Read Online Keaton's Lessons [Brac Village 6] by Lynn Hagen - Free Book Online Page B

the mood for steak, but he really didn’t know what to do.
    “What is there to do around here?” It had been so long since Kade had hung around town, and it had vastly changed. He wasn’t sure what new businesses were up and running. He had seen a few, but he was pretty sure there was plenty more.
    “There is an art festival going on at the rec center. The kids are selling their paintings. They also have games, food, and a few contests. Do you want to go check out the famous little artists?”
    Kade had never celebrated anything by browsing children’s art. He wasn’t sure what Keaton was doing, but the man was showing him a softer side to life. Kade liked that. He wanted to see more of it. Softness was sorely missing from his life. “Sounds good.”
    Keaton laughed. “Dude, don’t look like I’m taking you to your execution. It’ll be fun, I promise.” Kade could only stare in wonder as Keaton ran his hand through his shoulder-length blond hair. He was such a…he pictured his mate attending college, hanging out with his friends, and enjoying life to the fullest.
    “Why didn’t you go to college?” He wasn’t sure where his line of thought was going, but the guy seemed like he should be on a surfboard somewhere.
    “What?” Keaton asked as he tilted his head to the side, his sapphire eyes shimmering in the sunlight.
    “School, why didn’t you further your education instead of settling down and starting a business?”
    Keaton gave the easy laugh Kade was becoming addicted to. “It wasn’t for me. Twelve years was long enough. I wanted to start living my life, not be in another classroom. I don’t think I did too bad considering I’m a successful business owner at the age of twenty-three.”
    Jesus Christ. Kade had no idea he was that young. Knowing his mate’s age made him feel old as hell. Snow leopards aged slower than humans. When Kade was finished with high school, he was—in leopard years—twenty-five years old. He was still young for someone from his breed of shifters, but damn…Keaton was…Kade ran his hand down his face and turned. Even if he went by human years, he would be thirty-three, ten years older than the guy.
    Why was he so stuck on age? Kade felt like he was losing his damn mind. He wasn’t acting like himself and he wasn’t thinking like himself either.
    Where were all these downtrodden feelings coming from?
    “I hear there is pie at the art festival. Come on, I’m pretty sure they should have a sugar-free one.” Keaton grabbed Kade’s arm and pulled him along. The only thing he could do was follow.
    “I’ve visited the center quite a few times. I like helping out there,” Keaton was saying as he walked beside Kade. “Thomas is awesome with the kids. His boyfriend Tyler is great with the older teens. I’m told they have a few basketball competitions around here—nothing major, just the local kids.”
    The man was surprising Kade at every turn. Keaton volunteered at the local rec center? He wasn’t sure how—Kade slowed when he noticed a man paying a little too much attention to them. He knew evil when he saw it. He had been immersed with evilness for over a decade. The truly wicked always had a certain look about them, a cunning expression or a deceptive smile.
    “What’s wrong?” Keaton asked when Kade moved his mate to the other side of him, placing himself in harm’s way.
    Kade gave Keaton a tight-lipped smile. “Nothing. What were you saying about art?”
    His mate gave him a droll stare and then began to talk.
    But Kade wasn’t listening. He could hear the voice inside his head again, the voice that was telling him he wasn’t good enough for Keaton, that he was a failure, a loser, and a joke. Kade had never been the type to whip himself over the back. It just wasn’t his style. So who in the hell—Kade glanced at the stranger again who was now on the other side of the street, his long hank of raven hair not quite concealing the wintery chill of his