Loving Styles [Brac Village 12] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (7 page)

Styles had shown up. That meant he wanted something with Robby. He just wasn’t sure how deep that something was. They were standing on fragile ground right now and Robby knew he had to step carefully.

“Can we talk?” he asked gently, placing a hand on Styles’s arm. “Please,” he added.

Styles nodded as he took a seat, his eyes studying the table. Robby had never seen anyone look so lost, so unsure in his life. He placed his hands in his lap to stop himself from reaching across the table. “Thanks for coming.”

“You said that,” Styles pointed out.

Robby could feel a blush creeping across his face. “That I did. Do you want the rest of your chicken? I can have it—”

“I’m not hungry,” Styles said, cutting him off.

Robby wasn’t sure what to say. A ton of things had gone through his mind when he was sitting here by himself. But now that Styles was sitting across from him, his head still lowered and playing with the silverware, Robby was at a loss.

He stared at Styles, his heart aching for the handsome man. His mate was wearing a tight blue T-shirt, showing off very impressive muscles. He had masculine features like a wide nose, strong jaw, kissable lips, and for a mechanic, very clean nails. His hair was short and brown. Robby wanted to run his hands over the strands.

Robby stared at Styles’s hands as the man twirled the fork. The silence was awkward. “I like your motorcycle.”

Styles glanced up at him and Robby could see that the guy hadn’t expected him to talk about something so unimportant. “Thanks.”

This date—or whatever it was—was failing miserably. Robby wished he had asked Styles to meet him at the movies instead. There they wouldn’t be allowed to talk. “Do you want to get out of here?”

Styles finally glanced his way. “Where to?”

“A stroll down the street, a walk through the woods, or bungee jumping. Hell if I care.”

Styles stood. “Listen—”

“No,” Robby held up his hand. “If you want to leave, just go. I understand how hard it was for you to come in the first place. I mean, what was I thinking? You hate wolves. And hey, I’m a freaking wolf. What chance did I really have with you? Just piss off.” Robby was finished trying to be nice. The man was about to blow him off and his damn pride was hurt.

Styles shifted to his other foot, shoving his thumbs in his front pockets as he stared at Robby. “I was just going to say that we could go for a ride on my bike.”

Robby blinked up at him. “Can I have my words back? I seem to have let them loose at the most inappropriate time.”

“Nope,” Styles replied. “I’m holding them for ransom.” He spun on his heel and headed toward the door. Did that mean they were still going for a ride? Robby didn’t stand there too long wondering. He shot after Styles, heading out the door behind his mate.

“I’m really sorry I said those things,” Robby said when he caught up to Styles. He felt like a complete and utter fool for telling Styles to piss off. He normally wasn’t that mean to someone and he had been so afraid of being rebuffed that he had struck first.

The man gave a nonchalant shrug, but Robby could see the disappointment in his eyes. “No big deal. I’m used to that kind of shit.”

Robby grabbed Styles’s arm before the man could turn away. What he hadn’t expected was the growl that ripped from the man, his canines instantly showing. Robby took a step back, his hand covering his throat. He’d never seen anyone look that lethal in his life. “Styles?”

His mate scowled, turning his handsome looks into something demonic. “This isn’t going to work, Robby.”

He wasn’t going to give up. Robby had worked too hard to get them here. It was one simple meeting at a diner, but Styles was wearing the keychain Robby had sent him. That meant something whether the pigheaded man knew it or not. He wasn’t going to allow Styles to shove him away.

Digging into his pocket, Robby pulled out a lighter and held it up. It was a plain blue Bic, but he was trying to make a point. Styles’s eyes dropped to the lighter, his brows dipping deep. “It’s a lighter.”

Robby shook his head. “Guess again.”

Styles turned and began to walk away. “It’s a damn lighter.”

Running ahead of the coyote, Robby shoved his arm out, placing the lighter close to Styles’s face. “Guess. Again.” His tone was a little firmer, making Styles take him seriously. “What is this?”

“A
blue
lighter,” Styles answered. “What is your point?”

“It’s symbolic, Styles.”

The man gave a light shake of his head. Robby knew he wouldn’t get it, but he was trying to make Styles pay close attention. It was working. His mate studied the lighter intensely. “I don’t know.”

Running his thumb over the steel wheel, Robby watched as the flame danced around. Styles seemed mesmerized by it. His dark-brown eyes followed the flame as it swayed.

“It’s light, Styles. Don’t you see? I want to be the light in your darkness.” Robby released the flame and grabbed Styles’s hand, placing the lighter in his palm. “Just give me a chance.”

Styles studied his palm and Robby saw the tortured look enter his mate’s face once more. “I can’t let go.”

“Then let me help you.” He wanted to wrap his arms around his mate, but Robby kept a slight distance. It killed him to do so, but they were on a slippery slope right now. Styles could fall either way.

He let out a stuttering breath when Styles curled his fingers in, enclosing the lighter in the palm of his hand. “Just…give me time.”

Robby could do that. He would give Styles all the time he needed. “Dinner, tomorrow night?”

Styles glanced back at the diner. “Lunch.”

Robby knew lunch was Styles’s safeguard. They would have a limited amount of time. He would take that. “Okay.”

Standing on the street, Robby watched Styles walk to his motorcycle and mount it. He slipped his glasses into place and Robby’s cock became hard. Styles truly was a gorgeous man. The roar of the bike filled the air as Styles pulled away.

His evening plans ruined but happy he was making progress, Robby headed to his car and drove home. He thought about Styles the entire way. What was he going to do in order to tear down the man’s walls? He cursed when he remembered the chocolates. He would thank Styles for them tomorrow.

Pulling into his drive, the only thing Robby wanted to do was walk through his garden. Being back there always calmed his nerves and settled something inside of him. He was going to take a shower first and then slip on some pajama pants, letting the slight breeze skate over his heated flesh.

And he was heated. Things might not have gone as planned, but being near Styles made Robby’s cock ache. The remembered way Styles had watched him as Robby jacked off in the man’s backyard kept playing over and over in his mind.

Styles had been entranced. His eyes had never left Robby. He knew that his mate wanted him, but his hatred continued to get in the way. Maybe he would go back over to Styles’s house tomorrow night and catch the man in his bedroom.

Robby didn’t give a shit if he just met the guy. He wanted to be fucked into the wall. If that didn’t work, he was going to at least suck the man off. Robby was going to break down that damn barrier between them.

Walking through the front door, Robby froze. His eyes scanned the house as his heart began to hammer in his chest. He couldn’t be seeing what he was seeing. There was no way. As his hand fell away from the doorknob, Robby walked further inside to see that someone had ransacked his home.

Styles wasn’t even sure why he was riding past Robby’s house. It had to be the lighter thing. He had the blue Bic stuffed in his front pocket, keeping it close after what Robby had said to him.

The man was throwing him for a loop.

No one had ever sent him flowers or gifts and no one had ever gone through this much trouble just to get past his walls. Robby was getting to him, making Styles feel like they had half a chance with each other.

He slowed his motorcycle when he saw a police car sitting in Robby’s driveway. What the hell was going on? Robby was standing out front, talking with one of the officers as another walked out of the front door.

Pulling in beside the cruiser, Styles put the kickstand down and cut the motor. Big hazel eyes glanced his way and he could see fear in them. Robby had his arms crossed over his chest, but not in a relaxed pose. It was more like a defensive move, as if he was trying to keep the chills away.

Styles slid his glasses off and propped them on his head as he walked over the blacktop and then crossed the front lawn.

“Who are you?” the cop asked when he turned to look at Styles.

“Styles Huntington.” He moved closer to Robby, his eyes questioning. “What happened here?”

“Someone broke into my house and wrecked the place,” Robby said, his voice shaky.

“Can you think of any reason why someone would do this?” the cop asked Robby.

Robby shook his head back and forth. “None. I work at the bakery. Unless someone didn’t like a donut or pastry, I can’t think of any reason why someone would do this.”

Styles was amazed that Robby could still hang onto his sense of humor after something like this. His voice wasn’t steady, but he could tell Robby was trying to use levity to cope with his fear.

“Did you notice anything missing?” the cop asked, scribbling in his notepad.

“No, but until I clean up, I won’t really know.” Robby glanced back at his house and Styles could tell that he was really shaken up.

“Do you have any relatives that you can stay with, Mr. Nobles?”

They were all standard questions. The cop was doing his job and he looked like he was concerned, but not as concerned as Styles was. Who would break into Robby’s house, and why? Was the threat gone? Was this just some random act or was Robby being targeted for some reason?

Robby shook his head. “My relatives live too far away.”

“I don’t think you should stay here tonight, Mr. Nobles, not until we find out what’s going on.” The cop turned toward Styles. “Are you a friend?”

Styles cut his eyes at Robby. He stared at the man for a second before dipping his head. “I am.”

Robby gave him a wobbly smile.

“Can he stay with you tonight?” the cop asked. “It would be best. We don’t have any clues right now as far as who did this. Mr. Nobles is shaken up as well. He’ll need a friend.”

Styles couldn’t stop gazing into Robby’s hazel eyes. He’d never seen anyone look so damn vulnerable and scared. “Yeah, he can stay.”

The cop turned back to Robby. “Why don’t you take Mr. Huntington inside with you and gather some things. Be careful what you touch. I want to have this place dusted for fingerprints and I don’t want you to destroy any evidence we might be able to gather.”

Robby looked like he was about to collapse. The reality of what had happened was hitting home the longer the cop talked. Styles touched Robby’s upper arm and nodded toward the house. “Let’s go get some clothes.”

Robby dropped his arms and turned, walking inside, Styles right behind him. The man kept running his hand over his hair, glancing around at the destruction. Styles tapped him on the arm. “Your bedroom.”

Robby nodded and led Styles down a hallway. There wasn’t one spot in the house that hadn’t been left untouched. The couch was flipped over, the television on the floor, busted. Pictures lay on the floor, shattered, and there was a mound of debris all over the place. It looked like a tornado had come through this place.

When they entered the bedroom, Robby stopped, his eyes misting up as he gazed at the mess. Drawers were opened, contents spilled. The bed was overturned, the mattresses sliced. “What were they looking for?”

Robby’s head turned as he gazed up at Styles. “I don’t know.”

He spotted a small suitcase and grabbed it, setting it atop the dresser. Styles ignored the part of him that was rebelling against letting Robby stay with him. His coyote seemed to be in charge and it had its canines bared to anyone or anything that was a threat to its mate.

“Grab some clothes. I’ll go in your bathroom and get some toiletries for you.” Styles left Robby to pack as he walked into the bathroom. He stopped when he saw that the bathroom had been searched as well.

His anger began to mount as he grabbed Robby’s toothbrush and then opened the medicine cabinet, grabbing his cologne and shaving cream. Who in the hell had done all this? Why? Someone had been looking for something. He could tell by the way the place looked.

Styles snagged Robby’s razor and his shampoo. He had all of this at home, but it might help Robby cope a little better if he had his own things. Styles walked back into the bedroom to see Robby standing there staring at a photograph. The small suitcase was packed, so Styles walked over and tucked in the toiletries he had gathered.

Robby tucked the frame into the suitcase and then closed it. “I’m ready.”

Styles felt a bit detached, but he also felt something he had never felt before. He wanted to protect Robby. He wanted to make sure that no one hurt this guy, but Styles wanted to take away Robby’s fear. Styles had never wanted to protect anyone before, not like this.

When the friends he lived with were under attack, Styles had fought to keep not only himself alive, but the men with him. But this was so much more personal. He wanted to…hug the man.

Instead, Styles grabbed the suitcase and led Robby to the front room, trying to get the man out of the house so he wouldn’t continue to see the destruction. He stored the suitcase in the trunk of Robby’s car. “Since you know where I live, I want you to drive in front of me. I’ll follow.”

He wanted to make sure no one came after Robby. Styles wanted the man to take the lead so he could keep an eye out for any pursuers.

Robby slipped into the driver’s side and pulled out of the drive. He had to maneuver around the cop car, but the driveway was wide enough to where Robby could do that with ease. It took about ten minutes until they reached the Manchester place.

Styles pulled his bike next to the driver’s side. “Pull the car all the way in the back.”

Robby pulled away from the curb where he had started to park and did as Styles asked. Styles parked behind him, but noticed that Robby hadn’t gotten out. When he walked to the front of the car, he saw Robby sitting in the driver’s seat, wiping at his eyes.