Stay by Riley Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

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.”

Chapter Six
    ––––––––
    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.
    “It’s cold, buddy.” Braden petted his brown head as he drove toward Wes’s house. Not that Jock cared about the chill. He just loved being outside, loved playing.
    And here Braden was analyzing the behavior of his dog so he didn’t think about the fact that it made him happy that Wes called. The man just had something about him that intrigued Braden. Even from the first night they’d met, he’d been drunk and had obviously enjoyed getting under Cooper’s skin. He’d purposely needled Coop where Noah was concerned, and Braden would be lying if he didn’t admit that it had been a little funny.
    In bed, he’d been just what Braden enjoyed—rough, and passionate. Verbal about what he wanted, and what he wanted done to him. A man who wanted to be fucked and wasn’t afraid to ask for it, but also who made that slow-burn curl at the base of Braden’s spine, making him wonder what it would be like to be taken by him, too.
    They’d been at a bar with Noah and Cooper that night, and despite Wes’s prickly behavior with Coop, more lingered right below the surface—pain, anger and loneliness. He’d sensed it then, and he definitely saw it now. He hid it well, but for those who took the time to look, you saw it.
    The only time it disappeared is when they were in bed together. It felt like the only time Wes took something just for himself. For someone like Braden, that interested him. He didn’t quite understand it, and wasn’t sure why he wanted to. It was more than just being a challenge, though; Wes just plain caught his attention.
    After pulling into Wes’s driveway, he killed the engine, grabbed Jock’s ball and stepped out of the truck. He snapped his fingers. “Stay with me, boy,” he said to Jock, who trotted next to him, practically bursting from the seams to run.
    It took a few minutes for the door to open after he knocked. Wes’s sister, Lydia, stood on the other side. The woman flashed him a million-watt smile. She definitely wasn’t happy to see him for the same reason most women were.
    “Braden, hi. I didn’t know you were coming. Not that I didn’t want you to. I do, we do. I just didn’t know.”
    He grinned and her cheeks flushed.
    “I’m rambling. Sorry. Please come in.”
    Jock didn’t leave