Cherry Pop (Mercury Rising Book 3) by Samantha Kane Page A

off his helmet as he looked up toward the railroad tracks that were hidden by the small hill in front of him. He’d taken Ben out around the small lake to the east of Mercury and then back out on Murray Chapel Road. They’d passed tobacco fields lining the two-lane back road, and then gone through a small, rocky, uneven copse of trees to this spot. It hadn’t been a very strenuous ride, but it had been long enough to let him feel a nice little burn in his muscles and break a good sweat in the heat of the summer night. They’d come out after work and the sun was setting off to the left. The sky through the trees looked like a brilliant painting with streaks of orange and purple and red.
    “That’s a gorgeous sunset,” Ben said quietly beside him. “It looks like the tattoo on your arm.” Tripp looked over to see Ben setting his helmet on his bike. Tripp had waited a few days before calling him again. He didn’t know why he wanted to see him so much, he just did. Didn’t tell Ben that, of course.
    Ben was wearing black padded spandex biking shorts and a bright yellow biking tunic with reflective strips. They were both skin-tight, and again Tripp was surprised at how ripped he was. He’d noticed it when they went skiing, and he’d been shocked because you’d never guess what Ben was hiding under his work clothes. He had the lean, muscled frame of a runner or a biker, which he was, of course.
    Tripp preferred his baggies instead of just the spandex. He felt self-conscious when he was wearing those things. They left nothing to the imagination, and Tripp was having a hard time not staring at everything Ben had on display. His thighs were thick with muscle, his ass high and tight, and the bulge in front was pretty damn impressive.
    “Where are we?” Ben’s question interrupted his thoughts.
    “It’s just a little spot I found back when I was in high school. I used to ride all over the county, trying to get away.” He shook his head. “Everything is drama when you’re a teenager, right?” He was feeling a little dramatic right now, but kept his face blank, not giving away his confusion over his inability to stop looking at Ben in those shorts.
    “Isn’t that the truth,” Ben agreed. He wandered over to a fallen tree halfway up the hill that made a perfect seat to watch the sunset. “I used to go to the library. I liked the peace and quiet. Our house was always full of loud, nosy people.” He sat down on tree trunk and ran a hand through his sweaty hair. “I came out when I was a sophomore in high school, and every one of my mother’s friends felt it was their duty to offer her support.”
    “Ouch,” Tripp said with a quiet laugh. “My mom’s friends were always trying to fix me up with daughters or nieces or somebody someone knew somewhere.” He sat down next to Ben, inexplicably drawn to him. He could feel the heat radiating off of him, smell his cologne and his sweat, things he didn’t normally notice about guys. “I still come here. This is my peace and quiet.” He waved a hand out at the countryside around them. “But the best part is coming.”
    “Why do you need peace and quiet now?” Ben asked.
    “A man needs to think now and then,” he said. “Truth is, out here I can empty my mind and turn off the charm. Sometimes it’s exhausting being on all day for clients and friends and family. Good old Tripp, he’s always ready to bring your spirits up or take you fishing, or take your cousin’s daughter to her best friend’s wedding. Ugh.” It was such a relief to say something like that. He’d never before told anyone that was how he felt.
    “Jesus,” Ben said. “Feel free to unload on me. Your life is hell.” He sounded sarcastic and when Tripp looked over, sure enough, he was giving Tripp a skeptical look. “If you didn’t want to take her to the wedding, you could have said no. You can always say no.”
    Tripp had to laugh at that. “Boy, you ain’t lived down here long