Chapter 14
Fourteen
Remi
The server places the check on the table, giving Hollis a flirty smile before walking away.
“I got it,” he says before I have a chance to grab it.
“Oh, shit. Buyin’ me dinner tonight? Does this mean I have to put out?”
“Yeah, actually.” He chuckles as he tosses his debit card on top of the check. “I’ll stick Ford in the corner and let him watch.”
I pop the last couple of fries from my plate into my mouth as we both laugh. “He’d love that,” I tease.
“He’d probably murder you, Dexter style.”
We spent the day at a motorcycle show about thirty minutes south of here, then decided to stop at the diner for food as soon as we got back in town. It was fun, but it made me realize how much I miss riding.
“Have you heard from my dad at all?” Hollis asks as we step into the chilly night air.
A grin spreads across my face. “Talked to Daddy Moore a couple hours ago when we left the show.”
“Dude.” Hollis holds up a hand, his face twisted up comically. “Really wish you’d stop callin’ him that.”
“You know that’s never gonna happen.” I snort.
He rolls his eyes, but I don’t miss the twitch of his lips. “Whatever. What’d he say? Everythin’ goin’ okay over there?”
I didn’t want to leave Lukas home by himself all day, so I asked Gentry if he could spend some time at the ranch because he’s been asking about it since that first time.
After I told him that I thought he enjoyed me flirting with him the last time we saw each other, I fully expected him to tell me no, but to my surprise, he agreed.
Nodding, I say, “Lukas helped him change the oil on his truck earlier, and I guess him and Tucker have been sharing Pokémon cards all afternoon. Apparently, they’re the best of friends now.”
Hollis huffs a small chuckle. “That’s cute.”
“Isn’t it?” A smile curves my lips. “I was nervous he’d have a hard time findin’ a place in Wolf Creek since this is all new to him, but surprisingly, he seems to be adjustin’ pretty well.”
Once we get to the ranch, Hollis drops me off at Gentry’s house before going to his own.
Since I needed to bring Lukas here, it only made sense that Hollis and I rode to the show together.
We left a little after eleven this morning, and glancing at my watch, I’m surprised to find it’s almost nine now.
Damn. We hit a good bit of traffic on the way home, but I didn’t realize it was this late.
I wince as I knock on Gentry’s door. Hopefully, he’s not pissed at how long we’ve been gone.
It takes a minute, but eventually, the door swings open, and Gentry’s tall, wide frame comes into view.
My mouth waters as I take him in. His usual jeans and flannel are replaced with a pair of gray sweatpants and a plain black t-shirt.
He looks so…relaxed. And there’s a pair of black-rimmed glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose that I’ve never seen him wear before.
“Goddamn, Daddy Moore. The glasses are really doin’ it for me.”
He purses his lips and exhales a sharp breath. “Hello, Remington,” he deadpans, stepping to the side and gesturing for me to come in.
I chuckle at his blatant annoyance.
“Sorry it’s so late,” I say. “Traffic sucked, and then we stopped at the diner for some food.”
“Not worried about it,” he mutters, walking farther into the house, leaving me to follow.
It’s quiet in here, and dark. There’s a light spilling in from the kitchen, but other than that, there’s nothing. I don’t bother kicking off my shoes since I don’t plan on staying, but as I step into the living room, I spot Lukas passed out on the couch.
“He fell asleep about half an hour ago,” Gentry explains.
Finding the giant binder he holds all his cards in on the coffee table, I grab it. “How’d it go?”
“Fine.” He shrugs. “Him and Tucker traded cards, then watched some movie while I made dinner. He ate all of it. Kid’s a good eater.”
“Yeah, he is. Haven’t found anythin’ he hasn’t liked yet.” I breathe out a small chuckle and nod. “What’d y’all have?”
“I smoked some brisket, and we had slaw, potato salad, and greens with it.”
“Yum. I’m comin’ over for dinner next time.”
Gentry huffs. “I’ll help you bring his stuff out to your truck,” he offers.
Lukas really didn’t bring all that much stuff with him today. Certainly not enough to need a second set of hands, but I’ll take it.
“Thanks.”
“He was helpful today,” Gentry offers as I place the rest of Lukas’s stuff in the backseat. “Very well-behaved and well-mannered. Practically did the whole oil change himself.”
“Really?” My eyebrows raise as a smile curves my lips. “That’s amazing.”
Gentry nods, resting his shoulder against the side of my truck. Fuck, he’s sexy.
“Well, thanks for lettin’ him hang out here today. I appreciate it.”
“No need to thank me,” he murmurs. “Enjoyed havin’ him here.”
My stomach flutters as the silence stretches between us. I don’t miss the way he’s not darting back inside now that everything is in the truck. He’s standing out here with me for a reason, though I’m not sure what that reason is.
Hell, maybe he doesn’t either.
But what I do know is that I’d be a fool not to use this time to my advantage.
Clearing my throat, I say, “The beginner classes start again on Thursday. I better see your ass in one of those seats.”
“Wasn’t plannin’ on it,” he grumbles, holding my gaze like he’s daring me to push the subject.
“Why’s that?” I cock my head to the side, a smirk tugging on the corner of my mouth. “And don’t even give me the ‘I don’t like pottery’ bullshit, because I saw you at the end of our private lesson. You were proud of yourself, and I know you enjoyed yourself.”
His jaw is tight as he watches me with an unreadable expression on his face.
“And I’m assumin’ it did help your hands, like your doctor said it would, otherwise you would’ve already thrown that in my face as an excuse. So, let’s hear it, old man. Why won’t you be there?”
Gentry kicks up the gravel, shoving his hands into his pockets as he avoids my gaze for a minute. “Fine,” he finally blurts out. “You’re right; I did enjoy myself.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“It’s embarassin’, with all the other people in the class. When it was just me, it wasn’t so bad.”
My stomach dips, and I have to bite back a smile.
Well, this is great news for me.
“Okay, so we’ll keep doin’ the private lessons.”
“What?” he hisses. “No. I can’t ask you to do that.”
“But you ain’t askin’,” I point out, taking a step closer. “If bein’ the only student in the room is what it’ll take to get you there, then I’m willin’ to do that.”
Gentry’s quiet for a moment. My heart pounds harder.
“You’d really do that?”
“For you, Daddy Moore? Also-fuckin’-lutely.”
“Remington.”
A shiver rolls down my spine at the way he growls my name. My dick twitches. Fuck, I want to hear him say my name as I ride his dick.
“Okay, sorry.” I hold up my hands innocently. “I’ll try to be good.”
“Gonna have to do better than try,” he mutters, quirking his eyebrow.
I chuckle. “Can’t make any promises.”
Something passes between us. I can’t explain it, but I know it’s there. His dark eyes bore into mine, and it’s like he can see into my soul. My skin tingles, and my heart leaps into my throat. Then his gaze dips down to my mouth, holding for the briefest of seconds before coming back up to my eyes.
Did I really see that?
I don’t have time to find out, though, because a moment later, the sound of the front door opening has us both turning to look. Lukas stands in the doorway, his floppy hair tousled as he rubs his eye with the heel of his palm.
“Hey, bud,” I call out, waving.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“That’s okay. Gentry was just helping me load up the truck so we can go home. Ready?”
He nods. “I’ll get my shoes on.”
Lukas disappears into the house, and I shift my gaze back to Gentry. Confusion and…excitement flood my system. “So, see you next week, then?”
Clearing his throat, he nods. “Yup, sounds good.”
What the hell just happened?
And why do I get the feeling Gentry wanted to kiss me?
Guess there’s only one way to find out… Next week.