Page 65 of Finley

“Good. Now, let me get you dirty again so you have a reason to be in here with me getting clean.”

LATER ON,THEY agreed to met up with their friends separately so there was no way for them to get out of the night Daniel seemed dead set on having.

Brantley wasn’t sure what had gotten into him earlier, but Daniel had been close to bouncing off the walls—the bathroom walls—until he’d calmed the guy down. He’d been practically vibrating with his excitement, and Brantley was curious what had sparked it. However, he didn’t feel they were at a place where it was any of his business unless Daniel wanted to tell him, so he’d brushed it aside.

Whatever it was, it had to be good, because Daniel had been particularly worked up on their go-around in the shower. And if he wanted to go dancing to work off the rest of this adrenaline, then who the hell was Brantley to deny him?

Getting Jordan to go, knowing Daniel and Derek would be there… Well,thatwould be a different story.

As he stepped inside the small café, he spotted Jordan immediately. He was already seated out on the terrace, under one of the umbrellas, sipping his usual mimosa.

“Morning, Brantley,” Elizabeth, their regular hostess, greeted him.

“Good morning, Elizabeth. I see he’s already here.”

“Sure is. He ordered for you, by the way. Said you needed an extra-hearty breakfast this morning because you’ve been doing a new workout routine.”

Brantley was going to kill him. That thought was further solidified when Elizabeth gave him a quick once-over and winked.

“You look great. What kind of exercise have you been doing?”

He thought about the shower activity he’d partaken in that morning and managed to say, “Just some extra cardio.”

She nodded. “Well, whatever it is, it’s working. You look fantastic. I’d definitely keep it up.”

He barely stopped himself from shaking his head at the first thought that entered his mind, and then he smiled and pointed in Jordan’s direction. “Well, I better get over to him before he wonders where I am.”

“No problem. Your food will be out shortly.”

“Thanks, Elizabeth.”

He wove his way back through the bustling café, and when he got to Jordan, he walked around the table and pulled his chair out to take a seat.

“A new workout routine? Really?”

Jordan aimed his brown eyes up at him and then flashed anot-so-innocent grin. “Am I wrong?”

When he was seated and reaching for the drink Jordan had ordered for him, Brantley smiled.

“Mhmm. Exactly. Don’t even try with me, Hayes. You have that whole”—Jordan raised his hand palm out and waved it in front of him—“freshly fucked vibe going on. Plus, you look more relaxed than I’ve seen you in years, so I’m assuming yourexerciseroutine is working out quite well for you.”

Brantley relaxed back in his chair and took a long sip of his drink.

“Don’t think for even one second you aren’t going to spill the details.”

He tried not to laugh at his friend. But he always found it amusing that the longer he stayed quiet, the more worked up Jordan became.

“So, how was he? Better than when he was a wee lad?”

“He was never aweeanything.”

“Okay, but spill. ’Cause the guy who told me to get lost—he looked like he was going to swallow you whole.” Jordan’s eyes gleamed as he leaned across the table. “Did he?Canhe swallow you whole?”

“Jesus, would you control yourself?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, touching his fingers to his chest.Not dramatic at all.“But did you see him?”

“Yes.” Brantley laughed. “I did. Up close and personal.”