Keaton's Lessons [Brac Village 6] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Lynn Hagen (portable ebook reader TXT) 📗

Village wasn’t a place he needed to settle back into. The one thing stopping him from taking off was Keaton. He knew his mate loved living here and Kade couldn’t bring himself to tear the man away.

“This is a one-year lease,” Kota said as he held up the folder. “It is renewable just as long as none of the terms are violated. I own this building, so I’m pretty flexible. Read it over, and if you agree, sign it.”

Kade took the folder and began to read over the lease. As his eyes skimmed down the paper, he realized that he didn’t understand half the technical terms being used. He read over it once more and was still stumped.

“We good?”

He wanted to ask Kota to explain the lease to him in layman’s terms, but just nodded as he signed on the proverbial dotted line. It was stupid to sign something he didn’t understand, but Kade prayed that Kota could be trusted.

Kota held out his hand and Kade shook it. “You are now the proud leaseholder of this building, my friend. The loan has been deposited into your bank account. Maverick’s accountant is going to meet with you tomorrow to help you go over the financial side of this.”

It was all so overwhelming.

Kota took a seat on one of the chairs that had been left behind by the previous renter. He sat casually back in the chair, one arm tossed over the back, his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. The man looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world, as if nothing bothered him.

Kade used to be that confident. Hell, he had been up until a few weeks ago when he entered this village. “I’m good,” Kade replied with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders, wondering if he ever would be the same man he used to be before that tragic night.

The door opened and Keaton came rushing in, looking flushed. “Did you sign it?”

Kade and Kota glanced at each other before Kade gave a quick nod. He hadn’t been expecting Keaton here today. It was a welcome surprise.

“Let’s celebrate!” Keaton was so bubbly that Kade was waiting to see if the man popped from excitement. “Oliver is running the hut today, so I’m all yours.”

Kota pushed to his feet, a grin on his face. “I better go check on my brother-in-law.”

Keaton watched the beta leave before he spun around and his face lit up. “Come on, Kade, where do you want to go or what do you want to do?”

God, he loved when his mate said his name. The slipping accent was sexy as hell. It reminded him of what Keaton had done for him last night and Kade was getting hard remembering. He was still hesitant in claiming Keaton. The doc had told him that the vampire who had attacked his mate was indeed infected.

What if it was only the pull making Keaton agree? What if it wasn’t what he really wanted? Those thoughts continually kept him up at night. Kade did not want to take the man’s free choice away.

“A fat steak sounds damn good,” Kade said, knowing Keaton would turn his nose up at the idea.

“How about I stuff you with more of my concoctions until your eyes bug out?” Keaton handed Kade the threat teasingly. Kade wasn’t really in the mood for steak, but he really didn’t know what to do.

“What is there to do around here?” It had been so long since Kade had hung around town, and it had vastly changed. He wasn’t sure what new businesses were up and running. He had seen a few, but he was pretty sure there was plenty more.

“There is an art festival going on at the rec center. The kids are selling their paintings. They also have games, food, and a few contests. Do you want to go check out the famous little artists?”

Kade had never celebrated anything by browsing children’s art. He wasn’t sure what Keaton was doing, but the man was showing him a softer side to life. Kade liked that. He wanted to see more of it. Softness was sorely missing from his life. “Sounds good.”

Keaton laughed. “Dude, don’t look like I’m taking you to your execution. It’ll be fun, I promise.” Kade could only stare in wonder as Keaton ran his hand through his shoulder-length blond hair. He was such a…he pictured his mate attending college, hanging out with his friends, and enjoying life to the fullest.

“Why didn’t you go to college?” He wasn’t sure where his line of thought was going, but the guy seemed like he should be on a surfboard somewhere.

“What?” Keaton asked as he tilted his head to the side, his sapphire eyes shimmering in the sunlight.

“School, why didn’t you further your education instead of settling down and starting a business?”

Keaton gave the easy laugh Kade was becoming addicted to. “It wasn’t for me. Twelve years was long enough. I wanted to start living my life, not be in another classroom. I don’t think I did too bad considering I’m a successful business owner at the age of twenty-three.”

Jesus Christ. Kade had no idea he was that young. Knowing his mate’s age made him feel old as hell. Snow leopards aged slower than humans. When Kade was finished with high school, he was—in leopard years—twenty-five years old. He was still young for someone from his breed of shifters, but damn…Keaton was…Kade ran his hand down his face and turned. Even if he went by human years, he would be thirty-three, ten years older than the guy.

Why was he so stuck on age? Kade felt like he was losing his damn mind. He wasn’t acting like himself and he wasn’t thinking like himself either.

Where were all these downtrodden feelings coming from?

“I hear there is pie at the art festival. Come on, I’m pretty sure they should have a sugar-free one.” Keaton grabbed Kade’s arm and pulled him along. The only thing he could do was