It’s Friday night and Mason is content to stay home with his dog instead of going out in a raging thunderstorm. He wasn’t in the mood for the bars, anyway. Not when he was pining for his best friend’s brother, Boone. Who was off-limits -- no matter what his heart wanted.
When the doorbell rings, he’s shocked to find the man of his dreams on his front porch. Boone’s had a rotten day and is looking to have fun, but will he be able to convince Mason he wants to be more than a friend?
I willed myself to stay in control, yet my body betrayed me by trembling again.
Boone narrowed his eyes. “Are you cold?” He glanced down at himself and chuckled. “Of course you are. I probably dripped all over you. I’m sorry. Shit, I’m a mess, Mason.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to say anything ...” I teased, relieved he hadn’t seen through me.
Boone laughed and let his hand drop, but kept his eyes locked on mine. I watched as a genuine smile spread across Boone’s face, gratified to see it showed in his eyes. Argus ran circles around us, barking again with excitement at having a visitor.
“Let me go grab some towels,” I offered -- ignoring how rough my voice sounded in my ears -- before shushing Argus. “Then you can tell me what’s got you out in this awful weather,” I added over my shoulder as I made his way down the hall. I quickly grabbed a couple of towels from the linen closet and hurried back, handing one to Boone so he could dry off and using the other to wipe up the water on the floor.
I turned to find Boone stepping out of his wet shoes and kicking them back onto the entryway rug before pulling his hoodie off over his head, lifting his shirt up with it. My heart raced at seeing the strip of pale skin and narrow bit of dark hair that disappeared into the waistband of his jeans. I knew I was staring and tore my gaze away. Unfortunately, not quickly enough, because I found Boone’s eyes on me, his eyebrows raised a little.
Shit. Busted.
A smile played at Boone’s lips, but he didn’t mention my little lapse in judgement, instead he just grinned and handed the towel over. “Thanks.”
My face heated in embarrassment. “Be right back,” I muttered under my breath and headed toward the bathroom to toss them in the hamper. The short walk there and back to the living room gave me the time I needed to feel a little more in control.
I found Boone still by the door, talking to Argus, who was listening intently to what a good boy he was.
“You want some pizza? Just pulled it out of the oven a few minutes before you got here.”
“Would love some. And a beer if you have it?”
I nodded and gestured toward the sofa as I headed into the kitchen. I still had no idea why Boone had dropped by and what had upset him, but I wasn’t going to badger it out of him. When he was ready to share, he would fill me in. I plated some pizza, grabbed another beer, and joined Boone back in the living room.
Boone had settled into the middle of the sofa with Argus nestled in next to him, his head on Boone’s thigh. It was more than a little irritating that I was instantly jealous of my dog. I handed over the plate and beer and took my seat at the end of the sofa, wondering why Boone had chosen to sit so close instead of at the other end. More unusual behavior. I took a swig of my beer and tried not to focus on the fact that our thighs were nearly touching.
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