Free Spark & Blaze (A Guns & Hoses Novel) by Brenda Cothern Page B

part of the cue, up the rest of the stick, until he met Carmichael’s pale gray eyes. Several emotions seemed to flicker in Carmichael’s gaze, but Brett forced himself not to read into a single one.
     

     
    After two games, which Evan wiped the table, Flame suggested doubles with Austin. Evan argued because playing doubles was actually more challenging than playing one-on-one. However, Evan didn’t know that the guy who was playing Malone was Flame’s cousin.
    “This is Austin,” Flame introduced his cousin. “And you already know Malone.”
    Flame’s tone held a note of something. It wasn’t the kid glove tone that he expected because Malone helped him through his breakdown. No, it was something else altogether that Evan couldn’t identify.
    “Great to meet you.” Austin smiled at Evan. “Though I don’t know why my cousin thinks he will win if the two of you pair up.” Austin nodded toward Evan’s cue. “If you’re half as good as Brett, then we should get a handicap.” Austin laughed. “I’m thinking at least two balls and hand should make it even.”
    Brett forced himself not to groan at Austin’s unintentional? innuendo while he looked between Flame and Carmichael. Carmichael appeared slightly uncomfortable, but Brett was sure whatever unease the younger man felt had nothing to do with Austin’s words that could be taken as a sexual flirtation.
    “Haven’t played with him yet, so I don’t know,” Carmichael replied.
    Brett’s mind suddenly flashed to the desperate kiss Carmichael had laid on him in the truck bay the day before. There was no logical reason for the memory to assault him. Granted, Austin was throwing out sentences that could be taken as sexual innuendos, but Carmichael saying ‘played with him’ shouldn’t send his mind into replay mode of when his straight co-worker lost it and attacked his mouth.
    “I’m sure you’ll play well together,” Austin replied to Evan and Brett swore he heard the man giggle, fucking giggle , when he walked away.
    He knows, Brett thought when he watched Austin moved toward the end of the table and start racking the balls. He knows... How the fuck does he know? Brett felt panic rise in his chest and fought the sensation that threatened to cause him to outright bolt.
    “Gotta piss,” Brett said and felt like he blurted out the words.
    He placed his cue stick on the table without looking at anyone and turned toward the hall that led to the restroom. Brett saw nothing until he finally looked up into the mirror above the sink. His reflection appeared just as panicked as he felt. His eyes were wide, his face pale, and his lips were dry to match the sudden desert in his mouth.
    Breathe , Brett ordered his body. Just breathe.
    Brett knew he was having a panic attack and that he needed to talk himself down before he had a full-blown, embarrassing, freak out. A fucked up freak out that would arouse the attention of his co-workers or cause someone to call 911 which was the last fucking thing he needed.
    Brett splashed his face with cold water and allowed it to drip haphazardly down his face and neck. He braced his arms on the sink and dropped his head while he tried to get his breathing and racing heart under control.
    “Brett?”
    Brett raised his head and looked in the mirror to see the person who inquired about his current state of health. He wished he hadn’t even bothered because the last person he wanted to see was T. Tig, fucking Flame’s boyfriend. The look on the man’s face was one of pure concern, but that didn’t lessen the panic that was irrationally flooding through him.
    “You’re not out,” Tig staed instead of asked and continued to hold Brett’s gaze in the mirror. “I’m not sure what Flame or Austin said, but whatever it was had nothing to do with me and you.”
    Brett blinked and fought to find his voice. He had to clear his throat before he felt secure enough to speak.
    “You didn’t tell him?”
    They both knew who