Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Oh hey, just so you don’t mistake my long gazes, I’m totally straight, dude.
Or maybe: I don’t mind you smelling me, but dick don’t work for me.
Fucking hell, this was why he didn’t date.
JB, I think you’re a great guy, but I’m just not into you like that.
Lame.
Maybe Derrick Briggs would locate him in the next two seconds and put him out of his misery so he didn’t have to talk about this.
“Cole?”
“Huh?” Cole’s head snapped up, mouth hanging open. JB looked like he’d been trying to get his attention for the past minute. That probably killed any interest JB might have for him. Who would want to be with a brain-dead lug?
JB held the door open for Cole, a strange smile playing on his lips. “I asked if you want to go out on the back porch and have a beer. I’d offer you more wine, but I’m out.”
Cole nodded, inwardly relieved that JB didn’t feel too uncomfortable to hang out with him. “Beer’s good. I only had one glass over there.”
JB snagged a couple of beers out of the refrigerator and they walked out to the patio overlooking the nearby woods and lake. The nearly full moon was reflected on the calm water and a large bird swooped down to the surface. It was too dark to tell what kind, and he was too far away to hear the faint splash as it got whatever it had been diving for.
It was peaceful here. A serenity sank into his muscles, leaving him unexpectedly relaxed while his brain continued to hum and search for things to say. How was he going to talk about this…this unresolved tension between them?
Settling into the chair next to him, JB looked out over the water and sighed. “I never get sick of this view. Missed it when I was away.”
“Yeah,” Cole sighed softly. “I’m so accustomed to being in the city all the time. I hadn’t expected to find all of this so relaxing. But yeah, I can see how you’d miss this.” He was starting to feel like he’d miss this when he went home.
“You ever fish?” JB asked suddenly.
“I haven’t in a very long time, but I’m game if you want to.”
“While you’re here, I’ll take you out on the lake.” Excitement filled JB’s voice, and a wide grin spread across his lips. He sat up, leaning a little on the arm of the chair closest to Cole. “There’s nothing like being out on the water with the bright, open sky. Lake has some damn good fishing, too. Maybe we’ll catch our dinner.” His smile softened and he relaxed in his chair again. “It’ll be a nice change from all the red meat.”
“Your mom’s spaghetti was incredible.” Cole flicked away a mosquito.
“She makes it in the summer when the tomatoes are fresh and freezes it so we can have it all year long. Her garden might not be all that big, but it keeps us in fresh produce throughout the summer.”
“You eat with them often?”
JB nodded. “She also brings me fresh vegetables and melons. There’s nothing like a cantaloupe that’s been allowed to ripen on the vine.”
“I’m a huge fan of cantaloupe, but I’ve only had store-bought.”
“You’re missing out, then. They don’t taste the same at all.”
Their conversation dwindled to silence and the tension that had disappeared returned with a vengeance. He needed to say something.
“Hey—”
“I—”
They both started at the same time and laughed awkwardly.
“You go ahead,” Cole quickly said, grateful for the temporary reprieve.
“Oh.” JB swallowed hard. He scrubbed his hand through his blond hair. It was one of the few times Cole had seen the man without his hat. He looked good. A different kind of rugged and it made it easier to see his blue eyes.
JB cleared his throat and started again. “I wanted to apologize for my family if they made you feel uncomfortable. Both my mom and sister are horrible meddlers. They see a hot guy who they think might be single and they immediately try to play matchmaker for me. The added bonus being that you’re already living with me. To them, it just makes sense. They’d feel bad if you’re straight. But if you’re gay or bi, well then, in their minds, of course you should be attracted to me. Not that you would be if you are bi or gay or pan. I mean—” JB broke off on a groan and rubbed his hand over his face.
This man was absolutely adorable when he babbled. It was on the tip of Cole’s tongue to say just that, but he swallowed it. He didn’t want to send the wrong signal.
“It’s okay, JB. They mean well. They love you and want you to be happy. I get that.”
JB dropped his hand to his lap and flopped back in his seat. “I’ve known I was bi since high school. At first, I thought I was gay, but it turned out my dick works for both sexes. I do tend to lean toward men, though.” He shrugged and continued to look straight ahead. “My family has always been really accepting. I know how lucky I am. But it also means they get really pushy with both men and women.”