Feel the Fire (Hotshots 3)

Next to Tucker, Angelica jostled his chair as she reached for a roll.

“Here, sweetie.” He grabbed one for her and buttered it as well. For a moment, only an instant really, he let himself imagine sitting next to Luis. It might not be such a terrible idea to invite him. He was a friend, and Tucker had brought other friends around the family, chaos and all. Heidi’s suggestion kept poking at his brain, making him want things he shouldn’t, making him try to rationalize those urges. Luis would probably turn down the offer in any event, but if he didn’t...

“Butthead. See if I help you later.” Wade threatened Walker over some minor tiff, and whatever cozy scenario he’d been about to imagine disappeared in a flurry of reminders about language and tone.

He managed to sidestep Heidi’s continued questions about Luis while they made quick work of the dishes after dinner. Right as he was about to leave, Walker came bounding down the stairs, backpack over one shoulder.

“You were right. I do need the quiet. Okay if I walk back with you?”

“Always.” Relief surged through him that Walker wasn’t shutting him out entirely. He was quiet on the stroll back to Tucker’s house, but merely his presence had Tucker’s tight jaw relaxing at least a little.

When they reached the house, Walker stopped by the stairs, turning back toward Tucker. “Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Invite your friend.” Something unreadable crossed his face, resignation maybe or apology. Tucker still wasn’t convinced that would be the right call, but Walker’s effort made his chest warm.

“Thanks. And you can ignore Wade. I’m not looking for a relationship, promise.”

“Whatever.” Walker sounded less flip than earlier, but there was still a certain unhappiness there that wasn’t his usual.

“Are you sure you don’t need to talk?”

Walker’s phone went off before he could reply. “Sorry. It’s Mary Anne. I’ll take it upstairs.”

And with that, he was gone, leaving Tucker even more muddled. Despite everything, including his worries about Walker, his mind returned to Luis as he got ready for bed, replaying their car kiss. His body hummed with unfamiliar energy. Even though he knew he was risking complications, he still wanted more.

* * *

“Heidi wants you to come to dinner on Wednesday.” Holding a reusable bag in one hand, Tucker entered Luis’s office like they had some prearranged lunch date, shutting the door behind him.

“Hello to you too, Tucker. Come in, won’t you? To what do I owe the pleasure?” Luis made a sweeping gesture at his guest chair. It was a busy Monday, getting ready for the controlled burn, reviewing evidence from yesterday’s fire, and Luis had lost track of time, still hadn’t eaten his own lunch. Hunger might be making him cranky, but also Tucker’s seeming ease at putting aside their heated kisses wasn’t helping.

“Sorry. I was intending to simply bring you food, but then Heidi texted a reminder, and I wanted to get the invitation out before I forgot.”

“You brought me food?” He lightly kicked his own ankle under the desk, trying to make sure he wasn’t dreaming up this bizarre encounter.

“Those premade protein boxes you like aren’t enough food, and I figured you might be getting tired of the limited options around here. Made an extra sandwich this morning in case you wanted it.” Tucker dug a pair of sandwiches out of his bag.

“You made me a sandwich?” Heart swelling, he accepted the foil-wrapped package. Damn it. He wanted Tucker’s body, not his sweetness. Tucker caring might be more than he could take.

“With some of Wade’s spicy mayo,” Tucker confirmed.

“Thanks. Now what’s this about dinner?” It said something about his mental state that he’d be happier to have a lunchtime quickie with Tucker than face his kid again.

“We do the twice a week family thing. Casual. But Isaac’s cooking is worth it.”

“You’ve mentioned. Still not sure how this involves me.”

“Heidi—”

“What did you tell her?” Even though they were alone in his office, he kept his voice low. He didn’t think Tucker was the type to run right out and give his ex a kiss-by-kiss report, but maybe he didn’t know this Tucker as well as he thought.

“Nothing.” Tucker held up his hands, but Luis merely raised an eyebrow. “Okay, okay. Maybe I said that we were catching up, but that’s all. Walker was acting weird about seeing you at my place, so I was trying to make it no big deal.”

“And bringing me for dinner is how you want to make it less of a deal?”

“I’m allowed friends. And we’re friends, right?” Tucker’s crooked grin did nothing to reassure Luis.

“You make a habit of tangling tonsils with friends?” He gave Tucker a pointed look, liking his blush a little too much.

“No. You know that.”

“I do.” Luis gentled his voice, because he did get that Tucker didn’t do this sort of thing regularly, possibly ever. “I’m just saying there are far less complicated ways to invite me over to make out. We both know this isn’t truly a meet-the-family sort of arrangement, right? Not saying that we can’t be...”