Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Yeah, obviously,” he said, doing a half turn around the deck until he spotted the guys at the patio table on the other side. He left me hot and bothered and alone in the doorframe. As Mace went, his fingers rubbed his forehead, no doubt some pink flesh there. “What screen door sticks? They’re always loose, bangin’ around. That’s its thing,” he muttered as he went.
I chuckled, following him to the guys. For whatever reason, I drew Mace’s attention again and he glanced backward at me. All the weirdness he put off dissolved between us. A red mark marred his tanned skin.
“Exactly what I thought. When I was young, my mom had a screen door that I never shut properly. One of those thunderstorms would come through, and the screen door beats against the proper door. I’d get in trouble every time,” I said.
I took the opportunity to catch up to him and gently slide the tip of my finger over the pink skin to make sure there wasn’t a lump rising while I stared him in the eyes.
There was honesty between us. The avoidance and uncertainty were taking a back seat.
“I think you’re okay, but head injuries are tricky. I’ll have to keep my eye on you,” I said, tucking my hands in my jeans pockets to keep from touching him again. “You’ll fit in here. We’ve all been friends since our select ball together. Have a good time. I’ll get you home.”
“So you’re an actor?” Mace asked and turned as if to include the guys in various states of sitting and standing, all staring at Mace and me.
“I am. Your family’s the only people who’ve identified me for years. I hope they’ll keep it to themselves.”
“Whoa,” he whispered as he took in the hills that were the backdrop of my home. The breathtaking view held him spellbound, like it had me when I first arrived.
An expensive climate control system made having the dinner on the back porch comfortable for this time of year.
“I lived around here my entire life and never saw it like this,” Mace said, his hands tucked into his pockets, taking in the one hundred and eighty degree view of hills.
Mace’s wonderment had all the guys turning to take in the view. As if planned, they synced their movements to then turn back to stare at Mace.
=♥=
Slade
“Why’re they starin’?” Mace asked, twisting the cap off the beer bottle.
“The truth? I’d like to say it’s because they haven’t ever seen such a handsome guy before, but I think it’s more me. Wyatt and I had a battle in the kitchen when I first saw you standing outside my front door tonight. I wanted the first shot to get to know you. He, being the pain in the ass he is, decided to torment me,” I explained, going toward the closest empty seat at the patio oblong table.
“Mace, I saved room for you,” Wyatt said loudly, his playful expression locked on me the entire time he patted the seat beside him.
“He’s safer over here. Sit,” I said, pointing to the seat.
“How did you know?” Mace asked, still standing. He tilted his beer bottle to his lips in what looked like an attempt to hide the sheer nervousness of asking such a question.
“Know what?” Scout asked, glancing away from the heated grill and sizzling steaks. “Don’t mess with him. We’re only out because we’re together. No one knows I’m gay.”
“I think what Scout’s trying to say is that you didn’t give anything off that we could tell. I was hopeful that you were,” I said. “It doesn’t regularly work out this well.”
“Huh,” Mace answered in a nonanswer.
“I saw you first,” Wyatt added, leaning back in his seat, his arm dropping along the porch railing. “I live an hour away.”
Mace’s face went pink, no denying the blush building. It was sweet and worrisome. The guy was obviously nervous, clearly uncomfortable, and still hadn’t officially confirmed anything.
“Let me go over this again. This is Bryce,” Mace said, pointing to him. “Scout’s at the grill, Wyatt, and Gray. Bryce and Gray live in Dallas. Scout’s career military. Wyatt’s the governor’s son.”
“Correct,” I said, laying my palm on the back of the metal chair in invitation. Without any additional prodding, Mace took the seat. He didn’t sit back, getting comfortable, but he did tilt the bottle back for another deep swallow.
“I played ball for eight years for Hill Country football association. Did you guys play in the league?” Mace asked.
“Yeah, until high school,” Gray answered, the nostalgia had a small smile spreading across his lips, his arms crossed over his chest, his ankle followed, leaning back in the seat.
“Football, basketball, and baseball with Hill Country,” Bryce added.
“Same,” Mace said, and then relaxed back into the seat. “When did you play? Did we cross paths?”