Page 7 of In Step

His lips quirked up, soft and red and... fuck me, I wanted nothing more than to kiss them. They were the only soft thing about Kane. Like his cheekbones and the hollow beneath them, everything else about Kane seemed a little too sharp, a little too thin, a little too... hungry. Like the tips of his shoulders that poked through his sweater and the outline of his clavicle at its neck. The bulky knit hung loose on a narrow frame over a pair of jeans that seemed perilously close to falling from his hips, judging by the number of times he hauled them up. I felt the ridiculous urge to sit him down and feed some meat onto those bones.

He chuckled. “Yeah, small towns aren’t for everyone.” He glanced at the lightening horizon. “Well, I should be going.”

“You might be waiting a bit.” I flicked my head toward Leroy and Fox’s bedroom.

“Oh, no.” Kane glanced over my shoulder. “We don’t... together. I mean, I walk. It’s just down the hill.”

I peered into the slowly lightening gloom of dawn. “But it’s still raining.”

“It’s fine.” He smiled and the gloom lifted just a little. “I work a mussel farm, remember? Gonna get wet regardless. And I don’t like to take advantage...” He trailed off, his gaze sliding once more down my bare shoulders and then quickly away as a door slammed behind and laughter floated up the hallway.

“Hey, Kane.” Leroy appeared at my shoulder, took one look at the blanket, and snorted in amusement. “What the hell are you doing? You’ll freeze to death.”

“Answering the door,” I deadpanned. “Somebody had to.”

“Oh, right.” Leroy bit his lip, his cheeks pinking. “Thanks.” Then he turned to Kane. “I appreciate you picking that up, Sugar. Mack will love you forever.”

“No problem.” Kane shuffled on his feet, looking awkward as shit.

I frowned, sure I was missing something. I just didn’t know what. And also,Sugar?

Leroy caught my puzzled look and laughed. “You should see your face,” he teased. “We have boat nicknames. Fox’s idea. Kane, of course, is sugar, right?”

I grinned because the man was certainly sweet.

“And Patrick is Tricky.”

I nodded. “And Fox?”

Leroy smirked. “Silver, which he hates. Mind you, he’s got competition now that you’re here.” Leroy waggled his eyebrows, which made me laugh.

“And yours?”

“Is never to be mentioned.” Leroy’s expression turned stony.

“Ask me later.” Kane smirked, earning himself a killer look from Leroy that would cower most men but that Kane duly ignored.

Huh. Another wrinkle in the dynamics. One minute they seemed uncomfortable with each other, and the next they’re joking like good friends. I made a mental note to tackle Judah about what gave.

Leroy grabbed the bag of food and then tried and failed to tug the blanket onto my shoulder. “Get inside. Sorry if we woke you.” He grinned, not looking particularly sorry at all.

I chuckled. “Nah, I was awake. But I might pop into town for some ear plugs today.”

Leroy flushed, then shook his head. “Shit. Sorry. We haven’t seen each other for a bit.”

I patted his shoulder. “Just kidding. The pair of you are too fucking cute.”

Leroy’s eyes narrowed. “I am not cute, and you are never to say that again.”

Fox appeared and nuzzled his lips against Leroy’s neck. “You are absolutely cute, my prickly little hedgehog.”

Leroy’s eyes glazed over for a second, then he shook Fox off with an indignant huff. “You’re ruining my reputation,” he grumbled. “Any minute now, I’m gonna start smiling in the street and people are going to think they can just... I don’t know, talk to me and shit. My life is ruined.” He pushed Fox away and strode toward the back of the house before apparently changing his mind and returning to the front door to grab Fox by the shirt. “Bring that dog food and follow me. I haven’t finished with you.”

I called after them, “Too. Fucking. Cute.”

“Fuck you.” Leroy stuck his finger in the air, and two seconds later the family room door slammed.

Still laughing, I turned back to find Kane staring at me.

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