[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

down on a rough-hewn table, grabbed a bottle, and propped against one of the solid wooden posts
holding up the porch overhang. He tipped the bottle to Ben, then twisted off the cap, and took a long
drink.
 There s nothing like a cold beer on a cold night, Duncan said, to break the awkward silence.
 Have a seat Gibbs. He motioned to the empty spot beside Ben.
Gibbs shot him a look, but wandered over, taking the open spot and sending a quick smile
toward Ben.
 So, Ben said.  Here we are.
 Yep, Gibbs agreed.  We re definitely here. He reached for two bottles, holding one for
Ben.
Ben drained his mug and took the amber bottle from him.
 Don t you get lonely out here by yourself? Gibbs asked after a moment.
 Not when I have people stopping by for no reason.
 Do you want us to leave? Duncan asked, holding his breath.
Ben shrugged. His gaze slid from Duncan to Gibbs. It lingered on Gibbs profile, as he studied
Gibbs lips and eyes. He took his first drag from the bottle, still watching. Duncan cocked his head
with interest. Ben took in everything about his owly friend.
 May I use your bathroom? Duncan asked suddenly.
Ben stared him in the eye for a several silent seconds, before nodding.  Hallway on the right,
first door on the left.
 Thanks, Duncan replied. He sent Gibbs a wink, then disappeared inside. Now to scope the
cabin for Charlie. The full moon was tomorrow night. Unless he wanted to permanently call a hare
one of his best friends, he needed to free the sexy little bastard.
Chapter Six
Ben followed Duncan s departure until he was out of sight. He d have to go in and check on
him if he didn t come out right away. He wouldn t put it past Duncan to go looking for the hare. In
fact, he was positive that s what this little visit was about.
It was a shame. It would be nice to have a visit from a couple of great looking guys, just for the
sake of having a visit from a couple of great looking guys. He still had to convince Duncan to tell him
what he knew about that night last year. He wasn t completely sold on Duncan s story, either. The
way Ben saw it, things got a little too hot and heavy for him, so now he was deflecting.
He took a sip of his beer. He looked up the drive for the other member of the threesome that
seemed so inseparable.
 Where s Charlie? Ben asked.
 Uh, he s unavailable, Gibbs said, quickly lifting his beer, his eyes darting to the side.
God, there it was again. The familiarity and the little thrill that socked Ben in the gut. It came
out of the blue, but always when he was looking or thinking about Gibbs. If he didn t know better,
he d call it attraction. Couldn t be though, because Ben had always gone for types like Duncan.
But here sat Gibbs. Looking cute, in an awkward, mussed up, shy kind of way, like a man who
wanted to say something important, but couldn t seem to get the words out.
Gibbs looked away from him, into the dark. He dropped his hand to the bench, inadvertently
covering Ben s.
Ben and Gibbs both jumped.
Gibbs apologized, and looked away again.
Ben studied the long curled fingers that rested on the bench near his. The back of Ben s hand
still tingled. He kind of felt like a little girl for noticing that. He kind of felt like a little girl for feeling
giddy about it, too.
Still tracing the long lines of his fingers with his eyes, Ben murmured,  You know, it s funny,
you remind me of this Great Horned Owl that comes to visit me sometimes.
Gibbs whipped his head around. Ben looked up to see wide, golden eyes. Clearly startled by
the admission, Gibbs blinked quickly, his long black lashes sweeping down, much the same way the
owl s did. Color climbed Gibbs neck and touched his earlobes with a pale pink.
 An owl? he asked sharply.
 Yeah, I know. Sounds strange, but I think it s your eyes.
Gibbs unconsciously pushed up his glasses, eliciting a smile from Ben. Gibbs really was a
great looking guy, he decided. Ben stretched out his pinkie to touch the side of Gibbs hand. Gibbs
looked down at it.
 Shouldn t Duncan be back by now? Ben asked.
Gibbs lifted his chin, gazing at Ben from under the heavy line of his black framed glasses.
 Probably.
To Ben s surprise, Gibbs covered Ben s hand with his own. Uncertainty shadowed Gibbs [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]