Page 22 of Trees Take the Long View

"I can drop you wherever but you'll have to give me directions," I told him, ignoring the subtext. "But it's getting dark so let's hurry. I don't know this area."

"You could," said Freddie.

Dean looked like he wanted to say something. His mouth twisted a little. He nodded once. "I'll get started on the necessary tasks," he said instead, and then held out a hand to Freddie. "It was good to meet you. Thank you for your help."

"Any time," said Freddie, and shook his hand firmly, holding his gaze.

Dean winced a little. I shot Freddie a hard look, and he released Dean's hand. Freddie grinned. "Best take me home now, big boy."

As soon as we were alone in the car, I asked, "Were you trying to wind him up, or me?"

He shrugged. "I don't know; both of you, maybe?"

That kind of hurt. I'd thought we were becoming friends. "Why?"

He clicked his teeth. "Don't kid a kidder, Alec. You're too cute to accept that you're taken when you don't even smell like him. You can't expect me not to try."

"Oh," I said, in a small voice. "I didn't realize you were into me."

"I mean, I could be. I think."

Here I'd been, enjoying how good it felt to be alive again, connecting in the world with a new exuberance now that I'd found the man who could become my mate. Freddie had felt the force of all that happiness and energy turned on him, and seen it as something more. I'd somehow missed the whole "flirting" aspect and thought it was all good fun. I guess my sense of smell wasn't as finely attuned as I'd thought, or surely I'd have noticed. Maybe I'd remember that before I bragged about it next time.

"I guess I don't read foxes very well. I'm sorry."

He sighed, and put a hand on my arm. "Don't be. Look, it's obvious you're into this guy. If it doesn't work out, come find me, let's see where it goes." He dropped his hand then, but I could still feel the force of his gaze, watching me. He had an intensity about him as he studied me, I could actually feel the focus of it.

"Look, I'm probably not whatever you think I am," I said uncomfortably.

"You're cute and not an asshole. You seem fun." It was more than that, I could tell by his tone. He didn't want to make himself any more vulnerable than he already had by admitting he liked me. He might act tough, but that was a scary place to be, especially when it wasn't returned.

"I haven't been very fun for a long time. There was—" I broke off. I really didn't want to tell him. "I've been a mess. Just starting to turn things around." Should I tell him I didn't have a job anymore either, or that I was, technically, of no fixed address?

"Since meeting your guy. Yeah." He sighed again. "Here we go. Turn up ahead. Left. Yeah."

Silence as I drove, the headlight beams cutting into the gathering dark. "I guess you don't live on the golf course."

"No shit. Here, that blue house. I rent a room. See ya around, okay? Call me if you need more, or get the judge. See ya." He exited the car almost before I'd stopped. Since he'd given me his phone number earlier, there was really nothing left to say, was there? I had the feeling I wouldn't see him around, even if we stayed in town a while. I'd hurt him, and I'd never meant to. He'd been ashamed to look at me, humiliated because I wasn't into him.

I watched him as he hurried through the headlights and up the steps to his rented room. His shoulders were hunched, and his butt looked great in those trousers.Shit.

My heart was heavy as I drove away.

#

Dean glanced up from the bed he sat cross-legged on. Something in the tension of his body loosened when he spotted me. It was as if he'd been bracing himself for something, and now was safe again. He gave me a tentative smile. "How are you?"

"Good. You?"

"You're so hot," I managed witlessly. "How do you do it?"

He gave his short hair an ostentatious toss. "I just woke up like this." He grinned, showing one dimple.

I climbed onto the bed and wrapped my arms around him, leaning my head on his shoulder. Maybe he'd think I was clingy. The mood I was in right now, I really didn't care. I wouldn't mind licking his skin. Probably shouldn't do that right now. We needed to have a talk or something first. It was difficult to remember why that mattered much right now.

"You've been working?" I mumbled against him.

"Yeah. You got him home safe, then?"