Oneday.
Maybe.
That’swhen his hang up with Ethan Walker began. Whether it was because he had finallyembraced his attraction to men, or whether he was just concerned because he hadseen Ethan’s supposed boyfriend with another guy, Beau found himself thinkingabout Ethan. All the damn time.
Bythe time he had mustered up enough courage to talk to Ethan, he realized toomuch time had passed to share the little secret he harbored. And now… Well, nowhe would look like he was just trying to interfere.
Hadit not been for the fierce passion he had witnessed in Ethan’s beautifulblue-gray gaze on more than one occasion, Beau might’ve given up on the man.But the chemistry was there. And it was intense. Far stronger than anythinghe’d ever experienced in his life and it irked the shit out of him that Ethanwas being so damned stubborn.
Notonly did Beau find himself physically attracted to Ethan, he found that –thanks to the few occasions he’d had the opportunity – he could talk to him.Based on Beau’s limited experience, he knew that was rare.
Speakingof Ethan…
Beaueased behind the crowd gathered in the hall, keeping to the wall opposite theglass windows that offered a direct view into the nursery where it appeared anurse was taking care of baby Walker. The oohs and ahhs from everyone were adead giveaway.
Gluttonfor punishment that he was, Beau continued to make his way to the far side ofthe group where Ethan was standing alone, doing his best to resemble a post –holding up the wall he was leaning against.
“Youok?” Beau asked in an attempt to make conversation, not looking directly atEthan, instead pretending to be watching what was going on in front of him.
Toobad he could barely focus as soon as he got a whiff of Ethan’s rich, spicyscent. Not to mention, he could see Ethan in his peripheral vision. The tensionthat settled in Ethan’s shoulders was apparent, but Beau pretended not tonotice the way the bulky muscles bunched. He let the silence consume them untilhe wanted to fidget from the discomfort.
Riskingit, Beau looked over at Ethan, admiring the chiseled features of his face, theheat – whether it be anger or desire – that smoldered in his seductive eyes. Hewanted to touch him, to put a hand on Ethan’s shoulder, something to let himknow that he wasn’t a threat.
Aftera painfully long second, Ethan jerked to face him. Beau swallowed hard, butforced himself not to be offended by Ethan’s affronted reaction. He’d come toexpect Ethan to be defensive around him. It was actually one of the things thatturned him on, oddly enough.
BeforeEthan said a word, Beau continued to study him, trying to figure out the rangeof emotions that played across Ethan’s ruggedly handsome face. “You ready totalk to me yet?” he asked nonchalantly, crossing his arms over his chest as heleaned back against the wall and crossed his ankles, mirroring Ethan’s pose.
“Backoff, Bennett,” Ethan said faintly. “This isn’t a good idea.”
No,maybe not. But Beau didn’t really give a shit about good ideas or not at thispoint. He’d spent his entire life not knowing what he wanted, and when hefinally figured it out, he found himself up against a brick wall. Asexy asfucking hellbrick wall.
“Goodidea or not, you’re gonna have to talk to me eventually.”
“Idon’t have to do shit,” Ethan bit out.
Whenhe turned to walk away, Beau put a hand on his arm. He didn’t grab him, justlet his hand settle on Ethan’s bulging bicep.
“Relax,”he said softly. “It’s not like I’m gonna jump you in the hallway.”
Ethanglared at him, his eyes shooting sparks of anger. It was a given that Ethantried to avoid him, but he wasn’t known to lose his cool quite this easily.
Itwasn’t surprising that Ethan wanted to evade him, but Beau could sense therewas something else wrong. Letting him walk away was probably the best thing hecould do, but Beau couldn’t stand seeing Ethan quite so angry.
“Iseverything ok?”
Withwhat sounded like a resigned sigh, Ethan turned back to face him, and Beau triednot to count that as a win, but considering everything they’d been putting eachother through these last couple of months, he couldn’t help himself.
“I’msure Zane’s already told you,” Ethan said quietly, his blue-gray eyes churninglike storm clouds.
Beauknew his disappointment was apparent. “He mentioned Blake quit.” The fact thatit was bothering Ethan that much didn’t make Beau feel any better.
“Thenyou know what’s bothering me, don’t you?” The torrent of anger seemed to havedissipated and Ethan met his gaze head on.
“Yougot another mechanic lined up?” Beau asked, aiming for subtle conversation andignoring the way his stomach twisted with excitement at the opportunity to talkto Ethan. When Ethan didn’t answer right away, Beau followed up with, “Sorry,not trying to be nosy.”
“Thehell you’re not,” Ethan alleged, breaking the eye contact and looking down atthe floor.
“Justmaking conversation,” he argued without vehemence. “Why’d he quit?”
