Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

Brooks

"Next time, Sky, just kiss me…"

Those words bounced around my head the rest of the day. As I pulled beers for the old fishermen who stopped in, I remembered the surprise in Skylar's eyes. When I mixed cocktails for tipsy vacationers, I thought about how—in a matter of hours—I'd be sleeping in Skylar's home.

The two of us alone, playing at being boyfriends to get Blaize to back off.

He hadn't come back the rest of the day, but he didn't strike me as the type to easily take no for an answer. If he was, he'd have never tracked Skylar down.

He'd be back, and we would have to be more convincing. I was okay with that. But I couldn't help wondering, Would Skylar want to kiss me if the circumstances were different?

Would he ever want to kiss me simply because he wanted me?

There was no doubt I'd want to kiss him.

I'd never been attracted to a man before, but there was something about Skylar that pulled me in and made me want to get closer.

Trouble was, I wasn't sure Skylar was ready to get close to anyone after such a toxic relationship.

"I swept up in the kitchen and cleaned the bathrooms," Skylar said, approaching the bar. "What else can I do?"

He was vibrating with nervous energy. Even though Blaize hadn't been back, Skylar had been working overtime to distract himself all day.

He'd helped Vera in the kitchen until she kicked him out. Apparently, his knife skills were abysmal and he was too opinionated about how much salt she put in the food. No one told Vera how to run her kitchen, not even the owner of the place.

He'd moved on to other chores, but there was only so much he could do without getting in the way.

"Sit down. Eat a bite. I've got Felix coming in, so we can head out early."

Skylar took a spot at the bar. "You don't have to cut out early for me. I just want to help while I'm here."

"And you have," I said easily. "But Felix needs the hours, and I need a good night's sleep."

He sagged a little against the bar, giving away his relief. "Okay."

Now that I'd met Blaize, I wasn't truly worried about a physical confrontation. He was a manipulative bastard. He refused to acknowledge Skylar had ended their relationship, and he'd shown a nasty temper when I suggested Skylar was dating me. But he'd backed off when I took a step toward him, and that told me that ultimately, he was a coward.

I was pretty sure he wouldn't stand up to me, but he was still a threat to Skylar's peace of mind. Which is why I'd suggested heading home before dark.

Besides, Skylar needed to decompress after being on edge all day.

I put in an order for both of us with Vera, and by the time we'd eaten dinner, my bartender had arrived.

Skylar was on alert as we left the pub, gaze darting around, but there was no sign of Blaize.

"He's not here," I said. "Probably went back to Shallow Beach."

Skylar dipped his head once. "I hope so, although I really wish he didn't have an excuse to hang around."

"Yeah, it's not ideal," I agreed. "But we just keep playing the part, and he'll get the picture."

Skylar let out a long breath as he unlocked the car doors. "Yeah. You're right." He shot me a nervous smile. "Thank you for all this."

"Hey, you're giving me a nice place to sleep. It's not a hardship."

We got into the car, and Skylar started the engine. But before pulling out, he looked at me, forehead creased.

"We need to find you a better living situation when this is all over. That stockroom isn't good enough."

I grimaced. Not likely. Housing was at a premium around the lake, and I couldn't afford to pay even a modest rent and keep up with the expenses of Grandma's care at Silver Cove.

"Let's worry about that later."

Skylar checked his mirrors, then pulled out onto the street. "Fine, but don't think I'm forgetting about this," he said. "You're helping me out, and I want to return the favor."

I didn't answer, and thankfully, he let it drop, focusing on driving. The top of the car was down, and the wind blew our hair around. The sky had turned lavender, the sun creeping down, slow to set on these summer days.

Despite everything, it was invigorating. It chased some of my exhaustion from a crappy night's sleep away and made my pulse quicken. I grinned for no reason, and when I looked over, Skylar's mouth curled into a small smile, too.

"Why are you so happy?" he asked me.

"I don't know," I said with a laugh. "This is just nice. The fresh air and all."

He shook his head. "You don't get out of that bar often enough."

He might be right. A simple drive in a convertible on a summer's night shouldn't make me feel so free, should it? As if I'd escaped the confines of a jail cell. Of course, if I was imprisoned, I'd done it to myself. I couldn't blame anyone else for me spending more time behind a bar than actually living my life.

When we arrived, I kept my eyes peeled, but there was no sign anyone else was there.

"Looks like the coast is clear."

"Yeah." Skylar sighed. "My security app hasn't sent any alerts either. Thank goodness. I'm really not up for another confrontation today."

I followed him to the door, and he punched in the code to open it and disarm the security alarm. The house was quiet except for a soft meow that came from the direction of the kitchen.

A moment later two eyes glowed as Freddy peeked around the corner, ears pricking.

"Hey there, Freddy," I crooned in a soft voice, hoping to make friends.

He whipped around, tail swishing, as he disappeared back into the kitchen with a grumpy mrrow .

Skylar shot me an apologetic smile. "He's just grumpy because his bowl is empty."

He was placating me. Placating me over a cat. I chuckled and played along, not wanting to admit Freddy's attitude bothered me. I wanted the damn cat to like me because I wanted Skylar to like me.

Skylar went into the kitchen and I followed along for lack of anything better to do. This time, I was careful not to stare at his ass or picture that lingerie under his clothes when he bent to fill the cat's bowl. If I did, I might say or do something stupid.

Start something neither of us could finish.

Freddy was nowhere to be seen—still avoiding me.

I cleared my throat. "So, uh, should I take a look around again? Just to be safe?"

Skylar shook his head. "My security app has been quiet. No one's here." He straightened and glanced sidelong at me. "I overreacted last night."

"Maybe, but it's always better to be safe than sorry, Sky. Don't feel bad about that."

"Yeah, I guess." He fidgeted, tugging at his collar, giving me flashes of that lacy strap under his shirt. My fingers twitched at my side with the urge to strip him and reveal more of that sexy lingerie. "Are you tired, or…?"

I blinked out of my fantasy to find Skylar looking anxious. "Not really. It's not that late."

"Yeah." He seemed relieved. "Do you want to maybe hang out a while? We could watch some Netflix and chill before bed."

"You want to Netflix and chill, huh?" I teased. "I guess we are boyfriends now."

Skylar gave a surprised laugh. "I didn't mean it like that." I grinned, and he swatted my arm. "Stop teasing me."

"But you make it so easy."

"You're an ass." He rolled his eyes, but he smiled too, seeming more at ease than he had all day. "Just for that I should make you watch a horror movie with me."

"A what now?"

"A horror movie. I love them. The gorier the better, you know? It's soothing."

"Soothing?" I asked, disbelief in my tone. " Scary movies?"

He shrugged. "Makes my life look like sunshine by comparison."

Ah. That made some sense, though it still seemed odd to me. If he was jumpy about his ex, wouldn't these movies just make him jumpier?

Still, Skylar knew what he needed better than I did, so I shrugged. "We can watch whatever you want. I just want to change real quick. My clothes smell like beer and grease."

"Good idea. We'll get cozy, then curl up for a good massacre."

I chuckled. "You're a strange man, Skylar Addison."

He smiled. "You're not the first to say so."

We parted ways to change clothes. I switched out my usual bar uniform for some basketball shorts and a plain gray tee then returned to the living room.

I spotted Freddy peeking around a chair at me and clicked my tongue, trying to lure him over. The stubborn guy wouldn't come any closer, though.

I was debating hunting down treats to bribe him when Skylar entered, wearing sweats and a tank top. I let out a breath, a tiny bit disappointed he wasn't in some silky little shorts set. A bigger part of me was relieved, because if he'd worn something sexy, I really would have struggled to keep my hands to myself.

Not that what he was wearing wasn't attractive. The sweats molded to his ass and thighs, and the tank top revealed his slim but toned arms. It was one of those shirts with oversized arm holes, and as he moved, I caught a few peeks of his chest and nipples.

My dick tried to harden in my shorts, and I shifted to grab a pillow and place it in my lap.

Jesus . I was like a horny seventh-grader with a crush around this guy.

Skylar picked up the remote, oblivious to my boner problems, and navigated through the Netflix menus until he stopped on Poltergeist.

"Did you want any popcorn or anything?"

"Nah. Still full from dinner."

He nodded. "Me too. But let me grab us a couple of beers."

Skylar went into the kitchen, and I heard him talking in soft tones to Freddy. I smiled, leaning my head back against the couch, letting my eyes drift closed.

"If you're tired, you don't have to stay up with me."

I looked up to see Skylar standing over me, already back from the kitchen. I must have dozed off, but I knew he needed time to wind down from a tense day, so I shook my head.

"I'm good. Just relaxing while I wait for the show." I winked playfully. "You know I stay up until 2 a.m. every night."

Skylar held out a beer. "I have a feeling your night on the floor wasn't all that restful."

I tipped the beer back, taking a sip. "It wasn't the worst sleep I've gotten. Don't worry about it."

Skylar rolled his eyes as he took a seat on the sofa a few feet away from me. "So you're one of those guys."

I frowned, both at his words and because I wanted him closer, even if I shouldn't. "What do you mean?"

"You know, quick to jump in to be the white knight but never willing to admit you're not invincible. You've gotta be the strong alpha at all times."

"I don't do that."

Do I?

Skylar gave me a skeptical look and hit the Play button on the movie. At first it was fine. It was creepy, but it took a while to build up to the scariest part.

I kept looking at Skylar, checking his reactions, and he was the most relaxed I'd ever seen him. The adorable weirdo really did love horror.

"Ooh, just wait till you see this next part," he said, grinning.

He was fucking gorgeous, face lit up with excitement, a little mischievous sparkle in his eyes. He knew what was coming, but I'd never seen this movie, so when the truly freaky shit hit the fan, I was not prepared.

I jumped. "Oh hell no!"

Skylar laughed. "I know, right? You didn't see that one coming."

"Ugh, but how did that even—" I hugged my pillow a little tighter. "No. Just no."

"There's more. Just wait for the—"

The ominous music thundered, a woman on the screen screamed—and I screamed with her, throwing my pillow at the television.

Any worries about hiding boners were long gone.

"Fuck me, I almost had a heart attack." I placed a hand over my thundering heart, then got a glimpse of the TV screen and flinched.

"Aww," Skylar said, still laughing, and hugged me.

I froze for a minute, surprised to have an armful of the man who'd kept so much so much space between us. But damn, his firm body felt good against me. I tightened my arms, taking comfort, even though he was laughing at me.

"Not too alpha when I'm screaming, huh?" I muttered.

His breath was hot against my neck, and those boner fears were starting to return.

"Oh, don't worry." He pulled back. "Your man card is—"

There was a crashing sound in the kitchen, and we both jumped. My head was still full of the movie, and my first thought was that this fucking house was haunted, too.

I jumped from the couch, fight or flight instincts at work before I even remembered Blaize might be the culprit. Pummeling him might actually help me work out some of the adrenaline coursing through me right about now.

I charged into the kitchen, Skylar right behind me.

There was no one there.

"It was just the cat." Skylar gave a nervous chuckle. "He pushes down his cat food when he wants to be bratty, which is most of the time."

He pointed to the cans on the floor. When I looked up to the shelf where his food was kept, Freddy blinked at us, looking entirely unremorseful.

"Don't scare Skylar like that," I told him.

Skylar snorted. "Just me, huh? You weren't scared."

"Well, that nightmare of a movie scared me plenty. But Blaize? That ass I can deal with."

Skylar's face tightened, and I wanted to kick myself.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned him."

"That's okay. I'm glad you're here, or I'd be way jumpier." He smirked. "Your man card is safe, even if you are a wuss when it comes to horror movies."

"Hey!" I laughed. "Be nice, or I'll get a complex."

Skylar grinned. "Don't worry. It's cute."

I raised an eyebrow, eyes meeting his. Cute? That wasn't a word anyone used to describe me. I was hot, sexy, good-looking, even. But not cute.

"Don't look so offended," he said, heading back to the living room to pick up the remote and turn off that godawful movie. "It was a compliment."

I waved toward the TV, where the screen was thankfully blank again. "Does that really not freak you out?"

"It's not real," he said. "Not like my ex. It takes my mind off my own problems for a while, you know?"

"Until I brought it up." I winced. "Sorry."

He shrugged. "It's okay. Not like I could have avoided thinking about it once I was alone again."

"You, uh, you don't…have to be alone."

My chest tightened as soon as the words were out. What exactly was I offering? I didn't know, and Skylar looked as if he wasn't too sure either.

"I'm glad you're here, Brooks, but I have to be alone some of the time. You can't protect me from myself."

"Right, I know. Sorry…"

"Don't apologize. I really appreciate that you want to try." He leaned in and brushed a soft kiss on my cheek. "You're a good friend."

Ouch. I'd never been so effectively stuck in the friend zone before. I was used to being wanted. Used to not caring that much beyond having a good time with someone.

Skylar had me turned upside down because I finally cared. I cared too damn much.

And I didn't know how to stop.