“The board is done,” Lucky declared. “Turned out pretty sweet too, wait ‘til you see it.”“Give me a minute.”Lucky nodded and waited while Cain finished emptying the box, then checked the task off of the clipboard he never seemed to be without.“If I don’t write shit down I’ll forget to do it,” Cain had explained when Lucky had asked him about it. “Get distracted easy, especially when the big waves are breaking.”Lucky had witnessed Cain’s distractions more than once while he’d been working around the shop, like early that morning, when Lucky was sweeping up while waiting for a coat to dry. Cain was supposed to be washing the front windows, but instead he’d stood frozen, eyes on the sea, until Thorn had gone over and snapped him out of it.
Lucky had envied the intimacy of each and every casual caress. The way Thorn had bumped shoulders with Cain and then leaned against him, heads pressed together as Thorn had spoken to Cain too low for anyone else to hear. There was a moment when Thorn slid his fingertips down Cain’s back and Cain had shivered and then grinned up at him, nodded his head at something Thorn had said and then went back to wiping the windows. Lucky had watched as Thorn had lingered, studying Cain, the heat in his expression when he’d turned around had been enough to make Lucky swallow hard and fight down the desire to someday have that gaze turned on him.
He’d reminded himself that Thorn didn’t seem to like him, and that was enough to cool the rising desire that had surged through him. Now, as he watched Cain walk toward him, he had to wonder how long Cain would keep playing games with him before he admitted that nothing real was ever gonna happen. Cain smiled as he finished breaking down the box and stepped up beside Lucky, who looked away, gut clenching as he realized how quickly this could all be over.“What’s wrong?” Lucky blinked, looking up to see the concerned look in Cain’s eyes. For a moment, Lucky considered saying nothing, but he knew that would just lead to Cain prying and pushing him to talk.“A little too deep in my own head right now,” Lucky admitted, hoping that would be enough to get Cain to back off.“Then let’s see what we can do to fix that,” Cain suggested, and stepped right into Lucky’s space. Lucky’s eyes widened and when he tried to take a step back Cain followed, one hand going to Lucky’s waist, the other landing on his shoulder.“Wh—” “Shhhhh,” Cain silenced him easily as Lucky blinked up into his eyes.The radio was on low, it was always low when Cain played it. Thorn liked it loud much the same way Lucky usually did. Right now some soft song was on, heavy on the piano with a sad sounding guitar, and Lucky found himself drawn to it.A knowing smile crossed Cain’s face as he moved just a little, his hand on Lucky’s hip urging him to move too. Soon they were swaying to the beat, Lucky’s arms around Cain’s neck, his head pressed against Cain’s shoulder.Lucky couldn’t help the contented sigh that escaped his lips or the way he pressed just a little bit tighter, seeking Cain’s warmth and more of the soft caresses that Cain was trailing down the back of his neck.“When was the last time you danced,” Cain asked.Lucky inhaled the scent of salt water and sand that clung to Cain’s skin and guessed that the man must have headed down to catch a few waves on his lunch break. “Like this, never. Club stuff though, a few times, whenever Cody wanted to go.”“Did you like it?”“Naw, that was Cody’s thing, not mine. Most times I’d just sit at the bar unless he dragged me out on the dance floor. I like this better. Not as loud and not so many limbs flying around.”Cain chuckled and stroked his fingers through Lucky’s hair. “That can be annoying,” he admitted, before falling silent again.Content to just give in to the movement and the motion, Lucky closed his eyes and swayed, letting every thought, every feeling just melt away. Even after the song changed to something a little faster, neither man moved away from the other, the distance between them having been swallowed up by their need to get as close as clothes would allow.
Lucky Strike McAllister isn't very lucky. In fact, he isn't much of anything most days, to hear his MC tell it. Since the death of his father from cancer and the suicide of his pops, he's done nothing but find ways to get into trouble. He's talented with an airbrush gun and an amazing artist when he sets his mind to it, but more often than not, the things Lucky sets his mind to are pretty self-destructive.
When Thorn and his partner Cain, members of the neighboring chapter of the Rollin' Jokers, are forced to fish Lucky out of the ocean on a chilly fall night, both men decide he needs a keeper and who better than them to keep Lucky from destroying himself. Too bad Lucky can't see that they're trying to help. Bitter and lashing out, he does everything he can to sabotage the home and relationship they're offering.
With secrets mounting and trouble knocking on their
doorstep, Lucky struggles to find a way to put aside his anger long enough to
get to know the two men who have taken such an intense interest in him. As
tensions mount, will he look to take the easy path and he run from them, his
club and everything he's ever known, burning bridges and the last of his luck
in the process or will he stay and learn that there are better ways to burn?
Buy Links
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CA Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B073RR8YFB
AU Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B073RR8YFB
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