Free Desires' Guardian by Tempeste O'Riley Page B

noticeable.
    Why couldn’t it be Dal that makes me squirm and want?
    “Um, did I forget something again?” He knew it was things like this that gave him such a rep for being an airhead, but he couldn’t help how engrossed he got at times. He was just as focused when playing, so it couldn’t all be bad. Right?
    Dal’s rich laugh made him smile. “Boy, you asked me to stop by on my lunch break so you could pick up your bike, remember? Something about not having time tonight thanks to your pretty little ass having a date,” Dal explained, his grin so wide it lit up his entire being.
    Chase could feel the heat in his cheeks and looked away. “Yeah, Adrian liked my bike the one time he saw it, and it’s our first date, so I….”
    “You want to impress the guy. I get it. But I don’t have a long break today, so let’s go.”
    He hit “save,” then shut things down, grabbed his wallet, keys, and coat, and joined Dal. Dal slid his arm over Chase’s shoulders, guiding him to the front.
    “Bye, Nichelle.”
    “Bye, Nikki. It was great seeing you again,” Dal added before they exited the office into the chilly, early-afternoon light.
    “You two must have been a hot couple, with all her soft mocha skin and your pale skin with the little toffee freckles,” Chase mused out loud as he slid into the passenger seat of Dal’s cruiser.
    “I always thought she was,” Dal replied. “But we make much better friends than lovers. Have you met her husband? He’s pretty cool.”
    “Yeah, he was nice when I met him, and cute too,” Chase added with a grin.
    “You should see his brother. He’s even hotter.”
    Chase did a double take as he stared at Dal. Some het people were open-minded and such, but “hot” and the way his voice had dropped a little when he said it? “And you would know this how? Besides, I am not going to take advice on who’s sexy from a straight guy,” Chase taunted, waving his hand to push away such a silly thought.
    Dal’s amused laugh confused Chase even more. “Who said I was straight?”
    “But, well… aren’t you? I mean, you dated Nichelle. You had just broken up with some girl right before we met at James’s, so yeah… straight.”
    “So, you’re one of those gay guys that thinks the whole world is either gay or straight?”
    Chase thought that over carefully, considering the harsher tone in Dal’s voice. “Well, no. But I’ve never heard you mention an ex that wasn’t female, so I assumed that meant you were het.”
    “There’s this little thing between the two extremes, Chase. I’m bi. And no, that does not mean I’m confused or unsure or finding myself. I happen to be attracted to both women and men.”
    “I’m sorry, Dal. I didn’t mean it that way, honest. I didn’t know, is all. Forgive me,” he pleaded, batting his eyes as they pulled up to the garage.
    “Of course. Now, let’s get your bike so you can impress what’s his name.”
    “Adrian, Adrian Keys.” He giggled as he thought about the upcoming evening.
    “He must really be something if you’re giggling. I’m really glad what happened with you and Rhys hasn’t stopped you from looking for your Mr. Right.”
    Chase stood, frozen, as what Dal said washed over him. He was already fighting inexplicable guilt for going out with Adrian, and now Dal had to go and say something like that?
    Dal nudged him when a mechanic approached. It wasn’t Ricky, his usual guy, but some ripped, tan unknown person heading their way. Chase looked up into the bluest eyes he had ever seen. The man was about the same height as Dal, maybe an inch or so shorter, and gorgeous, even with the grease smudges on his forehead and left cheek.
    “I’m Kyler, and I’m assuming, from the way the other guys talk, you,” the big guy rumbled, gesturing to Chase, “are Manny, the owner of the sweet Sabre I worked on today.” The way he spoke was so matter-of-fact, Chase didn’t even think to correct his name error.
    “Actually,