The big bear nodded. “He’s a great guy. He and I are good friends. I’ve worked with him more than once.”
Oh, was the big bear possibly Race’s mate? Could that be a thing? That idea was a little wild, a little off somehow.
“I’m Ryder, by the way.”
“Like Ride or Die?” he teased.
“Like Ryder Price.” The quick comeback wasn’t mean. In fact, it was kind of fond and vaguely amused, like the grizzly had heard that joke at least a thousand times a day.
“I’m Nolan Anders. Pleased to meet you.” He dared to reach his hand out to shake Ryder’s.
Ryder’s hand engulfed his, and lightning zapped him from his toes to his nose. He gasped, his hair standing on end, and he swore he heard Ryder rumble, soft and low.
“I—I’m sorry. I must be staticky as all hell.” It was so cold and windy out.
“No apologies needed. This is Denver. We have a lot of static due to the dry.”
He breathed in deep, fighting his body’s reaction to the big guy. “Yeah, I noticed there was no humidity.”
“Drink lots of water to start with if you’re not used to this.”
A water landed on the bar next to his ginger ale. “He’s got a point,” Wilder said. “You can get dehydrated fast and get a headache.”
He smiled faintly. These two alphas were… kind. He felt as if he could be safe here. And it was warm, he was feeling a little drowsy…
“Here you go.” The soup came out with a big piece of crusty bread, smelling like potatoes, bacon, and cheese, and he could have just cried at how homey and comforting it seemed as he breathed it in.
“You want to move to that back booth, honey?” Ryder asked him. “It’s a nice corner situation, and I can keep an eye on you if you want to eat and have a nap while we wait for Race.”
A nap. God, when was the last time he’d slept while he was on this wild run to Colorado?
“I don’t want to put you out.”
“Honey, I’m just here to drink a few beers and chat with Wilder and Colt over there. Maybe Quin, the owner, if he shows. I am entirely at your disposal.” The big guy made a show of bowing to him.
He had to laugh, but the whole routine also relaxed him some. That bow really was symbolic, and Ryder didn’t touch him again, which was surprisingly disappointing.
So he nodded. “I would like that, thank you.”
“Let me carry your soup.” Ryder reached for his bowl at the same time as he did, their hands colliding.
He gasped, because that wild spark happened again, and it wasn’t static.
Dammit.
He could hardly breathe with how crazy his reaction was to Ryder.
Nolan grabbed his drinks to take to the table, head down, eyes on the floor. He couldn’taffordsparks. Not right now. Not when Herschel had to be looking for him.
“Oh, sweet, it’s all right.” The big grizzly’s voice was like a warm blanket. “You’re safe here. You asked for sanctuary, and you have it.”
He smiled and swallowed, trying not to cry. “I feel so stupid. Sorry, I’m just a little overwhelmed. It’s been a long couple of days. Race couldn’t make it to me where I was, so I had to escape on my own and try to meet him here, and I was?—”
“I bet.”
They settled into the booth. It was comfortable and quiet, somewhere that felt protected and well-defended.
“Thank you.” He wasn’t sure what he was thanking Ryder for, but it was the easiest thing to settle in with him.
