Coughing and sputtering, Nate spit most of it out onto the concrete in front of him, which also happened to be close to where Gracelynn—Gracie—was standing.
Jumping back to avoid the shower of beer, Nate continued to cough as though he were trying to hack up a lung.
“Are you okay?” Gracie asked at the exact same time Kole reprimanded him.
“What the hell, man?”
“Sorry,” Nate managed to choke out. “Beer went down…the wrong tube.”
After a few more seconds of the embarrassing coughing fit, he cleared his throat and apologized to Gracie again. “Sorry about that. I didn’t get any on you, did I?”
“Nope,” She smiled back, almost making Nate feel like he was choking again. “Pretty sure my catlike reflexes kicked in just in time.”
Nate chuckled, her sense of humor making his already half-hard dick twitch inside his cargo shorts.
Down there, fella. Can’t go sporting wood in front of the entire team.
“You must be Nate.” Gracie held her hand out to him. “Sarah’s told me a lot about you.”
He stared at her outstretched hand, mesmerized by how small and delicate it was. Her nails were on the shorter side but were manicured and painted red to match her toes.
Nate could feel the crotch of his shorts becoming tighter and tighter, and fuck-all if he could do anything to stop it. He sure as hell couldn’t stand up to greet Gracie in this condition, which meant he had to improvise.
Scooting forward in his chair, Nate reached out and took her hand in his. Ignoring the zing of electricity shooting through him, he shook her hand and smiled. “Whatever your sister told you about me, I can assure you it’s all lies.”
Just before she laughed, Nate could have sworn he heard a small intake of air. Almost like a tiny gasp. Satisfaction rolled through him as he realized she’d felt it, too.
Felt what?Jesus, man. Get a grip.
“Oh, it was all good things.” She laughed nervously. “Don’t worry.”
Nate forced a smile. “See? Lies.”
Gracie laughed again, and when she released his hand, Nate immediately felt a strange void from the loss of her touch.
The two continued to stare at each other for what felt like several minutes. In reality, it was probably no more than a couple seconds before Sarah broke the awkward silence.
“Well, the burgers will be done shortly, so I’m going to go in and set the rest of the food out onto the kitchen island. Is everyone good on drinks? We have beer, wine, soda, and water if anyone needs anything.”
The guys all nodded except Turner, who stood and walked toward Sarah and the other two.
“I wouldn’t mind a beer. The invite said drinks provided, so I didn’t bring any.” He lifted his chin toward Nate’s cooler and rolled his eyes. “Apparently not everyone here took the time to read it.”
Forgetting the company he was in, Nate said, “I read it, asshole. I’m just particular on the kind of beer I drink. Plus, I’m not a fucking mooch, like you.”
Matt flipped him off as he walked by, giving Nate the sudden urge to trip the bastard.
“It’s not mooching if you’re told in a formal invitation that drinks will be provided for you.”
Nate snorted. “If you consider a hand-written note that’s been Xeroxed a formal invitation, I’d hate to see what other events you bless with your presence.”
“Eat a dick, Carter.”
“No, thanks. I’ve seen some of the places yours has been.”
“Aaaand, we’ve come full-circle, ladies and gentlemen,” Zade said dryly. “Back to talking about Matt’s sexual history.”
Nate gave him a smirk, and the two men clinked their beers together.
