Colorado Flames WIth A Texas Twist (12 page)

“Wait,” he whispered.

James stopped walking and turned to face him. “What?”

“This thing between us, it’s not over.”

“Brody,” James groaned.

“You felt something, right?” Brody moved close, his fingers running over James’s torso.

James swiped his hand over his face and squeezed his chin before letting go. “It would be impossible.”

“Not really. We’re both adults. We can figure out a way to make time together.”

The bell rang again and James turned to open the door. Brody wanted to tell him to stop, that he didn’t want to see Jessica, but the door was open and he had nowhere to hide.

“Hi, can I help you?” James asked.

“I was...um, is Brody here?” Jessica asked.

Brody stepped forward, searching for a way to end this farce of a relationship. “Hi, Jessica.”

“So you never called. It’s been a couple of days. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. We were just heading out.” Brody glanced at James’s shirtless torso, his mind fuzzing. How could he not want that? Fuck, all this time he’d been living to please a ghost.

Jessica moved closer to him. “Brody, is there something you need to tell me?”

His heart sped up and started racing. He knew he needed to break it to her, revealing the truth about how he felt, but the words were trapped inside, stuffed down with fear. “Jessica, I-I...” He glanced at James and knew he couldn’t keep stringing Jessica along. He didn’t hate her, he liked her as a person, but she no longer excited him if she ever had. “Jessica, could you come in?”

“I’m going to get dressed. We’ll leave when you’re ready.” James headed to the bedroom, leaving him alone with Jessica.

“You’re breaking up with me, am I right?” Jessica asked.

“I—God, Jessica, this is tough.”

“No, sweetie, it isn’t. Just say the words. I’d rather you tell me it’s over than let me believe we could have something.”

Brody shook his head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you. It just didn’t work out.” Jessica went to the cabinet and pulled out a glass, turning on the tap to fill it with water.

He watched as she drank, wondering if he really did want a guy. One thing was obvious, no matter how pretty Jessica was, he wasn’t attracted to her. James got his heart racing and that confused the hell out of him.

Brody pressed his lips together, looking away in disgust. “But you don’t know.”

“Know what?” Jessica sat the glass down on the counter and moved to stand next to him.

“I think I’m gay.”

Laughter bubbled out of Jessica’s mouth, and she slapped his chest, her hand staying on him. “Brody Medders, I know one thing for sure, you are not gay. I mean really, you liked kissing me, right?”

He couldn’t look at her. She had no idea what he’d been thinking when he’d kissed her. She didn’t know of his struggle to think of her and not some guy while they’d been together.

“Brody, you did like kissing me, right?”

“What if I was thinking about a guy when I was kissing you?”

“Are you kidding me? That’s not right.”

“What, being gay?”

“No, pretending to like a girl when you’re lusting after some guy. Stop pretending and just be who you are.”

“But what if—”

“No. What if’s are for losers. I’ve lived my entire life on the ranch, working hard, scraping by with little, and some months barely making it. We fished the creeks and ponds for dinner, ate rabbits, and sometimes we went to the church potluck empty handed because money was tight. There is one thing I know, you don’t live in the world of what if, you stand proud for who you are. I haven’t known you long, but I can damn sure guarantee that if you don’t stand up and be who you were meant to be, you’re going to regret it. That’s why I haven’t married some dumb jerk. I’m waiting for the right guy.”

Brody met her gaze, wishing that things were different. “I’m sorry I’m not that guy.”

“So am I.” Jessica lifted up and kissed his cheek. “Be who you are.”

“You’re not angry?”

“Oh, I’m pissed and I’ll probably have a bonfire tonight and burn the photos I have of you, but that’s a different story. At least you told me now before we had sex and I fell in love. Find some hot guy and make him yours.”

James opened his bedroom door and stepped into the hall. Brody watched him as he adjusted his shirt, straightening the collar. “Yeah, that’s not as easy as it sounds,” Brody whispered.

“Don’t I know it,” Jessica said.

He glanced at Jessica and smiled before pulling her into a hug. “Thanks. I’ll see you around town.”

“Yeah, don’t be a stranger.”

“I’ll try. Be careful out there.”

Jessica gave him a tight smile. “I will. James, it was nice seeing you again.”

“Same here. I guess we’ll be seeing you later.” The smile on James’s face lacked the confidence he’d displayed earlier.

Jessica turned back to Brody and lifted a brow. “Just be you.” She opened the door and left.

“What did she mean by that?” James asked.

“I told her I was gay.”

James froze, his eyes on Brody. “You what?”

“I’m tired of hiding. I want to be with you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I know that you and I should be together.”

James’s eyes narrowed and he sighed. “But the ranch.”

“I know more than any other guy ever would.”

“You’d be in danger.”

“I know all about danger. I don’t need you lecturing me on danger.”

James shook his head and stared at the wall for a long time before turning back to him. “I’m not supposed to get involved with you.”

“Why?” Brody stepped closer to James, wanting to feel the man’s lips on his again.

“Because Duff, and Grant don’t want me to.”

“What say do they have?” Brody asked.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Brody closed the distance and their body heat mingled. “Try me.”

“It’s complicated.” James took a step back and walked over to the kitchen to grab the keys to the truck. He stuffed them in his pocket, keeping his back turned away. “It’s getting late, and we need to head out or we’ll miss the movie.”

“Just answer me this,” Brody said.

“Okay.”

“Do you have any feelings for me at all?”

James didn’t mov
e
, not even to breathe. After a long moment he sighed, his shoulders drooping. “I shouldn’t. It’s not fair to you.”

“I didn’t ask if it was fair. I asked if you felt something.”

James spun around and stalked over, pulling him into a tight hug, one hand on Brody’s head, the other on his ass. “Do you feel that?” James ground his hard cock against Brody’s body.

“Yeah,” Brody breathed out, sparks of excitement pulsing through him.

“That’s only the physical. What I feel emotionally is ten times that. Don’t ever doubt what I feel for you.” James mashed their lips together, the kiss hotter than any he’d ever received. When James backed away, Brody couldn’t stand on his own so he held onto James. He licked his lips, staring at James as he tried to stay upright.

“That was fucking amazing.”

“You’re going to drive me crazy,” James said.

“It should be a fun trip for us both.”

Brody steadied himself before stepping away and grabbing two sweatshirts, tossing one to James before they headed out. Jessica had surprised him. When he’d told her he was gay, he hadn’t expected her to encourage him. Her words filled him with hope. He wasn’t really any different than he had been before, but he had confidence now. Maybe he and James could work something out. It would be difficult, but worth it if their kisses so far were any indication of what was to come.

Chapter Fourteen

They’d picked a movie that was funny instead of the romantic drama that came out the weekend before. The theater wasn’t too full, and they’d sat in the back row so he could keep an eye out for trouble. Brody had sunk down in his seat and was laughing about something that had happened on screen. James didn’t care about the movie, but he loved watching Brody.

Brody laughed again and reached for some popcorn. He glanced up, their gazes meeting. Brody sobered quickly, his hand stalling on the way to the popcorn bucket. The movie was forgotten as Brody sat up, his face level with James. The sound of the crowd laughing died away as Brody stared at him. The tip of Brody’s tongue ran over his upper lip and James groaned.

He wanted to close the distance between them, claiming one more kiss from Brody. It was wrong because he knew they couldn’t move forward in a relationship, not if he stayed at the ranch. Plus, there was the issue of Brody and the drug dealer. What the fuck was he doing? He was at the theater to draw out the guy trying to kill Brody, not to make moves on the man he was trying to protect.

James was about to sit back, and force his attention on the movie when Brody moved, closing the distance between them. Their lips met and neither of them reacted for a second. Then James moaned, accepting that he couldn’t deny the desire he felt. He wanted Brody for more than a friend. He wanted to be connected to the man, maybe even forever. This wasn’t a fling, this was more to James and that scared him.

He licked at the thin lips pressed against his, tasting popcorn and Coke, and a little bit of the man he desired with each swipe of his tongue. Brody opened for him, tilting his head back, leaning it against the back of the seat. James leaned over, placing his hand on Brody’s chest searching for his nipple. They were both breathing deeply, the air around them heated. Sweat trickled down his back. Brody moaned and sunk down in his seat. They were treading dangerous waters because he really wanted to have Brody under him, flat on his back, legs in the air.

Before he went too far, he ended the kiss. James sat up, allowing Brody to adjust in his seat. The movie was still going, the crowd not paying any attention to them, but the world had shifted.

He reached for Brody’s hand, weaving their fingers together. The rest of the movie played on the screen, but he didn’t pay any attention to the plot. All he could think about was he and Brody being together. But for that to happen, he had to figure out who was trying to hurt Brody and stop him.

Leaving the ranch would be difficult. His family, the men who really mattered to him were there, but now Brody meant more. He couldn’t walk away from whatever the heck they had. Funny how quickly he’d changed his tune. When he’d walked out of the ranch house a few days ago he was dead set on staying at Wild Bluff. After a few days with Brody, he couldn’t imagine breaking it off with the man. He was being rash, but everything inside of him needed this man.

The movie ended and the lights came on. James dropped Brody’s hand as they exited the theater. They had to be careful if they were going to be together. Neither one of them needed to go asking for trouble, and some areas in Colorado were more backwards than others.

“Are you hungry?” James asked.

“I could eat something. Though I need to cut back on the calories since I’m not working out right now.”

“How about we grab a salad?”

“Salad? Are you kidding me?” Brody asked.

“Please, I eat healthy most days. Salads aren’t all bad. Come on, let’s get something light, then we can head back to town. You’re going back to work tomorrow, right?” James wasn’t looking forward to Brody being at the firehouse for twenty-four hours.

“Yep. I need to earn a living somehow. They’ll put me on light duty until I can prove myself physically.”

James nodded but was quiet. He had money and would never need to work another day in his life, but he would never be able to just sit around. How people did that was beyond him. Active was his middle name. Maybe he would start a business doing consulting. Security was second nature to him. But those skills were best employed first hand, and he really didn’t want to leave Brody. Any security jobs would take him away from Brody’s side. That is, if they stayed here.

“I’ll head out to the ranch tomorrow, just to check on things.”

“Are you going to spend the night at my place?”

“Tomorrow night?” James asked.

“Yeah, tomorrow. I won’t be there.”

“I don’t know. I might need to stay at the ranch.”

“Okay.”

They walked to a pub around the corner from the theater. Brody was moving better. To a normal person the limp was probably not perceivable. James could still see it. If the person looking to hurt Brody were a real professional, he’d strike now. No one had made a move, and it didn’t seem like anyone was following them around. After grabbing a beer they each ordered a salad with chicken. James sat back and stared at Brody, taking in his thin lips and square jaw. He liked Brody’s prominent brow set over his intense gray-blue eyes.

“What?” Brody asked.

“I was wondering what you would think if I told you I wanted to be with you.”

Brody picked up his spoon and twisted it between his fingers. “Do you think two men could be that way? I mean, like a couple?”

“Yes, I know men who have made a go of it and succeeded.”

“So when you say you want to be with me, what would that mean for us?”

“I’ve been thinking about it. I want to talk more about the future once we’re back at your place.”

Brody nodded and put his spoon down. “Did you hear what Jessica and I were talking about?”

“No, I didn’t eavesdrop. When I stepped into the bedroom I turned on some music.”

“I broke up with her.”

“I figured as much.”

“Do you want to know why?”

James nodded. This was the first man he’d ever really been interested in. Never before would he have thought about giving up his work for anyone. Fucking was enough, until now. Not that he didn’t want to get Brody into bed, but he really liked just hanging out with the guy, doing normal things with him. Spending the last few days just hanging out with Brody, eating meals, and cooking for him, had given James pleasure. The peace he’d found with Brody was the main thing lacking in his life. He loved the ranch and the guys, but they couldn’t do for him what Brody did.

“Being with you yesterday and today, I realized that I needed to be truthful with myself. I’ve always had a thing for guys, but I never acted on it. You gave me the strength and courage to see the truth.”