by Lynn Lorenz
“Yeah, sure do.” Brian’s best friend Mitchell had helped him move to Spring Lake. Jack had met him once, when Brian and Rush’s relationship was at a rocky point. Mitchell had seemed like a nice guy and a good friend, and Sammi had been with Mitchell. Younger. Sexy. Sammi reminded Jack of Edward. “It’ll be good to see them again.”
“It will. I haven’t seen them in months. Well, I’ll see you later.”
“If I’m not around, just pick up the warrant from Kristen.”
“Will do.” Brian hung up.
Jack sat back, an uncomfortable feeling climbed up his spine. So far, it looked like everyone at the poker game tonight was gay.
How the hell did he figure into this?
His stomach did a flip and he ran his hand through his hair.
Had Brian figured out he was gay? Jack had never given any hint, had never let it even be suspected. He’d been so damn careful.
Oh fuck. Jack’s body started to tremble as panic rose like bile in his throat. He took a deep breath to calm himself. There was no way Brian knew. No fucking way. It was just Jack’s worn-out nerves. He’d been feeling so out of sorts. Lack of sleep, that’s all.
Brian didn’t know shit.
Unless Edward had told him.
Chapter Twenty
Jack leaned on the bar in the ranch’s den as Rush poured him a whiskey.
“Glad you could make it, Jack.” Rush smiled at him, then lifted his beer to his lips for a swallow.
“Glad to be here. I haven’t played poker in a while. Brian tells me you’re the man to beat tonight.” Jack took a sip and felt the familiar fire burn its way down his throat.
Rush laughed. “That’s ’cause he’s such a bad player, I look good compared to him.”
“Is that what it is?” Jack didn’t believe that for a second.
“Yep.”
“Don’t let Rush fool you,” Mitchell chimed in as he walked in from outside. “He’s damned good. The steaks are on the grill,” he told everyone. “Another beer, bartender.”
Rush chuckled, opened another longneck and handed it to Mitchell. “Don’t tell Jack that or he won’t play. Everyone’s playing, aren’t they?” He cocked one eyebrow up.
“Just more money for you, right?” Mitchell laughed. “Sammi’s not going to play. He doesn’t know how.”
Jack looked over at the couch where Sammi sat, his legs curled under him. He had a glass of cola in his hand. Sammi didn’t drink at all, he’d explained earlier. Again, Jack was struck by how much Sammi reminded him of Edward.
Both men were delicate, lithe and damned sexy.
Sammi watched them from behind a long dark swath of bangs that covered half of his face, making him look mysterious. Mitchell was a brave man, not afraid of what others might think about his choice of a lover.
But Mitchell lived in Houston. Being gay in Houston was a far cry from being gay in Spring Lake. Let Mitchell try running around this town with Sammi on his arm. It’d be another story, for sure.
“We could teach him,” Jack offered. “Hey, Sammi. Would you like to learn how to play poker?” Damn, he hadn’t meant to say that, but Sammi had looked so alone sitting there on the couch.
Sammi looked up and smiled. “You’re sweet, Jack.” He shook his head and the bangs shifted, giving Jack a glimpse of his dark eyes, rimmed in black eyeliner. “No, I’m fine. I’ll let Mitchell lose all of his money.” He laughed and stood, unwinding himself from the couch.
Every man’s eyes were on Sammi as he sauntered up to Mitchell. Sammi’s jeans-clad hips shifted in a subtle rock and roll, his pierced navel peeking from under the short hem of his T-shirt. He leaned against Mitchell as Mitchell wrapped his arms around him, pulling him even closer. The room stopped breathing as something thick and tangible arced between the two men. Jack could feel their arousal building and somehow it had spilled over to stiffen his cock.
Brian came in the back door, stopped and stared, then barked out, “Get a room, you two! We have guests.”
Mitchell gave Sammi a quick kiss on the lips and Sammi stepped away. “Sorry.” He blushed.
The electricity in the air popped, dispersed and Jack’s dick deflated as fast as it had filled. And from the look on Rush’s face, he’d felt the same thing.
Fuck. What had just happened? It was as if they’d been mesmerized by the motion of Sammi’s hips.
Jack needed some air or another whiskey. Going for air seemed too obvious, so he turned away and took a gulp of his drink.
Rush caught his gaze, smiled and raised his bottle again. “I know what you mean.” Knowledge passed between them and Jack nearly choked.
Shit. Did everyone know? Was he wearing a fucking sign on his back?
* * * *
Edward followed the directions to the ranch Rush had given him when he’d had called. It was out in the country, like his grandmother’s place, only in the opposite direction. Despite running late, he drove the little Miata slower than usual, looking for the turnoff Rush had said to take.
Just where he’d said it would be was a large gate with the name of the ranch, the Double T, worked in iron on it. It was open, so Edward turned in, jolted over the wide cattle guard and down a smooth, gravel-packed road lined with oak trees. They weren’t as big as the ones at Olivia’s ranch, but of a good size. It would be a spectacular alley of trees in about twenty years.
Ahead he saw a cluster of buildings—a two-story house and two barns. In front of the house there were two pickup trucks, a Jetta and a Tahoe. Edward eased the shiny red Miata between the trucks, parked and got out. Is there a law in Texas that pickup trucks can only be white, silver, or black, because those are the only colors I’ve seen around here.
The trucks dwarfed his car, their side steps at almost the same height as the top of his door. His car could fit in the long back bed of the black one on the left.
It was as if the trucks had overdosed on testosterone.
Edward looked at the convertible. Looked back at the mud-splattered trucks.
The Miata screamed ‘sissy’. He groaned. These were real men, even if they were gay. What am I doing here? I don’t even know how to play poker.
Now, if they needed him to make a kick-ass potato salad, bake a killer crème brûlée or redecorate the house, he was the gay man for the job. He didn’t know a damn thing about ranches, pickup trucks or cows. Hell and damnation, he couldn’t even spit without gagging.
He should get back in the car and go home. He had his hand on the door handle when his nostrils caught a whiff of heaven.
The undeniable aroma of steaks on a grill.
His stomach rumbled and overruled his doubt-filled mind.
Edward headed toward the front steps.
* * * *
Jack turned away from Rush and leaned against the bar. This wasn’t going well at all. He had to do damage control before the night spiraled out of control. Before anyone here talked to anyone in town.
The doorbell rang and Brian went down the hall to the front door. Voices floated back to them, but Jack couldn’t hear the conversation.
“Is someone else coming?” He turned back to ask Rush.
“Yep.” Rush nodded and took a long swig of his beer, finishing it off.
Another gay guy? Who the hell is left? Jack couldn’t take any more shocks.
“Everyone, this is Edward,” Brian introduced the new arrival.
Jack’s knees turned to Jell-O and he grabbed the back of a bar stool for support. “Pour me another whiskey. Make it a double,” he rasped at Rush. No fucking way could he turn around and face Edward, but he couldn’t stand here all night. He was so fucked.
“Hello, everyone.” Edward’s soft voice washed over Jack, making him hard.
Jack listened as Mitchell, Sammi and Rush welcomed Edward. Jack could face it like a man or make a run for it, right past Edward, out the door, hood slide across his pickup truck and sling gravel getting the hell out of there.
Jack turned around.
In one heart-stopping moment, he took Edward in. White button-down shirt, undone to expose his throat and a hint of smooth chest, dark hair tousled by the wind, and the sexiest pair of faded, torn blue jeans he’d ever seen wrap a body.
Shit. Jack was a goner.
“Evening, Mr. Beauregard,” he drawled as if he didn’t care.
Edward’s lips parted as he feasted on Jack. For a moment, he forgot where he was and the urge to throw himself into Jack’s arms and let Jack kiss him like he’d done in his office almost overpowered him. Edward darted his gaze around the room at four pairs of eyes staring at him. Staring at Jack. Hell and damnation.
“Hello, Chief Whittaker.” Edward’s voice cracked as if he were going through puberty again.
Jack gave him a curt nod, then turned back to take a drink. It looked like whiskey—amber, rich, and heady. Fortifying. Edward could’ve used some liquid strength.
“Edward, what would you like to drink?” Rush asked. “We have beer, soda—”
“I’ll have what the chief is drinking. A double.” Edward swallowed hard and gave Rush a quick smile.
“Whiskey it is.” Rush poured a tumbler. “Neat?”
“Yes.” Now Edward had to go and get the drink. Right where Jack stood.
Jack snatched up his drink and stalked to the back door. “Gonna see what’s happening with the steaks.” Then he was gone and the screen door slammed behind him.
Edward exhaled. Rush pointed to the drink and Edward darted forward, picked it up and tossed it down. He coughed as the warm liquor ate its way down his throat, hit his empty stomach and warmed his toes.
This was bad.
Edward glanced at Brian. One raised eyebrow met his gaze. Edward walked over and whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me Jack was going to be here?”
Brian shrugged. “Didn’t think it was important.”
“Why didn’t you tell Jack I was going to be here?” It was obvious by Jack’s reaction that he hadn’t known Edward would be there. And he hadn’t liked it. At all.
“Didn’t think it was—”
“Important,” Edward finished. “I get it. Well, you’re wasting your time, Cupid. Jack’s not gay. He’s not even interested in me. In fact, he hates me.”
“Uh-huh.” Rush snorted.
“Can we just forget it?” Edward begged. “Really, let’s act like this isn’t happening.”
“What isn’t happening?” Mitchell joined them.
Sammi piped up from the chair he’d curled up in. “That the chief of police and Edward are…” He paused, gave a ghost of a smile and let the unspoken words linger in the air.
“Nothing. We’re nothing. Please.” Edward didn’t care if he was begging. “I admit to being attracted to him, but Jack’s not gay. End of discussion.”
“Okay. Whatever you say,” Rush replied and winked at Brian as the big cop slipped out of the back door after Jack.
Edward knew they didn’t believe him. Oh, he was so fucked. If Jack had hated him before, he’d probably find some reason to arrest Edward, then have him killed while in custody. It would look like an accident. He’d be shot escaping or for assaulting an officer.
Who would take care of Winston if I was dead?
Jack paced back and forth across the flagstone patio, sucking down air as if he were a fish out of water.
No, no, no. This could not be happening to him. What had he done to deserve this? Did everyone in the room think he was gay now? Jack’s stomach knotted up so badly he thought he’d busted something.
And what the hell was Edward doing here? And why did Jack’s body have to respond to Edward’s voice, the sight of him? And oh goddamn, those ripped jeans he wore.
Brian cleared his throat.
“What the fuck is going on?” was all Jack could get out as he spun to face Brian.
“What’s the problem, Jack?” Brian looked up as he checked the steaks.
“Edward. What’s he doing here?” Jack took another sip of his whiskey.
“Rush invited him. I didn’t think it would be a problem. Are you okay?” Brian stared at him.
Jack pulled himself together and got control of his voice. “It’s not a problem. I was just surprised, that’s all.” He took a deep breath then exhaled. “Look. I don’t have a problem with you or your friends. Being gay and all that.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I just didn’t want you thinking…that I was…” His voice faded out.
“That you were gay?” Brian’s eyes widened. “Hell, Jack. In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve never thought that.”
“It’s just that it felt like a setup, you know.” Jack chuckled, trying to act casual. “Because there were couples. You and Rush. Mitchell and Sammi. Except me. And then Edward showed up, and I thought…”
“Oh. Like a blind date sort of thing.” Brian’s eyes twinkled. “I understand.”
“Yeah, right. A blind date.” Jack laughed again. It sounded strained even to him.
“Nope. Just a bunch of friends getting together for dinner, drinks and poker.” Brian slapped him on the shoulder, then leaned in. “And for the record, Jack, I wouldn’t think any less of you if you were gay.” He winked. “Some of my best friends are gay.”
Jack stared at him. Absolutely nothing came to mind for him to reply to that statement. He was better off keeping his mouth shut, for damn sure.
Brian concentrated on the steaks. “These look ready. Help me carry them inside. Have dinner—then if you feel uncomfortable and want to leave, go ahead.” Brian had given Jack an out. If he was smart, he’d take it.
Instead, Jack finished his drink, put down the glass and helped Brian take the steaks off the grill and put them on two huge platters. Each steak was at least an inch thick, and from what Jack could tell, they were cooked to perfection.
“I think I’ll hang around. Eat my steak. Give Rush a run for his money.”
Try not to stare at Edward.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jack and Brian brought the steaks to the table. It had been set for six and Sammi was pouring iced tea into tall glasses. Through the kitchen door, Jack spotted Edward bustling about in the kitchen.
Sammi said, “Edward has worked some magic on the baked potatoes. He showed me his recipe for re-stuffed potatoes.” He licked his lips. “Delicious.”
Mitchell came to the table. “Sounds like it. Jack, did Sammi mention he’s entering culinary school next fall?”
“That’s great. I can’t boil water.” Jack smiled at the younger man.
“Well, I have to pass my GED first. Then take the SAT.” He looked nervous. “I’ll bet you all have been to college.” Jack saw evidence of Sammi’s vulnerability as he bit his lip.
“A and M,” Brian said.
“Me too.” Mitchell raised his hand. “That’s where Brian and I first met.”
“Texas Tech,” Jack added.
“University of Texas, Austin.” Rush chuckled.
Edward entered, carrying six fluffy potatoes on a plate. “Don’t mind them, Sammi. I went to Georgia State for one year and dropped out.” He gave Sammi a grin. “College isn’t for everyone.”
Sammi blasted him back with a wide grin of thanks. “What do you do, Edward?”
Everyone started to sit down. As hosts, Rush and Brian took the chairs at the head and foot of the table, Mitchell sat across the table and Sammi slipped into the chair next to him.
That left Edward and Jack sitting side by side.
Jack dragged back the chair and sat.
“I’ve done lots of things.” Edward shrugged as he sat. “Waited tables. Worked in a bank. I even sold aluminum siding over the phone one summer.”
“Wow! That’s a lot of different experiences,” Sammi said.
“Yes. But now I’m a licensed masseur.” Edward smiled.
“Massages?” Rush quipped, chewing around a piece of his steak. “If I’d have known that, I’d have had you out here sooner.” He rubbed his shoulder. “I could use a good back ru
b.” Rush’s eyes sparkled and he gave a slight wink to Brian.
“Good back rub? I thought I gave good back rubs.” Brian looked offended.
“They are, until you forget what you’re doing.” Rush gave him a sexy grin. “He’s got roamin’ hands.”
Brian rolled his eyes. “Can’t help it.”
Edward laughed. “Sometimes it’s a problem, even for me, if I don’t concentrate on what I’m doing, like what my patient needs or what I find wrong.”
“Like what?” Sammi asked.
“Well, lots of times, a patient says, ‘My shoulder hurts.’ But when I’m exploring his muscles, I find that the problem isn’t in his shoulder, it’s farther down his back, maybe in the muscles along his spine. Your body is so interconnected that if you throw something out in one place, it can affect somewhere else. It’s called referred pain.” Edward spoke with such confidence that it impressed Jack and he felt a small flicker of pride. Edward might not have been the most conventional person, but he was serious about what he did. Jack had personal proof of Edward’s talent. Of course, Jack couldn’t tell anyone about that. Ever.
“Really? That’s interesting.” Rush nodded. “I wouldn’t know. Brian never seems to make it past my shoulders.” He snorted.
Brian glared at his lover. “Like you’re any better.”
Rush threw his hands up in surrender. “I admit it. I can’t get past your neck.”
Everyone laughed, even Jack. The warm humor and gentle teasing between the men drew him in and his shoulders relaxed. He could do this. He could get through this evening.
“So, Edward. How do you know Jack?” Sammi smiled.
Oh shit. Jack’s stomach knotted and he fought the urge to bolt.
“He arrested my dog.”
“Your dog? Jack, how could you?” Sammi cried.
Jack cringed. “It wasn’t like that.”
“What was it like?” Sammi demanded.
“Yeah, Jack. Tell us what really happened.” Brian leaned forward, his chin in his hand.
Jack stared around the table. Everyone waited. There was no getting out of this.