Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(56)

Keyes admired the paint as he walked around the hood of the most perfect truck he’d ever seen. God, it was a beauty, and his heart soared at such a thoughtful gift. The rush of such exorbitant highs and lows left him uncertain as he looked back at Alec and repeated, “You can’t give me a truck.”

Any lingering dejection in Alec turned to frustration. “I’ve been planning this for a month. I thought you’d be pleased.”

Again, all Keyes could do was blink as his heart drummed in his chest and his breath became harder to catch. Whatever Alec saw had the man rushing toward Keyes, his tone was forceful yet super calm. “Babe, you need to stop. You’re flushed. Just take a minute and breathe.”

He didn’t. Couldn’t. Panic raced along his skin, making him dizzy. Alec’s expression changed to worry as he gently ran a hand over his back. “Breathe, Key. You’re safe. Nothing’s changed.”

Darkness crept around the edges of his vision as he stared at the truck.

Shit, he was going to pass out.

“Head between your legs,” Alec instructed, pushing him down. He bent, only because the fall would be shorter when he did in fact pass out. He watched Alec’s fancy loafers move away from him. Seconds later, a chair pushed at the back of his legs. Keyes sat, bending his body forward, lowering his head between his legs, and closed his eyes.

He was a full patched member in a one-percenter bike club. He fought badass motherfuckers all the time. Hell, he was a badass motherfucker. Yet, this sophisticated man buying him a shiny new pickup truck brought him straight to his knees.

What. The. Fucking. Hell…

“Just breathe. Do you need a paper bag?” Alec asked at his ear while the man’s steadying palm caressed his shoulders.

Keyes concentrated on filling his lungs as the pressure from Alec’s comforting hand disappeared. A minute later, a brown paper bag was shoved under his mop of hair. “Here, babe. Breathe into the bag for me.”

He did, because he didn’t know what else to do.

Maybe as much as five minutes later, he angled his head enough to venture a look at the truck. “You can’t buy me a truck,” he repeated and lowered his eyes again to stare at the concrete of the driveway.

“I can though. It’s in your name or will be when you sign the paperwork.” Alec squatted in front of him, sweeping Keyes’s hair to the side of his head.

“What’re the payments?” he asked, just turning his head to see Alec’s beautiful face.

He should stand. His ego required he get back on his feet and face this like a man. Grown men didn’t cower this way, and he had never chickened out of a fight before in his life. Even with the self-lecture, it still took a second for him to push his back against the seat.

“It’s a gift. There’re no payments,” Alec said, his hand going to his knee. “You’re shit at receiving gifts.”

He didn’t say a word, just turned again to stare at the gorgeous truck. Birthday presents came in little boxes that a person unwrapped. Clyde gave him a birthday present every year. Sometimes he put them in those pretty bags with paper poking out of the top. When he’d sent gifts to Clyde and to Dev’s two daughters, he’d selected the gift wrap option. Birthday gifts came in boxes, not driven into driveways and parked there. This was too much.

“Come on. Come see the inside. It’s loaded.” Alec went for the driver’s side door, opening it wide while Keyes stayed where he was, unable to see inside the cab. “Or not. We’ll do baby steps. Come to the house. We’ll come back to this later.”

Away from the truck sounded great. Being hit with so many emotions had completely thrown him for a loop. Keyes rose, pleased he was steady on his feet. Alec was there by his side, wrapping an arm around his waist that he interpreted as support more than affection as they walked together toward the back door. Keyes wrapped his arm around Alec’s shoulders, drawing him flush against his side.

“If you’d prefer something different, we can return the truck and keep looking. It’s close to winter, and you drive through all the elements to get here every day. What if this winter is unusually cold? I can’t bear you battling all this intense Texas weather any longer.”

“It’s a truck,” he said and pushed open the back door, encouraging Alec inside first. He didn’t go. Instead, Alec crowded him, wrapping both arms around his waist, coming chest to chest, and lifting his chin.

“Nothing gets past you. Now kiss me.” When he didn’t immediately kiss Alec, his puckered-lipped boyfriend lifted a brow in challenge. Keyes rolled his eyes before he obliged with a simple press of his lips. “The trick-or-treaters’ll be here soon. I thought we could have dinner afterward unless you’re hungry now. Your choice. I have ribeyes for the grill.”

Alec finally moved, stepping inside the house. Keyes couldn’t help but look back at the badass pickup. Who gave someone a truck like that as a gift?

“Come on in.” Alec’s hand tightened on his wrist, tugging him all the way through the doorway. “Don’t freak out again. I also have a birthday cake. I made the oatmeal cake my grandmother used to make. I wanted to spruce it up, but ultimately kept it the way she made.”

Keyes stood at the back door, staring out into the driveway, wanting to go back out and take a good long slow perusal of the truck. Based on what just happened, he should probably do all that alone. Alec came in behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist, his lips pressing against his shoulder. “You know, it’s okay to like the truck and accept it. I love you, and whether you say it or not, you love me. This is what we do for one another.”