A Man of Many Parts

by Edward Kendrick

  “Damn, Jackson,” Noel said angrily. “If he tries that, how will you stop him without ending up dead?”

  Jax tapped his fingers together. “I haven’t quite figured that out yet.”

  “The dogs,” Susan said, looking at Noel and Donovan. “They’d warn him,” she turned to Jax. “They’d warn you if there was a stranger around—especially Andre. He thinks the sun rises and sets on you, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  Jax chuckled. “I have, but would he react if he thought I was in danger?”

  “If he was with you from now until this is over, I think he would,” Noel replied. “There’s only one way to find out.” He went down to Andre’s kennel, opening the door. Seconds later, Andre skidded to a stop in front of Jax.

  “Sit,” Jax said. Before he could point to the floor, the dog did. “Good boy! How do you feel about getting out of here for a while and keeping me company?” Jax asked him. He knew the dog didn’t actually understand him but if his reaction was any indication—licking his hand while his tail wagged wildly—Andre was more than ready to do whatever Jax wanted him to.

  Donovan smiled. “I think you’ve got a dog, Jackson, whether you want one or not.”

  “Looks like,” Jax agreed, patting Andre’s head. They believe me. I shouldn’t be surprised, I suppose. I’ve spent a good part of my life convincing the crooks I double-cross that what I say is the truth. He’d never felt guilty about doing that, but now? These are friends who are willing to help me without expecting anything in return. Now I have to make certain they, and I, survive whatever Keegan might try to do in order to destroy me once and for all. “I hope you don’t mind him in your house, Donovan.”

  “Not in the least, as long as he doesn’t try to help you when you’re working. I don’t think a nose print on a cover page will add anything to the book’s value.”

  They all laughed, and some of the tension they all felt about what potentially might happen abated. Donovan said he needed to get back home, suggesting Jax remain at the shelter to work with Andre. “Obviously, we know nothing about his background, but from what I just saw I suspect he’s had at least some training because of the way he reacts when you tell him to do something.”

  “I doubt we’ll be able to teach him to guard or attack in the twenty-four hours,” Noel said.

  “Probably not,” Donovan agreed as he started to leave. “However, he’s already made Jackson his person. Since both labs and pits are known for their loyalty, I have no doubt he’ll do his best to defend him in case of a physical attack.”

  “If the guy has a gun…” Noel didn’t look happy about that idea.

  “I’ll cross that bridge if I come to it,” Jax told him. “Right now, let’s see how Andre responds to simple commands.”

  They went out to the yard. While Noel and Susan watched from a few feet away so they wouldn’t distract Andre, Jax ran through a list of commands. None of them were terribly surprised that the dog quickly obeyed when Jax told him to heel, stay, wait, and come.

  “Whoever he belonged to lost a damned good dog,” Susan said. “Why train him then dump him?”

  “That’s people for you,” Jax replied sourly, patting Andre’s head. “Do you have a leash…? Okay, scratch that. I know you do.”

  Susan laughed and went to get one. As Jax attached it to Andre’s collar, Noel asked, “Do you mind if I come with you?”

  Jax resisted flipping Susan off when he caught her grinning out of the corner of his eye, merely replying, “Not at all.” As they left the yard, Jax ordered Andre to heel, which he did. Then, curious about how the dog would react, he whispered to Noel, “Find a stone and throw it into the trees.”

  Noel obviously understood why. Dropping back, he picked up a large one and hurled it as far as he could. Andre froze when it landed with a soft plop somewhere in the trees beside the path. He growled softly, looking up at Jax.

  “Find,” Jax ordered, releasing the leash. The dog took off. Jax could hear him moving through the underbrush. A few moments later there was another growl, a sharp bark, then silence. Intrigued, and fairly certain it was safe to do so because the growl wasn’t an angry one, Jax made his way toward the dog with Noel right behind him.

  “Not what you threw,” Jax said to Noel, shaking his head. Andre was standing at attention at the base of a tree, staring up at a squirrel on one of the branches. “Good boy,” Jax told him, rubbing his head. He decided to try something. “Guard,” he ordered, then walked away. When he looked back, Andre was frozen in position, not moving a muscle, his gaze locked on the squirrel. “Relax,” Jax ordered, followed by, “Come.”

  “I wonder how he’d have reacted if he’d found a person,” Noel said when Andre joined them.

  “We could send you out and see.”

  Noel snorted. “He knows me. He’d probably lick me to death.”

  Laughing, Jax agreed. He decided not to put Andre on the leash again, telling him to heel. They were almost to the back yard of the house when Andre’s ears went up and he started toward the trees. “Find,” Jax told him. This time he followed, wondering what had caught his attention as the dog padded silently through the underbrush, every sense alert. He found out when he saw Walton standing at the edge of the yard. Andre emitted a low growl, his teeth bared, looking as if he would attack if Walton made any sudden moves.

  Jax gave a sharp whistle and ordered Andre to relax. The dog sat back on his haunches, still watching Walton. Jax walked over, saying to Walton, “Sorry. We didn’t mean to scare you. On the other hand, this did answer one question. Andre will let me know if anyone’s around, and then do something about it.”

  “If he’d bitten me,” Walton muttered. “But he didn’t. You don’t have to apologize. Donovan told me what’s going on. The more protection you have, the better.” He put his hand down slowly so Andre could sniff it. “Next time, dog, remember I’m his friend. Okay?”

  Andre did what he was good at. He licked Walton’s hand. Jax could tell Walton wanted to say “Yuck” and didn’t because, well, good estate managers don’t lower themselves that way. Instead, he shook the slobber off his hand, shot Andre a look of disgust, and headed toward the house.

  Only then did Jax and Noel laugh, albeit softly.

  “The look on his face…” Noel said.

  “My bet is, he plays keep-away while Andre’s in the house,” Jax replied, grinning.

  Andre looked up at Jax when he heard his name, then picked up a fallen branch, dropping it at Jax’s feet. Jax got the message and threw it. Dashing across the yard, the dog got it, returned, and dropped it in front of Jax.

  “You know he’ll keep that up for hours if you let him,” Noel said.

  “But I won’t, since I’m in dire need of coffee. Do you want to join me?”

  “I…Sure.”

  Jax snapped the leash on Andre’s collar, much to the dog’s obvious disgust, and walked across the yard to the back door. “You behave,” he warned Andre as he unlocked the door to let them into the house. He waited until they were in the kitchen before releasing Andre, saying “Sit. Stay.”

  He made coffee, and then gave Andre permission to follow as they went into the parlor—or media room as Jax thought of it. Taking one of the lounge chairs, Jax said, “Feel like watching a movie? Donovan’s got a decent selection.”

  “Not really,” Noel replied as he sat as well. He took a drink of his coffee then asked, “How can you be so relaxed when you know that guy’s probably coming after you?”

  “It’s all an act, if you want to know the truth. Or, not an act, but I figure I’m safe enough in the house. He can’t get in without someone knowing.”

  “But when you’re outside, like tonight.”

  “I have Andre.” He looked at the dog lying at his feet. “I think he proved he’ll go after anyone he thinks is a danger, much to Walton’s dismay.”

  “Hopefully before they shoot you,” Noel said dryly. Leaning back, he looked at Jax over the rim of his cup. �
�Were you really planning on leaving tomorrow? I thought we were going out to dinner.”

  Jax resisted wincing. In concocting his story he’d forgotten about that. “I had intended on asking if you wanted to do it tonight, instead,” he alibied.

  “A farewell meal where you say ‘It was nice getting to know you, but…’.”

  “Honestly? I hadn’t decided what I’d say. We’re friends, or at least I think we are. My feeling, and I may be way off base, is that you’d like it to be more than that.”

  Noel chewed the corner of his lip. “I can’t deny the possibility did occur to me until common sense kicked in. You will leave, if not tomorrow then when this is over and you’ve stopped the man from doing whatever he’s got planned.”

  “Yes. I suppose I could draw out what I’m doing for Donovan. There are more books that need minor repairs and he said he’s willing for me to stay and do them. However, I have other clients and I’m not going to ignore them if they need my services.” He was telling Noel the truth, as far as it went. He wasn’t about to admit he was attracted to the younger man, because he knew it would go nowhere. There was a reason he was into one-night stands. Given what he was, committing to a relationship had never been an option; no matter how much he wished the opposite at times.

  “If I told you something was better than nothing as far as I’m concerned?” Noel asked, then immediately shook his head. “It wouldn’t be the truth. I’m not willing to start something when I know it’ll end whether I want it to or not. My life is here, yours…isn’t.”

  “Very true,” Jax agreed. “As much as I’d like to see if we could be more than friends, I’ll honor your wishes. Reluctantly, since I find you very interesting, but I understand your logic. If you change your mind…”

  Noel smiled. “Not likely, but if I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

  Chuckling, Jax replied, “You won’t run it by Susan, first?”

  “Good lord, no. If I even mentioned what we’ve been talking about she’d tell me I was stupid for not grabbing what I could with you. She thinks I’m too cloistered as it is. If she had her way, I’d be exploring every possibility until I found someone to settle down with.”

  “She loves you. She wants you happy. There’s not a damned thing wrong with that.”

  “I know, but sometimes…” Noel sighed.

  “You want to tell her to mind her own business, not yours.”

  “Exactly!” Noel replied. He started to get up, then asked, “Are we still on for dinner tomorrow night?”

  “We are. I’m not sure what to do with Andre, though. Yes, you,” he added when the dog woofed softly.

  “You could leave him at the shelter,” Noel suggested. “But that would defeat the purpose of having him around to keep you safe. Unless…Okay, don’t take this the wrong way but I’m not a half-bad cook. We could eat at my place.”

  “I’ve got no problem with that,” Jax replied. He wasn’t certain that was the truth. If Keegan was around and saw him at Noel’s house, he might go after him as another step in whatever cat and mouse game he was playing. He might do that anyway. Should I rethink my plan? Go home and let him try for me there? Give up the life I’ve made for myself and go into hiding again? No, damn it. This ends here, Keegan, and if you touch even one hair on Noel’s head, or Donovan’s, or Susan’s, I swear I’ll make certain your death is as painful as possible.

  “Are you sure,” Noel asked. “Right now you look as if you were contemplating death and destruction and the end of the world.”

  “Sorry. Nothing quite that dire. I am a bit worried about the man coming after you to get to me, if he sees us together.”

  Noel grinned. “I’ll sneak you in the back way in the trunk of my car.”

  “With Andre?”

  “Nope. He can ride shotgun.” They laughed, and then Noel finally got up. “I’ll see you tomorrow night if not before. Oh, it might help if you have my address.” He gave it to Jax, along with instructions on how to get there. “I’m off at seven, so around seven-thirty? It’ll give me time to get dinner started.”

  “I’ll be there, Andre in tow.”

  Jax walked Noel to the back door to let him out. “Be careful on the walk back to the shelter,” he cautioned.

  “Afraid I’ll run into a rabid chipmunk? I’ve walked the path after dark more times than I like to think about. I’ll be fine. See you—”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  Jax was tempted to follow Noel, to make certain he did get back to the shelter safely. “He will,” he told Andre when the dog bumped against his leg. “It’s been less than twelve hours since Keegan called. I doubt he’s had time to do more than check out the area, now that he knows I’m here.”

  He closed and locked the door before going to find Donovan or Walton to tell them he was in for the night so one of them could activate the security.

  Chapter 8

  “I shouldn’t have invited him over,” Noel said to Argyle and Max as he got ready to take them for their morning walk. “It won’t do any good. Nothing will happen.”

  Overhearing him, Susan asked, “What won’t happen?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing not happening means something will happen.” She grinned at him. “Double negative.”

  “Right.” He rolled his eyes.

  “I take it ‘him’ is Jackson.”

  “Yeah. He made it very clear last night that we’ll only be friends and nothing more because he’ll be leaving soon.”

  “He should get out of here now,” she replied, her expression tightening. “He’s putting all of us in danger if that guy does come after him.”

  “Yeah, well…” Noel didn’t want to talk about it so he clipped leashes on the dogs’ collars and started toward the gate.

  “He is,” Susan insisted, following him. “Besides, it’s not fair to you for him to hang around, no matter the reason. Friends my ass.”

  Noel sighed, knowing she was right. It didn’t stop him from wishing he had the guts to take advantage of Jackson’s coming to dinner. Would it be so horrible if we did more than eat and talk? Am I willing to find out? Sure, it would just be sex for him, I’m sure. He smiled sourly. Certainly would make for some interesting dreams though, after he’s gone.

  As he and the dogs started down one of the paths outside the shelter’s yard, Noel asked himself why he was fixating on Jackson to start with.

  Because he’s good looking and sexy? Am I that shallow? Because he’s the only man I’ve been around in forever? Okay, the only gay man. Donovan and the men who’ve fostered some of our dogs don’t count. Maybe it’s because there’s something mysterious about him. I wasn’t lying when I told him I sensed two sides to him, one I could see, the other hidden. He had the perfect response and maybe that’s all there was to it—his being gay but cautious. But what if there’s something else that he doesn’t want anyone to know about?

  He stopped walking when he had a sudden thought that was so ludicrous he laughed aloud. “He’s a secret agent and man’s coming after him because Jackson has proof of some plot to take out world leaders. It could happen,” he told the dogs when they looked at him in question, before tugging the leashes to get him moving again.

  * * * *

  Because he needed to keep busy, Jax spent most of Monday morning going through Donovan’s books, taking a few of them to the workroom because the covers needed minor repairs. He’d asked Donovan at breakfast if there were any of them that needed more than that.

  “No,” Donovan replied. “Despite what you might think, I’m usually very careful to make certain the pages themselves are in excellent condition.”

  Jax grinned. “So the crayon marks on the atlas were an anomaly.”

  “More like my greed to get my hands on it overcoming common sense. I’ve admitted as much.”

  “You have,” Jax replied. “By the way, I’m not going to charge you for anything I do on the covers from now on. It’s not your fault I’m still her
e.”

  “I don’t mind paying you.”

  “I do. I don’t intend to take advantage of you because some nut has decided he wants me dead.”

  “Let’s pray he doesn’t succeed,” Donovan said.

  Jax felt the same. Now all he had to do was trust he could draw Keegan out someplace where their final battle wouldn’t endanger his friends. That meant getting out of the house and hoping Keegan was watching and would follow him. Realizing it was past noon and he’d spent most of the morning cloistered in the workroom, he decided now was the time to take Andre for a walk while putting his plan into motion.

  He ate a quick lunch, thanking Mrs. Greene when she made certain Andre ate as well. She had, she said, gone down to the shelter to get the proper dog food since she knew it wasn’t a good idea to feed him human food.

  “Ready, boy?” Jax asked once he’d snapped the leash to Andre’s collar.

  The dog made it very clear he was, prancing at the door until Jax opened it. As soon as they were outside, Andre made a stop to take care of business. Having walked him earlier, Jax was prepared with some sandwich bags, using one to clean up after Andre then going to the trash bins behind the garage to deposit it.

  “Now let’s see what we can find, or who will find us,” he said, letting Andre take the lead as they left the yard and began wending their way through the trees. He was keenly aware of everything around them—sights and sounds—and his wariness must have translated to the dog. Andre’s ears were up, as if he was listening for anything untoward, his head swiveling from side to side.

  As they walked, Jax’s tension mounted. He surreptitiously touched the gun in the holster tucked into the back of his waistband. He’d put it there as soon as he’d gotten dressed that morning and had no intention of removing it until he went to dinner at Noel’s house—if then.

  Where are you, Keegan? I know you have to be somewhere close. Are you watching, feeling superior because I haven’t found you? Are you ‘you’, or something else? A fox, a stray dog? At least he didn’t have to worry about other animals, like squirrels or birds. Keegan didn’t have the ability to become one of them.