Page 115 of Pretty ’n Peak

“Yes, Austin.”

“Good. So you’re going to have a good evening celebrating your achievements. You’re not going to worry what anyone thinks about you or your mountain climbing friend from Portland. And then I’m going to take you upstairs and do wicked things to you.”

“Yes, Austin!”

God, it was a good thing he could drive the last few blocks without thinking about them, because every brain cell was focused on Austin’s hand slipping around the back of his hip toward his ass.

Or as far as he could go with the seat in the way.

“We’re almost to my house,” he croaked.

The hand withdrew. Damn.

“Good boy. Now no more naughty thoughts until we’re alone.”

Was he serious?

Though at least Mateo wasn’t freaking out any more. All he could think about was getting through the party and heading upstairs.

The driveway and most of the block were already full when they arrived, so Mateo parked near his brother’s place. “Do you mind if we leave everything in the truck for now? Like, the flowers?”

“Did I mess up?” Austin asked, sounding worried. “Do people not give flowers after a performance in Mexican culture?”

“Oh, they do. I think the tradition of throwing flowers onto a stage started in Spain, but it’s done all over Mexico, and I guess here. It’s more that it’s just such a…” He couldn’t even put it into words. There weren’t rules exactly, but something about it felt over-the-top and romantic. “...a grand gesture, I guess.”

Austin smiled. “It wasn’t meant to be a grand gesture, though you deserve all the grand gestures that you want. I hope you really do like them, though.”

Mateo wrapped his arms around himself. “I love them. I just… don’t want to carry them past everyone.” He wanted to savor them for himself.

And maybe not raise anyone’s suspicions when he was already feeling so edgy.

“You do what you need to do. They’re your flowers. We can get them later. There should be some water in there so they won’t wilt.”

Austin’s calm was helping him feel calm too.

“That’s the house I fixed up.” He pointed, even though Austin couldn’t see it.

“The one you used to own, you mean. You’re a very talented man, Mateo Delgado.”

He’d never really thought of himself that way. He was just a guy who went to work and had some hobbies for the weekends.

But Austin’s compliments for him didn’t seem to stop in the bedroom.

“Uh, thanks. We’re just going to cross the street.”

“Where all the music is coming from?”

“Yeah. This is my life. I know I said this was a party, but we do this every few weeks. There’s always someone with a birthday or something else going on.”

They wandered over to the pile of haphazard picnic tables and lawn chairs lit with strings of lights, Austin relying on his cane rather than Mateo’s arm.

Fortunately, enough of a crowd had gathered that they could slip in without alerting any immediate attention, and he found them a pair of seats near the fence before anyone called his name.

Once they did, cheers and ringing calls went up.

He waved them all off and went to grab a couple of beers.

Introducing Austin to his family was both easier and harder than he expected.