Riley’s Downfall(5)

“Lakeland?” the man asked as he hurriedly began to tap on the keyboard of his computer. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you wait.”

Sterling looked back at Riley with the clerk’s odd reaction, but the bear just nodded his approval and began to look over the shelves in the feedstore. Sterling rolled his eyes and looked back at the clerk. The bear needed to lighten up.

“So,” the clerk said when he saw Riley walk away, “are you seeing anyone?”

Sterling turned toward Riley, seeing the scowl on the man’s face as he pretended to be real interested in a jar of jam. He waited for Riley to say something, anything…but Riley said nothing.

Turning back toward the clerk, Sterling shook his head, feeling a little dejected. He had wanted Riley to shout at the clerk that Sterling belonged to the grumpy bear. He had wanted Riley to stake some sort of claim. But the bear didn’t say a damn word.

“No, I’m not seeing anyone.” And damn if saying that didn’t sting a little.

Riley let out a low growl as he released the jar and turned toward Sterling, a warning cloud settling over his features. He grabbed a bag from the shelf and slammed it on the counter. “He’s seeing someone,” Riley bit out gruffly. His lips thinned until Sterling almost couldn’t see them any longer, and Riley had a strange tic jumping in his jaw.

“Oh, really?” Sterling asked, curious to know if Riley was finally staking his claim. “And who am I seeing?”

Both Sterling and the clerk glanced up at Riley for the answer.

Riley glanced away and gave a slight shrug. His handsome face had become brooding. “You just are.”

“What kind of an answer is that?” Sterling asked in exasperation. He was tired of pussyfooting around with the man. He wanted to know if Riley was interested or if he was wasting his time. The bear acted as if Sterling carried the black plague, running from him every time Sterling was one hundred yards from the guy. Yet he stood here looking as if he was ready to rip the clerk’s head off for flirting with Sterling.

The bear was confusing the shit out of him.

“A good enough one. Now can I get the items I came for or do I need to speak to the manager?” His voice, though quiet, held an ominous quality that promised he would do just that.

Sterling could feel his temper rising. It wasn’t often it reared its head, but Riley was acting like a total ass. Sterling snapped his fingers, pointed at Riley, and then toward the door. “Outside, Mr. Lakeland.” He saw the shocked disbelief written all over Riley’s face before Sterling headed toward the door, knowing somehow that Riley would follow.

Once out on the sidewalk, Sterling blew out a deep breath, because if he didn’t, he was going to strangle the man. Riley baffled him. He didn’t understand the man’s motives. Riley pushed Sterling away, yet didn’t want anyone else to come near Sterling. It made no sense to him at all. The bear was a walking, talking encyclopedia of contradictions, and it was giving Sterling a headache trying to keep up with the guy’s ever-changing moods.

“Did you just command me to come outside?” Riley asked as he walked out of the feedstore, his brows pulled down into a frown.

“Why are you acting like this, Riley?” Sterling asked heatedly, crossing his arms over his chest. The man better have a damn good explanation for the way he had acted inside. The clerk had done nothing but harmlessly flirt with Sterling.

Riley hadn’t staked a claim on Sterling, so he was free game. He didn’t want to be free game, but Riley hadn’t said otherwise. And damned if he was going to spend the rest of his life alone because Riley couldn’t get the stick out of his ass. If Riley didn’t want him, someone would.

“Because,” Riley muttered.

Sterling rotated one hand in front of him, telling Riley that there better be more in ways of an explanation than because.

“You’re not available to date anyone,” Riley snapped and then headed back into the store.

Sterling stood on the sidewalk for a moment gaping at the closed door.

Really?

That was his reason?

Sterling wasn’t sure if he should be happy that Riley didn’t want Sterling to date anyone or angry that Riley wouldn’t acknowledge that he wanted Sterling.

One thing was for sure. Riley confused the shit out of him.

Sterling headed back into the store, glancing around until he spotted Riley gathering some items from a shelf. He studied the large man’s backside, licking his lips as he wondered what it would be like to feel that hard, muscular, rigid body covering his.

Damn, now Sterling was standing in the middle of the feedstore with a boner. “I’ll wait for you in the truck,” he called out to Riley.