Page 33 of Body Check

“But it’s adding to your stress levels?”

“You have no idea.” Gavin sat back with a groan, slinging an arm up over the back of the loveseat.

Dakota sat back too, less because he wanted to be close than because it was too loud to carry on a conversation otherwise. Though, if he was being honest, he hadn’t minded having Gavin’s arm around him in the SUV earlier. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Gavin shot him a surprised glance. “With Thad? No, not that I can think of. But thank you.”

“Sure.” Dakota shrugged.

Gavin hesitated. “You might want to avoid spending a lot of time with him though.”

“Oh?”

Frankly, Dakota hadn’t felt any particular interest in him anyway, but he was curious to hear Gavin’s reasoning.

“I think he knows I find you attractive. Which means he’ll try to go after you.”

“He couldn’t have any interest in me on my own merit?” Dakota asked cooly.

Gavin winced. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Didn’t you?”

“No! You’re gorgeous, funny,flexible, what’s not to like?”

Dakota chuckled softly. “Thanks, I think.”

“And damn good at your job.” Gavin pressed a little closer. “There are plenty of reasons why my brother would be attracted to you. But he also has a habit of going after people I’m interested in.”

Staring at Gavin, Dakota pushed a strand of hair off his cheek, feeling oddly flustered. “I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you?” Gavin smiled at him, angling his body so he looked Dakota in the eye.

“Not really.” Dakota glanced away, staring at a couple at a table nearby. He wouldswearhe’d seen that guy on a TV show he watched. Preston something or other.

“Surely I’m not imaginingthis, am I?” Gavin asked softly, tightening his arm around Dakota’s shoulders.

“That depends. What are you imagining?”

“That there’s some mutual attraction here.” Gavin shifted closer, his breath warm against Dakota’s cheek.

“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t noticed the chemistry,” Dakota said slowly. “Though I hadn’t really considered acting on it. It’s not exactly appropriate. You’re myboss.”

He finally looked Gavin in the eye, his expression serious.

Gavin sighed, putting a bit more space between their bodies. “I know. And if you don’t want to get involved, if it makes you feel weird at all, I respect that.”

“And Iappreciatethat.”

“Look, making sure any potential partner in the bedroom is enthusiastically consenting is not a high bar.”

Dakota’s laugh was soft. “It’s not. But you’d be amazed by how shitty guys can be.”

“Oh, I have my share of bad experiences,” Gavin admitted with a wry little frown. “Just not around that.”

Dakota was silent.

“So, if you want, you can take your time to think about it,” Gavin continued. “No pressure.”

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