Common Goal (Game Changers #4)- Rachel Reid Page 0,24

And prevented him from making new friends. He reminded himself that not everything needed to be about sex. Kip was a wonderful friend, and Eric seemed like a very nice guy who was intelligent and lovely to talk to. There was absolutely no reason to avoid any of that.

And Kyle had totally convinced himself of all of that right up until the moment Eric answered the door. Because holy hot damn. Eric, who, as far as Kyle could tell, never wore anything less formal than tailored slacks and a dress shirt, was wearing dark jeans and a charcoal T-shirt that clung to his broad, muscular chest and fluttered over his flat stomach. When Kyle’s gaze made its way back up to Eric’s face, he found him studying him before his eyes widened in recognition. “Kyle?”

“Surprise,” Kyle said weakly. It looked like Eric was letting his beard fill in a bit, which was definitely a good look on him.

“I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Kyle grinned. “I know. I look different when I’m not at work.”

“You do. It took me a moment.” Eric tapped his own eyebrow. “Glasses.”

“Yeah, I um, I never wear them when I’m at the bar, but this is basically what I look like most of the time.”

Eric was staring at his face as if he couldn’t quite believe Kyle was the same person who served him sodas with lime. “You look good,” he finally said. “In glasses, I mean.”

Kyle enjoyed Eric’s brief and bashful smile. “Thank you.”

“I can take that bag for you,” Eric said. “And your coat.”

Kyle set the heavy bag he’d been carrying on the floor and removed his jacket. “Nice try, but the bag has a surprise in it.” He’d vowed to be playful, pleasant, and not overtly flirtatious tonight.

“I don’t normally like surprises, but I’ll admit I’m intrigued.” He held Kyle’s gaze as he took his coat and draped it over his arm. His eyes danced, even as the rest of his face stayed neutral. It was unfairly sexy.

“Hi,” Maria said. “Maria is here.”

That made Eric’s cheeks turn pink. “I’m sorry. Nice to see you again, Maria. Let me take your coat.”

Maria removed her coat, and Kyle stifled a laugh when Eric’s eyes widened at the sight of her outfit. Maria had come to play tonight. Her breasts were pushed up to show maximum cleavage over the deep-V neckline of her black sweater dress. She looked fantastic, with the dress hugging her curves and her flawless hair and makeup. She may have only been five-foot-one in a house full of tall, athletic men, but Kyle fully expected her to stand out tonight.

For his own part, Kyle had kept it casual in a way that announced that he was not here to seduce anyone. He wore his most comfortable faded jeans with a long-sleeve blue T-shirt, had a scarf bunched around his neck, and finished the look with his second-favorite glasses. He was dressed to fade into the background and be a temptation to no one.

* * *

Kyle looked incredible. Eric’s heart had started skipping in his chest the moment he recognized the man behind the glasses. He loved this version of him: the sweet, artistic grad student. He was pretty into all versions of Kyle, if he was being honest, but he was so damn cute in those glasses.

And he’d brought Eric a surprise.

He watched as Kyle retrieved the mystery bag from the floor, unable to take his eyes off him. “Where’s the kitchen?” Kyle asked.

“I’ll show you.” He gestured for Kyle to follow him. Maria, who looked like a bombshell tonight, had already headed to the basement, where most of the party guests were. The kitchen was one story above them, so Eric led Kyle to the staircase. When Eric turned on the lights in the stairway, Kyle gasped.

“These are stunning!” Eric had three paintings displayed on the wall leading up to the next floor. They were abstracts, all by the same artist from the same series.

“Aren’t they?” Eric agreed. “These were the first paintings Jeanette ever showed me. I knew I’d found my dealer after that.”

Kyle leaned against the opposite wall with his feet planted at different heights on two different steps. He was smiling at the art, his face lit up the same way Eric’s had been when he’d first seen the paintings himself. The way Eric’s face was probably lit up right now watching Kyle.

“I love the orange in this one,” Kyle said, pointing to the one Eric had hung in