Page 53 of Fearless Bond

Barclay looked smug as he lifted his beer to his lips.

17

CALVIN

I got cold on the snowmobile ride back, and Barclay made it his mission to warm me up. We were camped out on the thick carpet in front of the burning fire, Barclay leaning against the sofa with me settled between his thighs. He played with my hair. It amazed me how gentle he could be with those strong, calloused hands.

“You don’t have to do it,” he murmured. I knew what he meant. “There’s no rush.”

“I want to.”

“It makes you anxious.”

“A little. It would make me more anxious if we postponed it.”

Barclay grunted, and the sound reminded me of how morose he was the first day I was here. It made me smile.

“Monty is right. You are grumpy.”

“Sorry.”

“I like it.”

“How can you like me being an ass?”

I shrugged. “It’s cute.”

“Cute?” he cried with mock outrage. “Me hating most people is cute?”

“You don’t hate people. You want them to leave you alone. Most of the time, I want the same. I like kids, but I could do without the majority of adults. I wish I had the face and size to pull off being grumpy.”

“You’re too adorable for that.” He looped his arms around me and kissed my nape.

“Mmm. And you’re a great cuddler for such a grouch.”

The flames danced and flickered, the sight better than any movie. Between the fire and Barclay’s furnace of a body, I was toasty warm already.

“You said you lived in the city before. What did you even do there? You didn’t have a woodshop there, did you?”

“Hm. I guess you still don’t know much about me. I keep forgetting that. Let’s see… I grew up in Green Peaks. Moved to the city for college. Worked at a bank and hated it.”

“A bank?” That didn’t sound like Barclay at all.

“Yeah. I was a credit analyst. Business, not private.”

I flipped around, gazing at him with shock. “You?Youassessed bank loans?”

He grimaced.

“Oh my God, Barclay. You worked in the business district and wore a suit and tie. I can’t believe that.”

“You’d better do. It was how I could afford this place. I endured it for nine years and saved enough to fuck off to the mountains for good. Best decision of my life.”

“That’s kind of amazing.”

He smiled softly and kissed my nose. “I agree. Especially now.”

“I’m going to need some time to process this. Could you wear a suit and tie for me one day? I’d like to see that.”

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