Sonny nodded happily. “There’s a nice show in Nevada in a month that….” His eyes grew big then, and he looked like he wanted to clap his hand over his mouth. “Never mind. We have nothing to do with that. It’s a good show is all.”
“Don’t worry,” Ernie said, calling over his shoulder as he meandered toward the auto bay. “He won’t arrest you for street racing.”
Brady glanced at Ace just in time to see him scowl at Ernie. “Well, I hope not,” he said grimly, but Ernie shrugged.
“When you know, you know, Ace. He’s a good one.”
“I do enjoy a good car show,” Brady said, trying to be diplomatic. “I’ll check it out.”
Ace sighed, long-suffering like, and said, “Out near Sparks. The illegal shit don’t happen until after dark, but folks park their sweet pieces out there and talk about ’em.”
Brady grinned at him, so much more than pleased. “I’ll leave the uniform behind,” he promised.
Ace snorted. “Probably a good idea if you want folks to not run away screaming.” Then he gave a nod to somebody over Brady’s shoulder. “Eric,” he said cordially.
“Hello, Ace,” the nicely dressed man in the slacks said, and Brady almost jumped.
“Dear God, you’re quiet,” he snapped, becausedamn, the guy was suddenlyreallyclose.
He, uh, smelled sort of good. Like sandalwood and hot sand, but that may have been the desert.
“Apologies,” the man named Eric said, and his voice was low and cultured—fancy, as Brady’s parents would have said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
He left it at that, but he stayed there, at that not-quite-uncomfortable distance, and Brady took a step back because he didn’t play dick-measuring games.
“We were just, uhm, talking about—”
“Illegal street racing,” Eric said dryly. “I do understand nuance.” He gave Ace a brief, deferential glance. “Ernie said I could use Jai’s vehicle to run errands, but I had to ask you first.”
Brady felt a tiny stab of disappointment. He was hoping for that super-sexy emphasis—vee-hi-cul—but this Eric guy was too snooty for that. Vee-ickle. Oh well.
Ace rolled his eyes. “Sure,” he said, sounding baffled. “It’s Jai’s car, but fine, yeah. If Jai says so, go to town.” He chuckled. “Which I guess you were going to do anyway.”
And Brady got it—“go to town” meaning “go wild” or “have a good time,” and well, “Go to Barstow or Palm Springs or any place with a grocery store that sells salad and a bakery with soft bread.”
“Which town would you suggest?” Eric asked, and Brady had to look at him twice to see if he’d gotten the joke. A corner of his mouth was quirked up, so, well, maybe.
“Palm Springs,” Ace said decisively. “They got a Walmart like everybody else, and it’s farther than Barstow, but since it’s cool at the moment, your ice cream won’t melt, and you might have a better selection.” He wrinkled his nose. “You got a fridge at your place?”
Eric nodded. “Yes. It’s small—”
“Ask Ernie if you can borrow some of his freezer space.” Ace grimaced. “We are slightly south of hell out here, son. Buy in bulk, worship your fresh fruit if you got some, and plan for a week and a day, minimum.”
“A week and a day?” Brady asked, curious.
Ace grimaced. “I don’t know about you guys, but if I plan to go grocery shopping on one day, something almost always comes up. You plan on a week and a day with some canned soup in the cupboards, and you can stretch it out.”
Brady had to laugh. “That’s good advice,” he said, almost surprised. “I’ll have to remember that on my day off.”
Ace gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Like I said—you live out south of hell, you pick up some survival tips right quick. I’ve got another one about thumping the scorpions out of your boots if you leave them outside your door, but I’m sure you’ve heard it.”
Eric, who had moved a little to Brady’s side, actuallywhimpered. “No,” he said faintly. “I have not.”
“Well,” Ace said contemplatively, “I might’ve learned that one in another desert. You take that car wherever you need to, okay?” Eric nodded and, with Brady, watched him turn back to the garage, where he hollered to Ernie. “Kid, you ’bout done fawning over that Kia yet?”
“Nope, Ace!” Ernie called back. “She’s just too pretty!”
Ace’s raw chuckle would have sent shivers up Brady’s spine, but… but… but he’d seen that moment, the tender one between Ace and Sonny, and had realized that even if Acewashis kind of man, he was taken.
