by Lynn Lorenz
“No. Not until last night.”
“Oh.” Sammi took a few steps back. “Well, from my experience with all these guys, having two men with powers in a relationship works just as well as one with and one without, like me and Mitchell or Jack and Edward.”
“I guess.” Phillip gazed out toward the pasture. “Here come Rush and Manuel. Time for lunch.” He took off his hat and waved to the men as they trotted into the yard and over to the corral to dismount. “Can we not talk about this right now?”
“Sure. No problem.” Sammi turned to the door and opened it. “I’ll see if I can help Brian with setting out lunch.” He slipped inside and closed it.
Damn. He hadn’t meant to hurt Sammi’s feelings, but he needed some time to figure out what he was feeling before discussing it. And all this talking! Fuck! He’d never talked this much about anything with anybody in years. Uncomfortable didn’t near describe it. Maybe painful. Definitely depressing.
Fuck my life.
Rush and Manuel came up the steps. “How’d the riding lesson go?” Rush swept his hat off his head before entering. Manuel did the same.
“Great. He’s a natural. I think we’re going to have an extra hand this afternoon.” Phillip grinned at the men.
“Always can use an extra hand.” Manuel held the door as they went inside.
“Let’s see how long his cute little butt can stand it.” Rush chuckled.
“Hey, you’re not supposed to notice that!” Manuel smacked Rush with his hat, but Rush just shrugged.
“Can’t blame a man for looking.”
“Looking at what?” Brian stood near the table, carrying the crockpot.
“My ass.” Sammi spun around and slapped his butt cheek.
“Figured.” Brian snorted. “Yes. It’s a pretty butt. Yes. It’s nice to look at.”
Sammi giggled.
Rush groaned. “Don’t encourage him, honey.”
“He doesn’t need much in the way of that.” Brian waved at the table. “Grab your plates and help yourselves. Got chicken pot pie, without the pie, and biscuits.”
Everyone sat and served themselves. For a long while, only forks on plates and chewing could be heard. Phillip enjoyed the moments of peace, of just quiet camaraderie between the men.
What would it be like when all the men were here? Loud, for sure, but there’d be good times he could look forward to, also. For once in a very long time, Phillip believed that his life could be a good life, filled with friends and honest work.
He could have that good life, even without Estaban.
Chapter Twenty-Six
On Saturday morning, Sammi had all his belongings packed and waiting on the porch, but he had to say goodbye to a very special friend—Star. He raced to the barn then slowed his walk to Star’s stall so he didn’t startle her or the other horses. She hung her head over the door and nickered at him.
“Hi, Star, my pretty lady.” He petted her, then held out his hand to offer her the piece of carrot he’d snitched from the fridge. She lipped it out of his hand and crunched it. He’d never had a pet of any kind. He knew the ranch didn’t consider her a pet—all the animals here worked. But if he could ever have an animal, Star would be it.
“I’m going to miss you. Will you miss me?” Sammi leaned his face against hers. She whinnied. “I promise to come back soon and we’ll go riding again. Mitchell will be here soon, and I have to go back to Houston.”
She shifted her weight and stomped a foot.
“I’m sorry.” He petted her neck then backed away.
“Sammi? Where are you, boy?”
“I’ve got to go, Mitchell is calling for me.” He gave her a quick kiss on the nose and turned and walked away before he started crying.
He exited the stable and found Mitchell leaning against his Jetta, arms folded. Brian stood next to him, telling Mitchell about his new-found friend, Star.
“I know. I’m in love with a horse.” Sammi laughed, but had to wipe a rogue tear from his cheek. He walked up to Mitchell and fell against him, burying his face in Mitchell’s chest. Mitchell kissed the top of his head and put his arm around his shoulders.
“It’s okay. We’ll come out more often, so you can visit her.”
“Promise?” Sammi looked up into Mitchell’s face, then turned his gaze to Brian. “Are you sure?”
“You are both welcome here anytime. Even if you just want to ride Star.” Brian pushed off the car. “Mitchell, good to see you. You should come to the ranch more often. I miss the hell outta you.” He stuck out his hand and Mitchell took it and pulled him into a bro-hug with a slap on the back.
“Thanks. Just let me get past this probation period and we’ll be here. Sammi, I got your bags in the car.” He led Sammi to the passenger door and opened it for him.
Sammi turned to Brian. “Give Rush this kiss for me.” Then he stood on his toes, grabbed Brian by the shirt, and laid one on him. They parted with a loud smack.
Brian hooted. “You bet! I’ll let him know it’s from you.”
“You deliver it just like he sent it and you might be in some trouble.” Mitchell laughed.
“Hell, yeah. But that’s trouble I can handle. Bye, Sammi. It was a pleasure having you here. See you both soon.” Brian waved as he backed away from the car.
Mitchell started it up, reversed, then drove back down the long drive.
“I’m glad you had fun, rode a horse and had a day at the spa.” He patted Sammi’s knee.
“It was such fun. The spa was incredible. I felt like a king, you know? Everyone there was so nice to me.” He sat back and sighed.
“If you really liked it, maybe you could go to one of the places in Houston.”
“No. It’s way too expensive.”
“Once I get off probation, my salary will go up and we can afford it.”
“I’m so happy to see you. I missed you. I missed our house.”
“Well, we’ll be back to Houston in a few hours.”
“I have to make a stop first before we leave Spring Lake.” Sammi gazed out of the window.
“Edward’s place?”
“No. Smith’s Garage. I have to talk to someone and it’s very important.”
Mitchell narrowed his eyes and glanced at him. “What’s going on?”
“Don’t worry. I just have to talk, that’s all.”
“Sammi.” Sammi closed his mind down so Mitchell couldn’t read what he planned, because he’d probably warn Sammi about getting involved in other people’s lives. But he was the only person who could really help Phillip.
“Hey, you shut me out!” Mitchell frowned at him.
“I’ll tell you once I’m done. Promise.” He crossed his arms and pressed his lips together. No way would he talk about this until it was done. He had to think of just the right things to say.
Mitchell reached Smith’s, pulled into the front lot and parked.
“I shouldn’t be too long.” Sammi got out, shut the door and headed into the office.
Inside, it was warmer. An older man sat at the front desk. Through a glass paneled door, he could see a bit into the garage. Cars were up on lifts and a couple of men were moving about.
“Can I help you?” The man stood.
“I’d like to talk to Estaban, please.” Sammi leaned on the counter and gave him a conservative smile, one he used for business people. Nothing sexy—at least, not that he counted it. He checked the guy’s thoughts…nothing there but curiosity.
“Estaban? What about?” Now the man took a second glance at Sammi. “Are you a friend of his?”
“Not really. I’m a friend of Phillip’s. He used to work here, I think.”
“Yes. He did.” The man rubbed his chin. “A friend of Phillip’s, huh? Makes sense. Hold on, I’ll get him.” He got off his chair and went to the door. He opened it and yelled, “Estaban! Someone to see you.”
A moment later, Estaban walked in. “Yes? Can I help you?” He wiped his hands on a clean towel then sho
ved it in his back pocket.
“Nice looking. And those brown eyes, my, my. All the better to see you with. Phillip has good taste.” Sammi smiled at him.
“What?” Estaban’s eyes bugged out. “How do you know Phillip?”
“I’m friends with Rush and Brian. I met Phillip there.”
“Oh.” Estaban shrugged. “Did Phillip ask you to come by?”
“Maybe we should take a little walk outside?” Sammi waved at the door.
Estaban turned to the man. “Joe, is it okay?” He shrugged.
“Sure. If this is about Phillip…”
“I’m not sure what it’s about, to tell the truth.”
Sammi opened the door and left, with Estaban right behind him. When he was a few feet from the window, almost around the corner, he stopped and wheeled around.
“You’re an idiot.” Sammi pointed at him. “Phillip is the one, and you know it.” He squinted at Estaban and let the images and sounds of Estaban’s reeling mind fill his. “You love him. And I’m pretty sure he loves you. But both of you are so silly.” Sammi flipped his hand. “I know about these things, trust me. And you need to trust Phillip. He didn’t do anything wrong. He never used his power on you.”
“His power?” Estaban opened his mouth, then shut it with a snap.
“I know all about the power. I have one too. So do you.” Sammi flipped his hand as if it didn’t matter. “What I’m talking about is you thinking, and I know you do, that Phillip isn’t a good man. And Phillip is so fucked up, he doesn’t believe it either.” Sammi stamped his foot, his hands in fists. “But I’m telling you, he’s as good a man as you, maybe better because of the nature of his power. And he deserves to be treated better.”
Estaban still hadn’t said a word, just stared at Sammi as if he’d seen a Texas jackalope hop across the street. He licked his lips and ran his hand over his face. “How do you know—that stuff about us?”
“Because… Weren’t you listening? I have a power too. But Phillip is a friend and he’s hurting because of you.” He pointed at Estaban’s chest. “And you’re hurting too. Don’t let your pride keep you from being happy. Don’t you see? You can have it all with Phillip. He so needs you, and you need him.”
Sammi held his arms out and spun around. “And here, in Spring-Hooterville-Lake, the chances of you finding someone as wonderful as Phillip are next to nothing. Don’t throw it away.” He dropped his arms and waited for Estaban’s response.
Estaban sighed. “Did Phillip send you here?”
“No, he didn’t. But he told me about how he screwed things up between you. Coming here was my idea. Because I like Phillip and want him to be as happy as I am with Mitchell.” Sammi pointed toward the car with Mitchell sitting in the driver’s seat.
He waved and Mitchell waved back.
“Boy, what are you doing?”
“Just give me a minute, Daddy.”
“Look. It’s not like that. It just didn’t work out between us.” Estaban shook his head.
“Bullshit. You laid down a pretty high bar for him to jump over. Look, all of us have a past. We don’t get this old, or older”—he gave a pointed stare—“without having baggage. I know what it’s like to be under someone’s control, even as a young kid. Phillip did what he did to survive. Just like you use your power to survive every day, here at the garage.”
Estaban took a step back and held up his hands. “It’s not the same.”
“Of course, it is. Two powers. Same thing.”
“Is not.”
“So, if you didn’t use your power to fix the cars, you could figure out what’s wrong with them?” Sammi tapped his foot on the sidewalk.
“Well…” Estaban swiped his hand over his hair. “It’d be a lot harder, but I’d get it. Eventually.”
Sammi frowned. “Right. So why don’t you just let yourself have this? Phillip is worth it. He’s a good man. Give him a chance. Trust him.”
Estaban looked down at his shoe then flicked his gaze back to Sammi. “How do you know what I feel for him is really…my true feelings?”
“Because my power is hearing people’s thoughts. You can believe me or just take the fucking leap and believe in the man you love. Don’t you think I could cause a lot of damage with that sort of power?”
Estaban nodded.
“Well, I was forced to use it. So was Phillip. I’ve done bad things, but deep inside me, once I was free of…Donovan…I could be the person I was meant to be. Good, honest, hard-working. Just like Phillip.”
Estaban’s eyes grew wet. Sammi heard the conflict in his head. The worry about being hurt or used and the only way to keep the heartbreak and pain from killing him was to never let love in.
“Just give him a chance. Give yourself a chance. Open your heart and let the love in. It’s waiting for both of you. And a broken heart does hurt, but it won’t kill you.”
“Holy shit! How did you—?” Estaban’s eyes grew so wide it seemed as if he was having a fit.
“Told you I could hear you. Now do you believe?” Sammi winked as he rocked on his heels.
Estaban opened his mouth, but the front door opened and the old man leaned out. “Estaban.” He pointed at his wristwatch, then shut the door.
“I got to go.” Estaban sped to the door, swung it open and dove inside.
Sammi hung back. He hoped he’d done enough.
“Hey, boy. Let’s go. Want to get you home and back in our bed.”
“Coming!”
Sammi raced over to the car and got in. He snapped his seatbelt in place. “Hit it!”
Mitchell snorted. “Didn’t someone tell you about reading people’s thoughts without asking?”
“Yes. But they also said use your power for good. I think that was for good.”
“Only if he listens.”
“I hope he does. They’re a good fit. And they do love each other.” Sammi slid his hand under Mitchell’s as it rested on his thigh. He curled his fingers with Mitchell’s and squeezed.
“Well, I don’t know about that. You heard him, I just heard you. One side of a conversation and with you doing most of the talking.” He snorted. “But if you say they deserve love, I believe it.” He brought their linked hands to his lips and kissed his knuckles.
Sammi stared out of the window as they merged onto the interstate heading east to Houston. He’d call Phillip in a week and see what had happened.
He hoped Estaban could convince Phillip that he was a worthy, honest man. If he didn’t even try, then he’d failed at helping Phillip.
Just the thought of that broke a little bit of Sammi’s heart.
Next to him, Mitchell rubbed his chest as if it hurt him too.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Estaban stood under the sedan he’d raised up on the lift, staring at the undercarriage. It’d taken him only a few minutes to diagnose the trouble—the strut on the left had busted. And he hadn’t needed his power to figure it out, so screw that guy Sammi.
He stepped out and over to the workbench, where he’d left his clipboard. After marking down the issue, he estimated the time to replace the part, then brought it into the office to give to Joe.
It had shocked him earlier that morning, when Joe Smith had opened the garage and plopped down at the front desk, as if he’d never left. Flynn hadn’t shown up by nine, so Estaban figured he’d called in sick. Without Phillip to run the shop, and Flynn gone, Joe’d had to step in.
Estaban leaned on the counter and handed Joe the estimate. “Here’s the work on the Ford. Just a strut replacement.”
Joe looked up. “Just the one?”
Estaban froze, then nodded. “Yes. Just the left side.” He held his breath.
“Great! I know Ms. Mason will be happy to hear that. She’s a single mom. I’ll call her after I get the price on the part. Thanks!”
Damn. For a moment, he thought…but it was crazy. Joe Smith was the most honest garage owner he’d ever met.
“Uh, Joe? Whe
re’s Flynn?” He probably had no right to ask, but it’d been bothering him all day.
Joe’s face crumpled, his lips turning down as if he’d learned someone had died. “He’s taking some time off.”
“Oh, right.” Estaban wanted to ask if Flynn had come clean about padding the books.
Joe folded his arms and leaned back in the chair. “Look. Truth is Carl’s got a gambling problem. Talked to me about it Christmas Eve. My sister wants him to go into rehab for it. We all agreed it was the best thing. So, with Phillip gone, you’re stuck with me.” He chuckled. “Right now, I can’t look for a new counter man. I’ll deal with it after the first of the year. Besides, my wife is thrilled I’m outta her hair for a while.”
“Okay. Well, I’m glad he’s getting help.” He wondered how much Flynn had told his brother-in-law, but no matter, it took a strong man to admit his problem and take steps to fix it.
“Well, I’m Christian, and I believe in giving people a second chance. Even if they’ve lied to you or cheated you. I believe people can change, if they have a mind to. Besides, he’s my sister’s husband and she loves him and…” He shrugged. “What am I going to do?”
“Right. Second chances are good.”
“We all need someone to trust in us.” Joe smiled. “You believe that too, don’t you?”
Estaban nodded. What could he say? He hadn’t given Phillip the benefit of the doubt, didn’t trust in his word. Wow. He’d been…hurt. Frightened. Had that been cause enough to just turn his back on Phillip, a man he thought he might be in love with?
That he was in love with?
“Say, how’s Phillip? You seeing him again?”
“Seeing him?”
“Yeah. Have dinner, that sort of thing.” Joe tilted his head. “I figured you and he…” He waggled his eyebrows.
Estaban choked. “What? You what?”
Now Joe’s eye roll and snort pinned Estaban to the spot. “He’s gay. You’re gay. Just figured you two had a thing going on.”