The City PI and the Country Cop

by xxxxxxxxxxxx

  “Honestly, it depends on what’s going on. A lot can change in a few days, to wit Cal’s sudden resignation.”

  “That’s going to put a dent in things, isn’t it?”

  “It’ll mean some serious shuffling of cases until I can find a replacement.”

  “Sort of like the chief had to do after I got shot. Not that I was handling that many, since we’re a small town. Our crime rate is minimal most of the time.”

  “It still keeps you busy though.”

  Hoyt nodded. “Busy enough that I don’t get bored too often. Nothing as…exciting as the Irwin case, thank goodness.”

  “Yeah. Murder is not something you want to be dealing with every day in a small town.”

  “Medium-sized town, or better yet a small city, thank you very much. Especially during ski season.”

  Teague laughed. “I stand corrected. And we’re here.”

  The restaurant was small, and very busy. People were lined up to the door, waiting to place their orders at the long counter along the rear wall. Tables were crammed together—ones for two to four people, others that had at least a dozen chairs around them. From what Hoyt could tell, many of the people at the long tables were alone, or in pairs, sharing the space. Only two seemed to have either a large family or a group of friends seated at them.

  “My mouth is watering already,” Hoyt said, sniffing the air.

  “It’s the second best barbeque place in the city. The other one is housed in what used to be a gas station.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope,” Teague said. “Maybe we’ll hit it up Saturday night, if you can stand eating barbeque twice in four days.”

  “Works for me.”

  After getting their meals, they managed to find a vacant table for two. They didn’t talk much while they ate, other than to comment on the food and how messy eating it was. “I think I’ve gone through half-a-dozen napkins already,” Hoyt said with a grin at one point.

  By the time they finished and left the restaurant the snow was almost a blizzard. They walked as fast as they could, heads bowed against the wind, back to Teague’s building. In the entryway, they stomped their feet to get rid of the snow on their shoes, and brushed as much as possible off their clothes and hair before heading up to the condo.

  After hanging up their jackets, they went into the kitchen where Teague began making coffee.

  “You look like a drowned rat,” Hoyt said with a grin, running his fingers through Teague’s damp hair.

  “I should get it cut again,” Teague responded, grinning back.

  “Naw. On you, the too long look is good. Me? I look like a mountain man who’s just come into town when I let mine grow any longer than it is now, because it’s pretty much untamable.”

  “Has a mind of its own, huh? Just like the man it belongs to.”

  Hoyt laughed. “That’s one way to describe it—and me I suppose.”

  “Definitely you.” Teague gazed at him for a long moment. “You know what you want and you don’t give up until you get it, I think. Whether it’s stopping someone like Irwin, or getting back into shape as fast as you could so you can get back in the field again, or…”

  “Or doing what I have to, to be with the man I’m more than half in love with,” Hoyt said quietly, finishing where he thought Teague was going with his words.

  “I hope so,” Teague replied softly. “Even if it’s not going to be easy.”

  “We’ll make it work, one way or the other.” Cupping Teague’s face in his hands, Hoyt kissed him. Teague responded enthusiastically and the kiss deepened. Hoyt wasn’t surprised when Teague managed to turn off the coffeemaker without looking at it, murmuring against Hoyt’s lips, “We can have coffee later. Right now I want us in bed.”

  They made their way to Teague’s bedroom, amid increasingly heated kisses and lost clothing. By the time they got to the room, they were shoeless and naked from the waists up. They quickly took care of getting rid of their jeans and briefs before tumbling onto the bed.

  “I hope,” Hoyt muttered, “you’re better prepared than I was at my place.”

  Teague grinned, getting condoms and lube from the nightstand. “These what you meant?”

  “You know it. Gimme.”

  Teague cocked an eyebrow. “You sound like a two-year-old.”

  “May I please have them? Better?”

  “Much.” Teague handed him the lube and one condom but didn’t give Hoyt time to do anything with them. Instead, he quickly sheathed Hoyt’s hard cock and crawled on top of him. Beginning with Hoyt’s lips, Teague began kissing him inch by inch as he worked his way down his body. For long moments he paid special attention to Hoyt’s nipples, eliciting deep groans of need from his lover.

  Finally he reached his ultimate destination. Hoyt thought he’d never been so close to heaven as when his cock was engulfed in Teague’s hot mouth. Then Teague swallowed it and Hoyt fought hard not to come on the spot while he twisted the sheet in his hands, riding the pleasure Teague was giving him.

  “My…turn,” Hoyt gasped, using all his willpower to pull away.

  “Be my guest,” Teague responded, rolling off Hoyt before sprawling on his back, arm, and legs spread wide. “Just remember, I can’t fuck you if you make me come too soon.”

  With a grin, Hoyt tapped Teague’s forehead. “Mind over matter, my love.” Then he sheathed Teague’s throbbing cock and got down to business. Soon he had his lover writhing in ecstasy. When he was certain Teague couldn’t take one more suck or swallow, Hoyt sat back on his heels. Suddenly he was the one on his back and he looked up at Teague in surprise.

  “Pull back your legs,” Teague told him. “I want to watch you while I…make love to you.”

  Getting the picture immediately, Hoyt did as Teague requested. He grimaced momentarily when Teague inserted two lubed fingers. Then one found his gland and he rode the wave of rapture flooding him, only to growl in frustration when Teague pulled his fingers out.

  “Easy, love. The best is yet to come.” Teague bent to kiss Hoyt, slowly and passionately. Breaking the kiss, he pressed the head of his cock to Hoyt’s entrance and inched in as their gazes locked.

  Hoyt bit his lip hard to counter the pain when Teague pushed further into him. Pain which soon changed to extreme pleasure. Teague rode him slowly to begin with, but it wasn’t long before they were moving in tandem, Hoyt rising up to take Teague in deeper with each thrust from his lover. He felt his balls tighten and with a shout, he came. He was only vaguely aware when, soon after, Teague exploded with a sharp cry of exultation.

  When he was able to move, Hoyt straightened his legs and embraced Teague. “That was…spectacular.”

  “Sensational. Breathtaking,” Teague panted in reply, smiling euphorically at Hoyt before they kissed.

  “Now, about that coffee,” Hoyt said when Teague pulled out.

  “It’ll keep you awake.”

  Hoyt tapped Teague’s nose. “And that’s a problem why?”

  “No reason I can think of.”

  * * * *

  For the next three days, Teague and Hoyt spent as much time as possible together, considering Teague did have a business to run. While he was doing that, Hoyt explored the city. He found the Town Market, thanks to a friendly cabdriver, and spent Thursday afternoon wandering through the various shops. Another cabdriver suggested he check out the Memorial Garden and the nearby museum. While Hoyt wasn’t interested in looking at art, he did wander through the Garden with its interesting, if snow-covered, statues of famous people from the city and the state.

  Thursday afternoon, Teague and Hoyt both got calls. Teague’s was from the prosecuting attorney for the Irwin trial. Hoyt’s was from Chief Davis. Bradley Irwin had been found guilty on all counts. That night, they celebrated by going to Teague’s favorite club for supper and more than a little drinking on Teague’s part.

  “It’s over,” Teague said at one point, hugging Hoyt.

  “It wouldn’t b
e, if it wasn’t for you. You pushed me until I took you seriously about Grimes murder being connected to the ones years earlier.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” Teague said, smiling smugly. Then he sobered, as much as possible considering he was more than a little drunk. “I might have done that, but it was you who managed to put two and two together to prove I was right.”

  “No, we both did. We made a good team for that. Us and Keir. Can’t forget him.”

  “Nope, sure can’t. I gotta call him.”

  “You already did. Twice.” Hoyt told him, laughing.

  “Oh, yeah. Guess I did.”

  “I think it’s time to pour you into the car and get you home,” Hoyt said still laughing. Since he had kept his drinking to two beers, he was making himself the designated driver. Thankfully, Teague agreed with him. When they got back to the condo, Teague flopped down on the bed and was asleep before Hoyt finished undressing him.

  “When you celebrate, you celebrate.” Hoyt smiled, kissing Teague’s forehead. He undressed, slid into bed beside his lover, and soon was asleep as well.

  Saturday, the two men spent the day together, first in bed which was hardly unexpected by either of them, and then going out to lunch at the barbeque restaurant in the former gas station. That afternoon, Teague took Hoyt on a drive through the residential areas of the city, just, he said, “To prove we have them.”

  “Like I thought you wouldn’t,” Hoyt replied as he admired the old homes, both large and small.

  They ended the day in the jazz district, eating dinner and then moving on to one of the clubs to listen to an excellent band before going home to bed.

  * * * *

  Chapter 18

  Then it was Sunday.

  Hoyt, being the better cook by far, fixed breakfast—omelets stuffed with cheese, ham, and vegetables seasoned to perfection, toast, and juice. Teague’s contribution was setting the table and making coffee.

  As they ate, Hoyt studied Teague. I’m going to miss this…companionship. I have to figure out how I can afford to come back here again—soon.

  “I’m going to miss you when you leave,” Teague said softly, echoing Hoyt’s thoughts.

  “I’ll be back, and you’ll come see me.” Hoyt smiled. “I think Thanksgiving is only a week and a half off. Maybe, if you can get away?”

  “I can, and I will. And then there’s Christmas…”

  “New Year’s, too, although they’re close together. I might be able to get time off to come visit, if you want.”

  “Want?” Teague grinned. “I’m going to make sure you do, even if I have to drive out there to get you.”

  “I do own a car.” Hoyt nodded slowly. “Yeah, I do and if I can get the week off…I have vacation days left for this year. I’ll talk to the chief. How long does the drive take?”

  “I think it was around eight hours to get to Collingswood, and a bit less than that from there to Faircrest. But since you’d be driving straight from there to here…” Teague took out his phone and brought up the site he needed. “Thirteen hours, according to this.”

  “Not bad. Not fantastic, but I can handle it as long as I know I’ll have almost a week with you before I have to drive home again.”

  “Then we have two official…dates?”

  Hoyt leaned over to give him a swift kiss. “That works.”

  Since Hoyt’s flight left at eleven, he went up to finish packing while Teague did the dishes. Hoyt looked around the room, which he hadn’t actually used except as a place to keep his clothes. I wish…He sighed, closing his bag. I wish I was twenty years younger so being a responsible person wasn’t so damned important. But I’m not, and I have a job to get back to, and a house. He chuckled dryly. I guess I should be glad I don’t have a dog. That would really top things off. Checking to be certain he hadn’t left anything behind, he went back downstairs.

  Two hours later, after Hoyt and Teague said their goodbyes, involving hugs and several kisses, Hoyt was on board the plane, heading west.

  * * * *

  “Home sweet home,” Hoyt muttered, dropping his bag on floor beside the front door. He’d take care of unpacking it later. Right now he needed to call the chief to let him know he was back and then…

  And then, what? Maybe call Carolyn to see if she’s free and willing to have supper with me.

  She was, and they agreed to meet at Hal and Mary’s at five. That made him feel better. At least he wouldn’t be alone for the evening. He needed to adjust after spending almost every hour of the last few days with Teague. He missed him desperately, even though it had only been a few hours since they’d been together.

  Carolyn was there when he arrived. She kissed his cheek just as the hostess arrived, asking how he was doing, but didn’t get an answer until they were seated.

  “I’m fine, and glad to be back to doing what I’m best at, come Monday, thanks to you.”

  “Hoyt, all I did was teach you how to use your arm and shoulder correctly so you’re regain use of it. You did all the work.”

  “But without you…”

  “Bull, to put it succinctly. It might have taken longer, but you’d have figured it out. I just sped things up.” She rested her chin on her closed hand, studying him. “Now for the real question. How are you handling the fact you’re here and Teague isn’t? How are you two going to make this work?”

  Hoyt shrugged. “He’s planning on coming here for Thanksgiving and if I can get the time off, I’ll go out there again for Christmas week.”

  “So…” Carolyn paused so she and Hoyt could give the waiter their drink orders. When he was gone, she continued. “So it’s going to be holidays only?”

  “Probably,” Hoyt admitted. “I can’t afford to fly out there too often and I doubt he can really afford to come here that much either, even though he sort of suggested he’d try.”

  She nodded. “Then one of you is going to have to bite the bullet and move, aren’t you?”

  “He can’t. He’s got his business there. One he worked hard to build into what it is now.”

  “And you?”

  “Carolyn…” Hoyt sighed. “I love my job. I love this town.”

  “More,” she said quietly, “than you love him?”

  “God. How can I answer that?”

  “Honestly?” she replied, patting his arm. “But before you answer, think about this. Could you, would you be willing to try to get a job with the police force out there?”

  “I’m not sure I could. Not with this.” He touched his shoulder. “You told me yourself it would never be one-hundred percent. I’m sure that would present a problem as far as they were concerned.”

  “You won’t know until you ask. And if you had a job there, it might, mentally and emotionally, make moving there easier. Right?”

  “It would,” Hoyt replied pensively.

  When he didn’t say anything more, she asked, “What’s going through that head of yours?”

  “I was just thinking. I don’t know if he was serious, but Jake, Teague’s second in command as Teague calls him, asked me if I would be interested in working for the agency. They just had someone quit. I said no, but…”

  “Are you interested?”

  “I’m not sure I have what it takes.”

  “Teague’s company does private investigations, from what you told me. You’re a detective. It seems to me you’d be perfect for them. And it most ways it probably wouldn’t be that different from what you’re doing now except you won’t be going after killers or thieves or drug dealers.”

  “I’m pretty sure they do try to stop thieves, in terms of embezzlers or employees who steal cash or goods from their company.”

  “That makes sense. So, one problem solved. You would have a job if Jake was serious. How did Teague react to his suggestion?”

  “He didn’t, other than to tell Jake that he’d start looking for a replacement. Of course I think I made it clear I wasn’t interested.”

  “So he probably wasn’t wi
lling to push it. Especially since he knows how you feel about your job here.”

  “Yeah.” Hoyt’s shoulders slumped. “I made it fairly obvious I was glad to be getting back into the field come tomorrow.”

  “Now to the question I asked originally. Which do you love more, this town and your life here, or Teague?”

  Straightening, Hoyt replied firmly, “Teague. Hands down.”

  “Thought so.” She picked up the drink their waiter had set down in front of her, taking a sip. “My suggestion is that you think about it all for the next day or so. You have to be very, very certain you want to make the big break from here to be with him. If you have any doubts it will kill your relationship before the two of you have a chance to settle in to your being there and with each other on a permanent basis.”

  Hoyt smiled, sipping his beer. “You know, you should have become a psychiatrist.”

  “Believe me; a physical therapist has to be half shrink if we’re going to help people recover from traumatic injuries.”

  “I can see that, given how you handled me.”

  Their waiter returned at that moment to take their orders. From then until Hoyt and Carolyn left the restaurant an hour later, the pair chatted casually, as two friends do, avoiding the topic of Hoyt’s possibly move to be with Teague. It wasn’t until they were outside the restaurant that Carolyn brought it up again.

  “Remember what I told you, Hoyt. Think about every aspect of your decision before you call Teague to let him know you’ll take him up on his job offer.”

  Hoyt nodded. “Jake’s offer actually, but I will.” He looked around at what he could see of downtown Faircrest. “This is my town. It’s where I grew up and for better or for worse I’ve spent almost my whole life here. But…”

  Carolyn smiled, giving him a hug. “Maybe it’s finally time to expand your horizons, now that you have a real reason to?”

  “Yeah. I think so. Now it all hinges on whether I can work at the agency. And more importantly, am I rushing into things when it comes to me and Teague? Maybe…” He rapped a knuckle on his lips. “If they hire me, I’ll find an apartment since—” he smiled wryly, “—at no point while I was there did Teague even hint about my living with him.”