by Sue Brown
Nate raised an eyebrow. “Making friends, Keenan?”
“Only one person I’m interested in,” Keenan said. He took a long satisfying slurp of his mocha and saw a fleeting smirk on Nate’s face.
Nate took a long swallow of his black coffee and closed his eyes. He stayed like that for so long Keenan wondered if he was asleep. He took the opportunity to study Nate, noting the lines and grooves etched in his face. This case was draining Nate’s life from him. Keenan realized how presumptuous it was to think he could help. What could he do to help his friend? He sat quietly, sipped his coffee, and waited for Nate to stir.
Finally Nate sighed a little and opened his eyes. He took a large swallow of his coffee before he spoke. “I’m glad you called.”
“You are?” Keenan tried not to sound too surprised.
“I am. I’ve missed you. It feels like months since we last met.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Keenan admitted.
“I should have called you, but….” Nate rubbed his temples, and Keenan wondered if he had a headache. “What day of the week is it?”
“Sunday.”
“Shouldn’t you be at your parents’ for lunch? Karen and Ramon said they’d see you there.”
“I was there,” Keenan said.
“Then why are you inviting me out for coffee?”
“Karen said you’re not looking after yourself. She said you’ve barely been home in three weeks.”
“Someone’s got a big mouth.” A flash of anger crossed Nate’s face, but it subsided quickly. “I’m sorry. She’s your sister. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“She has got a big mouth, but she’s right,” Keenan said calmly. “You need to take care of yourself, Nate. You’re not going to help anyone by working yourself into the ground.”
“Don’t you start,” Nate said wearily, his eyes closing once more.
Keenan put his cup down and leaned forward. “They’re worried about you, and so am I.”
“I’m fine,” Nate snapped.
Keenan said nothing.
Nate looked out the window at the people hurrying past. “It’s killing me. This case.”
“Is this the first murder case you’ve been involved in?” Keenan knew Nate came from Wyoming, but he wasn’t sure what kind of cases they had. Murder and serious crime had to be more common in New York than Nate’s hometown, surely?
Nate’s lips twitched, but he didn’t look amused. “There was another case like this back home—a girl the same age as Marissa Hickson. It was my first murder case. We never found her killer.”
“And you’re determined to find Marissa’s killer to make up for the one back home?” Keenan said. He placed a hand over Nate’s.
Nate nodded, his face more drawn and gray than before. “I failed then. I don’t want to fail again.”
“Were you the solo detective on the case before?”
“No. It was my first murder. I was a junior detective and part of a team.”
“And are you the solo detective on this case?”
Nate’s frown deepened. “No. You know I’m not. We’ve gotten a large task force looking for her killer.”
“Then it’s not your failure,” Keenan said.
“That’s not the point.”
Keenan stood. “Yes it is. I’m going to get my coffee. Same again?”
“Uh… yeah.”
Nate’s eyes followed Keenan all the way to the counter. Keenan didn’t look around as he waited in line. He wanted Nate to think about it for a while. When he returned, Nate was staring out of the window, but Keenan bet Nate didn’t see anyone. He was totally focused on his own thoughts.
“Your coffee,” Keenan said as he sat down.
Nate yawned. “Sorry, I should get some sleep.”
“When was the last time you ate?” Keenan asked.
The fact Nate furrowed his brow and had to think about it gave Keenan the answer.
“Yesterday? Maybe the day before. I haven’t been hungry.”
“You’re not going to be any good if you pass out. We’ll get a sandwich here, and I’ll drive you home. That way you get something to eat if you fall asleep.”
Nate shook his head as Keenan had expected. “My car’s in the parking lot.”
“You step back into that building and you’ll start work again. I’m driving you home. I can bring you back tomorrow.”
“I’ll come back later today,” Nate said.
“Over my dead body,” Keenan ordered. “You’re going to get sleep, and I mean it.”
His voice must have raised, because an elderly woman at the next table turned to look at him. She was immaculately dressed and made up, her hair in a sharp pixie cut Keenan hadn’t seen outside of the fashion magazines his sisters bought.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
“You listen to him,” she said to Nate. “You look dreadful.”
Keenan could feel Nate’s desire to tell them both to fuck off as though he’d said it out loud, but while Nate would have said that to Keenan, he would never be that rude to a stranger, especially an older woman.
“Yes, ma’am,” Nate said.
Her lips twitched in amusement, and she glanced at Keenan. “You take care of him, son. He’s a polite boy.”
Keenan grinned at her, amused by the idea of Nate being called a boy. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned back to Nate. “Food, then sleep.”
Nate scowled at him, but there was nothing else he could say. He had promised a perfect stranger that he would do what Keenan told him to do. Actually he’d just agreed to listen, and if Nate had been more awake, he’d have realized that and found a way to get around it. But he was almost asleep in the comfort of the chair.
Keenan got them both paninis and hot chocolate and made sure Nate ate every last crumb, but Nate was asleep before Keenan pulled away from the curb. That left Keenan with a problem—he had no idea where Nate lived. Rather than wake him up, Keenan drove to his own house. He could drive Nate home first thing in the morning. He definitely needed to change suits. Keenan would swear that was the suit he was wearing when the girl was found.
With difficulty, because although Nate was slightly shorter, he wasn’t a small guy, Keenan got him awake enough and out of the car. Then he steered Nate up the stairs and into his bedroom.
“Not my house,” Nate muttered.
“Nope,” Keenan agreed and stripped Nate of his clothes.
“Got to work later.” Nate’s voice was muffled as he buried his face in his pillow.
“I’ll wake you,” Keenan lied and covered him up. Nate sighed, wrapped an arm around another pillow and snuggled down.
He went downstairs, made himself a chamomile tea because he’d had way too much coffee, and called Karen.
Her brisk voice sounded in his ear. “Day.”
“Hey, it’s me.” Keenan sat down, successfully managing to balance his phone under one ear and not spill his tea.
“Did you find him?”
“Yeah, you were right. He’s exhausted. Listen, he’s asleep in my bed at the moment.”
“Quick work.”
“Ha ha,” he said. “I’ll send Nate back in the morning. He says he’s going back tonight, but I’m not waking him up.”
“Good. Ramon and I can pick Nate up in the morning. We’ll be there at seven.”
Keenan could launder Nate’s shirt and underwear, if not his suit. “Great. See you then.”
“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do to Mom. She’s steaming that she didn’t know you were seeing Nate.”
“I haven’t been seeing him. Well, not recently.”
“Bullshit,” she said cheerfully. “You’ve seen all of Detective Gordon there is to see, I imagine.”
No. This was not a conversation he could have with his sister, not even his twin. “I’ll call her later.”
“Make sure you do.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That you were friends.”
“Did sh
e believe you?” Keenan knew his mother.
“Of course not, but she’ll keep her mouth shut until she talks to you.” Karen chuckled in his ear. “She’s not stupid. You two weren’t exactly subtle together.”
“I’d better call her now,” he groaned.
“You do that. Good luck.”
Karen disconnected and left him with a cooling cup of tea and a phone call he didn’t want to make. How was he going to explain to his mom that he’d fled a family dinner to look after his sister’s coworker because he was worried about him?
Chapter 15
KEENAN STOOD in the doorway, smiling at the sight of Nate sprawled on his belly like a starfish in Keenan’s bed. He was still fast asleep and sporting serious bed hair. Nate’s hair had grown since he arrived in Brooklyn. Keenan had once mentioned he liked something to hang on to. He wondered if Nate had let his hair grow for him.
He gently shook Nate’s shoulder to wake him. It was six thirty, and Karen had already texted him to say they’d be around in thirty minutes. Nate grumbled something incoherent, wrapped his arm around his pillow, and snuggled down again. That was cute but not helpful.
“Time to rise and shine, big boy,” Keenan said with another shake of Nate’s shoulder. “You’ve got work.”
Nate cracked open an eyelid. “Coffee?”
“I have coffee.”
With more grumbling, Nate rolled onto his back, opened his eyes, and gave a jaw-cracking yawn. God, he was gorgeous. Keenan was tempted to make his sister wait while he gave Nate a proper good morning.
“You have a spider.”
“Eric,” Keenan agreed.
Nate sat up and flapped his hand for the coffee. “You name your spiders?”
“Just Eric. He’s a friendly spider.” Keenan sat on the bed next to Nate and ran a hand down his back.
“Riiight.” Nate shook his head. “What time is it?”
“Six thirty-five. You need to get up and get dressed. Karen and Ramon will be here at seven to take you to work.”
Nate frowned at him. “Seven p.m.?”
“In the morning.”
“You let me sleep all night!” Nate turned a furious gaze on him. “What the hell, Keenan. You knew I wanted to go back to work last night.”
Keenan stared at him with years of experience at dealing with misplaced anger. “And your squad and I overruled you. You needed sleep.”
Nate thrust the empty mug into Keenan’s hands and got out of bed. “Dammit. I had things to do.”
“Nothing that couldn’t wait until Monday morning and a clear head. Get in the shower. Your shirt and underwear are clean.” Keenan pointed to the dresser. “There’s a sandwich to take to work.”
“You’re not my wife. You don’t get to make those decisions for me,” Nate spat.
That hurt, but Keenan said, “I didn’t. Your squad did. Hurry up.”
Nearly six feet of pent-up rage scowled at Keenan. Then Nate stomped into the bathroom, and Keenan sighed and picked up his phone. Ramon and Karen deserved to know what they were walking into.
He decided not to wait for Nate to come out of the shower. It was a shame. He’d been hoping they could conserve water and shower together. It was a squeeze in the tiny cubicle, but Keenan had fantasized about Nate taking him in the shower. He was sure they’d find a way. He picked up Nate’s discarded coffee mug and headed downstairs to wait for his sister.
Five minutes later he heard the creak of the stairs and turned to pour Nate more coffee. Footsteps padded across the kitchen tiles, and a kiss brushed the nape of his neck as Nate encircled his waist with his arms. There was a waft of sandalwood and woody scents from Keenan’s shower gel, overlaid with minty toothpaste.
“I’m sorry. I’m being a dick.”
Keenan hummed in agreement.
Nate laid his cheek against Keenan’s hair. “I guess I needed the sleep.”
“You did.”
“I’m sorry about the wife crack.”
Keenan was sorry too, but probably not for the same reason. “I’ll make a very good husband someday.”
“You will,” Nate agreed and pressed another kiss on Keenan’s neck. “Is there more coffee?”
“Yeah.” Keenan leaned his head back, and Nate nuzzled into him. Then he stepped back, and Keenan missed the embrace. He handed Nate the coffee mug. “You have ten minutes before you have to face my sister.”
“I have to face your sister every morning,” Nate pointed out, his eyes amused.
“Not when you’ve just been a dick to her little brother.”
Nate stared at him in amazement. “Did you snitch on me?”
“I did.” Keenan was not above using his sister when needed.
“I work with her.”
“And?”
Nate sighed. “Is she gonna go all mama bear on me?”
“Have you met my twin?” Keenan asked.
“Good point.” Nate put his mug down and took Keenan into his arms. “Do I have time to make it up to you before she arrives?”
Keenan wrapped his arms around Nate’s neck. “Let’s find out.”
Their kisses now were familiar, but never boring. Keenan couldn’t get enough of Nate’s lips on his and Nate’s hard body pressed against his own. Nate ran his fingers through Keenan’s hair and held him close. His kiss conveyed apology, and Keenan accepted it graciously.
The doorbell intruded on Keenan’s bliss. Nate muttered something incoherent against Keenan’s lips and stepped back.
Keenan turned to go to answer the door but then paused, turned back, and caught Nate’s hand in his. “Nate, come home.”
Nate’s frown conveyed his confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t work yourself into the ground at the precinct.” Keenan looked toward the door at another ring of the bell, but again he turned back.
“Are you going to answer the door?” Nate asked.
“She can wait.” Keenan took Nate in his arms. “Ramon said he would have been working like you if he didn’t have Mikey to come home to. You have me, Nate. You know that. You’re not on your own.”
Nate trailed a finger over Keenan’s cheek. “I know,” he said, barely above a whisper. “I know.”
The hard, persistent thumping on the door broke the spell between them. “Keenan,” Karen yelled.
“You’d better let her in before she breaks the door down,” Nate said.
“I don’t care about the door, but my neighbors are going to hate me.” Keenan rushed to the door and flung it open.
“About time,” Karen barked and pushed past him. “Where is he?”
Ramon looked up from his phone and waved at Keenan from his position leaning against the car. At least Nate only had one member of his squad to cope with.
Keenan followed Karen into the kitchen, where Nate waited. Nate the lover had been replaced by Nate the detective, looking calm as Karen stalked in.
“You look less crap than you did yesterday,” she snapped.
“Thanks to Keenan,” Nate said.
That took her aback. She’d come in spoiling for a fight. “Does this mean you’re not going to be an asshole?”
“It means I apologized to your brother before you came in, and I realize I did need the sleep.”
She huffed, but Keenan could see the smile playing on her lips. “Better. You ready to go?”
“Yes.”
Nate patted his pockets, looked around, and took the wallet and keys Keenan held out to him. “Thanks. For the sleep and the laundry.”
“You’re welcome.”
Nate flicked a glance at Karen and then leaned over to kiss Keenan’s cheek. She huffed again, but now she really was smiling.
“I’ve got to go,” he said to Keenan. “I promise not to leave it so long next time.”
“You’d better not,” Keenan said. “You know where I am if you need me.”
Keenan followed them to the door and watched Nate slide into the front passenger seat. He grinned as Kare
n made a protest at being ejected from shotgun, but she smirked at him as she climbed into the back. For whatever reason, his twin sister was happy with his relationship with her coworker. Keenan thought he ought to be worried about that. Nate definitely should be.
A WEEK later Keenan was watering the pots in his backyard when his phone rang. He dug it out of his jeans. “Hello.”
He expected it to be Nate, who had called and asked if they could spend the afternoon together. Nate had taken Keenan at his word and spent as much time as he could with him. Keenan didn’t mind being used as a human stress relief ball. He’d planned an afternoon of good food, good sex, and a movie marathon with explosions.
“Uncle Kee Kee,” his excited nephew yelled down the phone at him.
Keenan held the phone away from his ear until the noise subsided. “Tommy?”
“Uncle Kee Kee, we’re coming to you ’cause Grandpops is sick. Mommy said you’d give us vegetables, but I said it would be pizza, ’cause we always eat pizza at your place.”
Now Keenan was worried. He knew he hadn’t made any arrangements to babysit his niece and nephew. “Tommy, can I talk to your mom?”
“Mommy,” Tommy screamed.
Keenan winced. He heard a tap tap of feet and then Sarah spoke, “Keenan?”
“What’s going on, Sarah? What’s this about Pops?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think Tommy would call you. How did he know my password?”
Keenan didn’t have time to worry about his nephew’s deviousness. “Call me about what?”
“I need a babysitter. I’ve got a meeting with a new client, but Alan’s working, and he can’t look after the kids. I know this is short notice, but you said you were free this afternoon.”
Yeah, to be fucked senseless, not babysit.
Keenan held back a sigh. She probably never even considered he might have something else planned. “Okay.” His idea of an afternoon of forgetting how to say his name vanished. “Do you want me to drive over?”
“I’ll bring them to you. My meeting is nearer to you than me.”