A Subtle Breeze, Bailey Bradford [year 2 reading books .txt] 📗

assed, among other bare parts, but he liked the idea that love could live on. Or linger, or whatever it was that was happening.

“Actually, I think it is pretty cool, you know? Except for the being naked part, I’d rather not, not your mom, you know, not in any, uh…” Shit! Here was a perfect example of another time when he should have bitten his tongue!

Zeke burst out laughing and squeezed Brendon tight enough he thought his eyes bulged out a little. “I can’t blame you there. I wouldn’t care to have either of our mamas seeing me buck naked. But look at the bright side, at least my mama didn’t slap you on the ass.”

Brendon snorted at that and stood. “If she had, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. My naked ass would have been out the door and calling for a ride home last night.”

Standing, Zeke chuckled. “Nah. I doubt she’d have let you out the door, not if she wanted you here.” The chuckle grew into laughter once again as Brendon spluttered, more than a little disturbed by his lover’s statement.

“You…you think she’d do that? Make me stay if I didn’t want to?” Brendon didn’t want to leave, but the idea of being forced to stay, by a ghost at that, was just wrong on too many levels to contemplate.

Zeke looked at Brendon and stopped his teasing, tossing an arm over his shoulders. “Trust me, Mama wasn’t the sort of person who would kidnap someone when she was alive. I don’t think even, ah, passing away, would change that, you know? Now, let’s get your clothes and vehicle before I lose my nerve.”

Brendon nodded and hoped like hell this trip to town was uneventful. He knew it was a big step for Zeke, for them both, really. One thing he was certain of, if anyone dared to so much as look at this man wrong, Brendon was going to go off. Zeke was going to learn that he didn’t have to fight his battles alone any more, nor did he have to hide away from them. Brendon wasn’t afraid to fight Zeke’s battles or his own, and he would see to it that everyone, including the man he was falling hard for, knew it.

Chapter Four

Zeke couldn’t make himself relax no matter how hard he tried as he drove through McKinton with Brendon. He knew, logically, that it was ridiculous to be so self-conscious about it. He wasn’t the only man to drive through the town with another man in his truck. But, he was the only gay man—that anyone knew of, anyways, and that made all the difference. Zeke couldn’t help but feel like everyone was looking, judging and getting ready to gossip and cast that first stone. Hell, they might already be gathering a mob. His chest constricted at his morose humor and he worked hard to keep his breathing normal.

“Are you okay?” Brendon’s voice held such understanding that Zeke almost reached for his hand. He caught himself, tightening his grip on the steering wheel as he glanced at his passenger. Seeing the compassion in those soft brown eyes helped ease the rest of the tension in Zeke’s chest.

“I reckon I’m okay enough for now, all things considered,” he answered. It had been years since he had ridden into town for anything other than a trip to his mama’s grave. It had been all too easy to remain tucked away in the relative safety of his home. He hadn’t seen his sister Elizabeth since she had moved away three years ago, and the last time he had seen his oldest sister Eva…

Speak of the devil and he—or in this case, she—shall appear, Zeke thought as Brendon pointed at the pissed off woman in the car beside him at the stoplight.

“Who is that miserable looking bitch, Zeke?” Brendon glared right back out his window, not looking the least bit intimidated by the hatred pouring off the dark-haired woman.

Zeke couldn’t bring himself to turn his head fully and look. He knew what he would see, and frankly, coming into town was already trying enough for him. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he saw Eva, still full of anger and hate. Someday, he hoped his sister would find peace instead of the poisonous emotions that seemed to fill her, but he wasn’t keeping his fingers crossed.

One thing was certain, seeing the way Eva was glaring at Brendon, her mouth spewing silent words of hatred reinforced Zeke’s decision to keep the man close. There was no chance that Eva wouldn’t be gunning for Brendon now after having seen them together, even in such an innocent setting.

“That”—he gave the truck a little gas, trying not to appear eager to flee—“is Eva, my oldest sister.”

Brendon whipped his head around so fast Zeke was surprised the man didn’t get whiplash. “That is the bi… That is the sister who went all batshit when you came out to your family? That one?”

Zeke could feel the anger pouring off of Brendon. He didn’t bother to ask how Brendon knew about Eva. He was sure Gloria and Enessa had been feeding Brendon information about him for some time.

“Yeah, she would be that one. When I told my mama, she didn’t freak out or start lecturing me on the Bible or anything, even though she was a faithful church-goer. No, she just said that I was exactly the way God meant me to be, He didn’t make mistakes.” And how had he forgotten that? Zeke checked his mirrors and switched lanes, watching his sister’s face twist with fury in his rearview. “She helped me tell my sisters. Elizabeth, the second oldest, just nodded and went back to her room to study. Enessa, well, she has always been a loving soul. She gave me a great, big hug and told me she loved me.” He smiled at the memory, letting it warm him all over again.

“Nessa is a wonderful person, Zeke,” Brendon agreed. “But