home. Drop in unannounced, see how the man reacted.
In the meantime, Brantley would also look into this Jason Montgomery just so he could check off the box and say he had. He doubted it would lead him anywhere, but he wasn’t going to leave it to chance. Last thing he wanted was to leave any stone unturned.
***
Christ Almighty, he was nervous.
As Reese pulled down Brantley’s drive just a few minutes shy of seven, he couldn’t deny his stomach was pitching left and right. It didn’t necessarily bother him as much as it intrigued him. When was the last time he’d been on a date and had any reservations whatsoever going into it? More importantly, why would he? He knew Brantley, knew what to expect from the man.
“Maybe you wanna impress the guy,” he muttered as he pulled his truck in behind Brantley’s.
Snagging his Resistol hat from the passenger seat, Reese put it on his head and climbed out. He found himself standing taller as he made his way to the porch. His boots were clean, his jeans starched, and the navy blue button-down he wore was ironed. He looked good, if he did say so himself. In fact, he’d even sprayed on some cologne with the hopes of catching Brantley’s attention. Of course, he had also fought the urge to take another shower because he didn’t want to overdo it, either.
Dates sucked.
Rather than waltz into Brantley’s house like he was wont to do, Reese rapped his knuckles on the screen door, stepped back.
Once more, he smoothed down his shirt, took a deep breath.
From inside the house, he heard the sound of footsteps, Brantley making his way to the door. He heard the knob turn, the creak as the door opened.
At that point, when Brantley appeared framed in the doorway, Reese was pretty sure his heart stopped. He had no idea why. Brantley looked not much different than usual. He’d gone with a white button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up over his muscular forearms, unbuttoned at the throat. The Stetson on his head was a nice touch.
Very nice touch.
“I’m nervous,” he blurted as Brantley pushed open the screen.
Brantley’s smirk was slow and sexy. “Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah. You look … edible.”
Brantley chuckled. “You look pretty damn good yourself.”
When the man took a step closer, canting his head to the side, Reese held his breath.
“Smell good, too,” Brantley whispered. “Almost too good to go out.”
“Almost?” Reese rasped.
Brantley took a step back. “Although gettin’ you naked’s definitely at the very, very top of my priority list, I’m hungry.”
Some of the tension eased, even as his nerves continued to riot. “You ready?”
“Yep.” Brantley pulled the door shut behind him, didn’t bother locking it. “Gonna tell me where we’re goin’?”
“Nope.”
They started for the truck. “Gonna tell me why you’re nervous?”
“No idea,” Reese admitted as he climbed in behind the wheel.
“You know I’ve had your cock in my mouth, don’t you?” Brantley said, the words whispered in that dark, seductive tone.
Reese’s cock remembered, the damn thing coming to attention at the reminder.
A gruff chuckle sounded from Brantley and then Reese found his free hand being shifted, their fingers twining when Brantley took his hand.
“Better?”
“Surprisingly, yes,” he said, realizing it was true.
“You have nothin’ to be nervous about. I’m a sure thing, cowboy.”
Reese laughed, more tension draining away.
Half an hour later, Reese was heading down Sixth Street toward their destination. He should’ve known Brantley would guess where they were headed the closer they got.
“Goin’ all out, are ya?”
“I was in the mood for steak,” he said, playing it off.
“Yeah? I can think of half a dozen steak houses near Coyote Ridge.”
“None of them as good as this one.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
Reese pulled to the curb for the valet, got out of the truck, passing over the keys. When he stepped up beside Brantley, his nerves returned. Only this time, it was a little more than simply being in Brantley’s presence. He could feel eyes on them and once more that unsettled feeling began to choke him.
Brantley opened the door, held it. Reese swallowed past the lump forming in his throat, stepped inside. He made it to the hostess stand, relayed they had a reservation, gave his name.
The woman smiled kindly, then led the way back to a table in the back.
There was nothing unusual about the interactions, but Reese felt as though every eye in the room was on him, everyone was questioning why he was here, why he was with a man. On a date.
Oh, shit.
“Breathe,” Brantley said firmly