02-Let It Ride by L.C. Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

but it was probably for the best he hadn’t. He’d just have ended up losing all his coin, too distracted by Eric to focus on the game.
    One by one, Kent, Craig, Rowdy, and Toby tossed their cards into a pile in the center of the table, grumbling at their losses while Eric grinned and scooped up his winnings. He shot a glance Bridge’s way and winked.
    “That’s right,” Bridge teased. “Enjoy the easy winnings. It won’t last when I deal in next time.”
    “Whatever you say, pigeon,” Eric shot back.
    Bridge flipped him off, earning a round of laughter from the guys.
    Cory looked between him and Eric, eyes wide with curious innocence, and then settled on Bridge. “What’s pigeon mean?”
    “Means he’s a sucker,” Eric answered, collecting chips and slotting them back in their plastic holder. “Don’t be fooled into thinking he’s a card shark.”
    “So says the kettle to the pot,” Kent jibbed as he gathered the empty beer cans. “How much have you lost to him now?”
    Eric looked at Kent in mock shock. “Whose side are you on, man?”
    Laughter drifted off into the clear night sky, and Bridge stood, stretching his arms over his head to pop the kinks out of his spine from sitting so long. He’d changed into a T-shirt earlier, and now it rode up his torso, exposing a sliver of skin that Eric had definitely noticed. Bridge held still, letting Eric take in his fill while heat rose and spread under that stare—across his belly, up into his chest, and down into his groin. Damn it, this was no fantasy. He wanted Eric. In a bad way. Eric turned away first with a subtle shake of his head, and Bridge dropped his arms. Blood rushed back into his hands, leaving them feeling heavy and his head light.
    That was when he noticed Kent watching him, a slight crease in his forehead signaling that his best friend was working something out in his mind. And Bridge had no doubt that he was the something.
    “C’mon, Cory,” Toby called out, drawing everyone’s attention. “I think you’ve worn these guys out enough for one night.”
    Cory stood and hugged each of them, his hat falling off in the process. “Thanks, guys.” He bent to pick it up and, with a bright smile, popped in back on his head without dusting it off. “I really appreciate y’all taking the time to talk with me and share your experience and know-how. I hope we get to hang out again and talk a lot more.”
    “Anytime,” Bridge and Marty said in unison. Tripp nodded, and Toby rolled his eyes at them behind his brother.
    When the card game was all packed up for the night and everyone had cleared out, Marty turned to Bridge. “Cory’s adorable, but oh my God, can that boy talk.”
    Bridge couldn’t help but laugh. “I know! It’s like he doesn’t even need to breathe between monologues.”
    “Kid done wore me out.”
    “Not too much, I hope,” Tripp said and waggled his eyebrows. Kent groaned.
    “And on that note . . .” Marty held out his hand for Tripp, who took it with an evil glint in his eyes. “See y’all at sunup.”
    Bridge watched as the pair disappeared into Marty’s RV hand in hand, and then turned to Eric, who looked away quickly. He tossed his empty beer can into a box beside the cooler.
    “Yeah,” Eric said. “I’m out too. Been a long day.”
    Kent clapped Eric on the shoulder. “Later,” he said and then went to do his usual final double check on the horses before turning in.
    Bridge didn’t really think about what he was doing, but before his brain caught up to his body, he’d closed the few feet between them and pulled Eric into a hug. Maybe he’d just meant it as a quick good-night-buddy one-armed-back-pat kind of thing, but when the burning heat of Eric’s hands settled on his hips, he squeezed a bit tighter, held on a little longer, and then did what he’d been wanting to the day before: he lowered his head into the crook of Eric’s neck and inhaled deeply. For as long as he lived, he would forever