Hefelt like an idiot. He’d kept Blake around because he was convenient, but thatwasn’t something Ethan would’ve ever shared with Blake. He wasn’t that guy. Hedidn’t get off on hurting people.
Beforehe could relay how he felt about the whole thing, Blake pushed past him, movingat a fast clip toward Beau.
“Youson of a bitch! Why couldn’t you just stay the fuck out of our business?”
Beaucocked an eyebrow, never moving a muscle and Ethan’s gaze was locked on him. Hewas even attracted to the guy’s patience, his self-assurance. That cocky way hestood there like nothing or no one could hurt him.
WhenBlake apparently got too close for comfort, Beau put one hand out, right upagainst Blake’s chest. God, the difference in their sizes was significant. Beaumust’ve been at least six-foot-six, considering he was a tad taller than Ethanat six-foot-five. And Blake was just shy of six-feet.
“Whycouldn’t you just keep your mouth shut? What I do is none of your fuckingbusiness!”
Blakesounded just like what he was. A pissed off ex-lover.
Takinga deep breath, because hell, what else could he really do, Ethan made his wayover to Beau and Blake. After inserting himself between them, he faced Blake,trying to ignore the feel of Beau so close behind him. He was big enough toblock the frigid winds and Ethan hated himself for noticing that.
Atthe moment, he hated himself for a lot of things.
Chapter Seven
??
Beauwanted to laugh.
Healso wanted to punch something.
Orbetter yet. Someone.
BlakeHenley was a jackass. A jackass who just put his foot in his mouth. And somehowhe was still trying to make it Beau’s fault. And when the little man camerunning at him, he had to fight to keep a straight face.
“Youneed to go,” Ethan told Blake loudly. “We’ll talk about this later.”
Wouldthey really?
Beauhad come to loathe Blake, including his cheating ways. Ethan deserved so muchbetter than a little fuck-up like Blake.
Forreasons unknown, Beau’s thoughts lurched back into the past to that kiss heshared with Ethan on the Walker’s front porch on Christmas Day. Yes, he’dkissed Ethan. Lord, Ethan had kissed him back and to this day, Beau still feltas though he’d been shaken and not stirred.
Wait.
Wasthat considered cheating? Should he feel guilty for kissing Ethan when, at thetime, he was technically still seeing Blake? For a brief moment, he almostallowed guilt to sink in, but then he remembered seeing Blake and that loser atthe restaurant and he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad about it.
“When?”Blake asked, a hint of anticipation in his voice, his eyes darting back andforth between him and Ethan.
“Don’tknow. Just go home, Blake.”
Beaukept his mouth shut, knowing that anything he added to this conversation wouldjust make it worse. And he definitely didn’t need another downturn in his day.As it was, he’d already lost his job and would now have to rent a storage unitjust so he could house his tools until he got another one.
MaybeZane would let him keep them at his house.
Beauwatched as Ethan directed Blake to his truck. He made sure to meet Blake’sscowl every time he turned back. As far as he was concerned, Blake’s idiocy wasa blessing. For months, Beau had hated himself for not telling Ethan aboutseeing Blake at the restaurant with someone else, but it wasn’t his place. Nomatter how many times he’d played the scenario over in his head, he knew whatit would’ve looked like. And despite how much he wanted Ethan, how crazy he wasmaking himself with that need, Beau wouldn’t stoop to that level.
Beaudropped his arms, letting go of his defensive stance as soon as Blake’s truckwas out of sight.
“Wheredo you want me to drop this?” Ethan asked, pointing toward the toolbox thatstill sat up on the flatbed.
Beaugrabbed his phone from his hip. “I don’t know. Let me call Zane.”
Hedialed the number, but after several rings, the call went to Zane’s voicemail.Beau figured he was still in a meeting with Travis.
