Page 16 of Breathless

For a split second, it looked like Wyatt’s eyes were about to roll back in his head. He let out a groan after he swallowed the beer and smacked his lips before licking them.

Thoreau watched his tongue slide slowly across his bottom lip to catch the last, lingering drop of liquid and—

Sexy. It fit.

“Jesus, that’s smooth,” Wyatt said, sounding impressed.

Without hesitating he tipped the cup back and finished the beer in one gulp. He looked at the bottle expectantly, obviously wanting more, then glanced back at Thoreau when he made no move to indulge him. “So, what’s the deal?”

“What do you mean?”

“You brought beer. To me.” He stared at Thoreau as if he was slow.

“Seamus said you aren’t supposed to be talking this much.”

Wyatt sent him a warning look. “What’s the deal?”

Here we go,Thoreau thought as a zip of adrenaline burst through his veins. He poured Wyatt another small draught as he spoke. “I heard there’d been a discussion about where you’d be spending your time until you get back on your feet. I think you should recuperate with us when you get out tomorrow.”

Wyatt stared at him for a long moment and then tipped the glass to his lips again before echoing, “With us.”

Thoreau nodded and upped the ante. “Fiona wants to take care of you, and my place has plenty of space. She already has her own room and all her things there.”

When Wyatt held out his cup, Thoreau shook his head and took a drink straight from the bottle, making a satisfied sound after it went down. It was smooth. And he was good. “Well?”

Wyatt scowled. “What was the question?”

“I think you heard me.”

“Just making sure.” He shook his head. “Sorry, it’s going to take me a minute to wrap my head around this. You live in that duplex, right? The one you all own together?”

“I bought them out. The Wayne-plex is mine now. Both sides.”

Wyatt shook his head. “I guess the beer business is booming, huh? And the other side is empty?”

“I’m talking about my side, at least at first, while you need more care. You can have my bed, and I’ll stay on the couch. It folds out, so it won’t be a problem. Unless you’d rather have the other side. You’re welcome to that, too.”

Wyatt looked disbelieving. “I’d get an apartment to myself? While you stay at your place with Fiona?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“Oh no, your place is fine. I could have a relapse.”

Thoreau blinked. He’d expected more of an argument and prepared himself to shoot down all his objections. “Just like that?”

“Why do you look so surprised, Thor?” Wyatt asked, holding out his cup expectantly. When Thoreau hesitated, he said, “What? You think I don’t know my brother asked to have me pawned off on another family member?”

Well that was a plot twist he hadn’t seen coming. “I thought this was about the nurse and Zach’s—”

Wyatt sent the small plastic cup spinning on the floor with a growl, which turned into an ugly-sounding cough that lasted close to a minute. Thoreau watched as Wyatt reached for a small bowl and spat into it, grimacing in disgust.

“You need something?” Was this why Hugo had warned Seamus about him talking?

“I need the bullshit to stop.” His voice was raw now. Broken. “This is about the fact that for some reason, he can’t stand to be around me now. The only thing I don’t know is how somebody talked you into taking me in. If Fiona asked you to—”

“Nobody talked me into it, Finn. This was my idea, for better or worse. No bullshit.”

For a minute Wyatt looked disconcerted, then he sighed too. “Sorry,” he said, looking down at the cup on the floor. “I’m a little touchy lately. And I’m not sure I understand why you’re volunteering to add more Finn drama to your life. You’ve already been invaded by William and Younger, and you and Seamus see each other every day.”

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