If he moved too much, he might lose his fragile grip on his control. The last thing he wanted was to fall apart on the sidewalk.
“Danny.” Ash reached for him but pulled his hands back. “I swear to you, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Last night was real. The best night I’ve had in a very long time.”
“We ate and fell asleep watching a movie,” Danny reminded him.
“And I’d do it a million more times, honey bear.” Ash’s light brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight as a few cars passed by. “Last night was perfect.”
Danny’s resolve weakened. It had been perfect for him, too. Except the running-to-the-bathroom part. Still, he found himself leaning toward Ash until he remembered why he’d left. “Nice try. Did Isaac fall for those soft eyes and words too?”
That’s what hurt worst of all. Isaac could’ve told Danny he’d slept with Ash yesterday when they’d spotted him in the store. Instead, he’d encouraged Danny to go on a date with the guy, knowing full well he’d already had a piece of Ash.
Why did the thought make Danny want to go back inside and beat the crap out of his best friend?
Ash stared at Danny in disbelief. “I don’t know where you got that idea, but I don’t even know Isaac, let alone fucked him. I saw him in the store and again just now. That’s it, Danny.”
Holding his breath, Danny studied Ash’s face for any flicker of deception in those amber depths. His lungs burned with the effort of not breathing, matching the ache in his chest as he waited for the mask to slip. But Ash’s puzzled expression never wavered, never cracked, and Danny found himself desperately wanting to believe him. If only because his heart had started beating again after what felt like years of numbness.
Exhaling, Danny glanced at Ash’s chest, no longer able to hold his gaze. “I want to believe you, but—”
“But some jackass lied to you one too many times,” Ash murmured. “Yeah, I know the string of countless lies.” He glanced off into the distance as if deep in thought.
Danny didn’t want to get lost in thoughts of Brad. The man had already taken so much from him, and Danny refused to give him this tenuous moment.
“I can only give you my word, hon.” Ash’s gaze lingered on Danny. “I have no idea who your friend is.”
The sincerity in those words made Dany swallow roughly. “It’s just… Isaac’s reaction…”
“Isaac reacted that way because he knew I’d wring his skinny neck if he told you the truth.”
“See!” Danny gestured wildly toward Ash. “What am I supposed to think when you say shit like that?”
The smirk that surfaced on Ash’s handsome face made Danny want to punch the guy. A voice kept screaming in his head that Isaac wouldn’t have played him so dirty. The same guy who’d found Danny unconscious and bloody on their living room floor, so close to dying.
Isaac hadn’t left Danny’s side in the hospital and had played mother hen during Danny’s recovery. Isaac had curled around him in bed, holding Danny through his nightmares, had insisted on painting his toenails, and yelled at the television while watching his trash reality shows.
If Isaac was Danny’s type, he would’ve fallen head over heels for him. But he was like the brother Danny never had, and he couldn’t have asked for a better best friend.
Which was why Danny felt like shit for even thinking Isaac would do something so underhanded to him.
“You’re still smirking,” he said to Ash. “Not winning you any points.”
“Can’t help it.” Ash’s smirked turned into a wicked grin that left Danny completely undone. “You’re sexy when you’re all fired up.”
“I knew there had to be something wrong with you,” Danny scoffed. “Who thinks arguments are sexy?”
“I didn’t say arguments.” Ash shook his head, his smile never wavering. “I said when you’re all fired up. Did you know your eyes darken when your eyebrows scrunch together?” He made a low, rumbling growly sound. “Like stormy seas ready to drown those foolish enough to test the waters.”
Danny sputtered. “Have you taken a good look at me? I’m about as tough as Play-Doh.”
Leaning in, Ash’s lips and beard tickled Danny’s ear. “All I’ve been doing since I met you is look at you, darlin’.” He nipped Danny’s ear, causing him to inhale sharply. “Been dying to kiss you since you walked into my bar, handsome.”
When Ash leaned back, Danny’s gaze flicked to his face.
“And just because it needs to be said twice, you look fucking good in all black. Love how your hair stands at sharp points.” He touched one of the spikes, and the contact caused a shiver that made Danny want to moved closer. “Very pointy.”
Before he even knew what he was doing, Danny leaned into the touch, softly exhaling, hoping this was actually real and not some cruel dream that he would wake from, leaving him cold and alone once more.
“Wanna come back inside, cub, or would you prefer we take off?” Ash’s warm palm gently framed Danny’s cheek. “So fucking responsive.”
