Chapter 7
Once upon a time, slightly drunk on a warm night on Cole’s deck in Boulder, he and Rocky had shared an uncertain, really awkward kiss.
They’d stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment and then cracked up.
“Yeah, I didn’t think so,” he remembered Rocky saying in that deep voice.
He just shook his head and answered, “Nope.”
They’d laughed for a long while. And every so often over the years, Rocky would say, “You’re not going to kiss me again, are you?” and Cole would give him a horrified look, and they’d laugh all over again.
He and Rocky had been friends. Close friends, the kind who had each other’s back and listened to each other say stupid shit when they were feeling worried or scared or down. They weren’t even hand job friends. It had been too weird.
He’d loved Rocky, but not that way.
He wondered what Rocky would have thought about the dinner he’d just had with Bodie. He could hear Rocky in his head, teasing him about drooling more over the cowboy than his steak, and he couldn’t deny it. He thought he might be kind of attracted to the man.
But he knew that would go the same way it had with Rocky—they were going to work together and it would be awkward and weird—so turning down that extra room in Bodie’s suite was a good move. Avoiding being alone in private with the cowboy in general was probably a good idea.
Just in case.
And Bodie hadn’t even noticed his slip-up. He thought he’d completely embarrassed himself, but Bodie obviously wasn’t thinking along those lines at all.
He’d be fine after a good night’s sleep. This would all go away by morning.
Bodie was a sweetheart.
Like genuinely a decent guy. It was a little unnerving. Did anyone really just do everything right? Kind, helpful, friendly, funny, good-looking, athletic, the spirit of a champion. That was like something out of a movie.
But it wasn’t a movie. Bodie was genuine. Maybe that was what was so attractive about him. He was just so comfortable in his own skin.
Regardless, Bodie was going to make them both a lot of money with that innocent face and wide smile.
That was what he needed to focus on. The work. He went right to his laptop to send Bodie the contract he’d already drawn up.
Bodie emailed him right back with “Thank you. I will read and get back with you. Have a good evening. Thanks again for supper. B. Jimenez.”
B. Jimenez.
Like he didn’t know who Bodie was. He chuckled at himself. That drew a pretty clear line, and it was just as well. He’d respect it.
His next email was to Mrs. Matheson, just to say hello and tell her he was in Nashville and that he was taking Bodie on. He liked to keep in touch—Rocky had been fond of her, and he felt like the connection was good for both of them.
Then he leaned back in his chair and wondered what the hell he’d been doing the last few months. It was like he’d disappeared. He could hardly remember how he’d spent his time.
It was nice to be out of that fog.
What would have happened if Bodie hadn’t called so many times and emailed and insisted on getting his attention? He’d probably still be staring at walls trying to figure out what to do next.
Now Cole was doing what he should be doing. What he did best and enjoyed most. He was taking clients out to dinner and watching guys ride and taking notes and shaking hands. Bodie’s smile and enthusiasm just about literally brought him back to life.
Tonight, he was going to get some sleep.
Tomorrow, he’d get busy.