by Lynn Stark
Quinn took the teasing well. He laughed and released his hold on Randy’s arm. “I know, but can you think of a better way to lose your virginity than to give it to a sex god?”
“No, I guess not.”
“I’m sure I would be rewarded for such a sacrifice.”
Shaking his head, Randy grinned and reached out to give Quinn a good-natured push. He would never do or say anything to burst Quinn’s wonderful attitude. It actually felt good to be around such a bright, sweet guy. He hadn’t lost his rose-colored glasses yet and Randy hoped he never did.
“Do you think I should go over and introduce myself?” Randy was about to answer him, when Quinn swore. “Damn, one of the hunks is coming over here, but it’s the wrong one. Maybe I looked at him too long.”
It was Dragon. The tall, muscular man wasn’t looking at Quinn, however. He was looking at Randy. “Don’t worry. He and I have met. He’s coming over to talk to me. Why don’t you go introduce yourself to the hunk of your choice?”
Reaching out to catch Quinn’s chair as it tipped back when he shot out of it, Randy laughed and pushed it in against the table.
“Hi, Randy,” Dragon said as he stopped beside the table. Randy tipped his head way, way back so he could see Dragon’s face. “Mind if I sit down?”
Randy shook his head as his heart began to beat a little faster. “No, go ahead.”
“Thanks.” Dragon pulled out a chair and sat down. “How’s it going? Any problems yet?”
“No, not yet. Sheriff Evans told me Barker won’t be getting out until next Tuesday.” Randy didn’t know why he had been so worried about the jerk he had bothered Dragon about it. The sheriff had promised that he would keep a close watch on Barker. Evans had been relieved to learn that Randy had moved to town. He said it would be easier to protect Randy. “I’ve moved into town. My apartment is just a few blocks from here. Quinn and I walked over.”
Dragon turned to look to where Quinn was talking animatedly with his friends. Randy admired the man’s strong profile. As far as he could see there was absolutely nothing wrong with the man. Randy even liked the military, high-and-tight hairstyle Dragon sported. He suspected the man had spent more than a few years in the military.
“Quinn is cute,” Dragon commented, smiling as he turned to look at Randy. “He’s like a breath of fresh air. There’s something very sweet about him.”
Jealously surged unexpectedly through Randy. He didn’t want Dragon admiring another man. He wanted all of Dragon’s attention on him, Randy Carr. Nodding stiffly, he said, “Yes, there is. He’s a good man.”
Randy’s and Quinn’s food was brought to the table. Dragon stood. “Well, I’ll let you eat. Remember, if you need anything, give me a call.”
“Do you have a name other than Dragon?”
“Yeah, it’s Jett Hayden. I won’t give you the names of the others. We’re playing a lengthy joke on a friend, who also happens to be our boss, by not giving up our given names. It’s making him nuts.”
Laughing, Randy relaxed. “I can imagine. Thanks for the offer of help, Jett. I will call, if I need you.”
Their gazes locked as Randy said this. He immediately understood the double-meaning to those words. The color rushed to his cheeks.
“You do that,” Jett told him, giving Randy a warm smile that left little doubt about whether or not the other man had understood the double-meaning, too.
As Jett walked away, Randy’s gaze was drawn irresistibly to the man’s ass. He had been tempted to check Jett out as he had approached, but had managed to resist. It was one of the most difficult things he had ever done. Well, as difficult as something that wasn’t to be taken seriously, possibly could be.
Quinn returned just as Randy picked up his fork. The man was excited, and flashed a card with handwriting on it in front of Randy’s face. “I got his phone number! But he says he’s going to call me, because I gave him my phone number, too.”
Chuckling, Randy watched as Quinn stared at the card for a moment before tucking it into his wallet. “That was quick work.” He paused, wondering how far he could stick his nose into the other man’s personal business. “Just be careful, okay? Don’t let yourself be pushed into anything you don’t feel ready for.”
Quinn’s blue eyes were huge in his face. He looked like an angel. “I won’t. I’ve been able to say no before. Some guys just want sex. I think Snake is different.”
“Snake? Really?”
Leaning close, Quinn whispered, “He told me his real name, but he said it’s a secret, just between us. His name is sooooo sexy.”
“Okay, lover boy, I believe you.” Randy pointed at the food in front of Quinn. “You better eat before it gets totally cold.”
They ate silently for several minutes. They were almost finished when Quinn asked with his usual innocent candor, “What’s your boyfriend’s name?”
Choking on the last piece of fish, it took Randy a moment before he was able to answer. He shook his head as he cleared his throat. “No boyfriend,” he wheezed, reaching for the glass of water in front of him. “Just a guy I talked to about a job.”
“If you say so. I saw the way he was looking at you.”
Hoping to distract Quinn, Randy had a suggestion. “Why don’t we go see if Hank is working or if he’s home?”
Moving into town to gain independence and to be closer to his friend had been the right thing to do. Hank and he had gotten along from the very beginning. He missed the constant joking around and teasing. Hank was the only one of his friends to know his entire story, including the gritty details of Randy’s past. Although Hank had moved out a few weeks before to live with Fallon Connolly, Randy and Hank made a point of calling each other every day or so. Randy had visited Hank in his new home, hanging out with Hank and Fallon, Hank’s fiancé. Living in Silver would be nice. While Randy didn’t plan to become a pest by hanging out at their apartment all the time, he felt the new proximity would help keep their friendship strong.
Now Quinn was all but dragging Randy down the street toward Connolly’s department store. Hank and Fallon lived on the top floor in a beautiful apartment. Fallon and Hank had generously offered a room to Randy. He had thanked them, but told them that he really wanted to be on his own. Living with them would have just been too close for everyone involved. His friends’ relationship was so new that Randy certainly didn’t want to crowd them. He was sure that there was a lot of sex in various spots around the apartment. He had teased Hank that he didn’t want to cramp their style. Hank, of course, had blushed bright red and punched Randy playfully in the arm for daring to go there. Fallon had only pulled Hank close to him and winked at Randy.
When the lock released after Quinn pressed the buzzer, he shot inside, leaving Randy to follow at a more leisurely pace. He took the elevator up to the apartment instead of tromping up several flights of steps. As the door slid shut he grinned. He could hear Quinn’s feet pounding on the stairs.
“What the hell?” Quinn squawked as the door slid open and he saw Randy standing inside. “You did that on purpose.”
Randy wasn’t going to deny it. “Yep. At least you got a good workout.”
Hank was laughing at the two of them as he came to greet them. “Come on in, guys. I’m glad you came over. It’s my day off, Fallon has a meeting, and I’ve already finished cleaning. I’m officially bored.”
Quinn was looking around the apartment like a curious puppy. “This place is gorgeous!” he exclaimed as he stood in the center of the living room. “Wow, look at that ceiling!”
Randy admired the brick, barrel-vaulted ceiling each time he was there. It was spectacular.
“Are you guys hungry?” Hank asked, walking toward the kitchen.
“We just ate. I know I’m not hungry yet. What about you, Quinn?”
Quinn’s head bobbed. “Yeah, I’m ready for more. Have you ever eaten at the Barking Mouse?”
Randy and Quinn took seats at the kitchen island as Hank began to place item
s from the refrigerator onto it. “Fallon and I eat there about once a week. The food is great, as is the atmosphere. They have fantastic entertainment there in the evenings and on weekends.”
“We ate outside on the patio. We had the fish and chips and something called mushy peas.” Quinn leaned over the counter as he spoke, watching the assembly of a sandwich with interest. “Could I have a couple extra slices of cheese?”
“Sure thing.”
“And a bit more of the ham and salami?”
Hank laughed. “Not a problem. Randy, are you sure you don’t want a sandwich?”
Chuckling as his stomach rumbled, Randy nodded. “I might as well. That does look damn good. Why don’t I help? You’re busy making Quinn’s sandwich five inches thick.”
Walking around the island, Randy went to the sink to wash his hands. He then stood beside Hank and began to assemble two more sandwiches. Hank went to get sodas from the refrigerator as he finished up. Quinn did manage to wait until they were both seated on either side of him. Then he was on the sandwich as if he was starving.
“He must have a hollow leg,” Hank joked as Quinn finished off the sandwich and went to the refrigerator. He searched through it until he had a large jar of dill pickles. “Where do you plan on putting three pickles?” Hank asked, after Quinn found a fork and began to distribute the pickles.
“In my other leg. There’s still some room. Want one?” He waited until they shook their heads. Then he put the lid on the jar and hurried back around the island to the stool beside Hank. He hiked himself up on it before announcing, “I think I have a boyfriend and he’s really tall and really hot.”
“Boyfriend? What’s this boyfriend’s name?”
“Snake, but that’s not his real name.” Quinn bit into the crunchy pickle.
“That’s a relief. What’s his real name?” Hank asked, reaching out to snag one of the pickles off of Quinn’s plate.
“I can’t tell. It’s a secret. If you wanted a pickle, you should have said so.”
Hank put an arm around Quinn to give the man a tight hug. As he did so Hank snagged the last pickle. He hopped off the stool as Quinn lunged for him, chasing him around the apartment for a good five minutes while Randy watched and laughed. As he did so he realized he was laughing more these days. He was also relaxed, something he couldn’t remember ever being. It felt natural, and he hoped it was a good sign of things to come. Hank reappeared, Quinn hanging onto his hand.
“I’ll take you guys to the roof so you can see how everything is coming along,” Hank said as he entered the kitchen and began putting things away. Used dishes went into a drawer that was actually a dishwasher. Randy thought that was pretty cool. “It’ll be great to go up to the greenhouse this winter and to be able to pot flowers or start seeds.”
After touring the rooftop, and seeing the nearly finished greenhouse and large patio area where Hank and Fallon would be able to entertain a lot of people, Randy and Quinn stayed for another hour. They sat on the balcony at the front of the building as they sipped iced tea and relaxed. Quinn was in the process of giving a detailed description to Hank of Snake, his future husband. A crow showed up and tried to drink from Quinn’s glass, interrupting the description of his plans for the future. Randy didn’t know which was more amusing, Quinn trying to scare away the crow or his plans for a man who looked like he could arm wrestle a gorilla and win. Randy absently wondered if he should warn Snake.
What really got to Randy was how open Quinn was to positive things happening in his future, although his past had been filled with violence. He had hope, something Randy had given up on long ago.
It made Randy wonder if he should give hope a chance. It wouldn’t be a second chance, because he had never had hope in the first place.
Chapter Four
Jett grinned as he looked through the binoculars and listened to Snake talking on the phone. His friend received no less than three phone calls a day from the cute little guy named Quinn. Jett suspected the two would get together sooner rather than later. In the meantime, the pair of lovebirds provided a lot of entertainment for Jett.
A movement to the southeast of the house Randy now lived in caused Jett to shift his attention and sharpen the focus of the binoculars. He rolled his eyes when he saw that it was Quinn, and he was waving in what he knew was Snake’s direction as they sat together in a beige car in the shade of a large tree.
“Geez, did you have to tell him we were here?” Jett asked, not knowing whether to kill Snake or just kick him in the ass.
“Why?”
“Because Quinn is currently waving. I was hoping to keep our presence quiet for a while. Would you wave back before his arm falls off or Randy sees him and wonders what he’s doing?”
Laughing, Snake opened the door. “I’ll go take him for an ice cream cone.”
“Yeah, you do that. Someday Quinn will be old enough to take out for a beer.”
“You’re a jerk,” Snake told him with another laugh, not in the least offended by Jett’s teasing. “We’ve decided to take it slow, get to know each other.”
Lowering the binoculars, Jett looked at Snake. “Have you decided to go with the rodeo or superhero-themed wedding?”
Snake gave Jett the finger. “Whatever it is, you won’t be invited.”
“That’s a good thing, because if Quinn ever saw me in tights he would dump your ass in a heartbeat. That could be damned embarrassing for you during your own wedding.”
A snort was Snake’s first response to that. “You can only dream about having a body as fine as mine. Now let me get out there before Quinn blows your attempt at covert surveillance.”
“It was working just fine until you spilled your guts about what we were doing.”
“What can I say? Quinn is a master interrogator.”
The guy did ask a lot of questions. Laughing, Jett returned to watching the house. Brad Barker had been released from jail a few days before. Because he wasn’t quite sure how Randy would take being watched twenty-four hours a day, Jett had decided to keep it to himself. Well, between himself, his friends, and Quinn, who thought it was really cool that Jett wanted to protect Randy. Quinn then proceeded to ask Jett if he liked Randy. By the end of the interrogation Jett had admitted that he did like Randy. Then Quinn wanted to know if it was the friend kind of liking or boyfriend kind of liking. That was an excellent question and one Jett didn’t have an answer for.
There was one thing Jett did know. He was ready to find someone to love, someone with whom he could share the rest of his life. Randy was the first man in years to interest Jett. There had been a time or two he had thought he’d met someone special, but it had turned out to be nothing. Whatever spark there had been between him and that person had burned out quickly.
Jett wasn’t quite sure what it was about Randy that had caught his interest. Randy was easy on the eyes, but there were plenty of men in Silver that were better looking. Maybe it all boiled down to the unguarded expression in Randy’s eyes, one Jett had caught when he had turned his head and discovered Randy staring at him. The guy had appeared lost and in pain. Jett wondered about that. Everyone had a history, a story to tell, and Jett discovered he wanted to know Randy’s story.
It was no secret that Randy, among others in Silver, had come to town as part of the Second Chance program created by a group of citizens wanting to make a difference in young peoples’ lives around the country. Millions of dollars were being put into programs to help LGBT youth, young people cycling out of the foster care system, substance abusers, and the victims of abuse. There were now centers around the country and a small army of workers going out in communities of all kinds, making their services known, both subtly and not so subtly. The program was still in its first years, but it was already making an impact.
Jett felt that if one life was saved because of the program, it was a success. He, Snake, Pit Bull, and Bear had already met with those in charge of the program, telling them that they were willing to help
in whatever way they could. Jett knew they would likely be used as emergency muscle, possibly in extracting and transporting someone needing to get away fast.
When Jett saw Quinn heading in his direction, Snake following in the smaller man’s wake with a grin on his face, Jett swore. Quinn leaned on the door as he looked in on Jett.
“Hey, Jett, you thirsty? We’re going to go for something to drink and maybe an ice cream cone. We can’t bring back one of those for you, but we can get you a pop or a bottle of water.”
There was no possible way to be angry with Quinn. He was adorable, sweet, and had a very gentle nature. In other words, he was perfect for Snake, who was none of those things.
“I’ll take a cola with a lot of ice,” Jett told him with a smile. “Thanks, Quinn.”
“You’re welcome. By the way, I already imagined both of you naked. Snake won. You’ll still be invited to the wedding, though.” A small tongue poked out before Quinn moved away from the car and headed to the sidewalk.
Laughing, Jett shook his head. He wondered if his friend knew what he was getting himself into. Quinn seemed fairly certain that he and Snake were meant to be together. Settling back in the seat, Jett completely focused his attention on keeping Randy safe. He admired the guy for leaving the home where he had lived with the others, to be independent. It had to be scary for Randy, but Randy obviously felt as if he was strong enough to strike out on his own, especially knowing there was some asshole out there threatening to hurt him.
Jett, however, wasn’t about to let that happen. He would do everything within his power to keep Randy safe. Jett knew the sheriff was relieved to have the extra help. With the influx of vacationers to the area, the sheriff and his deputies would be stretched thin.
By the time Snake and Quinn returned Jett was ready to get out and stretch his legs. Quinn handed the drink through the window. “Randy wants to know if you want to come around back and sit in the shade.”
Jett swore. “Really?”
“Yeah.”