“We’ll get them through this,” Tomas said.
Gerald rubbed his hand over his face, then pounded his fist on the couch. “I wish their parents weren’t dead so I could kill them myself.”
“Death was an escape for them. I wish they had lived so they could suffer for all they did to them.” Harper clenched his fist.
Gerald and Tomas moved closer to him, and they rested their shoulders against either side of his. They sat and waited for their men to appear. When they finally did a few hours later, they all shared a subdued lunch, and then Tomas and Gerald went to their houses to get some clothing so they could all spend the night.
HARPER CLOSED the door behind him, shifting the heavy bags he held.
“Shipment day,” Del said.
Harper smiled as he strode toward him. Del kissed him briefly, then pressed his lips to his again, deepening it.
“Stop groping Harper,” Bernie said as they heard two sets of footsteps approaching.
Del withdrew and winked. “They only want their books.”
“Damn skippy,” Bur replied.
“Then come on. We’ll only take one hour. We need to get more done on the party for the opening of the center.” Del took the bags.
“God, just three and a half weeks before we’re officially open.” Bernie groaned.
“It’ll be easier once everything is set up.” Bur glanced at Del. “It will be, won’t it?”
Del shrugged. “Maybe. We’ll probably have some problems before things are running fairly smoothly.”
Harper followed them as they went down the hall. They entered the room they had set up as a combined office so they could work on center business. Harper went into the bathroom and smiled at the sweats and T-shirt waiting for him. He quickly changed, putting his dirty things in the hamper, then joined the men in the main room. Harper sat on the couch, retrieved his book from the side table, then turned so his back was against the armrest, putting his feet on the cushions. They had developed a routine. While Del and his brothers worked on center business, he would read until they were finished. Absently, he watched the men. They had already taken their books out of the bags he had brought for each of them. Harper sat up, realizing they were missing some bodies.
“Where are the boys?” Harper demanded.
“They went to get ice cream with Gerald and Tomas,” Del answered.
“The—”
“Yes, the Flavor Shoppe,” Del interrupted.
“And—”
“They’re bringing one extra sandwich for the ice cream monster.” Del smirked. “You. And no, they will not take your calls for them to get more.”
“Humph. Mr. Know-It-All. You think you know me.” Harper leaned back in his original position.
“When it comes to ice cream, I do.” Del laughed.
“You know lots of other things about Harper too. I don’t know why you all don’t already live together. He’s always here anyway.” Gerald came into the room.
Harper glanced at Del. He was reading the back of the books before him. It had been three weeks since Del asked him to move in, and Harper still couldn’t decide what to do. He accepted the ice cream Gerald held out. Harper hugged the boys as they sat next to him with their own ice cream.
“Are you okay, Harper?” Tomas asked.
Harper glanced to where he sat in a chair. “Yes, why?”
“You’re not eating your ice cream. By now, you should be on your second sandwich, and since we didn’t get you any more, trying to wheedle more from someone.”
Harper glanced at the two wrappers in his hand, then at him. “True. Why are you here so early today?”
“The job finished up early.” Tomas shrugged.
“The Guld place?” He opened his sandwich.
“Yes, thank God. I thought with all the changes they kept asking for, we’d never be finished.” Tomas took a bite of his ice cream sandwich.
Harper listened absently as he kept glancing at Del. After Del had told his brothers about being molested, the men had talked, and they were taking it day by day. Just as there were good and bad days with the boys, Del had those too. He and Theron met up at the house or various other places so they could talk. It would take time, but Harper knew Del would be fine. He glanced at Rey and Dar by his side, then at Bur and Bernie. They would all be fine.
Gerald was indeed correct. He was here all the time. The only times he went to his house were to get clothing or pick up things he needed. He didn’t know what he was waiting for.
“Harper, what are you waiting for?” Rey asked.
“Don’t you want your ice cream?” Dar asked.
Harper glanced at the two of them, and he smiled. “Nothing. I do want it. I’ll be right back.” He stood, going to Del. “Can I talk to you outside for a moment?”
Del rose, and they went to the glass door and outside to the side porch.
“What—”
“I want to move in with you,” Harper blurted out.
“We’ll get your things right away.” Del hugged him.
“Okay. I’ll keep the house. Maybe if you all need it for something with the center, you can use it.”
“You know, we might need it for something.” Del’s brow furrowed.
“We’ll have to go shopping for the paint and furniture.” Harper wiggled his eyebrows.
“You’re going to hold me to painting and setting stuff up.” It wasn’t a question. “I hate painting.” Del groaned, and then a crafty expression came over his face. “I’m going to get the family to help.”
“So now they’re your family.”
“Sure, the family where you wonder for their sanity, and some of them you don’t tell people about.” Del gestured with his head toward the room. “Like Gerald in there.”
“I heard that!” Gerald yelled.
“I know you did! Stop eavesdropping!”
Harper shook his head, looking at the four men and two boys in the window.
“Come on, Rey. We need to pick colors for our man cave,” Dar said.
“And the library too,” Rey stated.
The boys left the window.
Harper focused on Del. “You told them?”
“Of course. I let them pick some pieces for themselves for both rooms. We’ll find the rest together, make sure it works with what you’re already bringing from your house.”
“Get in here so we can plan your move, Harper,” Gerald said.
Harper ignored him and kissed Del.
“Don’t make me come outside to get you,” Gerald warned.
“Shut up, and let’s start making calls,” Tomas said. Then he yelled, “Son of a bitch! You won the bet again. You shithead.”
“Damn right I won.” Gerald belted out the lyric to the song “We Are the Champions.”
Harper withdrew from Del, laughing.
“What bet are they referring to?” Del asked.
“I’ll explain later. We better go inside before Tomas throttles Gerald.” Harper returned inside.
He chortled, watching Gerald dodge Tomas as he swiped at him.
HARPER LIFTED his glass of champagne. Del returned the gesture from across the room. He spoke to the police chief, then headed toward him. Harper enjoyed watching the sexy man walk toward him with that confident stride. Del touched the front of Harper’s suit jacket and smoothed it down before kissing him. He moved to stand by his side, his hand around Harper’s waist.
“Congrats again.” Harper glanced around the recreational room of Triumvirate Deuce.
In the throngs of people in attendance were their family and friends. The opening day of the center was going well.
“In an hour, they will all be gone. Then we’ll go to Treble Duo. Clay is taking the boys home,” Del said.
Harper nodded. There was a more intimate gathering planned for the opening of the safe haven. Del and his brothers had only invited family and friends.
“Then we can go home and celebrate your birthday,” Harper said.
“We know about the party, Harper. If you didn’t want us to know, you shouldn’t have told Rey.” Del laughed.
“That boy. He doesn’t tell everything. I think he has selective blabbermouth syndrome. I’ll have to figure out what makes him tell.”
“I think it’s good. Especially when it works in my favor.” Del drank his champagne.
“You would, since now it seems he only blabs about me. How’d you get him to stop blurting out things about you?”
“I used my charms.” Del lifted his glass toward him, then winked. “And bribery. He wants a new laptop.”
“But the one he’s got isn’t even a year old.”
“I know, but he claims he’s taken it apart and put it together so many times, he wants a new challenge.” Del shook his head. “I swear, they’re picking up things from everyone in the family. The other day, I caught them plotting to take apart a car.”
“Your Escalade?” Harper chuckled.
“Nope. Your SUV.”
“If they wreck my car, I’m going to make you buy me a new one.” Harper patted him on the chest.
“Don’t worry. They’ll put it back together.” Del mimicked Harper’s voice perfectly.
Harper studied him. “I’m not the intriguing one. You are.”
“Told you I would grow on you.” Del winked.
“Like a wart on a hedgehog’s backside.”
“Your wart, and you love me.” Del put his empty glass on a tray.
“I do love you.”
“I love you, Harper.” Del pulled him closer, kissing him.
Harper enjoyed being in the arms of this man who was not only intriguing, but also irresistible.
To the readers who wanted to know more about Alex and loved him from the first book of the series—this one is for you. To my family, who have believed in me from the very beginning. Thanks for your support.
Chapter One
“WE’RE HERE.”
The booming voice made Alex Hayes jerk out of his light doze. Blinking, he noted they were in front of his house. Alex focused back on the driver from Bishop Car Service—the car service he regularly used.
“Thanks, Ryan.” He yawned widely and reached for the door handle.
“Hunt mentioned that you won’t be using our services as often.” Ryan Bishop turned in the seat, glancing at him.
Alex paused with his hand on the handle. “I won’t be going to Rhode Island as often as I have for the past two years.”
“I’ll miss driving you to and from the airport.” Ryan smiled. “But maybe now you’ll take me up on my offer for a drink.”
Alex sat back against the seat and stared, then chuckled, shaking his head. “God, I’m dense. I did wonder why you, one of the co-owners of the car service, would be driving me, but didn’t think to ask.” He smiled gently. “My trips aren’t the reason I won’t go for a drink with you, Ryan.”
“You said the same thing when I asked you when you did the marketing for our company. So why is it you won’t go out with me?” Ryan asked.
Alex studied the sexy man before him. Ryan and his brother Hunt were the first new clients he’d added to his roster after he moved to Mapson, California. Alex had initially convinced himself the move to Mapson was because many of his bigger clients were here.
You know that’s a lie. You wanted to get away from the memories that, even after three years, haven’t seemed to get any easier.
Since he realized how big a lie it was, he’d stopped using that excuse. Even moving cross-country hadn’t helped fade the memories. He decided they would always be with him, no matter where he lived. Before the trip he’d made to his old hometown, Alex had already given up on his search for his friend and her son. In hindsight he regretted not realizing they were losing contact with each other, since now he wasn’t able to find her. But after searching for her for over a year, he had to face the facts. She didn’t want to be found, and he figured her reasons were like his own—to get over what had happened. Those reasons were why Alex would not be going out for drinks with Ryan.
“I’m a bad bet for a relationship,” Alex stated.
“Who said anything about a relationship? It’s just drinks, Alex.”
“If it was Hunt asking, I would think it’s just drinks, with the possibility of no-strings-attached sex. From you, I don’t believe that.” Alex leaned forward and touched Ryan’s forearm, which rested on the lowered partition between them.
Ryan studied him with that intense stare that always made Alex feel as if Ryan could see right through him. His next words confirmed how astute Ryan was.
“Even if it was Hunt asking, I have a feeling your answer to him would be no too.”
“Probably.” Alex shrugged. “But I do know of someone I could introduce you to.”
“Are you trying to set me up?”
“Just an introduction,” Alex said.
“I don’t need help getting a date.” Ryan smiled, and his dimples appeared.
“Okay.” Alex ran a finger down the dimples on each side of Ryan’s mouth. “He’s a sucker for dimples, though, and he’d enjoy this adorable dent in your chin.” He touched Ryan there. “But most of all, he’d have fun matching wits with you. If you change your mind, let me know, and I’ll invite you over for some boxing.” Alex lowered his hand.
“Boxing?”
“He and his brothers box with me. It’s good exercise, and they cheat, so it’s fun and gets a little bloody sometimes.” Alex laughed.
“You’re talking about one of the Berkus brothers.”
Alex nodded. While working with the Bishop brothers, they’d talked about things other than business. Since Ryan had been driving him, they’d shared even more.
“Now you have me curious about which one…. The antisocial one, the reclusive one, or the shy one.” Ryan cocked his head to the side.
Alex stifled a smile. He knew that when Ryan was thinking, he tended to strike the pose and didn’t realize it.
Ryan shook his head. “I don’t want to know. I can meet my own men.” Ryan pursed his lips and then his expression cleared. “When are you going to come surfing with Hunt and me?”
Alex sighed. “I don’t know how, and the idea of being on an itty-bitty board in an ocean, trying to stand on it, makes no sense to me.”
“I would keep that opinion to yourself when you come to surf with us.” Ryan laughed, then sobered. “The same excuse as always. We’ll teach you. Come on. I bet when you get into those waves, you’ll get over it.”
“Fine. I’ll take that bet. What are the stakes?” Alex said.
“Wait. Did you just say yes?”
“Yes. I can’t pass up a bet.”
“I’ll be damned. All we had to do was make it a bet to get you to agree?” Ryan frowned. “Why didn’t you just tell us so?”
“Now what fun would that be?” Alex laughed.
“Fun indeed. The stakes.” Ryan tapped his finger on his lip, then snapped his fingers. “Fishing. If we win, you come for a weekend of fishing with us.”
“Is this your way of trying to get me to go out with you?” Alex narrowed his eyes.
“Now, why’d you have to go and offend me? If I didn’t like you, I would be offended, then punch you in the nose.”
“Just being sure. I can accept fishing.” Alex hid a smile. “When I win, you all will come dirt bike racing with me.”
“Dirt bike racing? I didn’t think you would be into something like that.” Ryan shook his head.
“Why?”
Ryan looked at him pointedly. Alex glanced down at his impeccable suit, then back at him.
“Don’t let my clothing fool you. This is for working. But when I’m at play, I like to be as comfortable as possible. Hell, I’ve been told some of my clothing should be burned.” He smiled.
“Interesting. The more I know about you, the more intrigued I am about who the real Alex Hayes is.”
“Not much to figure out. I’m just me.” He shrugged.
“I love fishing, by the way.”
“That’s good. So at least the stakes for the bet are something we’d both enjoy. So, when will we go surfing so I can win?”
“A moment ago it was ‘if’.”
“It was, but I noticed you were arrogant enough to say ‘when’, so I’m determined to win this bet. And I know Hunt will be too when I tell him you’re really sure you will hate surfing.” Ryan rubbed his hands together.
“You and Hunt better prepare for the racing, because I will win. I’ll call you about a date for the surfing.” Alex reached for the handle again and opened the door. “’Night, Ryan.”
“’Night, Alex. If you wait too long to call, we’ll come find you,” Ryan warned.
Alex nodded and pulled his carry-on bag with him as he got out of the car. Alex closed the door and tapped the top of the car. Ryan honked the horn and pulled away from the curb. Alex rubbed the back of his neck, feeling once again the tiredness weighing on him. He turned and headed up the stone mosaic walkway. Absently he noted that his flowers were blooming. He stopped in front of a peach rose bush already in full bloom. The plant hadn’t been there when he left on his trip, but it fit in with the landscaping he already had. Alex already knew it had been planted by either Tomas Rodriguez or his brother Malik. They had created his gardens both in front and out back, as well as the oasis that was his solarium, close to the master bedroom. Alex stroked the petal of one of the roses. He hadn’t asked Tomas and Malik to plant anything new, but that didn’t matter. The men did as they wanted, since they saw him as family. He had met them through his best friend, Robert Berkus, and now he was part of a big group of people who considered themselves all family. Being part of that family meant Alex had to get used to them doing things for him, just because.
Alex glanced over the gardens and noted they looked different, which probably meant they had added some other things. He was too tired to explore it now, but he would. It was always an adventure, figuring out what they’d added. The brothers did that with various family members, then tested you to see how observant you were of their additions. Alex continued up his walkway, staring at the house he had renovated. It had taken him longer than planned, since he had been going to Rhode Island so often. His home was finally the way he wanted it. His two-story bungalow with a wraparound porch sat on a lot with space on either side of the house, as did all the homes in this area. The house had been abandoned and in need of TLC, which he had gladly given it. He’d had the front of the house covered with a stone design, which only added to its beauty. It had taken him over a year and half to get the house how he wanted it, but now that he had, in his opinion, it was one of the best homes in his neighborhood. Alex pulled out his keys from his pocket but paused in front of the three steps that led to the porch, then went right, toward the garage.
Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles) Page 61