by Lynn Hagen
Richie looked at his car then at Cannon’s Jeep. He chewed on his bottom lip.
“I’m a cop,” Cannon said. “You can trust me.”
Richie gave another one of those snorts. “There’s such a thing as crooked cops. Braydon told me what happened. You worked with a very bad man for five years. How do I know you didn’t get a little taste of that life and enjoyed it?”
Cannon stepped close to Richie, making sure his expression was grave. “I was undercover. I did what I had to do to bring him down and pissed off a lot of guys in the process. I didn’t enjoy a damn thing about it.”
Maybe relieving stress, but telling Richie that wouldn’t gain Cannon any winning points.
“Okay, jeez.” He held his hands up. “Give me six feet or I’m gonna kick you in the nuts. I had to ask. I can’t be hanging around a crooked cop no matter how cute he is. Now let’s go get some ice cream before I melt.”
Cannon furrowed his brows, wondering if his mate had a few screws loose. He could’ve been lying his ass of, in league with criminals, and just because he said he wasn’t, his mate believed him.
He hopped into the driver’s seat and drove into town, parking in the slotted spot two doors down from The Diner Train.
He reached for the door handle when his phone rang. It was his boss. “I’ll meet you inside,” he said to Richie.
“Tell wifey I said hello.” Richie jumped out, and Cannon wasn’t sure if his mate was serious or fucking with him.
“I don’t have a wife,” Cannon called out, but Richie kept going without acknowledging what he’d just said.
“Hello?”
“We’ve got a situation,” Cooper said. “Tell me where you’re at.”
“In a small town called Maple Grove, why?”
Cannon groaned as he watched Richie enter the diner. It wasn’t even noon, and already the day was hot as hell. Cannon didn’t want to sit outside in this heat and talk. “I’m on vacation. You remember what those are, don’t you?”
“James Koehler escaped custody when he was being transferred to a hospital for unexplained stomach pains.”
Cannon cursed. Jimmy had been Mr. Davila’s crooked cop. Not Cannon, as Richie seemed to believe. But Cannon had testified against Jimmy and had gotten the dirty cop locked away.
“We questioned his cell mate. All Jimmy talked about was getting revenge against you. Watch your back, Treynor.”
A lot of things had frustrated Cannon when he’d been undercover, but the biggest itch he couldn’t scratch was finding out the names of the other dirty cops, and Cannon had known there were more.
His gut told him that Jimmy had had help by his fellow law enforcement friends to get him out.
As if reading his mind, Cooper said, “We’re still conducting an internal investigation to weed out who was on Davila’s payroll. It’s still on the down low. It’ll take time, so make yourself a ghost until we have Koehler back in custody and find out who the other players are.”
Cannon looked around. He doubted Koehler would know where he was. When Davila had come to town, he’d only brought Vinnie and Cannon with him.
Vinnie was dead, and Davila was locked up. Even if Koehler had some way to contact Davila, there was no way Davila would figure out that Cannon had come back to this Podunk town.
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Cannon said.
“We’re gonna clean house,” Cooper said with a confidence Cannon didn’t feel. “Just hang in there until then.”
Cannon hung up, cursed, and tucked his phone away. Staying on the move would ensure his safety, but he couldn’t leave, not after finding his mate.
So the next best thing was being cautious and praying that Koehler was caught soon.
Chapter Three
Breakfast had been exactly what Richie had needed. He now felt energized after his egg white spinach omelet and tea. “Okay, what’s going on?” he asked Cannon. “You’ve been looking out the window every thirty seconds. I’m not that bad of a breakfast companion.” He tapped the space by Cannon’s plate. “Though I didn’t eat half as much as you did.”
Cannon patted his stomach as he gave Richie a hearty grin. “I need the calories.”
Wasn’t that the damn truth? Mr. Sexy Detective had a banging body, and Richie was sure the guy burned a lot of calories with his workouts. But… “I don’t think you need bacon and the waffles that you drowned in syrup.”
Cannon waved off Richie’s concern for his health. “What’s life without bacon? And have you tried the blueberry syrup?”
Richie wouldn’t know. He worked hard at keeping his body looking good, which meant not eating a lot of things he loved. Like chocolate cake. And bacon.
But he would indulge in ice cream because it was damn hot.
He wiggled his finger back and forth as he narrowed his eyes. “You still didn’t answer my question. Why’re so interested in what’s outside?”
Cannon winked. “I’m very interested in what’s right in front of me, if you must know.”
That guy was real good at avoiding questions, but damn if Richie didn’t blush.
Until he spotted Braydon heading toward the diner. Fuck. He was with Arturo and hadn’t noticed Richie yet.
“Crap. Not this morning.” Richie jumped up and raced to the bathroom. As hot and miserable as he was, Richie wasn’t in the mood to get a lecture from his brother.
Seconds later the door opened. Richie held his breath until he saw it was Cannon. One of his dark brows was arched. “Mind telling me why you raced in here?”
“You didn’t seen Braydon and Arturo?” Richie paced the small space, wondering how he was going to get out of the diner without his brother seeing him.
“No, I was too busy watching you run like your ass was on fire.” Cannon crossed his arms and leaned against the counter of sinks. “What’s the big deal? So Braydon doesn’t like me. I’m sure he’ll eventually get over that.”
Richie groaned. “You have no idea. Braydon can hold a grudge like nobody’s business. Sure, he’ll forgive you for putting a gun to his head. In his next life, that is.”
“Damn,” Cannon said. “That’s rough. Life’s too damn short to hold on to anger that long.”
Something passed behind Cannon’s dark eyes, but Richie was too worried about Braydon to try and figure that out. He didn’t want Braydon pissed at him. His brother was his best friend, even though, for a while, Braydon had lived in another town.
Cannon reached out and pulled Richie close, settling Richie between his parted legs, his hands on Richie’s hips. “I got something that’ll calm you down.”
“The only thing that’ll calm me down is if Braydon turns around and leaves the diner.” Richie was trying really hard not to think about how good Cannon’s hands felt on him. How good the guy smelled. How much he wanted Cannon to kiss him.
He shook slightly and his knees felt weak as he stared at Cannon’s chest. “What was your idea?”
Cannon tucked his fingers under Richie’s chin and made Richie look at him. His eyes smoldered as he lowered his head, brushing their lips together. Cannon’s dark, rich scent infiltrated Richie’s lungs. It was like breathing in earth and leather.
Richie’s breath caught. He felt like swooning. His body was a rioting mess as Cannon’s tongue snaked out and slid across Richie’s bottom lip. He parted his lips, and Cannon’s tongue plunged deep, a purr rumbling in his chest. Richie didn’t understand the purr, but he also didn’t stop kissing him long enough to ask what that was about.
Richie slid his hands up Cannon’s rock-hard pecs and curved them around his biceps as he melted into him. Cannon tasted as dark as whiskey and as sweet as honey.
He needed to stop fixating on the guy’s smell, but damn if Richie wasn’t getting drunk off it. The succulent aroma made his head spin as Cannon’s beard scraped along Richie’s sensitive skin. Who cared? Richie would risk whisker burns for a chance with this stud.
The bathroom door flew open. “What the fuc
k?” Braydon shouted. “Didn’t I warn you to stay away from my brother?” Braydon gaped at Richie. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from him?”
Richie felt too drunk off Cannon’s kiss to answer. He licked his lips but refused to move away. God, one kiss and Richie’s brain had short-circuited.
“Do you mind?” Cannon slid his arms around Richie. “Close the door on your way out.”
Braydon sputtered. “Are you serious? Get your damn hands off him, Boyd.”
“Hold up.” Arturo joined them. The bathroom door was still open, and Richie groaned. He saw past Arturo. The customers were looking their way. “Braydon, we can do this in privacy.”
“You’re making a spectacle of yourself,” Richie said. “Calm the hell down and either come in and close the door or leave. You know I flirt with everyone, Bray.”
“Hey,” Cannon said. “Talk about hurting a guy’s ego. I’m not just anyone.”
“He held a gun to my head,” Braydon said through gritted teeth. “He made me think I was about to die, and you’re in here kissing him? That’s more than flirting.”
Richie groaned and finally pulled out of Cannon’s arms, though he didn’t want to. But it seemed that was the only way to calm Braydon down.
“I told you I wasn’t going to shoot you,” Cannon argued. “I was undercover. I had to get that thumb drive to put Davila away.”
“Come on.” Arturo tugged at Braydon. “You can continue this later. I’m starving.” The bouncer winked at Richie, as if to say he was on Richie’s side, but that didn’t make Richie feel any better.
Not when Braydon was glaring at him.
“You and me at your place,” Braydon said. “Later this evening. You better be there.”
Richie didn’t bother telling his brother that he was staying at the motel. Why rile him further? Richie was already embarrassed enough at the scene his brother had just made.
Cannon reached for him, but Richie sidestepped his hand. “I think I should go back to the motel and check out of my room.”
Braydon had been right. Even if Cannon had been undercover and needed the device, he’d put a gun to Braydon’s head. He didn’t want any strife between him and Braydon. His brother meant everything to him.
“Can you please take me back?”
With a sigh, Cannon pushed away from the sink. “Yeah, sure. Let me settle our bill and I’ll be ready.”
Richie was doing the right thing, taking his brother’s side. So why did he feel so crappy about it?
* * * *
“It’s sweltering in here.” Cannon looked around when Richie let him into his apartment. “There’s no way you can stay here.” He turned to Richie. “How about I pay for you to stay at the motel for a week? No strings attached.”
Richie couldn’t understand why Cannon was going out of his way for him—especially after that debacle at the diner. If anything, Cannon should be running away from him, saying that Richie was too much trouble.
“I can’t let you do that.” Richie dropped his bag by the door, already sweating so badly that his shirt was soaked and rivers of perspiration were sliding down his scalp.
Richie had just taken a shower an hour ago, and now he needed another one. There was no way he could stay at his place. The oppressive heat would suck out all his bodily fluids, and he’d shrivel up and die.
He usually wasn’t dramatic, but the heat was making it hard for him to breathe. Richie used the hem of his shirt to wipe away the sweat that was dripping into his eyes, making them sting.
“Are you sure you won’t take me up on my offer?” Cannon asked. “I’m drowning just standing here. We need to get back to the motel where it’s freezing.”
Richie closed his eyes and thought of the cold air on his skin. He also thought about spending more time with Cannon. Braydon would have a hissy fit if he knew Richie was even considering those thoughts.
“I’ll even give you a ride to work when you have to since the AC in your car is busted.”
Cannon was making the offer too damn tempting, but he was a stranger—one who could kiss like a dream—and there was no way Richie could take him up on his offer.
Could he?
“Let me pack a few more things.” To hell with it. Why should Richie deny himself a frigid motel room? Braydon wasn’t the one who had to live here or sweat himself into a puddle. It was completely ridiculous to turn Cannon’s offer down.
He hurried to his room and threw some clothes together. He would also need to rest today since he had to work tonight, and if he stayed here, there was no way Richie would get any sleep.
He went to the bathroom and grabbed a few things then packed a bag. Since his only backpack was still at the motel, Richie had to use plastic grocery bags. He had three of them ready when he was finally done.
Cannon grabbed them from him. “Wise choice.”
Richie snorted. “Tell that to Braydon when he finds out what I’ve done. He thinks you’re the devil incarnate.”
“What do you think?” Cannon held the door open for him.
The guy was definitely sinful if the earlier kiss was anything to go by. Richie wouldn’t mind another sampling later. After he’d showered and got all the mugginess off him.
God, he hated to sweat. Thankfully Pump had central air, though most of the time he couldn’t feel it from the packed bodies in the club. Then he thought about Cannon pressed against him, and Richie groaned at the idea of their bodies entangled, creating a more pleasurable sweat, grinding, kissing, touching… Fuck, he needed to stop thinking about that.
“I do have to work tonight,” Richie said as he made his way to Cannon’s Jeep. Honestly, he was so jealous of the guy’s ride. It was a sliver Jeep with fat-ass tires and a cloth top that he was positive could be removed. He wouldn’t mind his hair blowing around as Cannon drove, but not in this damn heat.
Richie smiled and felt himself blush when Cannon opened the passenger door for him. At least the guy was a gentleman. And Richie wanted to get away as quickly as possible before Braydon arrived.
It was too hot to stand outside and argue.
He damn near drooled when Cannon got into the driver’s seat. The guy’s muscles flexed as he handled the steering wheel, pulling them away from the curb and heading toward the motel.
“How long are you in town for?” Maybe if Cannon wasn’t staying that long, Richie could give in to his desires and have a fling with the guy. He could keep it on the down low and Braydon would never know.
“I’m not sure.” Cannon readjusted the cool air to make it blow at their feet. “I have some time off, and I’m still considering where I want to go and what I want to do.”
Richie had a few ideas of what they could do. He just didn’t say that out loud. He didn’t want to seem easy, because he wasn’t. But damn, he’d be easy for Cannon if the guy made any moves on him.
“What’s there to do around here?” Cannon left downtown Maple Grove behind him and headed for the outskirts of town where Maple Inn was located.
“Plenty. Don’t let our small town fool you. We have Bistro where you can get coffee or ice cream, a movie theater, Pump, the recreation center, the park…” Richie tapped his chin. “There’s plenty to do, plus we have our summer festival coming up. Rides, food, games, and so much fun.”
He felt as if he was pitching Maple Grove to Cannon in hopes the guy would stay. That wasn’t Richie’s intention. He just wanted to have a little fun with him before he left town.
Lots of hot, carnal fun.
“I’d ask if you wanted to do dinner and a movie, but I just remembered you have to work tonight.” Cannon pulled into the parking lot of the motel. “When’s your next night off?”
“I’m not sure. The new schedule is coming out today, so I’ll have to check when I go into work.” Dinner and a movie sounded wonderful. When was the last time Richie had gone out with a guy? Hell, he couldn’t remember.
He wasn’t talking about sex, either. An actual date. Now that
was just sad that he couldn’t recall the last time some guy had taken him out on the town. He’d have to remedy that. If he wasn’t scheduled for a night off soon, Richie would just have to switch nights with someone. Too bad it wasn’t Monday or Tuesday. The club was closed on those nights.
But it was Thursday. He probably had to work for the next four nights in a row.
When they got out, Cannon reached for Richie’s bags and took them to his room. As soon as he walked in, Richie sighed. The cool air felt so good that he wanted to lie on the floor and soak it up.
“I’ll go pay for your room.”
Cannon was right at Richie’s back, so close he felt the man’s body heat. He shivered and suppressed a groan as he moved away. Not that he wanted to put space between them, but he needed a shower.
Richie turned and gazed up into Cannon’s eyes. “Thanks for doing this for me. I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
Cannon tossed the bags onto the bed as he moved closer, closing the distance Richie had put between them. He brushed the back of his knuckles down Richie’s cheek. “You’re not paying me back. In fact, you can be my tour guide while I’m in town.”
For a week of central air in the middle of a heat wave, Richie would show Cannon anything the guy wanted to see. “Deal. Now let me shower to get the stickiness off me.”
Wow. That sounded way dirtier than Richie had intended. Cannon cracked a gorgeous smile. Pearly-white teeth against tanned skin. Richie had been jealous about Braydon finding such a hot guy, and now he had one standing in his motel room.
Just to be clear, Arturo was gorgeous, but he was also a friend, and Richie might not have looked at him with sexual interest, but he wasn’t blind. All the bouncers at Pump were handsome. It was as if that kind of attribute was a requirement.
Even the owners were smoking hot.
Richie should’ve taken a step back, let Cannon go pay for the room so Richie could finally breathe, but he couldn’t make his feet move.
“Go get your shower. I’ll settle your bill and order us some lunch since you ran from your breakfast.”