Chapter 4

Bryce startled when a hand landed on his shoulder as he exited the station. "We're taking you out to breakfast."

It was Matt.

"You look like you could use company," Toby said, appearing at his other side.

How did they manage to make him feel surrounded when he had several inches on both of them? "Umm… I should go home and try to get some sleep. I'm working at Nathan's tonight."

Matt tilted his head and studied Bryce. "Are you really going to be able to sleep?"

Fuck, how badly had he given himself away? He thought he'd gotten better at hiding how damn hard this was for him. "No." He considered using his beagle, Rollo, as an excuse, but the dog was with a neighbor he adored, and an extra hour or so wouldn't matter.

"Then come with us," Toby said in that cheerful way that usually got him exactly what he wanted, though it never seemed contrived. He just seemed to be that happy and comfortable. "We've… uh… been wanting to get to know you better."

Or maybe not so comfortable. Why did Toby sound nervous?

He likes you.

No way. Bryce wasn't going to listen to that troublemaking voice in his head. They were watching him because they appreciated his body. That was as far as it needed to go. As sexy as they were, they could get laid as often as they wanted. Sexy and smart and caring. Bryce realized he hated the idea of them fucking just anyone. They deserved someone who would take his time with them, who would treat them right. Someone like you.

Once again, he was assuming they were a couple. They might truly just be friends, right? Suddenly Matt's ancient sedan was right in front of them. They'd guided Bryce there while he was lost in thought.

"Hop in," Matt said.

Wait a minute.How the hell had he let himself get railroaded by a couple of kids? Becauseyou know you're not going to sleep. You like them, and it's just breakfast.

But somehow Bryce knew if he got into that car, he was in for a mess of trouble.

Toby patted his shoulder. "You take shotgun, I'll get in the back. Don't want your legs all crunched up."

Bryce smiled. "Yeah, I'm a little too big for the backseat."

"That you are," Toby said, sounding like he was saying something dirty.

Yeah, Bryce was big all right, all over, but he wasn't about to respond with those words, no matter how much he wanted to. "So where you want to go?" Toby asked as he slid into the backseat.

"You seem to have this all planned," Bryce retorted, realizing his words sounded more annoyed than he intended. They were trying to be nice, but he didn't want anyone being nice, because he didn't want anyone noticing his weakness.

"Elmer's?" Matt suggested with no hint he'd taken offense.

Bryce considered. Saturday mornings brought in a big crowd, but it was only ten after eight so it wouldn't be bad yet. "All right," he agreed, still not allowing himself to show any real enthusiasm despite how much he loved Elmer's French toast.

"You hardly ate last night. You've got to be starving," Toby said.

"I ate."

"You—"

"Toby." Matt's voice held a warning.

"Sorry. I can be a bit of a mother hen sometimes. It's that oldest kid thing."

"Can't say I've ever been mothered by someone half my size," Bryce said.

Toby laughed. "Get used to it now that I'm on your shift."

"He has a hard time with boundaries," Matt said.

Toby reached around the seat and slapped Matt's shoulder.

"Hey, I'm driving here," Matt protested.

Bryce loved the easy camaraderie between them. The drive to Elmer's Diner only took a few minutes. He'd predicted correctly that they'd beat the crowd, and they got seated right away in a corner booth.

"Coffee?" the waitress asked. All three men nodded vigorously. She smiled as she filled their cups. "I'll be back to take your orders soon."

"You've been here before, right?" Toby asked.

Bryce nodded. "Yeah, several times." It had actually been one of the first places he'd discovered. Mason had recommended it, and it was only a few streets over from the duplex Bryce was renting. Mason tried to get him to try the chocolate chip pancakes, but despite knowing that cinnamon sugar French toast with syrup was just as sweet, chocolate chips in pancakes seemed like too much.

Matt smiled. "Good. You got a favorite order?"

"I'm partial to the French toast."

"Biscuits and gravy is my favorite," Matt said, his words dreamy like he was being mesmerized by the menu choices.

Toby was about to share his choice when the waitress arrived.

She took Toby's order—banana pancakes and sausage. Matt ordered biscuits and gravy with a side of scrambled eggs. And then it was Bryce's turn. "I'll have the cinnamon French toast platter with scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns."

When she walked away, Bryce realized Matt and Toby were grinning at him. "We knew you were hungry," Toby said.

Bryce laughed. "That's nothing. There's a lot of me to keep going."

"I can see that." Toby let his eyes roam. Whoa, he was way too bold for his own good. Bryce was going to have to watch himself if he intended to keep work and sex separate.

"You were right, though. I'm starving. Thanks for suggesting breakfast."

"Sure." Toby's eyes twinkled. He seemed very sure of himself.

"You just… Well, we thought it might be good for you to eat and hang out," Matt said.

Bryce sighed. They were trying so hard to be kind, and he shouldn't resent that, but he had to set things straight. "I don't want either of you to think I'd let you down out there when it counts. If I thought I would, I wouldn't be here."

"Never crossed my mind," Matt assured him.

"I'm fine. Really. I just have to psych myself up before heading out on a call."

Toby nodded. "Most guys do, right? I know I do."

"So how do you like Durham?" Matt asked.

He was thankful they were willing to drop the subject. "It's good so far. I know people complain about traffic, but after Atlanta, it's great."

"I bet," Matt said. "You get out much? Other than at the bar."

Bryce could have given a dismissive answer but instead he decided to tackle things head-on. "Not much, honestly. I guess I'm becoming a homebody." Was he? Damn, what had happened to him?

Old age, baby.

"So no wild nights partying?" Toby asked.

Bryce grinned. "Don't you think I'm a bit old for that?"

Matt looked up, truly startled. "Seriously?"

Bryce raised his brows. "When I go dancing these days, I feel like a dinosaur."

"You're the hottest dinosaur I've ever seen," Toby blurted out.

"Toby." There was that warning tone in Matt's voice again.

Toby's cheeks colored. He was such a fascinating combination of shy and bold. Bryce knew Toby's interest should concern him—and Matt's, which was less obvious but clearly there.

Where had his own boldness gone? He'd always spoken plainly in the past, told people exactly what he was thinking. If he wanted a man, he said so. Of course, in Atlanta he'd never wanted a man, or two, who also happened to be part of his unit. But back then he would have at least returned the flirtation. He wouldn't have pursued it, but he would have played the game and enjoyed the attention. Even now, he had to admit he was flattered. Who wouldn't be by two young, hot guys wanting him? But he wished he could interpret whatever undercurrent there was between them. They obviously didn't agree on how—or maybe whether—to pursue him. The last thing he wanted to do was screw up their… friendship.

The waitress showed up then with their food. Still unsure how to handle Toby's boldness, Bryce almost chickened out and asked her to box his up so he could go. Instead, he took a much stupider tactic. "Could I get a Bloody Mary?"

"Sure."

"That's a great idea," Toby said. "Bring one for me too."

Matt looked uncertain, but when the waitress looked at him, he said, "Sure why not. One for me too."

The guys didn't talk much while they ate. Most of the comments they did make were about how good the food was.

When they finished up, the restaurant was getting crowded, but the line for tables wasn't too long yet. "Another round?" Toby asked, lifting his glass.

Why the hell not? "Sure."

They ordered more drinks, and Matt suggested they take them outside on the balcony where there were barstools. Bryce wondered what all the families dining with their small kids thought of them drinking on the balcony at nine AM. Of course with his schedule, he often didn't know night from day anyway. It could just as easily be nine PM for him. Though he had to admit he was starting to feel that second drink.

He should head home before he said something he shouldn't. The longer he stayed with Matt and Toby, watching them—the line of their throats as they swallowed, the way Toby pushed his hair off his face and tilted his head toward the sun, the contemplative expression on Matt's face as he studied the perfect summer sky—the more something stirred inside him, something that hadn't come online often, if at all, in the last year.

"So what did you think about the Bulls game last night?"

Toby groaned. "Seriously, you're asking him that. I hope you've got all day."

Matt rolled his eyes. "The ump clearly had it in for them. I mean, did you see those calls? A baby could have done better than that." Matt continued in the same vein for several minutes, seemingly not even pausing for breath. He jiggled his leg, and it moved more quickly the more agitated he got until Bryce felt the vibration two seats over.

"Stop," Toby said, bringing a hand down on Matt's leg. "You know I hate that."

"Sorry. I can't help it."

"Can we please change the subject?" Toby asked.

Matt scowled. "Maybe Bryce isn't done talking about baseball."

Talking? Bryce wouldn't exactly call it that. "I'm fine. I think you gave a very thorough answer."

"See?" Toby said.

"Why don't you tell me about your family, Toby? You're really the oldest of five?"

Toby nodded. "Crazy, isn't it, but yeah. After me there's my brother Rob. He's only eighteen months younger, but we… We don't really talk now. Then there's Jenna. She's awesome. She's the one who's made the cookies for you, and she's studying interior design."

Bryce immediately liked her. He didn't need to know more.

"I also have two more younger sisters, Laura and Felicity. They're twins and they're lots of trouble, but they listen to me. Usually."

Matt rolled his eyes. "Only when they want to."

Bryce laughed.

They were all silent for a while after that. Bryce drifted off into thoughts about the rest of his day, about running with Rollo and working at Nathan's, wishing he had someone other than his dog to spend the day with.

Toby polished off his drink and set the glass down on the eating shelf that lined the edge of the porch. "Could we have said anything to convince you to come dancing with us the other night?"

Bryce nearly choked, but Toby didn't look away. No hair twirling or anything else to indicate he was nervous now. It must be the alcohol making him bold. Bryce shook his head. "No."

"Why? And don't say you're too old."

"Like I said, I haven't really been going out much, and…"

Bryce glanced at Matt. He was frowning at Toby and jiggling his leg again. This time, Toby didn't seem to notice.

Bryce downed the rest of his drink before finishing. "If I'd joined you, I wouldn't have wanted to come home alone. I can't complicate things at work, especially not with me being new and everyone knowing about Atlanta."

Toby smiled. "We didn't want you to leave by yourself."

Matt's cheeks were bright red and his eyes dark. He put a hand on his leg as if trying to hold it still. "No, we didn't."

"I don't sleep with co-workers. It's my own rule as much as the department's."

The desire in Toby's eyes turned to concern.

"I won't rat you out unless your relationship affects your job performance," Bryce said. But the knowledge would weigh on him every single day. "I won't put myself further at risk, though. I've never been good at hiding things."

"It wouldn't have to be?—"

The fantasy Bryce had indulged in when he'd imagined them dancing, imagined taking what he wanted ran through his head. He didn't think once would be enough with them. If he got a taste of them, he'd want more, a lot more, and that was not going to happen. He slid off his stool. "I should head home."

Matt stood too, but Bryce held up a hand. "I only live a few blocks from here, I'll walk it."

"But your truck's at the station," Toby protested

"I'll get it later."

Matt frowned. "Bryce, don't?—"

Toby laid a hand on Matt's arm. "All right, but give one of us a call if you want a ride to get your truck later."

Bryce nodded. "Yeah, I will." But he wouldn't. He'd bike over after he got some sleep. He didn't need to be in a small space with them, easily close enough to touch. Fuck! How was he even going to work with them in a few days when he couldn't get the image of them dancing out of his mind?