Chapter 3 #2
For whatever reason, I felt a step or two behind whatever was now happening here.
I moved in slow motion, unable to lock in my cool, calm persona.
Up close, Mace was gorgeous with his blue-gray stare, light freckles sprinkled across the bridge of his nose, and his full head of hair that took on a life of its own depending on how he twisted and turned.
The sunglasses were only able to keep the locks off his face, not tame the loose curl from doing exactly as it desired.
When we stood side by side, I had dual scents vying for my attention. One being all male from a man who worked with his hands out in the heat. The other was an exotic, spicy, tropical scent that had me wanting to take my tongue and lick my way across Mace’s nude body.
Stop.
Get through this purchase.
Explore this further once the guys are gone.
“I’ll give you cash,” Scout said, placing the last three cases of beer on top of the others in the back seat. “He’s in there loading up on the red meat, and he’ll make a show of making you pay.”
“No, Mace, don’t talk to him,” Wyatt shouted from the back door with several freezer-paper-wrapped packages in his arms.
“So are y’all havin’ a party?” Lori asked. Her pregnancy was easier to see in the sunlight. “Or is Slade plannin’ to drink it all? If he does, then he and Mace will get along just fine.”
“Yeah, this is all for Slade. He’s the pampered one of the group.
Stay far away from him,” Wyatt added teasingly.
The statement made Wyatt laugh, having a difficult time continuing the obvious lie.
“He’s a nepo baby. Loaded with an allowance and lives a life of leisure while we’re all fightin’ it out to make a livin’.
That muscled up body comes from the gym.
Never worked a day in his life.” Wyatt tossed the steaks on top of the beer cases in the back seat.
His gaze locked on Mace, then he winked.
“These ribeye’s are twenty-two bucks a pound. I got eight pounds.”
“I’ve never liked you,” I murmured loud enough for everyone to hear.
Mace was already in the duck and run phase, stepping away from the group.
Wyatt winked in Mace’s direction, taking us right back to the beginning where I was infuriated with my buddy. My range of emotions on this simple liquor run gave me whiplash.
I felt Mace’s movements. I’d have to mentally explore what that meant. I fished the roll of cash Tommy left me from my front pocket. “If you had a brain in your head, it’d help us all, Willis. How much do I owe you?” I asked Lori.
Mace went back to picking up the litter, moving as far away from us as he could get. “Let’s see,” Lori said, her thumbs moving over the device in her hand.
“Their parents own the bar that’s been in their father’s family since the mid-1800s,” Wyatt explained. No doubt about to regale us with whatever he’d managed to learn in the five minutes he’d been alone with Lori.
I leaned against the Jeep, crossing my arms and ankles, tracking all of Mace’s movements.
“There’s a whole underground system underneath the bar. They’re sittin’ on an escape route to Mexico that’s part of an underground railroad deal. They found it about twenty years ago. The history keeps the place intact. Right, Lori?”
She nodded, still working the screen on the handheld device.
“That’s all I got. Where the fuck am I supposed to sit?” Wyatt asked, peering into the stuffed Jeep.
“Hang on,” Lori said and started back toward the building. “I don’t think everything’s in here. I’ll be back.”
By the time Mace made it to the trash can, all three of us were in about the same position, leaned against the Jeep, staring at him.
“He’s hot,” Wyatt said appreciatively.
“Play by the rules,” I hissed threateningly.
“Dude, just go talk to him.” Wyatt swept a hand out toward the prize. A man who appeared in an angry debate with his sister, after tossing empty cans and bottles into the barrel trash can.
“You’re you. Go feel him out,” Scout added, pushing off the Jeep, heading to the passenger seat. “Fuck, it’s already gettin’ hot out here.”
“If you don’t talk to him, I will,” Wyatt said in the same threatening tone I’d used. “He and I make more sense than you and him. I live closer to him. It could be a regular thing.”
My fists gathered against my crossed arms. Jealousy spiked. I’d never wanted to punch someone more in my life.
The breath I held released on a slow exhale. My body sagged while absorbing the envy associated with Wyatt’s words. That was a new emotion too.
The over-the-top possession coursing through me had an emotional protectionary barrier dropping in place. The same one I used while dealing with people in my industry. Something told me that Mace needed distance. So did I.
My focused stare shifted to the ground, studying the broken concrete and dirt beneath my feet. That lasted about ten seconds before I lifted my chin, again staring at my heart’s desire.
“The totals at the bottom, circled,” Mace said loudly, rolling his eyes. His body followed the action, leaving his sister standing there. “I checked it again this mornin’. It’s circled, meanin’ I gave a final look over. Get off me, Lori.”
“I don’t trust you,” she stated evenly. “Seems like somethin’s missin’.” She pivoted, walking back toward us. “I need to count the bottles to make sure you got what you ordered,” Lori said, leaving Mace in her dust. “We had a big weekend. Anything could have happened. Where’re you guys from?”
“We’re all from around here,” Wyatt answered first, bending as he jumped into the back seat, rearranging the cases of beer to make room for his sorry ass. “I’m the only one who still lives around here. Scout’s military. Slade’s from…”
Scout’s hand reached back to slap Wyatt’s thigh. A warning sign that Wyatt needed to remember to keep the secret.
“I got this,” Wyatt said, with all the cocky sass he had to give. “Slade’s from everywhere. He’s the entrepreneur.”