Hunter(Zeus's Pack 5)(3)

“Am I allowed to pick a hat, sir?”

“Whatever you want, jellybean. You can pick four or five if you’d like.” Being single with no dependents, Quinn had managed to build a nice savings. This shopping spree wouldn’t even put a dent in it.

He watched Tristan try on one hat after another, smiling when he went back to the straw one. “I like this one.” He placed it on his pile of clothes and then reached for a red fedora with a white side feather, a very long and wide side feather. Quinn held back the laugh as Tristan tried it on. It looked good on him, complementing his pale complexion and big green eyes.

They finally made it to the counter, Quinn dropping the pile of clothes for Lassiter to ring up. From the amount of clothes Tristan picked out, they would be going to the dentist soon.

“Why don’t you pick out an outfit, give me the tags, and go put it on.” He was tired of looking at the large shorts hanging from Tristan’s slim body with a belt cinched tightly around his waist to hold them up.

“The dressing room is right over there.” Lassiter pointed to a small room in the back of the store. Tristan looked hesitant, his fingers strangling the lower half of his shirt again.

“Come on, jellybean, I’ll stand guard outside the door.” Tristan’s coiled body relaxed as he grabbed a few items and hurried to catch up with Quinn. “No one is going to get in while you change.”

The wiry man slipped through the door, and Quinn could hear the lock engage. A few moments later, he emerged and handed him the tags.

“I like this, sir.” Tristan gave Quinn his first grin, and it was stunning. His whole face lit up, and those emerald green eyes sparkled like the stars in the sky at night.

But the outfit?

Tristan wore the lime green shirt he had first admired upon entering the store. He matched it with a pair of orange golf shorts that came to his bony knees. If that wasn’t bad enough, he still wore the purple socks, but had a new pair of flip-flops on…and they were brown.

And the cherry on the cake?

He had the red fedora hat on with the white feather sticking out. He looked like the bag of Skittles had exploded on him. And Tristan couldn’t have looked more pleased with his choice of style.

He heard Lassiter choking from across the store. Quinn knew the man was fighting a laugh. His head turned as he gave a low growl, narrowing his eyes on the clerk. Lassiter turned and gave a pretense of stocking the shelf behind the counter.

Quinn gave his attention back to Tristan. “Looks good, jellybean.” Oddly enough to Quinn, it did. He still couldn’t figure out the pull Tristan had on him. From the moment he saw him standing in Dino’s bedroom, Quinn had an overwhelming need to protect the guy.

“So how many bags of candy do I get, sir?”

Quinn chuckled. “Let’s go count your clothes and see.”

Tristan peacocked through the store and ended at the counter, looking pleased as punch with himself. As Lassiter rang the clothes up and put them in a bag, Tristan counted. “That’s twenty-four, sir.”

Lassiter’s brows rose, but Quinn ignored him. “There’s a grocery store a few doors down. We can stop there and buy them.”

“Your total is six hundred and ninety-two dollars and thirty-six cents.”

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy…”

Quinn grabbed Tristan and pulled him into his arms. The man stiffened, but Quinn held on, rubbing his hands up and down Tristan’s back. The only thing he could think of was that the man sang when he was nervous. “That’s not a lot to me, jellybean. I would have spent more. Never worry about the cost.”

The slim redhead pulled from his embrace and nodded. At least the singing had stopped. Tristan grabbed the bags and struggled to the door as Quinn paid for the lot. “Come back any time.” Lassiter smiled warmly at Tristan as the slim man dropped bag after bag. As soon as he picked one up, another slipped from his fingers.

“Thanks. I think I need to go help him. You have a nice day.” Quinn grabbed the receipt and jogged over to the door to help Tristan.

“Let me have a few of those.” He squatted and picked up the ones lying haphazardly on the floor, and then grabbed a couple that were clutched in the thin grip of Tristan’s hands. “We’ll put these in the trunk and then head over to the grocery store.”

“Okay, sir.” Tristan nudged the door open and held it for Quinn. His hat became askew as he fought to hold onto his purchases and keep the door open at the same time. He was an adorable mess.

“Go on to the car. I can get the door.”

Tristan plodded along to the car and waited at the rear of it as Quinn pulled his keys out and opened the trunk. He was already getting strange looks, but the guy didn’t seem to notice.