ApparentlyEthan was back in business mode.
Shit.He hadn’t thought about that. It wasn’t like he could get the damn thing up tohis apartment on the third floor. Shrugging, Beau didn’t take his eyes off ofEthan. “Hadn’t thought that far.”
Ethanactually smiled and Beau found himself frozen in place. The man was so fuckinghandsome. Blue-gray eyes that darkened to a deep, cobalt blue when he wasangry; a stern, angled jaw covered with at least a week’s worth of beard, alongwith a slightly crooked nose that looked as though it’d been broken at some point,although Beau couldn’t for the life of him remember when that could’vehappened. And when he smiled, Beau wasn’t sure he’d ever seen anything quitelike it.
Hehad the urge to touch him, to reach out and run the backs of his fingers downEthan’s stubbly cheek. To grab him, crush his mouth to Ethan’s and takeeverything he’d desired for months. The memory of the night he’d kissed Ethanhit him like a surprise blow to the head.
Great.
Nowhe seriously wanted to kiss him.
Chapter Six
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Ethanfound himself staring at Beau, watching every nuance of his expression, eventhe way his chocolate brown eyes stared back at him as though he weren’tactually seeing him.
Washe still in shock maybe? Or just reliving what had just happened?
Unableto look away, Ethan tracked Beau as he climbed down from his oversized truck, afire red GMC Sierra 3500HD – the kind of truck chicks went crazy for andthreaded a ribbon of jealousy through the cowboys who got close enough towitness its power. As far as Ethan was concerned, it suited Beau to a T, butwould be a colossal pain in his ass to work on for its sheer size alone.
WhenBeau climbed down to the ground just a few feet in front of him, Ethan let hisgaze rake over him, hoping he wasn’t being quite as obvious as he felt. Hecouldn’t help himself. Something about the man, the way he carried himself, hadEthan’s entire body taking notice. He was absolute perfection.
Beaulifted his ball cap from his head and ran his hand through his disheveled blondhair and looked around, like he didn’t realize where he was. When he turned toface Ethan, he felt the passion in his gaze dart across his entire body like aphysical caress. Beau obviously didn’t try to hide his attraction the way Ethanhoped he had. If he would have to guess, Beau was still a little stunned by thescene back at Dillinger’s, which was probably part of the reason he appeared tobe confused.
Ethanhad been down that road before. The one that led to anger so explosive, hefeared what he’d do. Now… well, now he treaded lightly because showing the hurtor the anger only made things worse.
Rememberingthe incident, the word that had come out of Ricky’s mouth, had his handstrembling with lingering anger. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he lookeddown at the ground for a minute, trying to catch his breath.
Ricky’sreaction wasn’t something Ethan had to deal with on a daily basis – anymore –but that was because he kept himself holed up as often as possible. He hadcertainly handled his fair share of harassment over the years. More so when hewas younger, too confused to understand that he wasn’t like everyone else, andtoo stupid to realize he should just keep his mouth shut.
Notthat Ethan could do anything to change how Ricky reacted, or anyone else forthat matter. It wasn’t the first time someone would take a stab at him, and itwasn’t – by a long shot – the most he’d had to endure. It didn’t matter that henever flaunted his lifestyle, nor did he talk about it, but there was alwayssomeone who thought they could antagonize him. It was a small town. Rumorsexisted. That was life and Ethan had accepted long ago that the only thing hecould do was keep his mouth shut, his eyes forward and try his best to ignorethem.
RickyDillinger was a prick. Always had been and always would be. His “faggot”comment hadn’t surprised Ethan in the least. In fact, he was surprised ithadn’t come sooner than it had. There was no love lost between Ethan and thatlittle bastard. But what had surprised him was Beau’s reaction. If the guy wasgoing to get all up in arms about bigots like Ricky who spewed filth when theyopened their mouths, he was in for a world of hurt in the future.
“Youok?” Ethan found himself asking, unable to hide his concern for Beau, even if heknew the guy was going to have to get tougher skin if he expected to live hislife openly.
Beaushook his head as though to shake out the cobwebs before looking at him, hiseyes seeming to clear somewhat.
“Good.Sorry.”
“Noneed to apologize to me. You’ll have to get used to assholes like Rickymouthing off like that. Trust me, that was tame compared to what I’ve heardbefore.”
Beaustood up straight, the muscles in his shoulders tensing, his brows furrowing ashe looked at Ethan. “I don’t have to get used to shit.”
Ethanhadn’t expected Beau’s defensive response, but, as usual, his own defenseslocked into place. “Well, tough guy, if you’re gonna come out of the closet,you’ll have to get used to people sharing their opinions. Right or wrong, theyaren’t nearly as accepting as you want them to be.”
Ethanturned to walk away, wanting to find a way to busy himself so he could get thehell out of there. He didn’t make it two steps before Beau’s hand was on hisarm, successfully spinning him back to face him.
“Youthink that was because I give a fuck what that spineless little prick thinksaboutme?”
Beau’sstatement forced Ethan’s irritation level even higher. He took a step closer,getting right up in Beau’s face.
Fuck.
Ifthere was any difference in their height, it was maybe an inch at most – inBeau’s favor – which put them nose to nose. Beau’s shoulders were wider, hischest too, but aside from that, from where he stood, they were a pretty goodmatch.
Ethanwasn’t quite sure whether it was Beau’s intimidating stance or whether heactually was bigger than he was giving him credit for, but Ethan felt… smaller.And he liked the fuck out of it for some strange reason. There weren’t all thatmany men who could make him feel that way.
