Page 7 of The Tech Guru's Heart

The hairs on his nape stood on end as Ezra exited Amelia’s apartment, and he just knew that if he looked over his shoulder, he would see Link watching...so he resisted.

As Link let himself into his own apartment, he wondered if he would have anything in common with the man.

After all, what could an outdoorsy guy like me have in common with a big bruiser of a computer nerd?

Mentally crossing his fingers, Ezra hoped for a few nights of sweaty sex, at least.

Chapter Three

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“CONGRATULATIONS, BROTHER,” Luke cried, grabbing Link and wrapping him in a tight hug.Moving his hands to his shoulders, he leaned away.Instantly, Luke’s wide grin slipped from his lips to be replaced with an expression of concern.“I heard you found your mate yesterday.Why so glum?”

Link’s shoulders drooped as he grimaced at his second middle brother.The man worked as a nurse in town and had a perpetually fun-loving attitude.The serious look Luke currently sported as he gave him a once-over, as if searching for injury, was completely out of place.

“I did, and thanks,” Link mumbled, frustration surging through him anew.“We even had a lunch date earlier today.”

Thinking of his time with his mate caused mixed emotions within him.While he’d loved sitting across from him in the café booth and gazing at the handsome blond, he recognized that the silences between them had been awkward.Link just hadn’t known what to say to his human.

Conversation via text is so much easier.

“Then what’s the trouble?”Luke squeezed his shoulder encouragingly.“Didn’t take you up on coming home with you and jumping in the sack?”

Shaking his head, Link admitted, “I didn’t ask.”Even though he’d wanted to do just that—badly.Holding and kissing him in Amelia’s apartment had been so easy.“Rylie’s party and all.”Link swept a hand forward, indicating their family around them.“Would have been even more awkward.”

“Awkward?”Luke cocked his head, staring intently at him with brown eyes a bit lighter in shade than Link’s own.“What do you mean?”

Massaging the back of his neck, Link told his brother.“I got tongue-tied.”He scowled at nothing as he recalled his verbal fumbling.“Didn’t know what to say.Asked stupid shit like, does he like his car.”

Link felt his cheeks heat just at the memory as he told Luke what happened.

“Ezra glanced toward the parking lot where he’d parked his olderRange Rover.He shrugged when he turned back to me and told me,Sure.Get’s me from point A to B, and if I need to travel on a dirt road to get to where I want to hike, I’m not worried about the paint job.”

Grimacing, Link ducked his head as he mumbled, “Instead of responding like a guy with a brain and asking about where he liked to go hiking, I smiled like an idiot and said,cool, cool.”He rolled his eyes and groaned.“As much as I loved staring at him and enjoying his scent, his smell screamed his discomfort.My bull was bellowing in my mind to fix it, but I didn’t know how.”Link would forever deny the whininess in his voice as he muttered, “I had to get away and think.”

“So you went home alone to hide behind your computer?”Luke guessed dryly, a wry smile curving his lips.

Link nodded glumly.

Wrapping his arm around Link’s shoulders, Luke bumped his head against his.“Don’t worry, bro.We’ll help you.”With a wink and a grin, he added, “That’s what family’s for.”Luke released him only to pat his back.“So, you’re awkward as hell around the man.What’d you find out about him online?”With a knowing look, he stated, “I’m sure you’ve already done a background check on him.”

“And put a tracker on hisRover,” Link admitted, only feeling moderately guilty.“At least, I’ll know where he’s at...just in case.”

Luke chuckled.“In case of what?”

“He needs me for something,” Link replied.Although he couldn’t imagine that he would be his mate’s first call, and didn’t that thought suck giant hairy donkey balls?

Nodding, Luke stared at him steadily.“Of course.”Tipping his head toward the drink coolers, he stated, “Come on.Quit standing over here holding up the wall of the house.I’m ready for a beer, a brat, and some potato salad.”Waggling his brows, Luke told him, “Mammy just brought it out.”

Despite his frustration at his ineptitude, Link’s mouth began to water, and his stomach grumbled.“Sounds good.”

Hell, all he was doing was stewing.His belly needed filling, and he needed a distraction.Plus, nothing good was ever decided on an empty stomach, according to his mammy.

“Hello, honey,” Mammy greeted when they stopped at the coolers.She stood a few feet away beside a table laden with a variety of offerings.“How’d your date with your mate go?”She glanced around the area as if Ezra would suddenly appear.“Did you bring him to introduce us?”

Link shook his head, feeling his face pale just at the thought of his family watching his awkwardness.He needed to figure out how to converse with the man before introductions.Link didn’t need to give his human any more reasons that would send him running.

“Uh, no, Mammy,” Link quickly replied.Taking the beer Luke handed him, he murmured his thanks.Then he refocused on the matriarch of their musk ox shifter herd.“I didn’t make a very good showing at lunch today.”There was no point in sugar-coating his actions.“I’m going to call him tonight to set up another date.”

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