Lipski placed the cigarette between his lips. Its tip glowed red. The scent of smoke reached Stone's nostrils, growing more intense with each inch that closed between them.
Colin stood frozen, trapped by the unexpected closeness. So completely surrounded by it that his fight-or-flight instinct never had a chance to kick in.
He waited, motionless, watching as Brad's face inched dangerously closer…
"Hold still," Lipski murmured, warm smoke wrapping around Colin's face.
Their cigarettes nearly touched. Brad angled his slightly, just enough for its ember to graze the tip of Colin's. A soft crackle of burning tobacco filled the space between them.
The moment lasted a second, maybe two—long enough for the flame to catch, leaving behind a tiny streak of orange light.
Colin inhaled instinctively, and the ember on his cigarette flared brighter, awakened by the first pull of air.
The smoke hit his lungs so suddenly that for a moment, he thought he might choke.
But he wasn't sure if it was because of the cigarette—or because of the unexpected closeness.
Lipski straightened nonchalantly, returning to his previous stance as if nothing had happened.
"And problem solved," he said with a light smirk, tilting his head back to exhale a stream of smoke to the side.
"Thanks," Colin muttered, struggling to control his breathing—and the heat coursing through his body.
"Rough day?" Lipski asked.
"Not really. Yours?"
"Not really," Brad replied just as curtly. Then suddenly, he let out a bitter laugh.
"Shit, you'll find out anyway—better from me than from someone else. There's a guy in this town, a powerful guy, who's not exactly a fan of my family."
"Does he have reasons?"
"He does. Both sides have their reasons." Brad took another drag from his cigarette. "The guy makes my life difficult whenever he can. The whole town knows it, it's no secret. And I don't let people walk all over me."
"Is it the guy from in front of the store?"
"You saw?"
"Yeah." So much for deciding not to mention it. "I wasn't going to ask, but since you brought it up..."
"I wouldn't be surprised if he cut off our gas or water. Or sent cockroaches into the house. So I just want you to know you don't have to live here if you don't want to."
"You're saying this again. Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"No. I just like things to be clear."
"Okay, fine. If it gets bad for me here, I'll leave. Satisfied with that answer?"
"Yeah, sure, why not?" Another puff of smoke escaped his lips.
The line of his jaw was sharp, even with the play of light and shadow dancing across it. Strong, masculine, and beautiful. Stone let his gaze drift lower, down Lipski's neck, lower still, to where it met his nape. He could almost feel the warmth radiating from his heated skin. He couldn't tear his eyes away. He could only let them slide down further, to the chest hidden beneath his shirt...
He forced himself to snap out of it. He inhaled too deeply and choked on the cigarette smoke.
"You okay? Guess you're not a heavy smoker."
"I'm not." Colin had already suppressed his cough, but his eyes were watering. "I just thought… you might want some company."
He regretted saying it instantly. Lipski didn't need to hear things like that from him. Brad shouldn't get any ideas about their relationship. Colin wasn't looking for a friend, and that should be clear. He should clarify the misunderstanding right away...
"Thanks." Lipski smiled warmly, and Stone couldn't say anything anymore. He could only pray his knees wouldn't give out beneath him. That sweet, innocent smile on a man like Brad Lipski was downright disarming.
But Brad didn't seem to be aware of the effect he had on other men. He flicked his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it, grinding it into the dirt.
"The girls are making dinner," he said. "So don't fill up at your place. You should like it. It's nothing fancy, but I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy a good pork chop. I'll call you when it's ready."
"O...okay..." Stone stammered, still caught in Brad's spell.
"Don't force yourself to smoke just to keep someone company." Lipski kept smiling. "It's unhealthy. You should know that as a doctor."
Leaving those words hanging in the air, Brad shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away, leaving Colin completely speechless.