by xxxxxxxxxxxx
They arrived back at the restaurant to find Keir and Carolyn in a deep discussion about, it turned out, what the town could and should do to help the homeless. They both moved over to let Teague and Hoyt sit. Teague did, while Hoyt went to get food, returning with two quesadillas and posole. For the next half hour the quartet continued the homeless discussion and then Carolyn excused herself, saying she had to get home.
After she left, Keir glanced between Teague and Hoyt. “So, did the two of you work things out?”
“Yes, oh nosy one,” Teague replied with a grin. “We’re going to give it a shot, starting with dinner at Hoyt’s tomorrow night.”
“To which you’re invited, Keir,” Hoyt added. “Unless of course you plan on going skiing.”
“Umm, no. Carolyn was telling me about some of the injuries she’s seen skiers come in with. I’ve decided to stick with something safer. Like undercover work.”
All three men laughed at that, and then by mutual consent decided it was time to call it a night.
As they left the restaurant, Teague told Hoyt he’d call as soon as he knew if he and Keir were going to be recalled for added testimony at Irwin’s trial. Then, surprising both of them, he hugged Hoyt tightly for a moment. “I just needed to do that,” Teague murmured before stepping away.
“You should never resist the urge to do what feels right. Like…” He planted a swift kiss on Teague’s lips. “And that said, and done, I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Glancing at Keir, who was watching with a delighted smile, Hoyt added, “And that includes you.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Keir replied with a wicked grin. “Someone has to be there to chaperone the two of you.”
Hoyt and Teague both rolled their eyes. Then Hoyt headed to his car, while Keir and Teague walked back to the motel.
* * * *
Chapter 16
Teague and Keir found out around two on Tuesday afternoon that they weren’t going to be recalled as witnesses during the prosecutor’s rebuttal in the Irwin trial. As a result, Teague called Hoyt to let him know and find out when he wanted them to be at his house for dinner.
“Maybe if I whine a lot I can get the chief to let me off early,” Hoyt replied, chuckling. “Barring that, let’s say five-thirty. That’ll give me time to start dinner and change into something comfortable.”
Teague laughed, commenting, “That sounds like a line from a bad risqué comedy, except it should be ‘slip into’.” He envisioned Hoyt wearing nothing but a silk robe and decided that would be fine with him, although he didn’t say as much to Hoyt. Too soon to go there, even jokingly.
Hoyt’s laughter joined Teague’s for a moment before he said, “On that note, work calls. I’ll see you tonight,” and hung up.
So what do we do to kill some time? Deciding it wasn’t exactly hiking weather, Teague went down to Keir’s room to suggest they take in a movie. They found an action/adventure one that suited both their tastes, and killed the rest of the afternoon at the theater. Something, Teague commented, he hadn’t done in ages.
“Our timing is perfect,” Keir said as they left the theater. “If we hurry, we should be at Hoyt’s place on the dot of five-thirty.”
They were. Teague rang the bell and a moment later Hoyt opened the door. He smiled a bit too brightly when he let them inside, the smile turning to a worried frown moments later.
Now what’s wrong? Teague hugged Hoyt, asking aloud, “What’s wrong?”
“I was checking something while I was waiting for you two.” Hoyt walked over to his computer, on the desk in the corner of the living room.
Teague and Keir followed and the second he saw what was on the screen, Teague nodded. “Flying is expensive.”
“Four-fifty roundtrip,” Hoyt grumbled. “That’s…” He shook his head. “I knew it wasn’t going to be cheap, but damn.”
“If you split it,” Keir said, since he was aware of what the two men were planning, “it still comes to…” He leaned over to tap the ‘calculator’ button on the taskbar. “Four-fifty times fifty-two comes to…whew. Over twenty-three thousand, or almost twelve thou each for one year. You could buy your own plane for that amount.”
Teague tapped his lip thoughtfully, looking at Keir. “Perhaps. Or the agency could. Considering the amount of traveling some of our people do while running an investigation…”
“You have to be kidding,” Hoyt said. “I mean, come on. Buy a plane just so we can spend our weekends together? You’re out of your mind. Besides, it takes more than a plane. Someone has to pilot it.”
“Cal, he’s one of my investigators, has his private license and he’s a certified trainer. It would take a while probably, but I could get my license with his help. And then we’re home free, well, more or less free.”
“As I said, you are out of your mind,” Hoyt reiterated.
Teague chuckled. “I’ve been told that a few times in my life. But short of my pulling up roots to move here, or vice versa, it’s seems to be the only viable option.”
Hoyt nodded doubtfully. “We’re nowhere near that option yet.”
“My learning to fly?” Teague asked.
“No. One of us moving in with the other, halfway across the country.”
“The joys of being in a relationship,” Keir commented with a grin. “The logistics.”
“Let’s think about it while we eat,” Teague suggested. “That is why we’re here.”
“And dinner should be ready. I hope you like pork chops and mushrooms.”
“Sounds good to me and—” Teague sniffed, “—smells good, too. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Mash the potatoes?” Hoyt replied, leading the way into the kitchen. “And since you brought along slave labor, Keir can set the table.”
“My specialty,” Keir said with a grin.
Ten minutes later, the three men were seated in the dining room, full plates of food in front of them. Teague cut a bite off his chop and chewed it thoughtfully. “This is damned good.”
“You sound surprised,” Hoyt said.
“Not really. You said your mother taught you. If everything you cook is this good maybe I’ll have to reconsider where I’m living. Commuting here daily for dinner could get very, very expensive.” Teague winked when Hoyt looked at him in shock. “I’m kidding.” Then he added quietly, “Mostly.”
Keir arched an eyebrow. “Don’t get carried away. You can’t move the agency here.”
“Yeah, I know. Besides, as much as we’ve been teasing about things, and considering options, Hoyt and I are nowhere near the point where living arrangements need to be made.”
“Well, hop to it,” Keir responded with a grin. “The anticipation is killing me.”
“You put up with this every day?” Hoyt asked Teague with a shake of his head.
“Just weekdays. He gets the weekends off.”
“Thank God,” Keir said fervently. “I’d never get to see Mel otherwise.”
“Speaking of people who should move in together,” Teague said, looking pointedly at Keir.
Keir grinned. “We’re working on it.”
The three men got back to eating after that announcement, and talking ceased for a while. When they finished, Keir offered to clean up and then go back to the motel so that Teague and Hoyt could have some time to themselves. His offer was accepted, although all three of them cleared the table. When they were finished, Teague tossed Keir the keys to the rental car. “I’ll get Hoyt to bring me back.”
“Or I’ll pick you up in the morning,” Keir responded with a leer before heading out the door.
“Kids,” Teague muttered.
* * * *
Hoyt nodded in agreement, even as he studied Teague. It won’t happen. But it would be nice if he stayed the night.
All through dinner, even though he’d joined in the conversation, the thought at the top of his mind was how could he and Teague make things work? Even if Teague does as he sort of suggested, buying a plane
and learning to fly, he’ll get real tired, real fast, of flying out here every weekend. And I can’t afford to go see him more than maybe once a month, if that.
Hoyt sighed, shaking his head when Teague asked what was wrong. “Nothing we can do anything about.”
Teague put his arm around Hoyt’s waist, leading him to the sofa and sitting. “We can, if we want to.”
Hoyt sat as well, asking, “How? Damn it, Teague. How?”
Pulling Hoyt against his chest, Teague replied, “That’s what we have to figure out. For all our talk of commuting, I know that’s going to be difficult. It could end what we seem to have going very fast, because we’ll both get tired of it and start coming up with excuses why we can’t see each other on such and such a weekend. Holidays, vacations, sure. They’re doable because it won’t be just one day together.”
“What do we have going?” Hoyt asked. He knew how he felt. He was more than just interested in Teague, despite the fact they had actually spent very little time together. If he was going to put a word to it, he was halfway in love with the man, much against his better judgment. When did that happen? While we were apart, when all I could think about was how much I missed him? Last night, during our walk? When he took care of me the morning before he left town? “Is it real?” he said, barely above a whisper.
“I think it is,” Teague replied. “We…Well, I’ve been fighting it. For practical reasons.” He grimaced. “I keep forgetting there’s more to caring for someone than that. It’s what’s in here that counts.” He pressed his hand to Hoyt’s chest.
Covering Teague’s hand with his own, Hoyt replied, “I want you in my life, as cliché as that sounds. If that means we only see each other on holidays or when one of us takes a vacation, I guess I can deal with that.”
“Don’t like my idea of getting my license and flying out here every weekend?” Teague asked with a small grin.
“Like you said, you could get tired of that real fast. Besides, it’s not fair to you, putting the burden on your shoulders. But to be honest, there’s no way I can afford to fly out to see you every other weekend.” Hoyt smiled wryly. “Maybe I could learn to like city living. That would solve one problem.”
“Only one?” Teague asked, turning his hand to weave his fingers with Hoyt’s.
“We still don’t know how real this is. This feeling between us.”
Teague nodded. “We know what we feel now. The question is, will it last? A month from now will we still feel the same?”
“It’s been two months and counting, and I haven’t lost any of my desire for you.” Hoyt smiled, holding up his finger. “Let me amend that. I haven’t lost my desire to be with you.”
Chuckling, Teague replied, “So you desire my presence, but not my body?”
“Now, I wouldn’t say that. I rather like your body. What I’ve seen of it. Which, by the way, is a damn sight less than you’ve seen of mine.”
“Well, I’m not getting shot to remedy that problem.”
Hoyt laughed. “I wasn’t suggesting you go that far. Come summer however, we can go swimming…” He paused, waiting to see what Teague’s reply to that might be. He was rewarded by Teague’s suggesting they could do that “Right now, at the motel. They have an indoor pool, and a workout room.”
Hoyt grimaced. “Not to sound conceited, but I’ll pass until the scars are gone.”
“Bad?”
“Yeah, but getting better. Carolyn has me using a silicone gel and it seems to be working. If I was younger…Hell, I’d get a tat to cover them.”
“You still could,” Teague told him. “Let’s see. Hmm. My name embellished with—”
“Don’t even go there,” Hoyt interjected, chortling. “Don’t you know the stupidest tats are the ones involving the names of people’s SOs. And we’re not even close to being that yet.”
“Working on it though. Slow but sure. Right?”
Hoyt smiled slowly. “Right.”
“And the next step is…” Teague squeezed Hoyt’s hand. “Can you get the rest of the week off?”
“Given that I’m on desk duty, and that means paperwork, watching monitors, moving prisoners…” Hoyt shuddered. “I hate it. Okay, maybe hate’s too strong a word, but I can’t wait until I get medical clearance to be back in the field again.”
“How soon will that come?”
“According to Carolyn, my shoulder’s about as mobile as it’s going to be and she doesn’t see any reason why I can’t return to active duty by the end of the month.”
“So you could get a few days off before that happens?”
“Probably. Why?”
“I was thinking…Come back with us tomorrow. Spend some time seeing how the other half lives.”
“The country mouse visiting the city mouse?”
“Good Lord, have you been reading my mind? I thought that same thing the evening I brought you home from the hospital.”
“Guess we’re more in sync than I thought, and it does sort of fit. If I remember correctly, the country mouse was frightened by a cat and a car and decided he’d just a soon return home to what he knew.”
“It doesn’t have to happen that way.” Teague cupped Hoyt’s jaw, looking seriously at him as he asked, “Would you at least give it a try?”
“Of course!” Hoyt replied, not dropping his gaze from Teague’s. “Hell, I told you I’ve been in a big city a time or two in my life. When I was in college, and then the police convention. It’s not like I’ve never stepped foot outside of Faircrest.”
“Then call the chief and get his okay, if that’s what it takes. If he gives it, I’ll call the airline to get you booked onto the same flight that Keir and I are on.”
It wasn’t hard for Hoyt to convince Chief Davis to give him the time off when he told him why. After hanging up, he muttered, “I swear the chief has the same matchmaker gene Keir does.”
Laughing, Teague called the airline. “We’re in luck,” he said while he was on hold, “She says there’s two seats left so it’s a go. She’s checking return flights for Sunday. Hopefully in the afternoon.”
Hoyt took out his wallet, handing Teague his credit card. When Teague seemed to hesitate, Hoyt said tightly, “You are not paying for my flight. End of story.”
“Independent cuss, aren’t you,” Teague replied with a half-smile before getting back to the reservations clerk.
“Always have been, always will be,” Hoyt retorted with a grin, although mentally he recoiled a little when Teague confirmed the cost of the flight.
After handing back Hoyt’s card, Teague said, “Now what?”
For a second Hoyt was afraid his dismay at paying for his ticket had shown on his face. But one look at Teague’s expectant smile let him know that wasn’t what he was asking. “I don’t know, Brain, what do you want to do?”
“It’s really—” Teague grinned wickedly, “—what are we going to do tonight?’ to which I, as the Brain would respond, ‘The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world’.”
“Not sure I want to be boss of the world.”
“Even your own world?”
“Now that’s a different thing altogether. Even then however, I’d rather share ruling it.”
Teague cocked his head. “With anyone specific?”
“Possibly. That’s yet to be decided. And it has to be a mutual decision.”
“I think we’d make a great pair of rulers, to go with the analogy, of our combined worlds.” Teague brushed the pad of his thumb over Hoyt’s lips, which instantly caused a shiver of anticipation to course through Hoyt. It was rewarded when Teague kissed him.
Hoyt returned the kiss with fierce need. When it ended, much too soon in his considered opinion, he got to his feet, holding out his hand to Teague. “I don’t care if I’m jumping ten steps ahead of our…plan. I want you. I need you. We’re both adults. I think we can…we can…” He stopped dead at the look of shock on Teague’s face. Turning away, Hoyt crossed to the firepl
ace, pressing his hands against the mantelpiece as he stared down at the floor. I blew it. Damn it all to hell, I really blew…everything.
* * * *
Teague jumped up, quickly going over to wrap his arms around Hoyt, pressing his body against Hoyt’s back. “Whoa. What’s going on?” He kissed the nape of Hoyt’s neck. “I didn’t say no,” he said softly.
“Maybe not in so many words, but I knew you would from your expression,” Hoyt replied, barely above a whisper.
“And you’re supposed to be able to read people.” Teague moved back, his hands on Hoyt’s shoulders, urging him to turn and look at him. When Hoyt did, with obvious reluctance, Teague murmured, “I was just surprised.” He kissed Hoyt gently. “Your words echoed my thoughts.”
“Truthfully?”
“Yes.” Teague brushed another kiss over Hoyt’s lips. “I want you in ways I’ve never wanted anyone else. Ever. The only thing that held me back was—” he shook his head in rueful consternation. “We keep dancing around our mutual attraction, you know. We start to admit how we feel then back away because of the situation. We do care for each other. Perhaps even love each other. If we didn’t, would we be worried about how we can be with each other despite the distance that separates us? Wouldn’t we have just jumped into bed, because the physical attraction is there, and screwed each other into oblivion? And then, when I had to go home, forgotten about each other except to remember a fun night in bed with a nice man, no strings attached?”
“That was quite a speech,” Hoyt said huskily. “You’re right though. Underneath all the ‘how can we make it work’ there must be at least the beginnings of love. Still…” He frowned. “I was wrong to even suggest we head upstairs to bed.”
“Pardon my French, but bullshit. We’re here. Alone.” Teague grinned. “Maybe we need Keir to give us a shove in the right direction but he’s not here—”
“Thank God,” Hoyt muttered.
“I’ll second that.” Teague took Hoyt’s hand. “So I guess it’s up to me to drag you up to your lair.”
“I don’t think you’ll have a problem with that. I’m not about to resist the overtures of a handsome man who apparently wants my body as much as I want his.”