Page 3 of Tangled With You

As if taking himself literally, he drew in a breath. “Um, so,how about I grab a bottle of whiskey and snag some of the cookies for us?”

He saw the way Jamie and Nikki exchanged glances. Theyweren’t fools; undoubtedly they realized he had something on his mind. For thatmatter, they were such good friends, they could all practically read eachother’s minds. Or they’d once been able to. Right now, he doubted they had aclue as to what he wanted to tell them.

All he knew was that it was time.

“Cookies and whiskey?” Jamie said. “You don’t have to ask metwice.”

“Great.” He glanced around the empty living room. He hadfurniture being delivered in a week. Right then, there were some metal foldingchairs and a card table. “Maybe we take an extra chair onto the balcony?” Therewas a small outdoor settee out there already, but it was only big enough fortwo.

Jamie’s brow furrowed. “Did Jackson check it out for you? Idon’t want that big slab of concrete to snap off while I’m sitting on it andsend me hurling to my death on the roof of the neighbor below you.”

“Damn,” he retorted. “Now you’ve taken all the fun out ofit.”

Jamie just tilted her head and stared him down.

“Two Jackson Steele thumbs-up,” he assured her as Nikki—everefficient—returned from the kitchen with the cookie box, a roll of papertowels, and a bottle of Basil Hayden.

“Are we just slugging?” Jamie asked.

That time, it was Nikki who stared Jamie down. “Hands full.Go grab some cups, would you?”

“I’ve got it,” Ollie said. “I want to tell the girls theycan watch something on my bed if they want to. The television’s installed andeverything. No satellite yet, but I can get all the streamers.”

“And that’s why he’s the favorite uncle,” Jamie said asOllie headed into the kitchen. “I need to tell Ryan to step up his game. Afterall…”

He missed the rest of her words as by then, he’d rounded thecorner into the kitchen and had been immediately accosted by the sound ofsquealing girls. A sound that only became louder when he offered themtelevision time.

He grabbed three glasses, then like the Pied Piper led thegirls out of the kitchen and into the living area, intending to cross the spaceto the balcony. Instead, he stopped short. Because there was Trevor Barone,looking every inch his Italian roots, with his dark hair and dark eyes. He evenhad on a black T-shirt and black jeans. He was lean, but muscular, and rightthen, Ollie was thinking about him far too much.

He tried to stop, but his mind was already spinning. Thetruth was, Trevor reminded him of Cary Grant from To Catch a Thief,one of his favorite old movies. He had an elegance about him that Ollie found—well,actually he found it sexy. And that, of course, was what he needed to tell hisfriends. What he’d probably be doing right now, if Trevor hadn’t blindsidedhim.

Then again, when hadn’t Trevor blindsided him? The firsttime he’d met the man, Ollie’s mouth had gone dry, and he’d spent the rest ofthe weekend wondering where this new Ollie had come from.

Definitely blindsided.

And now here was his walking, talking weakness, standing inhis living room holding a pizza box in the entryway as he chatted with Nikkiand Jamie.

“Trevor!” Lara called, then ran to him. He squatted down,then put the pizza on the ground as he gathered the girls in his arms. Damientended to have the team at Stark Security over to the Malibu house when a largecase wrapped, and because of that, Trevor had known the girls for years.

That, in fact, was how they’d first met. Just casually bythe bar, and Ollie had felt a sensual punch to the gut. It faded, sure, andthey’d chatted. It had been fine. But later that night Ollie’dbeen unable to get the man out of his head. And not just in a there’s a guyI could grab a beer with kind of way. More like the XXX-rated variety.

Which was more than a little disconcerting in light ofOllie’s theretofore caveman understanding of his sexuality: Him straight guy.Woman’s breasts nice. Women soft. Sex with them nice.

With Trevor, though, Ollie had somehow missed a veryimportant memo.

Now, Trevor was crouched down, one girl in the curve of eacharm for a hug. “You two are looking adorable. And getting so big.”

Watching him, something flipped in Ollie’s gut, and hismouth was suddenly dry. A moment passed, then another, then he realized he wasstanding there like an idiot, and forced himself to keep walking. “Hey,” hesaid, hoping his voice sounded normal. “Good to see you, man.”

Trevor stood, then took a step forward, a smile teasing atthe corner of his wide mouth. His defined jaw boasted a hint of stubble, andhis ears stuck out just a bit, which Ollie thought was just too damnedendearing.

And that was the trouble. He’d been thinking about this manfar too much. A man now standing in his home in jeans that were both well-wornand fitted enough to accent the fact that this was a guy in seriously goodshape.

“I was down on Ventura Boulevard, so I thought I’d bring youdinner and see how it’s coming.” He glanced around. “Looking good. Need help?”

“What? Oh, no, I—”

“We’re going to cut out before you rope us and the girlsinto helping, too,” Jamie said, then smiled sweetly. Which, considering it wasJamie, was never a good thing. “Errands,” she added with a shudder.