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Thorin gazed at the open email as if he could burn it out of existence with the heat of his glare. This was his company! He’s the one who should be making the executive decisions!
Not that he could call participating in community service an executive decision. The problem was, he’d made some excellent points to the Board of Directors. Obviously, they hadn’t listened to a word he’d said.
He needed to reach out, they’d told him. He needed to enhance the brand’s image, build relationships, and mitigate risks. Thorin specifically needed to connect with the people of the city.
(The irony of that statement didn’t escape Thorin’s notice.)
After a vote that was completely opposite of what he wished for, the board members decided that the VP of the company would be responsible for choosing the best way to do this.
Thorin swore under his breath. The VP of DurinCorp was none other than his sister. His sister - who had a bone to pick with her big brother since the company’s New Year’s Eve party. True, he had picked the venue, but it wasn’t his fault the power went out just before midnight. The lavish hotel had given them a discount (which he reminded her each time she brought it up.)
He was dreading whatever she had planned, as he was certain it was going to be something embarrassing. She knew him better than anyone. She knew how easily he blushed. Which is why his face was red now, but not from being an introvert. Far from it.
He called Dis immediately.
“I’m not listening,” she said before even saying hello. “This is a unique opportunity! Besides, I’m doing it. if I can kiss total strangers, then so can you.”
“Dis,” Thorin growled into his cell.
“This will do you some good. Since you broke up with Sebastian, what - four years ago? You haven’t been the same. You won’t go out to meet new people. All you do is work and go home to your luxurious, empty apartment.”
“I don’t need your help with my personal life,” Thorin firmly told his sister.
“Even if you did, you wouldn’t ask. I love you, you big doofus. Don’t think of it as a way to meet new guys – just think of it as a way to connect with the people of the city.”
“That isn’t funny,” he told her, rubbing his temple to stave off an incoming headache.
“You’ll do just fine. Trust me. Love you!”
The city had gone all out to decorate for the upcoming holidays. The carnival booths stretched for blocks and blocks. Everything was brightly colored with balloons, banners, and tons of food trucks parked in various places.
The day had started cool, but the weatherman said it would reach the mid-50s by afternoon. He had worn his leather jacket just in case along with his favorite cashmere scarf. And just to be safe, had a small bottle of antiseptic mouthwash in his pocket.
There was a schedule. He would be the final one on duty with his shift lasting from 4-5:00. Scheduled ahead of him were all of the executives of the company, including Dis.
He approached the bright red and white striped booth lit up with twinkling lights. On the counter was a large jar that was half filled with bills already. Thorin noticed a few tens and even a couple of twenties, but mostly there were ones and fives.
There were a few people in line, mainly attractive females. They were waiting to kiss his friend and CEO. Dwalin appeared to be having a good time and Thorin swallowed the nervous lump that had begun to climb into his throat.
“You’re going to do fine,” a familiar voice spoke behind him. Thorin turned to smile at his sister.
“How did you do?” he asked her.
“Just a couple of creeps, but nothing I couldn’t handle,” she said. “There are rules posted, and the number for security posted if it's needed.”
“Rules?” Thorin asked. Usually, Dis wasn’t very fond of regulations.
“Of course. Closed mouth, no tongue. Cheek kisses are fine but there’s no discount for them. And hugs are free.”
Thorin chuckled softly and met Dwalin’s eye.
“You’re up big boy,” his friend said as he stepped out of the booth and approached him, shaking his hand firmly before leaning toward his ear to speak quietly. “Just watch out for the ones with the footlongs in their hand. The onions are brutal!”
Thorin rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. He stepped inside the booth, took off his jacket, and hung it on a hook behind him. He decided to keep on the dark purple scarf as the sun was lowering in the sky and the wind was a little chilly.
Within a few minutes, a couple of young women walked by, took a double take, and returned.
“Five dollars? To kiss you?” the blonde said with what Thorin imagined she believed was a seductive grin. “I’d call that a bargain. How many can I buy?”
“Just the one,” Thorin said with a point toward the bottom of the posted rules.
He smiled when she pouted, though she dropped a ten into the jar anyway.
The kiss met all the requirements and didn’t bother him in the least. He could do this! That wasn’t so bad.
Fifteen minutes later proved to be a different story. A line had formed that included both men and women. He counted at least twenty people waiting to pay to kiss him, which made no sense. True, he was still in his prime, but he was much older than some of the men in line.
Halfway through his shift, Dis handed him some chapstick. He laughed when he noticed it was cherry, but he ended up using it anyway.
There was a slight lull about ten minutes until they closed and that’s when Thorin saw him. He had just thanked the elderly woman who had dropped in a 20 and kissed his cheek, blushing for the first time tonight when she told him he was the hottest young man she’d seen in a long while.
After that, Thorin thought he was in the clear. He checked his watch and then looked across the street.
Standing next to the street lamp was a man. He was fairly short, maybe 5’5” or so, dressed in a dark blue suit, with reddish brown hair.
If Thorin had a type, it was short men. Being over six feet tall, he loved the feeling of holding someone of smaller stature. They seemed to fit him better, and he’d found they were more eager in bed – like they had something to prove.
But it wasn’t the size of the man that had captured his attention. It was his smile. And the fact that he didn’t look away when Thorin held his gaze. He even lifted his hand to wave. Thorin almost turned to see if the man was perhaps looking at someone else, but there wasn’t anyone else around.
He didn’t know this man, but he sure as hell would like to.
Once again, Thorin checked his watch. Five minutes left. In his mind, a litany of ‘hurry-up and come overs’ played on repeat, until finally the man made his way carefully across the street.
“Hi,” he said with a grin that revealed a deep dimple Thorin had the sudden urge to lick.
“Hi,” Thorin replied.
“Am I too late? I saw the long line and tried to hurry back, but the line at the funnelcake truck was even longer.”
Thank the Maker he hadn’t stood in line for a footlong!
“We’re about to shut down, but I’ve got time for one more customer,” Thorin said cheekily.
“Oh, that’s good.”
The adorable man reached inside his suit jacket and withdrew a bifold wallet. He then dropped a hundred-dollar bill into the jar.
“That’s generous of you,” Thorin told him. “But I’m afraid it won’t buy you anything more than just a kiss. There are rules.”
“I know,” the man said while his eyes darted to the wall. “I read them earlier. That’s fine. I’m sure I’ll get my money’s worth.”
Not only was he short, but he was cute, witty, generous, and a little bit sassy. Definitely his type. He checked all the boxes Thorin kept in his head whenever he met someone.
They smiled quietly at one another, which only seemed to add to his sudden nervousness. Why was he nervous? Why now? He’d been kissing people of both sexes for nearly an hour!
This was different, his heart was telling him. This meant something. How his heart knew that he didn’t know.
Thorin leaned down and the man stood taller. When their lips met, there weren’t sparks or lightning or anything like that, just a deep contentment – a feeling of rightness – like they’d done this before and would continue doing it for years to come – a lifetime maybe.
The kiss itself seemed to last a lifetime. Eventually, someone cleared their throat and the two men broke apart. The customer’s smile was non-existent and a quiet “oh,” came out of his mouth. Did he have the same feeling about that kiss that Thorin had?
“Time to close up,” Dis announced as she stepped into the booth.
Thorin was quite speechless. His entire world had changed in the last five minutes and he didn’t even know the man’s name!
“Thank you,” their final customer said kindly before he stepped back and Dis grabbed the donation jar.
Nothing was being said and yet there was so much he wanted to say! First of all, what’s your name? Can I have your number? Where do you live? Where do you work? Will you come home with me?
Finally, Thorin managed to find his voice and he ran out of the booth. By that time, the man had walked a ways down the sidewalk. Thorin took off after him, excusing himself as he tried not to bump into milling pedestrians.
“Wait!” he yelled not caring a whit whether people were staring at him or wondering why he was running down a street shouting at a stranger.
He finally caught up with the man who turned at the last second to gaze up into his eyes, that dazzling smile appearing again.
“I have to know your name,” Thorin said, out of breath.
“Bilbo,” he said softly as the crowd parted to walk around them. “Bilbo Baggins.”
“Thorin Durin.”
“As in the owner of DurinCorp? That Thorin Durin?’
“One and the same.”
Another smile appeared and then the sparks decided to show up. They flew down his spine, lighting up all his nerve endings in the process. Even his knees were threatening to buckle. All that only after one chaste kiss from the man!
“Well, are you closed for business now?”
“Yes,” Thorin answered, not entirely understanding the question.
“Because I’d like to kiss you again – without the rules this time.”
Thorin felt giddy and he stepped a little closer and dared to reach for the man’s smaller hand. “I’d like that too, but I’d also like to eat.”
They were surrounded by food vendors, but that’s not what he meant. He was glad Bilbo understood that.
“Are you asking me out, Mr. Durin?”
“I am, and after that, I’d like to take you home and show you what a good kisser I actually am.”
Bilbo chuckled lightly. “My my,” he said playfully. “A hundred dollars sure buys more than it used to!”
Meanwhile, Dis Durin, who had been watching this all play out wasn’t smiling at all. That New Year’s Eve party had been a complete disaster! And now she had to figure out some other way to embarrass her brother. She was pretty sure she could think of something. Or maybe not.