by Lynn Hagen
“Since we’re doing the whole confession thing, to be honest, I started to take off last night.”
The thought of Mason leaving made Jordan’s chest constrict. But that did explain why Jordan felt as though Mason was saying goodbye when they had sex last night. His gaze dropped to Mason’s chest as he asked, “Why didn’t you?”
Mason tucked his thumb under Jordan’s chin and lifted his head until they were staring at each other. “Didn’t I just say that I love you?”
Jordan pursed his lips, his heart light as the fact Mason truly did love him sunk in. It also scared him to death because Mason had a gunman out to get him.
“I’m putting you in danger by staying here.” Mason pulled away. “I have to go, Jordan. I have to try and end this, but I couldn’t leave without telling you everything.”
“Leave?” Jordan damn near squawked the word. “You’re not leaving me behind while you run off into the face of danger.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re taking me with you.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Wanna bet?” Jordan gave Mason a challenger glare.
“I can’t take the boys with me,” Mason said. “I’ll need you here to look after them.”
Damn it. Mason had a point, though Jordan didn’t like it one bit. “And if something happens to you, you’ll only cement my belief that my love is deadly.”
“Seriously?” Mason threw his arms up. “Your relationship with Gary has nothing to do with this.”
“Whatever.” Jordan stomped toward the back door, but Mason grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop. Jordan didn’t want to talk right now. He was too busy freaking out that someone was out to kill his sheriff.
“Move in with me.”
The statement threw Jordan for a loop. “While I watch the dogs?”
“No, for an hour,” Mason deadpanned. “Forever, brat.”
Jordan’s brows shot up. “Did you just call me a brat?”
“You sure as hell were just acting like one.” Mason pulled Jordan into his beefy arms. “You said you wanted to take things slow, but we both know that idea flew out the window.” He pressed light kisses over Jordan’s jaw and neck. “Don’t overthink this. Just say yes.”
“That’s not a decision I can make lightly,” Jordan argued.
Mason continued to kiss along his jaw. “Just say yes, sweetheart.”
“Mason, I don’t think—”
“Just say yes.” Mason rubbed his hand over Jordan’s denim-covered cock. “You would make me the happiest man on the planet if you said yes.”
“Mason, you have to stop—”
Mason cupped Jordan’s face and kissed him so deeply, so passionately that he left Jordan breathless.
Jordan licked his lips, panting for air. “Fine. Yes.”
Chapter Eight
Jordan understood why Mason had to do what he had to do, but he didn’t like it one bit. Watching his lover mount his motorcycle and take off was the hardest thing Jordan had ever had to do because Mason may not make it back to him.
Now all he would do was worry until Mason returned. And he would return because Jordan refused to consider any other outcome.
He grabbed his tool belt from the counter and left, making sure the doors were locked. Mason might trust this town, but with trouble on the man’s heels, Jordan wasn’t taking any chances.
On his way to work, he stopped at the bakery and checked on Lewis. Those bruises he’d seen on the baker still didn’t set well with Jordan. He walked in to the smell of freshly roasted coffee and cinnamon. “Hey, Lewis.”
“Hey, Jordan.” Lewis smiled at him. “What can I get for you this morning?”
Mason. Jordan sighed, knowing that was an order Lewis couldn’t possibly fill. “Just a cup of coffee.” He thought about his crew and said, “Add a dozen donuts to that order.”
“Any particular flavor?”
“Nah, just toss in whatever.” Darien and the others weren’t picky when it came to sweets. They’d devour the donuts in seconds. They probably wouldn’t even notice what flavor they scarfed down.
When Lewis brought the box to the counter, Jordan noticed a small bruise on his face. Lewis saw Jordan staring and fluttered his fingers over his cheek. “I’m the world’s biggest klutz. Ran into the door this morning trying to hurry into work.”
Damn if that wasn’t a bald-faced lie. Jordan started to wonder if Lewis’s partner was abusing him. Lewis seemed like a sweet man, and even if he weren’t, he didn’t deserve to be mistreated.
“If you need me to have a talk with that door, just say the word.”
Lewis gave a nervous laugh. “I appreciate the offer, but like I said, it was my own fault.”
Jordan highly doubted that. He would speak with Mason about Lewis’s bruises when he got back. Maybe Mason could do something to intervene. “Thanks for the donuts. You’ve just made my crew happy men.”
Jordan pulled his wallet out, paid, and tucked it back into his pocket before picking up the box and his cup of coffee.
“Anytime.” Lewis smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his green eyes. Jordan wanted to say more, to tell Lewis he didn’t have to suffer through this, but Jordan saw in Lewis’s eyes that he wouldn’t welcome any butting in.
Clenching his jaw, Jordan tossed the box into the passenger seat and rode the rest of the way to the jobsite thinking about Lewis. He swore to himself right then that if he spotted one more bruise on the man, he’d have a talk with Lewis’s partner.
No sooner had Jordan set the box of donuts down than the wolves descended. He nearly lost his hand trying to grab the last glazed. Max had taken four, while Darien had eaten three.
“Pigs,” Jordan teased.
“Didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast.” Darien licked his fingers clean.
“I’m a sucker for sweets.” Max belched after he ate two donuts in seconds.
Cory had a donut in each hand, and glared at Max when Max eyeballed them. “Don’t even think about it.”
“You owe me,” Max said. “Winkie ate another pair of my underwear.”
Cory frowned, then handed one of his donuts over. “I don’t need the calories anyway.”
That was a lie. Cory was as skinny as a whip.
Casey took off with his two donuts and his coffee before anyone could bribe his sweets from him. Smart man.
“That hit the spot.” Darien patted his stomach. “Now get to work, slackers.”
After tossing the empty box in the makeshift trash can, Jordan went for his tool belt that was still in the truck and noticed Mack across the street. The older gentleman walked slowly, looking Jordan’s way. Mack gave a small wave, and Jordan didn’t see Daisy with him.
He waved back.
“Making friends?” Darien asked from behind him.
“Met him out at that estate you sent me to work on.” The old man sure got around. “Seemed like a nice enough guy.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Darien said, then scowled. “Now get to work.”
Jordan grinned at Darien’s demand. If he didn’t know his friend so well, he would think Darien was a slave driver. Well, he was, but he was the nicest boss Jordan had ever had. “Aye-aye, Captain.” When Darien started away, Jordan stopped him by grabbing his arm. “I need to ask you something.”
Darien sighed. “Make it quick. I have a million things to get done today.”
Jordan started to say never mind, but when he opened his mouth, everything poured out—from Gary’s death all the way down to Mason asking him to move in.
“That was not quick,” Darien said. “Have you ever heard of the condensed version?”
“That was the condensed version,” Jordan argued. “Do you think I should move in with him?”
“You’re asking relationship advice from me?” Darien looked incredulously at him.
“You’re in a relationship,” Jordan pointed out. “Every othe
r guy I know is single.”
“I’ve been with Matthew all of five seconds,” Darien said. “Half the time I have no clue what I’m doing.”
“But do you regret buying a house with him?” God, it was like trying to pull teeth from a lion. How hard was it to tell Jordan if he was doing the right thing?
“I regret stopping so you could ask me something,” Darien said. “Look.” He blew out a breath. “Does it feel right?”
Jordan shrugged. “I think so.”
“I don’t know.” Darien waved at Jordan’s stomach. “Do what your gut tells you to do.”
“You were absolutely no help.”
“Glad I could be there for you.” Darien patted Jordan on the shoulder before he walked away.
“I need a favor.”
Jordan looked up from the piece of wood he’d been measuring. “Sure, what is it?”
“I heard you talking to Darien this morning about moving in with Mason. Is it true?”
Jordan hadn’t known Cory had been eavesdropping. “Yeah, why?”
“Well.” Cory rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I was just wondering if I could have your apartment. Unless you plan on keeping it.”
“Has Max done something to you?” Jordan would take a two-by-four to Max’s head if he’d hurt Cory in any way.
“No…I just—is that a yes or a no?” Cory glanced around, as if afraid of being overheard. Something was definitely going on, but Jordan couldn’t force Cory to tell him.
“But didn’t you buy a house?” Jordan asked. “Why do you need my apartment?”
“What’s with the interrogation?” Cory huffed. “I just need to know if you don’t mind. Jeez.”
Cory was one squirrely man. “Yeah, you can crash there.”
Relief shown in Cory’s eyes. “Thanks.”
Too much secretive crap was going on in Wildfire. First Mason, then Lewis, and now Cory. Jordan was starting to get a migraine. He watched Cory hurry off and wondered what was really going on.
On second thought, did he really want to know? Nope. He already had enough on his plate.
His phone rang, pulling him away from his thoughts. Jordan didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
“You gotta help me, man. The cops are after me.”
“Michael?” This was the last thing Jordan needed. His gut clenched at the desperation in his brother’s voice. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I-I don’t know. The cops are after me. I don’t know why. You have to save me.”
“Where are you?”
“No. No. You can’t come. It isn’t safe.” He hung up.
“Michael!” Jordan tried to call back, but the call went straight to voice mail. He called his mom instead.
“Hello?”
“Mom, please tell me what’s going on with Michael.” Jordan paced, biting his thumbnail. His brother had never called him like that before. Desperate, begging.
“Michael left the hospital,” she said with tears in her voice. “From what I’m told, he became violent, and when two security guards tried to grab him, he laid them out flat. Then the cops showed up, and Michael assaulted them and escaped. He has a warrant out for his arrest.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. Jordan wasn’t sure what to do. What if Michael returned home and hurt their parents? “I’ll call you right back.”
Jordan went looking for Darien and told him what was going on.
“No fucking way,” Darien said with a snarl. “You’re not going after him. What if you get hurt again? He’s unstable, Jordan.”
“But he’s my brother!” Jordan was torn. Part of him wanted to run to Michael’s rescue, but the other half wanted to act as if none of this was happening. Jordan loved his brother dearly, but dealing with Michael was wearing him down.
“Look.” Darien squeezed Jordan’s shoulder. “I know you want to save him, but you can’t if he doesn’t want to be saved. Maybe spending time in jail will help him. He’ll be in a controlled environment and forced to take his meds. Your parents will be safe, too.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Darien said. “I need every man available to get this work done. You already took off once and got hurt. I’m not risking that again. Besides, if I let you go, I’m pretty sure Blade will try to remove my head from my shoulders.”
Aggravated at the entire situation, Jordan stormed off. He’d made it to the bungalow he’d been working on before he’d been pulled away to work at the estate when his phone rang again.
His heart clenched and his stomach rolled as he answered. “Yeah?”
“Just needed to hear your voice.”
Jordan nearly cried at the sound of Mason’s deep timbre. “Not as much as I needed to hear yours.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Who said anything was wrong?” Mason had enough to deal with without worrying about Jordan’s problems.
“Because I know you,” Mason said. “You sound like you were either crying or about to. Now tell me what the hell is going on.”
Jordan told Mason. Maybe he was looking for Mason to tell him to go after Michael. Maybe he just wanted his lover’s opinion. Maybe he missed Mason so much that he just wanted to keep him on the phone for as long as possible. He didn’t know for sure.
“I’m heading back there.”
“What? No! You have business to take care of. Don’t you dare set that aside for my family drama.”
Mason sighed. “I can’t tell you what to do, but I’m asking you not to go. It isn’t safe, and who would look after our boys?”
Jordan’s chest tightened at the way Mason made him feel. They were a family, a real family, and that thought only made Jordan worry even more about Mason’s safety. His entire body ached to be held in Mason’s arms, to be told everything would be okay, to smell Mason’s masculine scent, and curl into his strength.
“Promise me, Jordan. Promise me that you won’t go. Promise me that you’ll stay in Wildfire.”
Jordan chewed his lower lip, closing his eyes as he clutched the phone like a lifeline. Mason had been gone only half a day, but it felt like years. “I miss you already.”
“I miss you, too, babe. But you didn’t promise me.”
Swallowing, Jordan nodded. “I promise.”
“Good,” Mason said. “I have to go now.”
“Mason!” Jordan’s heart hammered. “Wait.”
“As much as I want to keep talking to you, I really have to go, Jordan. I’ll call later.”
Tears stung his eyes when Mason hung up. He stood in the middle of the yard, fighting for composure. Darien was ten feet away talking with Casey, and Jordan knew Darien had been listening.
His boss sauntered over to him. “We’re meeting up at Gallagher’s after work. You wanna join us?”
“After I go home and let the dogs out.” Home. Just the thought of living with Mason made Jordan’s heart feel warm. He realized he didn’t need advice from Darien. Jordan already knew in his heart that he’d made the right decision moving in with his sheriff.
He just prayed Mason made it back to him.
Mason parked his motorcycle behind the sheriff’s station and went the rest of the way on foot. He’d followed his handler back to Wildfire, which told him Raven was up to no good.
Raven wouldn’t have come all this way if he hadn’t planned on taking Mason out. So far, Mason had the element of surprise. Raven had no clue that Mason had followed him back here. He planned on keeping it that way until he figured out what to do.
Mason just had to make sure Raven didn’t go anywhere near Jordan. He hadn’t told anyone about his lover, but his handler was damn good at finding out information.
Mason moved silently through town until he reached his house.
Please don’t let Jordan be here. Mason knew he hung out with his crew at Gallagher’s most nights. But that was before the two of them became involved. Hopefully Jordan had fallen back on old habits while Mason had been gone.
Fuck. Raven’s black sedan was parked across the street. When Raven got out, he scanned the area before moving to the side of Mason’s house and slipping around back.
Buster and Wally began barking and Raven came back around the house. The dogs had stopped him from breaking in, but that wouldn’t be the case next time he came back.
Just the thought of his handler hurting his babies made him grit his teeth. He needed to end Raven before Raven hurt someone Mason cared about.
Or killed Mason.
From the shadows, he watched as Raven pulled away. His handler wouldn’t leave town, though. Not until he’d finished what he’d come here to do.
Everyone sat around the table laughing and eating. Jordan had no appetite, though. He was too worried about Mason and Michael. He’d already called his mom a few times, but she hadn’t answered. That only increased Jordan’s anxiety.
“So the woman climbs onto the roof and points a nail gun at Jade,” Max said as he chuckled, “threatening to nail the bastard’s balls to the tiles.”
Jordan had completely missed Max’s story. “Who?”
Max shook his head. “You haven’t been listening, have you?”
“He’s talking about Jade,” Casey said. “Some female showed up on the job, cussing and screaming about Jade cheating on her. Jade hid on the roof, I guess hoping she would just go away.”
More drama.
“But you know Mo,” Max said with a grin. “Play is play, but work is work. He told Jade to handle the tiny little hellcat or don’t come back.”
Jordan chuckled. It was the right response. He didn’t want his friends asking him what was wrong. It was bad enough that Darien knew about Michael’s current predicament. He didn’t need them asking him about Mason, as well.
He glanced up when the door to the tavern opened. A guy walked in, handsome as hell, all dark looks. He scanned the room, and his gaze landed on Jordan.
“Looks like you have an admirer,” Casey teased.
“Not if Mason finds out,” Cory snickered. “The sheriff will tear that guy apart.”