Page 51 of Throw Down

Nate searched hisface. The skin between his eyes was pinched, as if he had a headachebrewing.

“Just…be careful,” he said finally, an edge of caution in hisvoice.“Even if you’re right about him, and he’s some secret renaissance man like Good WillHunting—”

“No need to be snide,” Briar retorted, rolling hiseyes.

“—he still comes with a lot ofbaggage.Things like that don’t just go away, no matter how much we wish theywould.”

The sound of a throat clearing caught their attention, and they glanced simultaneously toward the break room’s entrance.Tucker Grace clutched the overhead door frame and leaned in, shockingly handsome and freshly shaved after a long day training horses.

Nate’s face instantly brightened.“Hey, baby.”

Tucker never even spared Briar a glance.His smile was all for Nate when he said, “Thought I’d take you out to dinner.”

“Rawson’s or The Pig?” Nate asked, and Briar couldn’t help but laugh because those were the only decent choices that didn’t come in a paper bag.

“Anywhere you want,” Tucker replied.

“Sure.” Nate ruffled Briar’s hair and then shoved him off the sofa so he couldstand.Tucker reached for Nate the second he was free, pulling him close for a kiss, and Nate's arms wrapped around hiswaist.“I just need to finish uphere.Briar’s taking offearly.”

“I am?” Briar stood and smoothed the wrinkles out of hisshirt.

Nate raised one knowing eyebrow at him.“I have my reservations, but I’m still your wingman," he said kindly. "Go get yourguy.”

Chapter Nineteen

DEREK

Derek leaned back in his rocking chair and stretched his legs out on the porch rail.

His phone kept chiming, a back and forth between his sisters in the group chat. They were planning their father’s birthday but couldn’t decide on the particulars. Derek didn’t care what they decided, only what the final cost would be so he could get the money into Susan’s bank account.He’d just fixed up and flipped an old Chevelle, so cost wouldn’t be a problem.

Now he had his eye on a Jeep with a partially rebuilt transmission. If Briar was going to stay in Sweetwater, he needed reliable transportation.Whenever he imagined a clueless city boy like Briar stranded out in the middle of nowhere without a ride of his own, his blood ran cold. It was no hardship to see him in a reliable vehicle; Derek was surrounded by them. It definitely wasn't because he wanted to see Briar's face light up in that baffled sunshine smile.The smile that always looked happy but slightly perplexed, as if he couldn't believe he deserved something good.

The distant hum of an engine interrupted the evening crickets.Derek cocked his head, listening intently.Traffic noise was rare this far up the mountain, and that wasn't the distinctive roar of his neighbor's HEMI engine.Headlights blinked in and out between the trees as a vehicle took the last few twists and turns up the sidewinder.Dusk had barely begun, but the winding road was perpetually gloomy from the surrounding forest.

Derek kicked his legs off the rail and ran a hand through his hair.It was still damp from his shower and too overgrown to arrange into anything presentable.He hadn’t managed to scrub all the grease from beneath his fingernails, but he’d done his best.He’d even splashed on some of the nice-smelling aftershave Bethie had gifted him for Christmas two years ago.

An unmarked equipment van maneuvered its way into the clearing, gravel popping beneath the tires.Then Briar stepped out, and Derek's mouth went dry. The play of uncertainty on his face plucked at something in Derek’s chest.

“You comin’ up?” he called from the porch.

Briar looked torn, like part of him wanted to climb back into the van and head down the mountain.Derek understood. It was the same impulse that had him tapping out and deleting his dinner invitation a dozen times before he finally sacked up enough to send it.They were in uncharted territory, playing a game that they both knew neither of them could win.It was enough to make any man take a few backward glances…and yet they couldn’t seem to stop themselves.

Derek couldn't leave him standing there alone.He was off the porch and covering the ground between them in a few steps, alert to any sign of retreat, any signal he was still frightened by Derek.But there was none.

A sheepish smile began to creep across Briar's beautiful face, blooming full when Derek pulled him into his arms.Briar’s head nestled perfectly into the cradle of his shoulder.Derek turned his face into the silky fluff of his hair, breathing deep.His warmth, his scent—the hint of expensive cologne—it all felt exotic and daring.He closed his eyes and breathed, grounding himself.Their time together couldn’t last, but he was determined to commit every detail to memory while he had the chance.

“That’s a warmer welcome than I expected,” Briar said with a tiny laugh.“Now I’m glad I wore my good jeans.”

Derek held him at arm’s length, taking in the skinny jeans and jewel blue shirt that sparkled against his fair complexion.“You’re looking…bright today,” he complimented.

Briar struck a pose. “I was shooting for subtle,” he teased, giving a tiny half-turn to show off the skin-tight denim.

“Subtle as a neon sign.” Derek couldn’t help but laugh at his sweet foolishness.“Planning to light up the whole mountain?”

“Did it work?” Briar asked, leaning back and searching his face.

Derek caught him by the belt loop and tugged him closer, slipping his hands into Briar’s back pockets and cupping his sinfully tight ass with both hands.

---