Love Is Always Write Volume 4

looked like he wanted to say something he wasn't sure Dan would like.
    "What?"
    "I'm sorry I didn't stop by yesterday."
    Dan tried to act nonchalant, like Parker's absence hadn't bothered him. "That's ok. You don't have to check up on me."
    Parker laughed. "Well, you didn't burn down the camp or scare away all the fish, so I guess not. But I like checking on you."
    "You do?" Shit, why did I say that?
    "I do. Yesterday was my day off. But I forgot when I said good night to you. I was…."
    "Kinda drunk?"
    He shook his head. "Distracted."
    Distracted because he had wanted to kiss Dan as much as Dan wanted to kiss him? Dan could only hope. "Yeah?"
    Parker's face grew even redder.
    "How about I make you dinner?" Dan asked.
    Parker raised a brow.
    "Burgers. I can grill burgers."
    Parker grinned. "I'm sure you can."
    "So you wanna stay for dinner, or have you got more work to do?"
    "I'm not picking up another limb today, even if one falls down right in front of me."
    "Good." Dan gestured toward one of the camp chairs set up by the fire pit. "Have a seat, and I'll grab you a beer."
    Parker hesitated. "I stink. Let me go shower first, and I'll be back."
    "Ok," Dan responded. Was he being too pushy? "If you have other plans, that's okay."
    Parker shook his head. "No. I'd love to have dinner with you, but I'm a mess." He looked down at himself.
    "You look fine to me." The words slipped out before Dan could stop them. "I mean. I don't care if you—"
    Parker smirked. "I know what you mean."
    Dan had a terrifying feeling he did.
    CHAPTER 5
    Dan was ready to put the burgers on the grill when Parker returned. Along with his usual khaki shorts, he wore a black tank that showed off his tattoos and clung obscenely to his chest. Dan had to force himself to turn back to the grill before he embarrassed himself.
    "I'll have the burgers ready soon. There's beer in the cooler, and I've got a few kinds of chips. The wasabi mustard ones are my favorite."
    Parker grabbed a handful of chips from the open bag and tried them. "Mmm. These are great."
    Dan smiled as he put the burgers on the grill. "I'm kinda addicted to them."
    "I can see why." Parker reached into the cooler and selected a beer. "How'd you know Gaelic Ale was my favorite?"
    Dan laughed. "I wish I could reveal hidden psychic powers, but it's my favorite too."
    When the burgers were ready, they each put one together, grabbed more beer and chips, and settled into their chairs to watch the sun set over the lake. Parker bit into his burger, and his eyes lit up. "This is really good."
    Dan's cheeks heated. "Thanks. I told you I knew how to make burgers."
    Parker took another bite and nodded. When he'd swallowed and had a sip of beer he said, "I have to admit I was skeptical, but this is exactly what I needed after a day of clearing trails."
    Dan was glad he'd made plenty of burgers. At the rate Parker was going, he'd be ready for another one in seconds. "I worked up an appetite, too," Dan said. "But I had it easy compared to you."
    "What did you do today?"
    "I walked the loop at the Joyce Kilmer forest."
    Parker smiled. "I love it up there. I haven't been in ages though."
    "It was amazing. So peaceful. I stayed up there for hours. Then I went for a swim when I got back."
    "Alone?" Parker looked horrified.
    "There were plenty of other people around."
    "You still shouldn't go by yourself. You should've waited until we could go together."
    Dan swallowed the wrong way and coughed. An image of Parker in a nearly non-existent bathing suit formed in his mind. He imagined the two of them horsing around in the water, their bodies bumping into each other. There'd be no way to hide the persistent boner he had anytime Parker was close by.
    He shrugged. "I was fine."
    "Just don't do it again, okay?"
    "Okay," Dan responded, startled by the vehemence of Parker's concern.
    They both concentrated on eating for awhile. By the time they finished, darkness was closing in. The fireflies were out and so were the mosquitoes, but few other people were. Dan and Parker had the night to themselves.
    A breeze rustled the leaves and raised gooseflesh on Dan's arms. "You want to make a fire?"
    "Sure," Parker answered.
    Dan stood up and headed toward the camper. "I'll be right back."
    He grabbed the fixings for smores and some bug repellent. Parker was working on the fire when Dan came back outside. He sat the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows down and looked around for a few good sticks.
    "Smores?"