Page 38 of Throw Down

Briar picked at the plastic pants that clung to his thighs like a second skin.“I’m not really dressed for it…”

Derek forced himself to shrug.“Your call,” he said sharply.“I just figured it’d take your mind off things.”

Briar hesitated, looking worried, and part of Derek hated himself for making him so wary.But the other part hated himself for what he was doing right now.It wouldn’t lead anywhere good.

“Sure,” Briar said, sighing dramatically.“Why not? My date just reminded me about why I need to start assimilating with local culture.The idea that someone out there looks at me like I was looking at him makes me want to puke.”

“You’ll never be like him,” Derek said, flipping a U-turn and heading toward the reservoir.

The drive was a long one, filled with the hum of crickets and the subtle roar of Derek’s rebuilt engine.Briar cranked his window down and stuck his head out to catch the breeze, tilting his face up like a dog scenting the wind.

Derek parked at the top of the reservoir, and Briar insisted on helping unload the heaviest gear.Derek allowed it. He’d raised enough younger siblings to know it wasn’t about whether they made his load easier; it was about their pride.

A beaten path led down to the water, surrounded on both sides by rows of tall switchgrass.The path opened onto a grassy bank, dotted here and there with tangles of sweetpea and purple camas. Beyond a grassy knoll was the lake, glowing silver in the moonlight.

“I figured you’d bring a lawn chair,” Briar said, watching in surprise as Derek shook out a blanket.

“Nah. Catfishing is all about taking your time and relaxing.I’ve lost count of how many times I dozed off waiting for a bite.”

“You know how to relax?” Briar teased, settling down on the blanket and removing his socks and shoes.A faint smile played around the corners of his mouth, and Derek smiled back despite himself.

He raised an eyebrow, mock offended.“Don’t I look like a master of relaxation?”

Briar’s laughter was light and silvery.He tilted his head back to look up at Derek, examining him closely, his gaze lingering on all the places his muscles bulged beneath his shirt.Derek felt his body responding under the intense scrutiny, and he couldn’t resist flexing just a little.

“Yeah, I can see you’re a real couch potato,” Briar said sarcastically.“I never would’ve guessed.”

“I’m a man of many layers. There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Derek retorted, feeling ridiculous and playful.It was dark and balmy, and he was alone in one of his favorite places with someone who was quickly becoming one of his favorite people.It was impossible to be in a bad mood.

“That, I believe.” Briar stretched out one leg and gently nudged him in the back of his calf with his bare toes.“Is one of those layers knowing how to catch a fish?”

“Not much of a mystery.” Derek chuckled as he set up the rods and reels.“Oregon only has small channel cats here and there.Nothing like they see back east.So, a standard pole should do the trick.”

“Standard?” Briar choked. “It’s taller than me!”

“That ain’t saying much,” Derek said, casting him a sideways smile.He was gratified when Briar smiled back, delightfully unoffended.“But gear don’t matter much in the long run.It’s all about patience.”

“Oh, perfect,” Briar said wryly.“I’m the soul of patience.”

For the first time in what felt like a very, very long time, Derek threw back his head and laughed.

“I am!” Briar protested, placing one hand over his heart in mock indignation and saying pompously, “I didn’t throw my drink in that jackwagon’s face, did I?”

“You’ve got Herculean restraint,” Derek said.

Briar snorted and flicked a pebble into the water.“I do. I’m basically a saint now.”

“Saint Briar, the patron of bad dates?”

“And problematic scrapyard owners,” Briar added tartly.“Oh, and savior of abandoned puppies.That was my first miracle.”

Derek’s mood instantly soured. He glared out toward the water.“I didn’t abandon her. I’m never home, and she can’t keep trailing after me at the salvage yard. It’s not safe.You’re going to find her a better home than she ever had with me.”

His gaze was fixed on the lake, but he heard the soft rustle as Briar edged closer.His hand rested tentatively on Derek's chest, light as a butterfly.

“I didn’t mean anything by that, Derek,” Briar said softly.“I know you care for her, and I guess you have your reasons.”

Derek stared down at Briar’s palm.It was directly over his heart, and his heartbeat was starting to race beneath it.He jerked backward, putting some space between them.For a second, neither of them could look at each other.

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