by DJ Monroe
But Grant was right. What he’d called matchmaking was really just meddling. In his own defense, he wanted everyone to be as happy as he and Grant. But that had been a sham as well. Grant obviously was not happy or he wouldn’t have strayed. And as he stood there looking at his reflection, he realized that maybe he wasn’t as happy as he thought he was, either.
Colton wanted to crawl into bed where the sheets and pillows still smelled like Grant, but he forced himself to stand there and face himself in the mirror. Tears streamed freely down his face as he thought back over the past year and tried to pinpoint when Grant lost interest in him. He couldn’t pick a date exactly, but it seemed over the past six months he was always waiting for Grant to come home or get off the phone or finish up with work or something.
Grant hadn’t really been his for a long time. He had to face that.
Continuing to face himself while he sobbed uncontrollably, Colton knew he had chosen to ignore the signs and just try to fix everyone else. Maybe if he’d concentrated on his own relationship, Grant would still be here waiting for him in bed.
The sobs slowly subsided. Colton washed his face. In the bedroom, he stripped the linens off the bed and threw them in the washer. Then he pulled fresh ones from the closet and remade the bed, choosing to cover it with a quilt his grandmother had made for him when he went off to college.
In bed, he turned off the light and stretched out. No more crying. No more wallowing in what was past. Tomorrow was a new day and he felt as if he was starting his life over.
Without Grant.
LEAVING THE LIGHTS of Paddy’s and Slick and Jon behind, Lincoln made his way home through the darkness. He already regretted what he’d done with Slick. Yes, the moment had been pleasurable, but almost immediately he’d begun to feel hollow and somehow used.
He paused outside of Colton’s door and remembered that while he’d been with Slick, Colton had sauntered into his thoughts, smiling that big, warm smile. He stood there wondering if Colton was home and would feel like talking. He was pretty sure there wasn’t anything he could do to help, but he wanted to make the offer. He went as far as raising his hand to knock, then changed his mind at the last minute.
In the end, he went into his own apartment, pulled off his clothes and tossed them into the wash. He might never wear them again. He stepped into the shower and stood under the stinging hot spray of water until he felt as if he’d washed all of Slick’s fingerprints away.
Was his current regret fueled by seeing Jon and another man together? He wasn’t sure but seeing Jon, knowing that he was with someone else in reality, hadn’t hurt as much as he thought it would.
Or maybe he’d just hardened his heart quicker this time than when he’d been dumped by the others.
Either way, he found himself back down at Paddy’s the next night. Jon wasn’t there. Slick wasn’t there either, but after a couple of beers, he was approached by a dark haired stranger who casually offered to indulge Lincoln in anything he wanted. A while later, Lincoln found himself in a far, darkened corner of the parking lot, in the backseat of a car with this man. Lincoln took him roughly while the stranger only begged for more.
He hated it and somehow managed to keep Colton from coming to mind while he worked toward orgasm. With a throaty growl and a final, savage thrust it was over. As Lincoln practically ran away from the car, he thought he might throw up.
This wasn’t Lincoln’s style, but what else was left for him? No more long-term relationships, tender loving caresses and kisses. No more ‘I love you’. That part of his life was over. And he was left with this, hot, hurried, down and dirty sex with some stranger in the back seat of a car.
He hated it, hated Jon for leaving him and hated himself for sinking this low. His father would be so ashamed.
And at home in his bed, he thought of Colton. Sweet and loving Colton, right across the hall. More than once he’d been tempted to knock on the door, wanting to make sure Colton was at least safe and to let him know that if he needed to talk, Lincoln was willing to listen.
Without really planning it, more than once over the next few days, Lincoln was able to time his comings and goings with that of Colton. They smiled greetings in the lobby while checking their mail. Colton looked sad and broken and as lonely as Lincoln felt. And yet Lincoln couldn’t bring himself to do much more than nod and speak.
Finally, one morning as they were leaving for work at about the same time, he followed Colton onto the elevator.
“Don’t you usually use the stairs?” Colton asked.
He looked brighter this morning, somewhat happier. “Usually. This elevator scares me to death,” Lincoln confessed.
“It’s a death trap,” Colton agreed. “But I’m more afraid of falling on those stairs.”
“Stair phobia?” Lincoln asked, cocking his head to one side. “Is that a thing?” God, this man was beautiful and he knew he was going to have to get to know him better.
“Just took a bad fall as a kid,” Colton said with a shrug. “Been terrified ever since.”
Once the elevator arrived, they climbed on board and stood there in silence while the elevator creaked its way to the first floor and the doors opened.
Lincoln took a chance. “Hey, I still owe you dinner,” he said. “Let’s plan something for this weekend.”
Colton looked as if he was going to decline but finally nodded and said, “I’d like that.”
“Good,” Lincoln said, his heart thudding in his chest, a little curl of desire forming in his belly. Yes, he could imagine falling for Colton without even trying and he knew how dangerous that could be.
“You know where I live,” Colton quipped with a grin that brought out that dimple in his chin.
Lincoln’s breath caught in his throat at the sight. He managed a laugh. “I do.”
That evening, Lincoln showered and shaved and dressed to go out. He paused outside of Colton’s door, thinking of inviting him to go down to Paddy’s with him. Then he thought better of that. Colton didn’t belong in that place. Lincoln didn’t really belong there either, but he felt as if this was the way to cure himself. Cure himself of what? Of falling in love? No, there was no cure for that, but enough one-night stands and he’d get used to sleeping alone. Being alone.
And, yet, when he thought of Colton, he could easily imagine forever.
“Love ‘em and leave ‘em,” he told himself as he pushed open the door to the bar.
Paddy’s was crowded for a week night and Lincoln spotted Slick right away. His white-blond hair stood out like a beacon. Slick smiled but Lincoln did not return the smile. He was determined not to make a habit of picking up the same man night after night. A different stranger every night was his new motto.
As he approached the bar, he scanned the crowd. As far as he could tell, Jon wasn’t there. He and his friend had probably already returned to Iowa by that time and that was just fine by him. He ordered a beer and wondered what would happen when he ran out of strangers.
Lincoln was on his second beer when a sandy haired man with green eyes and a beard swaggered toward him. He was lean and tall, wearing cowboy boots and a western style shirt. He stood out in that place like a sore thumb.
“I’ve seen you in here before,” the man said and extended his hand. “I’m David.”
Lincoln shook hands, liking the man’s firm, sure grip. He did not give out his own name. That was another hard and fast rule.
“Can I buy you another beer?” David asked.
“Two is pretty much my limit,” Lincoln told him.
“Same here,” David said.
Then Lincoln changed his mind and said, “But since you’re buying...”
David laughed. “It’s my pleasure.”
The two men sat at the bar drinking beer and talking. Lincoln became more and more comfortable with him and the third beer went down way too easily. They were approached by the dark haired man Lincoln had been in the car with previously who wanted to know if they were int
erested in a little fun with him.
“No, thank you,” Lincoln said.
“That’s not for me,” David said, watching him go. Then he excused himself to go to the bathroom.
The moment he was gone, Slick hurried over to Lincoln. “Get away from him,” he whispered, glancing over his shoulder as if to make sure David was not sneaking up on them.
“What?”
“He’s bad news,” Slick said, clutching at Lincoln furiously. “Dangerous.”
“Dangerous how?” Lincoln asked, easing out of Slick’s hands.
“Just...just dangerous,” Slick hissed.
Lincoln shook his head. “I think I can take care of myself.”
When Slick saw David returning, he gave Lincoln one last hopeful look and then returned to his table.
“Have you had dinner?” David asked.
“I have,” Lincoln said.
“I was hoping we could go someplace that wasn’t quite so busy,” David said. “There’s a little coffee shop around the corner.”
Lincoln shook his head. “It’s too late for coffee.”
“How about dessert?” David asked, giving Lincoln the first inkling of what he really had in mind.
Lincoln met his gaze in the mirror over the bar.
David chuckled. “It’s really hot in here. Why don’t we go outside?”
Lincoln did not find the thought of being partially naked with David disagreeable. He liked the fact that he wasn’t like all the others who had approached Lincoln wanting nothing more than some alcohol and then sex. He and David had some things in common and could probably have an intelligent conversation afterward.
But first, there would be sex. Lincoln was already learning to read the signs. Wasn’t that why he was here in the first place?
The two men stepped outside of the bar and a cool breeze wafted through the busy parking lot. “Smells like fall already,” David said.
“It does,” Lincoln agreed.
“My truck is parked over here,” David said, nodding toward a dark corner of the parking lot. “Would you like to go sit and talk for a while?”
Suddenly, Lincoln felt the urge to invite David to his apartment. That would be breaking every rule Lincoln had set up for his new lifestyle, but he liked the man. Maybe they could be friends with benefits.
Lincoln followed David to a big red truck, a Toyota crew cab, with tall tires and lots of mirrors and chrome. David stepped ahead of him to unlock the passenger side door. Lincoln was just about to climb inside the truck, when he realized David had moved up real close behind him, pressing his body tight against Lincoln’s backside.
Lincoln smiled. He had known this was coming. This kind of hookup was what Paddy’s was known for. But he wished David would wait until they had a little more privacy inside the truck.
And then something cold and hard was jammed into the center of his lower back.
Chapter Twelve
A gun.
Lincoln froze and looked over his shoulder. The gun was still digging a hole in his back, but David had taken a small step away from him. The darkness cloaked most of his expression so Lincoln could only see what amounted to a shadowy figure where David had stood before.
“If you’ll just do as I say, you won’t get hurt,” David growled.
Lincoln nodded and kept both hands on the truck in front of him. Heart pounding in his chest, he knew David would probably shoot him if he made any sudden movements. He gasped when he felt David’s hand on his rear but then realized the man was hunting for his wallet.
“It’s in my right front pocket,” Lincoln told him, trying to control the quivering in his voice. “I’m not armed.”
A cell phone chimed and Lincoln realized it was David’s. David shoved the gun even harder into Lincoln’s back when he answered.
“Yeah, I’m almost finished here,” David said, listened for a moment and then added, “Not sure how much he’s carrying yet but I’ll catch up with you in a few.”
The call ended. Evidently, this guy had a partner or a friend or someone waiting somewhere close by. Maybe at another club somewhere across town.
“Take what you want,” Lincoln said.
“Like you could stop me. I plan on doing just that,” David told him. “I’d take a little more if I had the time, but I don’t. It’s a damned shame, because you’ve got a nice ass.”
Lincoln’s stomach lurched at the thought of what this man was suggesting.
“Of course, I could take you with me and we could all have some fun later,” David said. “I’d like to take my time with you.”
Lincoln found himself completely unable to speak or think. He wasn’t even sure he could move. This man was talking about taking him hostage and he made a solemn resolve that, no matter what, he would not get in this truck. Once that happened, it was all over.
At the last minute, as if he’d just remembered, David searched him again, found Lincoln’s cell and threw it as hard as he could out onto the side street running by the bar. The first car coming by would smash it to pieces.
“Now, I’m going to back away and you’re going to come with me,” David instructed. “No sudden movements.”
Lincoln nodded and took a step or two away from the truck. The gun was still pressed firmly into his back. One false move and the guy might be spooked enough to shoot him without thinking.
“Now, shut the door.”
Lincoln nodded and let out the breath he’d been holding. He was no match for a man with a gun, but he knew if he’d been instructed to get into that truck, he would have taken the chance and fought for his life At least for now, that wasn’t necessary.
“Good. Now keep your hands where I can see them and stand real still until I’m out of this parking lot. Understand?” David questioned.
Again, all Lincoln could do was nod. He’d never been so terrified in his life and it felt as if his heart was going to pound right out of his chest.
“And if you’re smart, you’ll just write this off as a donation and not go to the cops,” David told him.
Cars came and went in the parking lot. Traffic whizzed by on the street nearby. To anyone not paying much attention it looked like two men talking in a parking lot, one of them getting ready to leave. All Lincoln could think about was this man being gone.
Once inside the truck, David started it and gunned the big engine. Lincoln watched as he went through his wallet and tried to remember how much cash he had. He was drawing a blank but he hoped it was enough to send this guy on his way.
Finally, with a maniacal laugh, David rolled down the passenger window and tossed Lincoln’s empty wallet toward him. It hit him hard on the chest and then landed with a little slap on the ground at his feet. Lincoln did not dare move until the truck pulled away, leaving nothing behind but a cloud of exhaust fumes.
What Lincoln did think to do was memorize the truck’s license plate number as it sped away into the night. He stooped and picked up his empty wallet. His cell phone was being driven over by half a dozen cars as the light changed.
And all Lincoln wanted to do was get home.
He half stumbled, half ran the five blocks to his apartment building, jumping at every sound and every shadow. Once he reached the building, though, he couldn’t imagine being alone in his apartment. Not after what had just happened.
Taking a chance, he knocked on Colton’s door.
POUNDING ON HIS FRONT door, brought Colton to his feet. He’d been in bed reading a true crime novel about a serial killer and every little sound startled him. The sound of someone unexpected arriving at his door made him even more nervous.
“Who is it?” he called, about halfway to the door, hoping against hope that it was Grant.
“Lincoln.” Came a muffled reply.
Not trusting his own ears, Colton frowned and went to the little peep site in the door. Yes, it was definitely Lincoln and it looked like he was upset about something. He opened it and looked up at his neighbor.
“C-can - can I come in?” Lincoln stammered his way through the request.
Colton took in the frightened eyes and the shaking hands and knew immediately that something terrible had just happened. “Of course,” he said, opening the door wider for Lincoln to step inside. “Please come in.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lincoln gasped as he entered the apartment and closed the door quickly. “I know it’s late but—oh, God, Colton. I’ve was robbed at gunpoint.”
“Oh, my God,” Colton breathed, locked the door behind Lincoln and then led him to the sofa. “When?”
“Just now,” Lincoln’s voice shook as badly as his hands.
“Here, let me get you something to drink,” Colton said, not really knowing what else to do.
He left Lincoln sitting on his sofa and hurried into the kitchen. In the freezer was a bottle of whiskey that belonged to Grant. Colton poured what he thought was a shot into a glass and went back into the living room.
“Here. Drink this,” Colton said and pushed the glass into Lincoln’s shaking hand.
Lincoln downed the glass in one gulp, coughed, closed his eyes and after a few moments seemed to calm down.
“What else can I do?” Colton asked.
“Um, he took my phone. Broke it,” Lincoln said quietly and kind of waved the empty wallet around. He’d carried it in his hand all the way from Paddy’s. “I’ll buy a new one tomorrow.”
“You’re going to need to cancel your credit cards, your debit card tonight,” Colton said, taking charge of the situation. He reached for his own cell phone. “Can you remember any numbers or anything?”
It took a moment for Lincoln to answer him but he finally said, “I have a service that can cancel all of them. Don’t know the number.”
“What’s the service?” Colton asked. Changing his mind about the cell, he scooped his laptop off the nearby chair and popped it open. “I can look it up.”
Again, it took a few moments for Lincoln to remember but he finally got the beginning of the name of the service. Colton Googled it and found it right away. He keyed in the number.