Loving Styles [Brac Village 12] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Lynn Hagen Page A

ready to love him. He accepted Robby as his mate, but that’s as far as it would go right now. A piece of him died right there in the dust-covered room as he finally opened his mouth and let Styles have his way. There was no use fighting with the guy. At least the man hadn’t lied to him. That was a very small comfort in regards to the big picture.
    Loving Styles was heartbreaking, but Robby knew he wasn’t going to give up. Styles needed someone who would continue to push, continue to break down his walls until none were standing.

Chapter Nine
     
    Styles dropped Robby off at the bakery. He wasn’t even sure why he had taken the man out to the small shack. It was a place he used when he needed to think, needed to get away. He had never shared it with anyone before.
    He had been a coward when his mate had asked him a simple question that didn’t have a simple answer. He may not have had a ready answer, but he could have said something instead of trying to kiss his mate into forgetfulness.
    Robby hadn’t asked him anything after the kiss. He could see the quiet acceptance in the man’s hazel eyes and it killed a part of Styles to know the emotional wreck he was making of things. But he wasn’t going to lie to Robby just to appease the man.
    “Got a job for you in the back,” Dagon Santiago said as soon as Styles walked through the door. “Guy wants it fixed by closing. I told him no problem.”
    Instead of his usual flippant reply, Styles just gave a nod as he clocked back in and grabbed the repair order. The bike belonged to a guy named Stephan Jackson. Styles remembered the guy. He was one of the firefighters that had started after that whack job Sampson had been arrested and sent to the nuthouse.
    There were two others who had been hired as well, although Styles couldn’t remember their names. He remembered Stephan only because the man came in here often to buy accessories for his motorcycle.
    Tossing the chart aside, Styles got to work. He pushed aside all thoughts of Robby and the fucked-up morning they had together. But the one thing he didn’t forget was that someone was after his mate.
    He saw Dagon step into the shop from the corner of his eye. The man grabbed the chart that Styles had tossed aside, glancing over the work order. “Will you have this done by closing?”
    Styles nodded. “It’s a simple repair job.”
    When Dagon continued to watch him, Styles knew the man had come back here for another reason. He just wished the man would spit out what he had to say and leave him to his work. He hated being watched over. Finally, after a long moment, Styles set his tool down and glanced up. “Something I can help you with?”
    Dagon rubbed his jaw and then pointed a finger at Styles. “There’s something different about you.”
    It could be the fact that Styles wasn’t snapping at the man. “I’m wearing boxer briefs instead of going commando,” Styles replied. “Thank you for being so perceptive.”
    “That’s what it is,” Dagon said, smiling as if happy he’d figured it out. “You aren’t your usual sourpuss self.”
    Styles did not like being scrutinized. “Are you trying to invite me to a company picnic or something?” he snapped. “If not, get the fuck out of here so I can finish my work. And if you are inviting me, the answer is hell no.”
    “You had me worried,” Dagon said and Styles could tell the guy was getting a kick out of this. “For a second there I thought you were actually changing into a tolerable man.”
    “The bike will be done by quitting time.” Styles grabbed his tool and went back to work, totally ignoring the man standing a few feet away. He no longer wanted to take part in the conversation. But Dagon’s words had sown the seeds and now the thoughts were growing in Styles’s head.
    Dagon’s reaction was the total opposite of what was normal. He should be worried if Styles was snapping, not the other way around. Styles grew agitated as he worked,