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Wes nodded, though he didn’t really get it. It wasn’t as if they should be talking sex anyway, so he said, “Thanks for cooking. I’m shit in the kitchen.”

Braden winked. “I’m a man of many talents.”

Yeah, he remembered.

“What do you do?” Braden asked, leaning back on the counter as well.

“What?”

“For a job. I don’t even know what you do.”

Damn, this whole thing was ass backward. They’d fucked, and now Braden spent the day cooking and helping him take care of his niece, yet he didn’t even know what Wes did for a living?

“I’m a respiratory therapist.”

“You like it?”

“Yeah, I guess. Wanted to be a doctor, but this is okay.” Most people would probably give Braden more there. Say why he hadn’t tried to do what he wanted, but he’d never really worked that way. It used to drive his ex, Alexander, crazy. He’d told him so when he left Wes.

Braden sighed, and Wes wondered if he saw that already. Saw that Wes really was shit to have for a friend and definitely not good at anything more than that. That made sense, anyway. He might as well see how Wes was up front.

“I’m going to head out.” Braden stepped away from the sink but then stopped. “She’s a cool kid. I work three twelves, so I’m around four days a week. If you ever need help with her again, I’m around.”

“I’ll be working three twelves, too. I don’t know my days yet, but Lydia can usually pick her up from preschool. We only had a problem today because of being sick.”

Braden nodded and started for the door. Wes went behind him, telling himself it was just because he needed to lock up. Like Wes had earlier, Braden got as far as putting a hand on the doorknob before Wes’s voice stopped him. “Thanks. For helping out today. For rushing over here and...hell, for helping me at all. I know I’ve been a prick.”

Braden turned toward him. He had fire in his eyes. His square jaw sexy as hell, with that fucking hair Wes loved. He didn’t know which of them moved first—maybe both of them—but suddenly Braden’s mouth was on his and Wes pushed his tongue in, wanting nothing more than to taste him.

Hands were everywhere, Braden’s up the back of Wes’s shirt, hot callused hands against his flesh. Wes wrapped his arms around Braden, digging into Braden’s shoulder muscles that he’d been admiring earlier.

Braden’s mouth ripped from his, sliding down before his teeth bit into Wes’s neck. “Fuck, I’ve wanted to do this again since the last time.”

As much as he hated it, he had, too. 
This
he could give—sex, release. But this time, this time he wanted Braden. He wanted to be the one doing the fucking.

Wes pushed him backward. Braden laughed as he hit the door, grabbing Wes and pulling Wes with him.

Their mouths fused together again when Jessie’s shaky voice broke through the haze. “Uncle Wes! I threw up!”

Wes jerked back. Fuck.
Fuck!
What had he been thinking?

“Shit. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry,” Braden said. “Want me to help with her?”

Wes didn’t realize he was already walking away until he stopped to reply to Braden. “I got it. You can go.” He almost went for Jessie again but added, “I appreciate it, though.” Because he did. When he met the man, he’d assumed Braden was a flake. He seemed to coast through life just having fun, but the fact that he was here said a lot. The fact that he offered to help when Wes’s niece vomited said a lot. Damn it all to hell, because there was more to Braden then he’d realized. This would be a whole lot easier if there wasn’t.

––––––––

B
raden ripped off his helmet and fell into place on the fire truck. His gloves came next before he dropped his head back against the side of the truck.

That had been a close one, a really fucking close one to get those people out before the building collapsed around them. He still felt the lingering effects of the heat. Adrenaline still pumped through his body, making his leg bounce up and down.

They’d done it. That was all that mattered to him. But like it always did after a fire, his body felt amped up even more than usual. Like he couldn’t catch up with himself. He still felt the woman’s body in his arms, high on the fact that he’d gotten her out because nothing else had been an option.

“Good job in there today, Roth,” Charlie, one of the men in his crew, said.

“Just doing my job.” He leaned a little as the truck took a corner.

It didn’t take them long to get back to the station. They took care of business, and a few hours later, he climbed into his truck after work. He should be dead on his feet. In a way he was, but that’s not really how Braden worked. There was no way he could rest and recoup tonight. His body still hadn’t shut down from the day.

When Charlie came out after him, Braden rolled down the window and called out, “Want to go grab a drink or something?”

Charlie shook his head. “Nah. Sarah would kick my ass.”

Braden chuckled. “You guys are back on this week, then?” They were always breaking up and getting back together. He couldn’t keep up with their relationship, not that he tried to.

“For good this time. We’re getting married.”

“No shit?”

Charlie nodded. “She always spoils my ass when there’s a big fire. Not missing out on it to have drinks with you.”

Braden couldn’t blame him. Instead of saying goodbye, he grinned, shook his head, and rolled the window up again, missing the cool air when he did. He loved fall in Colorado. Loved the slight crispness in the air. Not that you could always count on the weather there, but when it was like now, he thrived. Cool, sunny days and cold nights.

Braden picked up his phone and thought about calling to check on Jessie. He hadn’t spoken to Wes since he left his house a few nights ago. Hopefully the little girl felt better. She was a cool kid. He’d had a good time with her, and he definitely had a good time with Wes, even if he did make Braden swear to be a boy scout and then kissed the hell out of him afterward.

He really, really wanted to fuck the man again—or let Wes fuck him. He didn’t much care which way they went, but then he thought about that little girl again and everything Wes was dealing with and that made him feel like an asshole. He couldn’t imagine that kind of responsibility. Jock was enough for him. His dog, or when he stayed with one of his siblings to watch his nieces or nephews for a night.

Friends or not, their attraction for each other would make things difficult, and as much as he wanted Wes, he didn’t want to make things harder on him.

So instead of calling Wes, he dialed Coop to see if maybe he and Noah wanted to go have a few beers with him tonight.

“Cooper and Noah’s love shack,” Coop teased when he answered the phone.

“It doesn’t sound nearly as good when you’re saying it instead of me.”

“How’d babysitting duty go the other night?” Cooper asked.

“I painted nails.”

“Whoa. TMI. Wes is a kinky bastard, huh?”

Braden laughed. “Jessie’s nails, smart guy.”

“Oh, yeah. Okay.” Cooper pretended he didn’t know what Braden meant.

“I should have called your boyfriend instead of you. He’s the more levelheaded one. Ask Noah if he wants to go shoot some pool with me tonight.”

“Funny. Didn’t get enough the other night?”

“Nah, I didn’t end up going. I hung out with Jessie and Wes for a while, and then I was tired so I just went home.”

Coop paused for a minute before replying. “Sounds like things are better with you guys. We’re going to Wes’s for that party he’s having to celebrate his new job. Why aren’t you?”

Braden felt a little sting in his chest. Wes planned a party for tonight? That didn’t sound like something he would do at all. And he obviously hadn’t wanted Braden there, since this was the first he heard about it. “Wasn’t invited.” It shouldn’t matter, it really shouldn’t, and in a lot of ways, it didn’t. In all honesty, though, he called them friends. Were they really? He didn’t even know Wes. They’d fucked once, and now they could put it behind them. And in reality, neither of them owed the other anything; especially something like inviting the other to a party. But he’d also thought that after the other day, things would change. Maybe they
would
be friends.

“Shit. I figured since you guys hung out the other day, you came to some kind of understanding.”

Yeah. Cooper and him both. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll just go out tonight like I planned. I’m a big boy. I’m not going to get my heart broken because some guy I had sex with didn’t invite me to a party.” And he wouldn’t, but damned if that little sting in his chest still wasn’t there.

***

“I
really don’t get why we needed to do this, Lyd.” Wes crossed his arms and leaned against the back of the couch.

Lydia swatted at his hands. “You always stand like that, like you’re mad at the world or something. Was your life really that hard?” She held no anger in her voice...just curiosity blended with sadness.

And in reality, he agreed with what she said. No, his life hadn’t been too hard. His dad had bailed, but how many people dealt with that? His mom would have done anything for them, even go as far as working two jobs to take care of them. And it was that love that had killed her. Her tired eyes that just wanted a few seconds reprieve, and it had been enough to veer into another lane and get hit head on.

It had broken all three of them to lose her...but then he’d always had Chelle. Until they lost her, too. Just like he’d lost the only man he’d ever loved. The difference there being that Alexander had chosen to walk away.
Can I blame him?

“You know it wasn’t that hard. Regardless, that has nothing to do with my not wanting to have a party.” Hosting people at his home was just not the kind of man he’d ever been.

Lydia sighed. “We haven’t had a lot to celebrate. Why not grab on to whatever we can?”

He closed his eyes, knowing she was right but not able to find the words to tell her.

“We need to try and get back to life as normal for Jessie. She’s a people person just like her mama, and you know Chelle loved hosting parties. It’s something fun for her, to make her feel some normalcy.”

Wes frowned. “Way to make me feel like an ass, Lyd.”

She grinned, and he pulled her to him and gave her a hug.

“You’ve always been so serious, Wes. You’re responsible, and you always do the right thing. Have some fun. Loosen up. You deserve to be happy. Do you even still paint anymore?”

He hadn’t painted for a long time. He wasn’t even sure why. He ignored that question and said, “I’m happy.” And he was, in most ways. He had a career he loved. Maybe not his dream job, but he enjoyed what he did, enjoyed helping people. He had Jessie, and he loved the little girl more than anything. Just because that was enough for him—those certainties didn’t mean he wasn’t happy.

“You should share it a little more, then. Some of us would like to see it from you.” She nudged him. “Is the hottie coming?”

“Ah, hell. Not this again. What is it with women trying to be matchmakers for gay men? I don’t have a problem getting men when I want them. And that’s the end of this conversation.” Wes took a step away but Lydia grabbed his arm.

“I’m not trying to play matchmaker for a gay man, I’m just trying to keep my brother from doing his damndest to make sure he’s always alone. The risk of losing people is sometimes worth it.”

Not to him. “How did we get from a party to relationships?” Before she could answer him, the doorbell rang and Wes pulled away to answer it.

A couple hours later about twenty people filled his living room. They were all people Lydia knew. He got it. She wanted him to meet people, to make himself at home more in Blackcreek. He needed to do it, for Jessie, at least. That didn’t mean he thought this was fun, though.

“You like corners.” Noah stepped up beside him. “Sometimes I find it funny that you’re the one who approached me that night.”

Wes shrugged. “You know what they say, the dick is mightier than...hell, just about anything else.”

Noah laughed. “That it is, man. How you doing?”

“About as good as can be expected. I’m ready to get to work. I think it will help. It’s something that’s normal for Jess, ya know? Trying to show her that life keeps moving.”

Nodding, Noah said, “Speaking of Jessie, I heard Braden babysat. The house is still standing, I see. And he even missed a night of going out.”

Wes’s head whipped in Noah’s direction at that. He’d had plans? But that didn’t make sense. Braden babysat during the day and left around seven. “What makes you say that?”

“He asked Coop to go out, but then went to watch Jessie when you called. Sorry I wasn’t around, by the way. I know he didn’t end up going after he left. It’s strange,” he laughed. “They’re like a couple of gossiping women, sometimes.”

Wes almost mentioned that they were practically doing the same thing, but instead he let himself think about the fact that, going out or not, Braden had dropped everything to help Wes out. And he’s stayed long after he had to. “Can you excuse me for a second?” Wes already began walking away before Noah could reply. He made it all the way to his room and closed the door before he started dialing.

“I’m looking to buy some Boy Scout cookies. You’re the only one I know who can get them...Can you come over?”

Braden laughed. “Boy scouts don’t sell cookies, asshole.”

“They don’t?”

“No.”

“I guess I’m not the only one who would make a bad scout, not that they’d let me in, or as though I’d want to be there anyway.” He paused, knowing he should give a real reason for asking him over, for keeping the party from him in the first place. That he should make sure Braden knew he appreciated his help with Jessie the other day. But that damned block he had inside him kept the words at bay. “I know Jessie would really like to meet Jock.”

Braden sighed, making Wes think he might say no, making him realize he wanted Braden to say yes.

“I wouldn’t want to disappoint the Squirt. We’ll be there soon.”

––––––––

J
ock danced around in the seat next to him, stoked to be going somewhere. He pressed his nose against the window, obviously wanting to stick his head out.