemed unfazed by the invitation. He looked at Jimmy, then at Noah, a slow smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as though the idea genuinely amused him.  For Noah, the temptation to let the day stretch on just a little longer was setting off warning bells. Yet, as much as he knew it would complicate things, Noah couldn’t find the strength to undo the invitation.

However, he was also struggling to say yes. 

“I don’t know...” Noah’s voice wavered.  He knew he should say no, come up with a polite excuse to send Jake on his way, but his mind was spinning. Jake stood there, shirtless, pumped, shredded.  Noah hesitated as he stared at Jake who looked so at ease and so effortlessly comfortable and confident. He found himself stumbling over the right response. As his gaze flicked to the strong lines of Jake’s chest, then quickly away, a flush of heat crept up his face.

“It’s... getting kind of late,” he added weakly, knowing even as he said it that the hesitation in his voice was all too clear. The truth gnawed at him—he didn’t want Jake to leave. Not yet. The pull to spend more time with him, to extend the moment, was overwhelming. His heart raced, a confusing mix of excitement and guilt swirling inside him.

Sensing his father’s reluctance, Jimmy shot him a pleading look, impatience clouding his young face. “Come on, Dad,” he urged, the frustration in his tone growing. “Jake can stay. Please?”

Noah swallowed hard, his eyes lingering on Jake for a beat too long. He knew he should send Jake on his way, maintain some distance. The line between what was right and what he wanted was blurring, and Noah wasn’t sure he could keep himself from crossing it.

Before Noah could find the right words, Jake’s grin widened, his eyes twinkling as he caught on to Noah’s flustered state. With an easy, playful tone, Jake said, “Don’t worry—I’ve got a clean t-shirt in my truck. I’m always prepared for situations like this.” His teasing cut through the tension, light and casual, yet carrying an undertone that made Noah’s heart race even faster. It was as if Jake knew exactly what effect he was having and was gently testing the waters.

Noah felt his face heat up, his attempts to hide the reaction failing miserably. There was something in Jake’s tone, something casual yet charged, that made Noah feel exposed. It was as though Jake could sense the nervous energy radiating from him, and instead of backing off, Jake leaned into it, nudging Noah out of his comfort zone just enough to make his pulse quicken.

“That’d... be great,” Noah finally managed to say, though his voice was uneven. The struggle to stay composed was palpable. Jake had effortlessly taken control of the moment, and all Noah could do was stumble through it, trying not to let the tension overwhelm him.

Jake’s grin lingered for a moment longer, his eyes twinkling with that easy confidence before he nodded and headed toward his truck. Noah’s gaze followed him, helpless to stop himself from watching the way Jake’s broad back and strong legs moved as he walked away. The sight gave Noah more salacious tingles, as he quickly averted his eyes, praying that the whirlwind of emotions wouldn’t completely unravel him.

By the time Jake returned from his truck, Noah had set an extra place at the table, and dinner was nearly ready. Yet the flustered feeling in his chest hadn’t subsided. Seeing Jake enter the kitchen, now in a snug white t-shirt that hugged his body, did little to calm his nerves.

The shirt was simple but perfectly fitted, clinging to Jake’s chest and shoulders in a way that highlighted every muscle. His thick arms filled out the sleeves, the fabric stretching ever so slightly with each movement. Somehow, the t-shirt made him even more irresistible, framing his physique with just the right amount of subtlety.

As Jake approached, Noah did a double take, trying to take it all in.  He then tried to focus on the task of serving dinner, but his eyes kept drifting back to the way Jake’s shirt fit, the way it tucked into the waistband of his jeans. His heart pounded, a familiar tension building within him.

Jake moved with the same relaxed ease, his smile warm as he rejoined them. “Ready for dinner?” he asked casually, his voice snapping Noah out of his thoughts.

Noah nodded, struggling to regain his composure as they sat down to eat. Jimmy, still brimming with excitement, launched into a lively recap of the day’s events, his voice filling the air with energy. But Noah’s mind wasn’t on the conversation. Every glance at Jake made it harder to focus—on the way his shoulders shifted, on how the fabric of his shirt stretched tight with each movement.

It was Jimmy’s voice that finally broke Noah’s spell.

“You know, you look like a superhero—you’re so jacked!” Jimmy blurted out, his eyes wide with admiration as he looked at Jake.

Noah froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. The innocent comment sent a wave of panic through him, and he set his utensil down, his face flushing as Jimmy’s words lingered in the air. His mind scrambled to keep up as all the attention shifted to Jake’s physique.  The silence was deafening as Noah tried to come up with an appropriate response.

Jake, for his part, took it in stride. He chuckled softly, his smile modest. “Superhero, huh?” he said, glancing at Jimmy with a playful gleam in his eyes. “I like the sound of that.”

Noah breathed a small sigh of relief—grateful for Jake’s humble response. But just as Noah began to relax, Jake leaned into the moment with a teasing grin.

He flexed his arm slightly, the muscles bulging under his t-shirt, and gave Jimmy a playful look. “If I had to pick, I’d say I’m probably more of a Thor. What do you think?”

Jimmy’s face lit up with glee. “Yeah! You’d totally be Thor!” he exclaimed, his laughter echoing through the room.

Jake struck a mock superhero pose, raising his arm like he was wielding an invisible hammer. His bicep swelled under the strain, and Noah’s breath caught. He gasped softly, his gaze locked on Jake’s arm, unable to look away. For a split second, he wondered if Jake was doing this on purpose—if he knew exactly how much power he held in these small, teasing gestures.

Jake’s eyes flicked toward Noah briefly, a knowing smile softening on his lips. “What do you think, Noah?” he asked, still playful, but with an undercurrent that made Noah’s heart race. 

“Thor... or someone else?”

Noah’s throat went dry. The weight of Jake’s question pressed on him, and he fumbled for words. “Uh... Thor seems about right,” he managed to mumble, trying—and failing—to sound nonchalant.

Jake chuckled, enjoying the moment before letting the conversation drift back to lighter topics. But the tension between them remained, hanging in the air, thick and undeniable.

Dinner wrapped up quicker than Noah had expected. Jimmy, worn out from the excitement of the day, pushed his chair back, eyes drooping with exhaustion. “Bedtime, buddy,” Noah said softly, ruffling Jimmy’s hair. Jimmy gave a tired smile, glancing at Jake as he mumbled, “Night, Thor,” before heading off to bed.

With Jimmy gone, the air between Noah and Jake thickened once more. The silence wasn’t awkward, but it was heavy—filled with everything that had been left unsaid throughout the evening.

Noah busied himself at the sink, washing dishes in an attempt to avoid the weight of Jake’s presence. But the sound of Jake’s footsteps behind him made Noah’s pulse spike. He wasn’t ready for this. The moment felt too charged, too close.

Jake joined him at the sink, casually placing a plate beside Noah, his arm brushing against Noah’s side. The touch was light, barely intentional, but it sent a ripple of tension through Noah’s body. His breath caught as he glanced at Jake’s muscular arm, so close, every ridge of muscle defined, veins pushing up against the skin.

Noah froze, gripping the counter for support. The scent of Jake—clean, earthy, natural—filled the space between them, heightening the tension already thrumming through Noah’s body. Every part of him was hyper-aware of Jake’s proximity.

Jake’s arm lingered just a moment longer, then he pulled away, stepping back as if nothing had happened. But for Noah, the moment had been searing, leaving him breathless and shaken.

“So,” Jake said, his voice low and teasing, “about those workout tips... still interested?” His tone was playful, but the underlying message made Noah’s heart stutter.

Noah’s heart lurched at the question and he then forced a breathless laugh, trying to regain control. He was still recovering from Jake’s proximity, still trying to catch his breath from the moment they’d just shared. But Jake’s teasing smile, the knowing look in his eyes, made it clear that this wasn’t just an innocent question. “I think... you’ve got that pretty well covered,” Noah managed, his voice shaky.

Jake’s grin widened, clearly enjoying the effect he was having. “Well, the offer is always open,” he said, his bicep flexing slightly as he scratched the back of his head. The quiet confidence in his voice made it clear—he knew exactly how much power he held in these moments.

Then, from nowhere, Noah volunteered, “You’re very sure of yourself.” He immediately regretted how flustered he sounded, but before he could backtrack, Jake’s gaze sharpened slightly, a teasing edge slipping into his expression. “I’ve heard that before,” Jake smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He casually leaned back against the counter, causing his tricep to flare subtly, its defined horseshoe shape standing out in relief against the smooth curve of his arm.  Noah stared while struggling to process Jake’s response.  If being honest, he didn’t think Jake was boasting, it felt like he was sharing a simple truth.   But there was an underlying message in the way he said it. Jake’s smirk widened just a fraction, as though daring Noah to react, but he didn’t linger, stepping back with a satisfied smile

Noah’s heart was pounding so loudly it echoed in his ears. Sensing Noah’s discomfort, Jake finally stepped back, softening his smile as he stepped away from the counter. “Jimmy’s a great kid,” Jake said, his voice thoughtful. “Reminds me of myself at his age—so much energy, needing someone to guide it.”

Noah nodded, grateful for the shift in conversation, though his pulse still raced. “Yeah... he can be a handful,” he replied, his voice still unsteady.

Jake looked at Noah, his tone softening. “A kid like Jimmy needs a strong role model. Someone who can help him channel all that energy.”

Noah’s stomach twisted, guilt gnawing at him. Jake’s words hit hard, making him painfully aware of the role Jake could easily step into, and the one Noah wasn’t sure he could fill. 

“You’re doing great with him,” Jake added, his voice gentle. “It’s not easy, but I can tell he means the world to you.”

Noah’s heart ached at the compliment, but before he could respond, Jake gave him a playful smile. “You know, you are cute when you get flustered,” he teased lightly, leaving Noah speechless.

He flashed Noah a quick smile, as if the last hour hadn’t been filled with unspoken tension, then added, “Take care of yourself, Noah.” With that, Jake turned and headed for the door, leaving Noah standing there, still gripping the counter. Before leaving the kitchen, he turned to Noah, “I’ll be back in a couple of days to continue my work.”

As Jake walked out, Noah stood frozen, still gripping the counter, his pulse racing as the unspoken tension lingered between them, thick and undeniable.”