Deadly Coincidence (Brantley Walker Off the Books #4) - Nicole Edwards Page 0,32
we can catch up,” Cyrus called out when they were walking away.
“Maybe not,” Reese muttered and heard Brantley chuckle softly.
Brantley’s tone was meant to reassure when he said, “Nothin’ to worry about there.”
Reese knew that. He did. But that didn’t mean Cyrus didn’t get on his very last nerve.
“Did you know Magnus was gonna be here?” Brantley asked from behind him.
Magnus was sitting at a table, chatting it up with a couple of ladies who were blushing and giggling like he was the most interesting man in the universe.
“No,” he told Brantley. “Had no idea.”
As he weaved his way through the room, he found he was still watching the man with the quick smile and the glint in his eyes.
While some probably considered Magnus attractive, Reese didn’t think that was his most appealing feature. It had more to do with his personality, that easy charm that drew people to him, along with the mixture of vulnerability and determination Reese could see in his eyes.
Brantley motioned toward an empty table. “Care if he joins us?”
Reese answered with a nod of his chin, encouraging Brantley to invite him over.
Brantley cleared his throat, the sound loud enough to have Magnus glancing over. Magnus shot them a surprised but exuberant smile, and he was instantly on his feet, saying his goodbyes to the ladies, who didn’t appear pleased with his abrupt departure.
“I didn’t know y’all’d be here,” Magnus said in a gravel-laced drawl.
“Have a seat.” Brantley nodded toward one of the empty chairs. “We could say the same to you. Since when do you hang out in our neck of the woods?”
“Got a wild hair up my ass. Needed to get outta the house tonight, go someplace exotic.” Magnus gestured toward the bar, grinning, his wide hazel eyes glinting with amusement. “Seemed to fit the bill.”
“Exotic.” Reese huffed a laugh, took a swallow of his beer. “Never thought I’d hear anyone call Moonshiners that.”
“Really?” Magnus took a swallow of beer, looked around. “Seems fitting.”
“Clearly we’re thinkin’ of two different words. By which definition is this”—he waved a hand—“exotic?” Reese challenged, still laughing.
Magnus’s eyebrows rose as he considered. “All of ’em, I figure. I mean, that picture over there”—Magnus motioned to a palm tree painting in a cheap frame—“kinda gives it that tropical feel. Add in some piña coladas…”
Reese laughed. “Is that all you need? Palm trees and piña coladas and you’ve got exotic?”
Magnus shot him a lopsided grin. “Of course.”
“This comin’ from a guy who thinks a strip club’s exotic,” Brantley commented with a chuckle.
“Hey,” Magnus laughed, “exotic dancers, right? They’re a real thing. I’ve seen ’em with my own two eyes.”
Reese barked a laugh.
Brantley glanced his way, grinned, but Reese was fairly certain he was laughing at Reese’s reaction, not Magnus’s play on words. And damned if he didn’t love when Brantley looked at him like that.
“Good to see I’m not the only one with extravagant tastes.” Magnus mock toasted with his Bud Light, glancing around the room. “Speaking of … Trey with you?”
Reese glanced at Brantley, raised an eyebrow. Seemed Trey was the man of the hour.
That wasn’t the first time Magnus had inquired about Brantley’s older brother since the two of them had been introduced a few weeks ago. In fact, Reese had gotten the impression Magnus was interested. Especially after their last encounter when Magnus was over to work with Tesha and Trey stopped by.
“He’ll be here,” Brantley said easily, winking at Reese.
“How’s that work, anyway?” Reese found himself asking Magnus, slightly embarrassed that he’d said it aloud.
“What’s that?” Magnus lifted his beer to his mouth.
“You know. You and, uh … your … dating life.”
Magnus’s lopsided grin was back. “I thought you had your lesson in the birds and the bees, Tavoularis.”
Brantley laughed. Reese felt himself blush.
Magnus leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Oh, you mean because I’m bisexual, and Trey’s clearly not?”
Brantley sobered, still smiling. “Now that you mention it, how does that work?”
“It’s not like I’m askin’ the guy to marry me,” Magnus answered. “And who knows, maybe Trey’d be interested in—”
“I’m gonna cut you off right there,” Brantley inserted with a choked laugh. “One, because Trey’s my brother and I’ve got no interest in his sex life.”
“And two?” Magnus probed.
“Two, I know my brother. He’s not interested in the ladies. Never has been, never will be.”
Magnus tilted his beer to his lips. “Good to know.”
As Reese took another pull on his beer, he watched Magnus. Might just be an interesting night after all.