“Fuck, I wish I didn’t have to work right now,” Tyler said, softly, his eyes full of longing.
Jamie wanted to touch him. Wanted to strip away the distance between them and press their bodies together. “I can wait.”
“I have a break in an hour.”
“I’ll be here.”
Jamie had moved to the bar and was slowly sipping a glass of ice water, trying to keep his shit together.
He’d tried and failed not to stare at Tyler as he worked the club floor in nothing but the tiniest pair of jean shorts he’d ever seen, with the lace waistband peeking out the top.
What the hell was he supposed to do when the man he wanted so badly trailed his fingers over the shoulders of strangers? When he circled his hips on someone’s lap?
When he flashed that sinful, flirty smile at someone else?
Jamie knew it was Tyler’s job. What he was doing here was work just like Jamie playing hockey was work.
“You’re still here,” Tyler came up to him, offering Jamie a tired smile. He’d put a big, cropped t-shirt on and still wore the denim shorts. “I’ve got half an hour if you want to talk?”
Jamie nodded, unable to get his mouth to form words when Tyler was so close to him.
“Come on, then.”
Jamie willed his legs to move, following Tyler down a black-painted corridor and into a cluttered office.
“What is this?” Jamie asked, glancing around.
“The accountant’s office.” Tyler leaned back against the desk, crossing one of his legs over the other. Jamie noticed he wore his black Doc Martens. “They’re not in on weekends.”
Jamie licked his lips, and the buzzing in his hands telling him tojust fucking do somethingreached an overwhelming volume. To save himself the embarrassment of grabbing a fistful of the denim covering Tyler’s ass, he reached up behind his head and grabbed two handfuls of his hair, tugging hard.
Tyler’s head tilted to the side. “Are you okay?”
CHAPTER 14
TYLER
NOT WHEN YOU’RE MINE
Jamie looked like he was about to crawl out of his skin.
He stood on the other side of the office, pacing back and forth in front of the door with his big hands yanking at his hair, his broad shoulders tight under his sweatshirt.
After their conversation that night in his living room, Tyler had barely slept.
Every part of him questioned Jamie’s offer, his logical mind poking hole after hole in the idea of them being able to have a functional relationship. Someone would get hurt, or one of them would feel neglected. It was inevitable. There was no fucking way it could work, not with the reality of their lives and responsibilities.
The little moments they’d already shared had been amazing–Tyler wasn’t so jaded that he could pretend otherwise. Jamie was a focused, intense man, and when his attention was directed at him, Tyler felt alive.
Maybe that could be enough. Maybe it was okay to go into a relationship knowing it would end. Maybe they could try, and piece together some happiness along the way.
Tyler had gotten ready for his shift at the club, just like healways did–a close shave on his face, his skincare routine, and a light base of his preferred makeup.
He didn’t usually pick up afternoon shifts at The Blue Barn, but with the holidays so close, he’d said yes when one had opened up. Dotty and Sandra were thrilled to hang with Rowan, and had texted him a photo of the three of them making banana bread together.
He’d pulled into the parking lot of the club, turned his engine off, and sat staring out the front windshield, rubbing the heel of his hand absently over his sternum.
For the first time since becoming a dad, Tyler felt the absence of another person in his life, and with it, the longing to find someone to fill that space.
