7. Walker

Walker

" Y ou waiting on someone?" Oakley nudges me in the side with his elbow, and I look back over at him from across one of the large picnic tables they set up for Hayes Days. Normally, I love this festival, but tonight, I've been on edge.

"What?"

"You're looking all over the place instead of digging into the pulled pork in front of you." He glances at my still very full plate, and I look around, seeing the rest of the crew has pretty much devoured theirs.

"I'm not..." Shit. Oakley is my boss, but he's also my friend. Would it be weird to say I'm waiting on a client? A client who I totally invited to this thing.

I mean, it's not a date. It's not. Can't be. But... still.

"Uhhh . . ."

Yeah, Oakley is for sure suspicious now. His head is cocked to the side, and he's paying way too close attention. As is his better half, Travis. "I kind of invited Dutton Collins." Did my voice just go up higher?

Oakley's brows furrow, but Travis is on it. "Mr. Collins? Our client?"

Yeah, so it wasn't a good idea to do that. Maybe. Travis doesn't look pissed. He looks more perplexed than pissed. "Um, yeah?" My voice is definitely higher now and squeaky. "Is that okay? He's new in town and seems kind of lonely. I thought it might help him feel more connected to the town."

"Aw, that's so sweet of you," Oakley mocks, but he's not mad, so we're good.

I roll my eyes. "You would do the same."

He looks like he's about to say something, but then his eyes lock on something across from him. "Is that Dutton?"

I look behind me to where he's looking, and sure enough, Dutton is here. He's dressed in jeans and a white undershirt with a plaid short-sleeve button-down shirt over it. His hair is pulled back into a half bun, his curls kind of wild and sexy as all hell. "Yup. That's him," I barely manage to choke out because he looks good.

"Damn," I hear Travis say in a soft gasp, and I look back at him, my eyebrow quirked in question.

Oakley isn't so quiet about it though, wrapping his arm around his soon-to-be husband. "Put your eyes back into your head, dear," he says teasingly and leans in to nip Travis's ear.

Travis blushes slightly but then turns his head and kisses Oakley right on the mouth. "You know I only have eyes for you." Archie fake-gags, and Travis flips him off. Archie only laughs as the other guys make god-awful kissing noises at our bosses who couldn't give a fuck because they're so in loooove. And busy teasing each other at the moment.

See? This is Oakley's Crew.

Dutton looks nervous as he approaches, and I jump up to greet him, nearly falling on my face in the process, but thankfully, I don't.

"You made it."

He smiles at me, his eyes drifting to the table full of loud landscapers, who I'm sure are watching us intently. "I did. I hope that's still okay."

"Yup," I say, my heart beating way too fast as I motion toward the table. "This is Oakley's Crew." I point toward my bosses. "This is Oakley and Travis, the owners."

Dutton is polite when he greets them, and I move on to the rest of the rambunctious crew.

"I probably should have introduced these three earlier today when they were at your house, but we were having way too much fun." And it really was a lot of fun digging the hot tub. Hot sweaty dirty work, but I loved every minute of it, especially when Dutton decided to come check on the progress. I point over to the guys. "This is Archie, Gabe, and Jackson."

"Hi. Thanks for all the hard work today," he says shyly, and man, he's cute. But no. Professional. Well, as professional as you can be at Hayes Days after hours, that is.

I point to the final members of the crew here with us tonight. "And this is Asher, Luke, and Cameron."

"Nice to meet you all. I didn't mean to interrupt your dinner," he says, and I nearly panic because it sounds like he's trying to leave.

"You want to go do carnival things?" Wow. Talk more, Walker. I'm rolling my eyes at myself, and I hear some of the guys snicker, but Dutton just gives me a kind smile.

"Sure."

I glance over at Oakley and Trav, but Oakley just lifts his beer bottle in my direction. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

I snort and then don't wait around to listen to everyone touch that one, but I'm sure it'll fuel the conversation for at least twenty minutes. I guide Dutton around the very crowded street that's been blocked off for the carnival and street dance later.

"Carnival games?" I ask, pointing to where several are set up in between the food and ice cream trucks.

"You going to win me a teddy bear?" he asks with a sexy little teasing grin. He's flirtatious tonight, and holy shit, my dick really likes that.

"Only if you're a very good boy," I flirt right back, even though I know I shouldn't. I mean... Oakley and Travis did seem pretty cool with me inviting him here. And there is no actual rule that I know of...

No.

I try like hell to shake away the errant thoughts before my cock gets too excited, but I lead him to one of the games—the one where you have to knock pins down by tossing a ball at them.

I hand over the cash, and the guy gives me four balls. It would really suck to embarrass myself in front of Dutton—who's watching me pretty intently—but I did play all four years of baseball in high school, so I should be just fine.

I miss the first one, getting a teasing little grin from Dutton, but I nail the next three and wind up with a very tiny stuffed bear I hand immediately over to him.

"My hero," he jokes, and I wink at him.

"Beer?" I nod toward one of the food trucks, not really hungry anymore, even though I didn't eat my dinner—well, not for food anyway. If Dutton could be on the menu, I'd be starving, but he's not.

I try to warn my dick yet again not to get too excited as we grab a beer each and then watch the live band start to set up for the street dance.

"I can't believe you almost missed this," I tease.

"I've never seen people dancing in the street before." He takes a long pull of his beer, and I try not to stare at the way his elegant throat flexes as he does.

The band starts to play, and sure enough, people are already out on the dance floor , which is just the middle of the street. I grin as I see Oakley and Travis are two of the first ones out there.

"They look happy." Dutton notices too.

I nod, taking a swig of beer. "They're so happy together, sometimes it's gross," I joke, but really, I think it's awesome. I want that someday. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed being single, but if the right guy comes along, I for sure won't mind being all coupled up either.

I try not to study Dutton too hard with my thoughts on the future. "That's kind of awesome," he says genuinely as he watches my bosses dance, closely surrounded by a lot of people from town. "I didn't think a town like this would be so accepting..."

I take another drink of beer, and so does he. "It's getting better around here, but it helps that Oakley's a tank. Even if he looks friendly, he also looks like he could fuck you up if need be."

Dutton chuckles and takes another long sip of his beer.

"Dance with me?" I can't resist. I should, but I can't, and we're just going to ignore the whole we shouldn't do this thing for right now.

It's Hayes Days, after all!

"Okay." He shocks me when he agrees, but I waste no time leading him out into the crowd, both of us with our beers still in hand as we start to dance to the music. The band is pretty good, mostly playing a mix of country and classic rock and mostly keeping it upbeat.

It's still hot, even with the sun down, but no part of me wants to leave this moment. Dutton seems relaxed tonight, leaning into the moment, and every time I get a whiff of his cologne, I want more. I want to lean into him and kiss him hard—taste those full lips I know without a doubt are soft and sweet.

But I resist. Making out with a client in front of the entire town might get me into a little bit of trouble, no matter how cool my bosses are.

We're a hot sweaty mess by the time the band is playing the last song, and most people have already said goodnight, including most of the crew. "You ready to go home?" I ask, my voice gruff, and I'm afraid he's going to say yes.

"I'm kind of hungry," he says, looking around at the nearly empty street now. The carnival packed up around the time the street dance started, and most of the food trucks are gone now too, but I know where we can go.

"Follow me." I take his hand and waste no time walking down the street, seeing the familiar lights are on and smiling to myself.

"Lucille's?" Dutton looks up at the pink, faded sign, and I push the door open. Instantly greeted by Lucille herself and a few other patrons who apparently know the same secrets.

Lucille always stays open for an hour after the street dance ends. It's tradition. I greet them all and lead Dutton to a booth in the back.

"Technically—you're an outsider, but since you're contemplating moving here—I can let you in on this gem."

Dutton grins and picks up the laminated menu that's definitely been through it, his eyes scanning over it. "So what's good here?"

"I recommend the biscuits and gravy." I nod at the chalkboard by the register. "It's really fucking good, but it's also the only thing they serve tonight."

He grins. "Okay. I suppose I'll have to try that."

"Please tell me you've had biscuits and gravy before."

He chuckles and puts the menu down, leaning his long, lean body back in the chair. "Can't say I have."

My jaw drops. "Holy fuck. I have so much to teach you in such a small amount of time."

He laughs again, and it's infectious. We order biscuits and gravy, and I can't help but watch him as he takes a bite, clearly taking it in for the first time. And when his eyes flutter closed and he has a look of contentment on his handsome face, I flush with satisfaction.

I don't think I've ever had a crush this big. Crush. I snort, just thinking about that word. I'm in my late twenties, and I have a crush.

His eyes open and he looks at me. "What's funny?"

I shrug, trying to play it coy because no way in hell am I going to tell him what I was thinking about. "I knew you'd like the biscuits and gravy. Fitting in here already."

He takes another bite and groans deep in his throat, making my cock jump in my pants—needing to hear that sound again, but I really, really don't because I can't be around Lucille with a boner.

She knows my grandma. They play bingo together every week.

I manage to get through our meal together—which kind of feels like a date but can't be, and then we pay and leave the small little café. I want to grab his hand again and hold it in mine. His hands are really soft but strong. I only got a small taste of his touch from earlier, and I crave more.

"That over there is Ray's Tavern, but most people just call it the tavern ." I point in that direction.

"Ray's and Lucille's... Are they related?" He's joking, but I stop walking and give him a look. He stops and cocks his head to the side with a small, surprised laugh. "Oh my God, are they really?'

"Brother and sister."

He cackles at that, and we start walking again, heading toward where all the cars are parked. There aren't many left now. It's getting late, but I don't want tonight to end.

When we reach his car, he unlocks it but doesn't move. "Thank you for showing me summer in Kansas."

God, I want to kiss him. I lick my lips and look at his, all shiny and plump as he stares at me. Does he want me to kiss him?

"No problem. I can't wait to show you fall." I swallow hard, nearly groaning when his tongue darts out to slowly lick over his lips.

I'm trying really hard to be good here, but I'm struggling to remember why.

"See you soon, Walker."

It takes every bit of restraint I have in me not to lean in and kiss him—to let him climb into his car and drive away before I go to my truck and drive home.

I was good tonight, but I'm not sure how long I can hold out if he really wanted me to kiss him too.