Page 14 of His Fresh Start Cowboy
He still was. And he was here. Now. Within touching distance.
Brand put his glass down with a too-hard clank and topped it off from the pitcher. “Um, thanks. You grew up.”
Hugo didn’t hide a flinch. “Yeah, that happens over time. Life experience helps you grow up real fast, especially when you’re on your own. But I bet Colt has told you stories about his time after leaving home.”
“Some stories, but he prefers sticking to the present. Living in the now. Guess that’s a Woods thing.” Maybe Hugo would get the subtle hint and drop the topic for now. The middle of a crowded bar wasn’t the time or place to follow Ramie’s advice about clearing the air.
Instead of backing off, Hugo looked more determined. “Colt didn’t leave the past in the past, and you got your big brother back. Colt got Avery back and married the man.”
“I don’t know what you think we’ll get back if we talk about our past.”
His face hardened, as if he’d just accepted some kind of silent challenge Brand hadn’t meant to throw down. “So are you and Ramie dating?”
Brand opened his mouth to ask how the hell? Then it hit. “I see Rem’s been running his mouth.”
“Like a motorboat. So?”
“Ramie and I are good friends who occasionally fuck.” He hadn’t meant to let that slip, because he never confirmed or denied what he and Ramie were to each other to other people. It was easier to let folks speculate. But for some reason, Hugo’s nearness fucked with his brain-to-mouth censor.
“Hey, at least you’re getting laid,” Hugo said in a nonchalant tone Brand didn’t buy for a second.
“There’s tail in this town if you know where to chase it.” He watched Hugo’s face, curious if Hugo would rise to the bait and ask where to find it, or swat it away because he had his sights set on Brand.
Hugo’s eyes narrowed. “Trust me, I know where to chase it.”
Thought so.
They held eye contact for a long moment, neither of them blinking. Hugo’s eyes offered a subtle challenge of their own, but as much as that challenge appealed to Brand, he wasn’t biting. Not tonight. Despite finding the kid attractive, and liking this new pushy side of Hugo, Brand was his boss. To everyone except Jackson and Ramie, Brand was also straight, and he was going to keep it that way. Maybe Brand did need to clear the air with Hugo, but not tonight.
Right now, the ranch was his first priority, and he couldn’t risk their conversation scaring Hugo off.
“Well, then maybe you better go chasin’ it and stop botherin’ me,” Brand said with a thicker drawl that usual. “Tell Rem thanks for the beer.” Spots had opened up at the bar, so Brand grabbed his glass and headed that way.
Ramie shot him a few curious looks while she made drinks, then sidled her way over to his corner, which was about three empty stools away from other people.
“So did that look as awkward as it felt?” Brand asked as softly as he could over the music. Part of him regretted how rude he’d been but it couldn’t be helped now.
“Nope.” She gave him a bowl of peanuts to munch on. “You looked like a pair of alpha wolves circling each other, unsure if you’re about to start a brawl or go out back and fuck each other.”
He dropped his forehead into his palm. “Think anyone else noticed?”
“Hard to say, but no one else had a reason to watch you guys like I did, so probably not. I hate to say it, but it looks like there’s chemistry there, Brand.”
“There is, which is why I need to stay the hell away from him. Fucking an employee is not a good look.”
“You fuck Jackson.”
He glanced around, slightly alarmed, but no one was paying them any attention. “That’s different. We started fucking around before Dad hired him.”
She picked up his beer glass and put a napkin under it. “So it’s different with Hugo because all you ever did was kiss?”
It was one doozy of a kiss, though.
“Yes, it’s different. Ugh. All I wanted was to come out for a beer and relax, and now he’s got me all twisted up. Mouthy brat.”
“You wouldn’t be twisted up if you didn’t like him. Be back.” She hustled off to take an order.
Brand wanted to bang his forehead off the bar rail, because she wasn’t wrong. He’d never forgotten Hugo—which was hard to do with Rem around all the time working the ranch. He wanted to know more about the journey that had turned a watchful teenager into the challenging man Hugo was now.
