Page 6 of Fire Me Up (Front Range Motorcycle Collective #2)

Dylan

“ T he fuck is that?” Cash’s deep, rumbly voice was instantly recognizable. It always sounded scratchy, like he was out of practice with speaking, which I suppose he was. I stood up, bumping my head on the door frame I’d just built.

“Fuck. Ow.” Rubbing my head, I glanced over to see Cash standing there with my boss, Marcus, one of the two founders of the Front Range Motorcycle Collective.

“A cage in the FRMC?” Marcus asked. “Bit too kinky even for us, don’t you think?”

I stepped back, looking at the new cat enclosure I’d built against the back wall of the FRMC’s instruction shop, frowning. “It’s for cats.”

Marcus’s eyebrows shot up. “Do we get a lot of cats taking motorcycle repair classes?”

That was all it took for me to realize just how unhinged my current project was.

It had all started early this morning, when I’d woken from a disturbingly realistic nightmare about Gael’s cat getting into some toxic coolant.

I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the furry menace meeting his untimely death.

So I’d pulled out my phone and started searching for options that would keep a cat safe and happy.

“Um, no. It’s more like, in case our students have, you know. Cats. Or small pets. It would work for a ferret, too.”

One of Cash’s eyebrows quirked up.

“A ferret?” Marcus asked, lips twitching.

I rubbed my hands over my face with a groan. “You know me. When I get stuck on something, this happens.” I circled the enclosure, starting to feel a little panicky. “Do you think I have enough time before class to disassemble and chuck this whole thing before he sees it?”

“So there’s a guy,” Marcus said, finally breaking into a smile. “That explains a lot.”

“What? No, this isn’t about Liv’s brother. I was worried the cat might get into dangerous chemicals.”

“Why didn’t you just tell the student not to bring his cat to class?”

Cash had his phone out, scrolling to something. He flipped it over and showed it to Marcus, who threw back his head and laughed.

“What?” I asked.

“Liv’s brother is hot as hell, which explains a lot. But next time, maybe check in with us before you go all ADHD hyperfocus and do something unhinged.”

I glanced at the cat enclosure. “It’s not that unhinged.”

“Is that a climbing gym?” Marcus asked.

“Bacon needs his exercise!” I protested, eyeing the climbing gym. There were also several perches at different heights, a scratching post, three hammocks, a water and food station, and, tucked away in a box on the bottom, a litter box.

Marcus was still laughing as he led Cash back out of the shop.

Fuck, I’d lost my goddamn mind. Sighing, I knelt on the floor and started to pack up my tools, realizing pretty quickly that I’d also lost my goddamn screwdriver.

The door to the workshop creaked open, and I stood so fast, I nearly hit my head again.

“Dylan? Sorry, am I too early?” Gael stood in the doorway, Bacon peeking out of a backpack on his shoulder. My heart jumped into my throat as I took him in.

He wore a simple blue T-shirt that stretched across his chest and faded jeans that hugged his thighs in all the right ways. The bandage on his arm was gone. I had the strangest urge to check his gunshot wound. And maybe to kiss his injury better.

“No, uh, perfect timing, actually.” I hopped down from the stool, self-conscious about my project. “I was just finishing something up.”

Gael’s eyes followed mine to the cat enclosure, and his expression morphed from confusion to surprise. “Is that… did you build that?”

“Yeah, I thought maybe Bacon might like a safe space to hang out during class. It’ll keep him from getting into any shop chemicals or breaking any tools. Or other pets. Other pets could use it, too.” Yep, that sounded perfectly logical and not at all deranged.

His eyes widened, and his brow furrowed. I couldn’t tell how hard he was judging me.

“This way, when you’re not able to watch him, he can lounge in the enclosure and be safe from licking up any antifreeze.” I shuddered as a flashback of my dream popped up in my mind. “It’s practical for everyone. Bacon just made me think of it, that’s all.”

Gael moved closer to examine the enclosure. “You built this? Seriously?”

“It’s not a big deal.” I jammed my hands into my pockets. “Just some scrap materials and stuff I found at the pet store. The big hammock was on sale. And the scratching post.”

Gael touched the climbing structure, testing its sturdiness, then walked around the side of the cage. “This is amazing. He loves to climb. And there’s another hammock back here!”

“Three of them. I read somewhere that cats like hammocks. There’s cat grass, too.

Does he like cat grass? I thought it might help him feel settled and comfortable.

” I really needed to stop saying crazy things, but the word vomit kept coming.

“There are food bowls, too, and a litter box back there, in that cubby. In case he needs it.”

“This is so cool!” He reached up and scratched his cat’s head. “Do you see this, buddy? Uncle Dylan loves you, even after you knocked down all those bolts and washers.”

Uncle Dylan loves you. Why did that hit so hard? My cheeks were so hot that I suspected I was bright red, but fortunately, Gael was focused on the cat.

Gael set his cat backpack on the floor next to the door to the cat enclosure. The orange tabby sauntered out, tail high, surveying his new domain with typical feline judgment.

I crouched down, pulling out one of the lickable treats Gael was always giving him. Bacon sniffed the air, his attention immediately captured by the treat. I opened the trapdoor I’d made near the food bowls and squeezed some treat into the little bowl.

“That’s his favorite flavor. You really know how to impress him.”

I ignored the way the deep rumble of Gael’s voice made me shiver as I latched the door behind the cat. We both watched as Bacon explored the climbing gym. Within minutes, he’d climbed to the top perch, batted at the hanging toys, and finally settled into the hammock with a contented sigh.

“He actually likes it.” I couldn’t keep the pride out of my voice.

“Of course. He loves it.” Gael stared at me, his brown eyes warm, a wide smile on his face. “Thanks. This was really kind of you.”

I ducked my head. “It’s just a cage.”

“It’s thoughtful. I can see how much work you put into making sure he’s happy in there. I can’t believe you finished this all in a day. You’re really talented.”

Why did he have to be so… Gael? I would have been better off if he’d mocked me for it, or turned it into a joke, but his praise was doing something funny to me.

I needed to breathe. I needed to get out of here, because the way he was beaming at me was doing something weird to me. Making me want to get him to smile like that always.

“Um, I need to check on something before class,” I said quickly, making a beeline toward the bathroom. I locked myself in a stall and leaned back against the stall door, taking deep, slow breaths, wishing I could just hide in the bathroom until Gael was gone.

But class was starting, and I needed to be there to greet my students, so I splashed some cold water on my face and headed back toward the instruction shop, frowning as I approached the open door and heard quiet voices.

“See what I mean? It’s pretty easy to tell if a guy has a crush on you back.” Liv’s teasing voice was pretty easy to recognize.

“It’s fine, Liv. He doesn’t even like me like that.”

“What? Most people don’t build luxury penthouses for cats they barely know,” she said. “Unless there’s something inspiring them. Just tell him you’re bi. What’s so hard about kissing another guy?”

I peeked in and watched Gael tug on his hair. He looked flustered. “Girls are easy. I always know when they’re flirting with me. Guys are… I don’t know. They’re just so… intimidating? Cute? Like how do I know if a guy is into me like that? What if I flirt and they’re not into me like that?”

“Look, Dylan’s gay, and he’s nice. Maybe he’d be into helping.”

Gael’s voice went quieter, and I couldn’t quite hear what he was saying, but my cheeks were as hot as his looked. I hadn’t blushed this much since I was in grade school.

A sound at the other end of the hall made me realize I was intruding, and that I needed to get into the classroom before the other students saw me peeping on Gael from the hallway. I made plenty of noise as I opened the door, and Liv and Gael both instantly went quiet.

Liv sipped her coffee, looking between us with unholy glee.

“Liv, I swear to God—” Gael started.

“I’m just saying,” she said.

“What?” I was aiming for casual, but missed it by a mile.

Liv shrugged. “Nothing. I’m just glad you guys are becoming good friends.

Who would have known that my best friend and my brother would hit it off like this?

” She backed toward the door. “Anyway, I’ll leave you two.

Class doesn’t start for twenty minutes, plenty of time to give Gael his first kiss. ”

And then she was gone, leaving us standing there staring at each other in stunned silence. Bacon continued to snore peacefully in his hammock.

“I’m going to kill her,” Gael finally said, his voice strained. “This is why I never tell her secrets.”

I couldn’t think of a single thing to say. My brain kept replaying Liv’s words.

Holy shit.

“So,” I shrugged, trying to appear casual while my heart hammered against my ribs. “Want to?”

Gael blinked. “Want to what?”

“Kiss.” I stepped closer, trying to shake off the nerves. My hands were trembling. Somehow I’d gone from casual hookups and the Grindr grid to shaking like a teenager before his first kiss. What the actual fuck?

“You’d… be okay with that?” Gael asked.

“Sure.” I forced a laugh, trying to keep things light. “Consider it a public service.”

Gael didn’t laugh. Instead, he watched me, eyes bright with curiosity.

“Okay,” he said. “Because I know you’re kind, and I trust you.”