“Exotic.” Reese huffed a laugh, took a swallow of his beer. “Never thought I’d hearanyonecall Moonshiners that.”
“Really?” Magnus took a swallow of beer, looked around. “Seems fitting.”
“Clearly we’re thinkin’ of two different words. By which definition is this”—he waved a hand—“exotic?” Reese challenged, still laughing.
Magnus’s eyebrows rose as he considered. “All of ’em, I figure. I mean, that picture over there”—Magnus motioned to a palm tree painting in a cheap frame—“kinda gives it that tropical feel. Add in some piña coladas…”
Reese laughed. “Is that all you need? Palm trees and piña coladas and you’ve got exotic?”
Magnus shot him a lopsided grin. “Of course.”
“This comin’ from a guy who thinks a strip club’s exotic,” Brantley commented with a chuckle.
“Hey,” Magnus laughed, “exoticdancers, right? They’re a real thing. I’ve seen ’em with my own two eyes.”
Reese barked a laugh.
Brantley glanced his way, grinned, but Reese was fairly certain he was laughing at Reese’s reaction, not Magnus’s play on words. And damned if he didn’t love when Brantley looked at him like that.
“Good to see I’m not the only one with extravagant tastes.” Magnus mock toasted with his Bud Light, glancing around the room. “Speaking of … Trey with you?”
Reese glanced at Brantley, raised an eyebrow. Seemed Trey was the man of the hour.
That wasn’t the first time Magnus had inquired about Brantley’s older brother since the two of them had been introduced a few weeks ago. In fact, Reese had gotten the impression Magnus was interested. Especially after their last encounter when Magnus was over to work with Tesha and Trey stopped by.
“He’ll be here,” Brantley said easily, winking at Reese.
“How’s that work, anyway?” Reese found himself asking Magnus, slightly embarrassed that he’d said it aloud.
“What’s that?” Magnus lifted his beer to his mouth.
“You know. You and, uh … your … dating life.”
Magnus’s lopsided grin was back. “I thought you had your lesson in the birds and the bees, Tavoularis.”
Brantley laughed. Reese felt himself blush.
Magnus leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Oh, you mean because I’m bisexual, and Trey’s clearly not?”
Brantley sobered, still smiling. “Now that you mention it, howdoesthat work?”
“It’s not like I’m askin’ the guy to marry me,” Magnus answered. “And who knows, maybe Trey’d be interested in—”
“I’m gonna cut you off right there,” Brantley inserted with a choked laugh. “One, because Trey’s my brother and I’ve got no interest in his sex life.”
“And two?” Magnus probed.
“Two, I know my brother. He’s not interested in the ladies. Never has been, never will be.”
Magnus tilted his beer to his lips. “Good to know.”
As Reese took another pull on his beer, he watched Magnus. Might just be an interesting night after all.
*
Standing outside the barn, mentally preparing himselffor the conversation ahead, Baz took a deep breath and keyed in the code to unlock the door. When the lock disengaged, he could hardly hear it over the pounding of his heart and the overabundance ofmaybesandprobablysrunning through his head at the moment.
This was the worst idea he’d ever had.Maybe.
