Except Jeremy. There had been something about the guy that had made Kenny get into the man’s car that night, and he was glad he had. Jeremy turned out to be a great friend, and so had Cyril.

  And Moose.

  He padded from the room and went to the kitchen to get something to drink. Davidson got up and followed him, but Samson stayed asleep.

  After pouring himself some tea, Kenny took a seat at the table and stared down at the dog. “What would you do?” he asked Davidson.

  The dog laid his head on Kenny’s lap and looked up at him with soulful eyes.

  Kenny brushed his hand over Davidson’s head. “It’s not an easy decision,” he said. “What if he turns out not to be so nice, or clips his toenails in bed, or he’s some kind of bossy jerk?”

  Davidson wagged his tail and licked Kenny’s hand.

  “If you’re looking for answers, I’m not sure Davidson is the one you should be talking to,” Cyril said as he entered the kitchen.

  Kenny looked away since the guy was wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. He grabbed a bottle of orange juice from the fridge and took a seat at the table. “I’m also sure Jeremy shouldn’t have run his mouth so much.”

  “He was just trying to be friendly,” Kenny defended. “I was freaking out about shifters, and he was trying to ease my worries…though I don’t think he helped me.”

  “It’s a lot to swallow.” Cyril took a drink from the container. Kenny would have to remember not to drink from it since Cyril wasn’t using a cup. “But I think you should at least talk with Russell. I’ve known him for a few years, and he’s a really nice, honorable guy.”

  Kenny shrugged as he continued to pet Davidson’s head.

  “Look,” Cyril said. “I normally don’t get involved in other people’s shit, but you have to understand, a shifter gets only one mate, and you’ll be Russell’s top priority. You’ll never want for anything, and he’ll always try his best to make you happy.”

  Jeremy hadn’t mentioned that part. Russell really was good-looking, and he’d gone out of his way to flirt with Kenny, to get Kenny to talk to him, and all Kenny had done was be brash with the man and run away from him.

  Russell had even been sweet to Steven, and that was a big plus considering most of the men Kenny had dated either hadn’t wanted to be bothered with Steven or tried to use him.

  Like Emilio, Steven’s neighbor. Kenny wished like hell he hadn’t slept with the guy a year ago. Now Emilio thought he could borrow anything he wanted from Steven.

  Kenny had made it clear to his brother not to give Emilio a damn thing, but he had a gut feeling Steven hadn’t listened to him. His brother was just too dang nice.

  Kenny smirked. “I haven’t made the best choices when it comes to men.”

  “Well, that’s over.” Cyril took another drink from the container. “Russell’s it for you, and shifters are very possessive. So if you have thoughts of seeing someone, I’d advise you not to.”

  Dating anyone at the moment was the last thing on Kenny’s mind. He was juggling too much already. That was why he hadn’t been interested in anyone since Emilio.

  And then Brad had happened. Thank fuck Kenny hadn’t slept with the douche bag, not that Brad hadn’t tried.

  “Ugh, my life is a fucking mess.” Kenny rested his head on the table. “I’m worried about Brad and Steven and getting my own place so I can get out of your hair and about everything else I haven’t named.”

  “First off, don’t worry about getting out of my hair,” Cyril said. “If I wanted you gone, you’d be gone. I don’t mind you staying here until you’re on your feet. Second, as long as you make sure you’re never alone, don’t worry too much about Brad. He’ll be dealt with as soon as he’s caught. And why didn’t you tell me you had a brother?”

  Kenny lifted his head and looked at Cyril. “Because he’s special, and I don’t want anyone making fun of him, which a lot of people do.”

  Cyril glared at Kenny. “Bring him to work with you if you’re that worried about him.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously,” Cyril said.

  Kenny wanted to get up and hug the guy, but since Cyril was in his underwear, Kenny wasn’t even going there. He didn’t want Jeremy to kill him and he didn’t want to touch Cyril’s gorgeous, almost naked body.

  “He can help you behind the counter, or I can find something he can do,” Cyril said.

  “But he already has a job,” Kenny said. “He works at Maple Mart…or did until he had to go into hiding.”

  Cyril grinned. “And he’s doing a great job at staying out of sight.”

  Kenny rolled his eyes. “I know, right.”

  “Just talk to Russell.” Cyril rapped his knuckles on the table and stood, taking the container with him as he walked out of the kitchen.

  Kenny looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost midnight, and Russell had given him his number. But even if Russell was awake, what would Kenny say?

  He wasn’t sure as he walked back to his room and closed his door, taking a seat on the bed as he stared at his phone on the nightstand.

  Russell is it for you. Those words chased around Kenny’s head. What if Cyril had been telling the truth? What if his happiness would be Russell’s top priority? Kenny had never been anyone’s priority, not even his mother’s. What would it be like to be the center of someone’s world?

  Biting his lip, Kenny picked his phone up and dialed, his heart racing so fast he felt as though he’d pass out at any second.

  Chapter Four

  Russell had just turned onto his street when he slowed his truck and cursed under his breath. There, in the driveway, was his cousin’s car. Rubin was leaning against it, his back to Russell, looking down at his phone.

  It might have been a shit move, but Russell backed his truck into a neighbor’s driveway and drove off in the opposite direction. He was not in the mood for Rubin’s scheme, whatever it was. Russell was still feeling the sting of rejection from Kenny and just wanted to take a shower and go to bed.

  That wouldn’t be his luck tonight.

  He drove aimlessly through town and ended up parking at The Tilted Tiger Tavern and going inside. He couldn’t get drunk off human alcohol, but the pretzels were pretty good and Raven was there, a friend of Russell’s, so they shot a game of pool as Russell wondered how long Rubin would stick around his driveway.

  Knowing his cousin, the guy would camp out there until Russell returned. Rubin could be a stubborn shit when he got an idea stuck in his head, and especially when he wanted Russell to help fund that idea.

  As soon as Russell sank the eight ball and won the game, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He started to ignore it, thinking Rubin was calling him, but Russell was glad he’d looked to see who it was.

  He didn’t recognize the number but answered anyway. “Russell Hughes.”

  It couldn’t have been Steven because Russell had programmed the guy’s name into his phone just in case he needed help again. Russell didn’t trust Emilio and knew he would try to “borrow” something again.

  Like Steven’s microwave or anything else that had any kind of value.

  Whoever was on the other end didn’t say anything. Russell started to hang up when a small voice said, “Hey.”

  Russell would know Kenny’s breathy sound anywhere. It was as though he was in tune with his mate now. Not that they’d kissed or anything. That would’ve been nice, but Russell still knew it was him.

  He held his finger up when Raven waved at the table, as though asking if Russell wanted to play another round. The place was packed, so he had to turn sideways to get out the door. Russell hadn’t realized how hot it had been inside until the rush of cool air washed over him.

  “Am I interrupting something?” Kenny asked. “It sounds really noisy on your end.”

  “No, nothing.” Russell was beyond shocked that his mate had called him. When he’d given Kenny his business card, he’d never thought the guy would use it. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, nothing.” He used Russell’s own words. “I just wanted to call and apologize for freaking out earlier.”

  Russell leaned against his truck. The air outside wasn’t as cool as when he’d first walked out the door. It was mid-July and hot as fuck, so he crawled into his truck and started it, blasting the cool air as he lay on the seat, so tired, yet so wired now that Kenny was on the other end.

  “I’ll accept your apology if you tell me I can see you again.” Russell grabbed a jacket that was on the passenger floor and used it as a pillow.

  “I…” Kenny cleared his throat, and Russell thought he was in for another rejection. In fact, he braced himself for it. “I’d like to give this…us…a-a try.”

  Just when he thought his shock couldn’t go any deeper. “Are you sure? You seemed pretty wigged out about me being a shifter.”

  “I still am,” Kenny admitted. “It’s not like I’ve known for twenty years. I just found out two weeks ago, so I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. And…”

  Lying on the seat of his truck wasn’t comfortable. Russell liked stretching out when he slept. He was too damn tall, and his legs were bent, making his back hurt. “And?”

  “It sounded better in my head.” Kenny gave a soft chuckle. “But now that I want to say it, the words sound so cliché.”

  “Try me.” Russell couldn’t help but smile at the sound of Kenny’s soft laughter. It was better than a silent scowl.

  “I’ve been hurt before, so trusting anyone—”

  “Is hard,” Russell said. “I get it. It’s not like I’ve had luck in that department, either.”

  “Someone broke your heart?”

  “More than once. You don’t get to be my age without having it torn out a time or two. It sucks, and it’s not something you want to feel again, but you gotta put yourself back out there, or you’ll end up a lonely bastard with a thousand cats and wearing a grungy robe all day.”

  “Are you talking about Mr. Hawking?”

  “Who?” Russell sat up when he heard the noise from the tavern grow then dissipate. Raven had walked outside. He threw Russell a peace sign before mounting his motorcycle and taking off.

  “Never mind,” Kenny said. “I guess some people are braver than others.”

  “I guess that means you’ve already started your cat collection.” Russell lay back down, twisting and turning while trying to find a comfortable position. If he had to sleep in his truck all night his back was not going to be happy come morning.

  “Well, Jeremy owns a cat. Lady. Does she count?” He laughed. “Wait. You’re a cat. Do you count?”

  He was glad Kenny found humor in him being a shifter instead of having a meltdown about it. “Oh, so you’ve collected me already?”

  The other end went silent. Russell wasn’t going to bug Kenny for an answer. He’d let his mate work things out in his head.

  “Maybe,” Kenny finally said after a full minute of silence. “I was told that you would put my happiness first.”

  “Let me guess, you’ve been talking to Jeremy again?”

  “No,” Kenny said. “And don’t be mad at him. He was trying to stop me from freaking out.”

  “It seems he made matters worse.”

  “He didn’t,” Kenny defended his friend. “Anyway, is that true? I mean, about the happiness?”

  Russell’s smile had his cheeks hurting. “I know you probably won’t believe me since we just met, but there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”

  Like run to your brother’s rescue because of his neighbor. But even if Kenny hadn’t been Russell’s mate, he would’ve helped Steven. The guy was sweet and adorable, and there was a lack of people like him in the world, which was a shame.

  “Can I ask you something without you taking this the wrong way?”

  “Ask me anything,” Russell said.

  Fuck, his back was killing me. Russell sat up, wondering where he would sleep tonight. He wanted to go home but not while Rubin was there. The guy would keep him up for hours explaining some harebrained idea that he wanted Russell to get in on, and Russell wasn’t into giving away his money. That was what it would boil down to because none of Rubin’s ideas ever panned out.

  Russell was a hard worker and an even harder saver. Shifters lived a very long time, and he didn’t fancy the idea of living in destitution. He also had a mate to look out for now, so he wasn’t forking over a cent to his cousin.

  “Well…” Kenny cleared his throat. “If it wouldn’t be too much to ask, do you think you could come over and we could talk in the backyard?”

  At the thought of seeing Kenny again, Russell was backing out of the parking lot and turning the nose of his truck toward Cyril’s house. “I’ll be there in five.”

  “Okay…well, uh…I’ll see you in five.” Kenny hung up.

  Russell tossed his phone aside, still smiling like an idiot as he drove toward Canton Road. He made a right and hit the gas, speeding toward Kenny before his mate had a chance to change his mind.

  When he arrived, he slowed and made the turn into the driveway, quickly dashing his headlights. He hopped out and headed for the backyard.

  Russell found Kenny back there, two glasses of iced tea on the table between the lawn chairs. Instead of sitting, he pulled his mate to his feet and slid his arms around him, pressing their foreheads together while he stared into Kenny’s gorgeous blue eyes.

  “Is it okay if I get a kiss before we talk?” Shit. He should’ve sucked on a mint. His breath probably smelled like pretzels and beer. But Kenny didn’t seem to mind because he didn’t pull away.

  When Kenny gave a shy shrug, Russell grinned before he brushed his lips over Kenny’s. He cupped his mate’s face, drinking in his cinnamon scent and swallowing it down as his tongue slipped between Kenny’s lips.

  Nope, this wasn’t the wrong idea at all. It was the right one because Kenny’s mouth was soft and the moan that escaped him set Russell’s blood on fire.

  But he backed away, telling himself that Kenny just wanted to talk, although Russell’s cheetah was going crazy for more.

  “Now that’s a hello a guy can get addicted to.” Russell smiled and took a seat. “Thanks for the tea.”

  The ice clinked in the glass as Russell took a sip.

  “Why aren’t you asleep?” Kenny drank his, too. His gaze kept darting between Russell and the backyard.

  “I could ask you the same thing.” Russell sat on the side of the chair, his arms resting on his thighs, while he held his glass. “You looked exhausted after working all day.”

  Russell kept sliding his gaze over Kenny, wondering what his mate would look like naked. He had on a pair of basketball shorts, in shiny colors of red and blue, but no shirt. Russell kept looking at Kenny’s nipples, dying to suck on them.

  “I guess it’s too hot inside.”

  Russell snorted. “Cyril has central air, and I know he uses it.” He chucked a thumb over his shoulder at the sound of the unit whirling. “It’s on right now.”

  Kenny wiped sweat from his forehead. “Stop calling me out on my lies.”

  “Then stop lying to me.” Russell took another drink of his tea as his skin heated up and sweat popped out all over his body. He wouldn’t mind going inside to cool off.

  Until he noticed Davidson staring at him through the backdoor. What was with that dog? Russell had never done anything to him except try to be nice, yet Davidson had made Russell his sworn enemy for some reason.

  “You look like you’re about to melt.” Kenny set his glass aside. “I guess coming out into this heat wasn’t such a bright idea.”

  “Put Cujo in the sunroom and we can take this to the living room.”

  Kenny laughed. “Why doesn’t he like you?”

  “Fuck if I know,” Russell admitted. “I thought it was because I’m a cheetah, but Cyril’s a panther, so that can’t be it.”

  “Dogs can tell a lot about a person.” Kenny eyed him. “Is there something Davidson knows about you that isn’t a good thing?”

  Russell gave a hearty laugh. “Are you asking if I’m some sort of serial killer or all-around bad guy?”

  “No, but…” Kenny chuckled. “I can tell you’re a good guy.” He squinted at Russell. “I think. Then again, I’m not very good at judging men.”

  Russell rolled his eyes. “Put Killer away and let’s enjoy some cool air.”

  Kenny hopped up and went inside. He returned a moment later and waved for Russell to join him. His skin started to itch as the sweat dried under the frigid air.

  “Maybe we should talk in my room. I don’t want to wake anyone,” Kenny whispered. He gave Russell the stink eye. “That’s not an invitation for anything else but talking.”

  Russell stuck out his bottom lip. “No kissing?”

  “No kissing.” Kenny led him down the hall.

  Russell knew where the guest room was. He’d done a lot of work in that room, extending it a few feet and building a wall of shelves in there. He’d even laid the hardwood floors for the room.

  He closed the door behind him when they entered and kicked off his work boots. His feet were grateful. They’d been sweating like crazy.

  Kenny looked down at Russell’s feet. “Getting cozy?”

  “I’ve had a long day, and I’m beat.”

  “Then why did you come over?” Kenny took a seat on his bed.

  “Do you have to ask?” Russell crawled into Kenny’s bed and patted the space in front of him. “Don’t worry, I won’t seduce you.”

  But if Kenny asked, Russell would be all over him. He didn’t like sleeping in his jeans but didn’t want to freak Kenny out if he took them off.

  Hesitating for a heartbeat, Kenny climbed in next to him. Russell pulled his mate close, spooning him while resting his chin on Kenny’s bare shoulder. He tossed an arm over Kenny’s side and sighed now that he was finally comfortable.

  “Now this is what I’m talking about,” Russell said.

  When Kenny didn’t answer, Russell leaned up enough to see that his mate’s eyes were closed and Kenny was fast asleep.

 

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