“I guess you’re the one I should be thanking. So far, I’ve enjoyed the training and getting my certifications. I can’t wait for my first rescue,” Boone said.
“It shouldn’t be too long before the next one. We average two or three rescues a month. Most of the time more,” Tony informed him. “So, rumor has it you are seeing Flynn Wakefield. Now I have to say that I thought Tim would finally quit standing around drooling and go after the handsome cowboy. But it seems he snoozed, and you cruised right in on him.”
Boone wasn’t sure if he should laugh at Tony’s analogy or what. So he shrugged his shoulders and said, “We’ve hooked up a couple of times. But we both have been extra busy the last few days, and I haven’t seen him.”
He refused to admit he missed his cowboy. Lying in his bed alone this morning, Boone had decided to run the man down and persuade Flynn to spend some time with him.
“Have you at least talked on the phone?” Tony asked.
“We’ve texted during the day and talked at night,” Boone admitted.
“Well, that’s bullshit. You deserve more,” Tony said. “Everyone is going down to the hotel tonight for dinner and dancing. Make sure you come, too. And if Flynn can’t give you the time of day, we can find you someone else. The one huge thing I’ve learned from my relationship with Shane is that both parties have to love, respect, and need to be with each other. Sometimes it takes hard work to find the time, but it’s worth it.”
Boone didn’t want anyone else. He wanted Flynn. He would ask the cowboy if he wanted to go tonight and pray he said yes. Otherwise, he had a feeling Tony would push someone else on him. His mind objected to that idea.
“Will you be going tonight?” Boone asked.
“For a little while. I tire easily, and the big guy gets a little huffy if I do too much. After the surgery, he would only let me get out of bed to go to the bathroom. And then he carried me. Hell, you’d think it was my leg they’d operated on instead of my chest,” Tony complained.
Boone felt a small pain near his heart at the look of love shining in Tony’s eyes as he talked about Shane. He wanted that.
“I’m sorry that you have to go through this. It’s a terrible disease,” Boone said.
“It is awful. I’ll admit I’m scared. But the doctors say they caught it early, and I have a good chance of beating it.” Tony shifted around in his chair. “Tomorrow they are going to tattoo a dot on my skin where they need to aim the radiation. I’ve decided that eventually I’m going to get a tattoo that covers my whole left pec and shoulder in celebration that I conquered cancer.”
“Good for you, I think that’s great,” Boone said.
“All right then, enough chitchat. Now I know you were in the Navy and from working with you I know some of your computer skills. Tell me more,” Tony ordered.
“Well, I helped set up the computer and navigational systems in their submarines, boats, and combat vehicles. I also found that I was fascinated by the way bombs worked and the different ways the terrorist groups created them,” Boone explained.
Tony sat back in his chair and studied Boone. “Why did they let you go? I know you were honorably discharged, but it would seem to me, with your skills, the government might have a problem releasing you to the public.”
Boone bit his bottom lip and thought for a few minutes before coming to a decision. Turning, he set his laptop on the table and opened it before pressing the on button.
“Does Shane keep his phone in his pocket, or is he one of those people who sets them down somewhere near so they can hear if it rings?” he asked.
“A lot of times when he’s having a meeting at Cade’s, he sets it on the table so he can see it light up if someone calls. That way he can keep the sound down.”
Boone nodded and started typing commands on his laptop. “What is Shane’s cell number?” he asked.
“I already know how to trace a phone. That’s actually becoming obsolete,” Tony said.
“Trust me, and I’ll show you how to do this,” Boone said.
Tony gave Boone the telephone number he asked for. A few minutes later, a view of Cade’s office came onto Boone’s laptop monitor.
“Holy shit, what is that?” Tony exclaimed.
The picture became a blur, as if Boone’s computer was on a tilt-ta-whirl before it stopped. Then it bobbed up and down and jerked sideways.
“I’d say Shane is playing with his phone. That’s a live feed from his phone camera,” Boone stated.
“That is crazy. Can he tell that we’re watching?”
“No. His screen will light up like the phone is out of standby mode, although he won’t be able to tell we’re using his camera.”
Tony looked at Boone. “Who did you spy on that you were asked to leave the Navy?”
Boone was impressed Tony had figured it out. “At the base where I was stationed, they had a three-star general running things. He knew what he was doing, I can say that. But, to certain soldiers, he was a total asshole.” Boone rubbed a finger over the top part of his anchor tattoo where it hid a thick scar. “Some of us saw a clear pattern with who he was harassing. After the second time I got out of solitary—”
“Wait a minute. Your records didn’t indicate you were ever in solitary,” Tony interrupted.
“No, they don’t. It was always kept off the record. But we knew what was going on.” Tony wiped a hand over his face. “I decided the general protested too much, so to speak. It took me a week, but I set up a program so I could look through the camera on his cell phone. Then I broke into the electric company computers to see a pattern of the highs and lows of his electricity use. It was pretty easy to gauge when his wife was home and when it was just himself with a guest. That way his phone didn’t light up randomly and cause suspicion.”
“What did you see?” Tony leaned forward in his chair.
“I saw the general and his first lieutenant getting it on against the back of his sofa in his living room. I have to admit, those two older military men were better than any porn I’ve ever seen. I recorded it, too,” Boone said.
“Shit, that must have been illegal six times over.” Tony’s dark eyes sparkled. “What did you do with it? Plaster it all over the base? Send it to everyone’s e-mail?”
“No. I went to the general and explained how I had six envelopes containing pictures of the video I shot of them all over the city. I told him point-blank if any more people were unjustly reprimanded because the general suspected or knew they were gay, those envelopes would be delivered to his and the lieutenant’s wives. I also included a clause that if I disappeared or had an accident those envelopes would be sent out.” Boone smiled as he thought about the look on the general’s face when Boone had confronted him. “A week later I was presented with my options. They included me leaving honorably or me leaving honorably.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t confiscate your computer and the programs you created,” Tony observed.
“They did,” Boone paused. “Or they thought they did.”
Both men laughed. Boone could see Tony was becoming a little pale and tiring. He decided he better ask his questions now before Tony needed to lie down.
“I’ve reviewed a lot of your day-to-day activities for Rescue for Hire,” he stated. “I know about keeping an eye out for any land for sale in the area so Cade can purchase it. He explained that gives employees the opportunity to live close enough to be on hand when a rescue comes up. I’ve already done some background checks for Cade and did an inventory check on your electronics the team uses. I came to ask what else I can take over until you are ready to resume your duties.”
“Well, let’s start here.” Tony turned to his main keyboard and started typing. Above them, the monitors came to life. Boone shivered. Now the excitement began.
Chapter Ten
Flynn finished framing in the last window of Cade’s addition. The past few days he had been working his ass off trying to get what he could done on the addition, in bet
ween helping to deliver beautiful calves his mamas were producing.
Cade had mentioned earlier that the whole team planned on going over to the hotel tonight. Flynn intended to track down a certain pretty baby and officially asking him out on a date. Before the night was over, he anticipated he’d be asking Boone another important question. Flynn was tired of sleeping alone in his big bed, and only Boone’s smooth, lean body would do.
Flynn’s phone vibrated and rang in his pants pocket. Taking it out, he glanced at the name of the caller before swiping the screen.
“Do we have another calf on the way, Tim?” he asked.
“Um, no. I was just thinking and wondered if you’d like to go to a movie or something tonight?” Tim asked.
Flynn pushed his irritation aside and took a second to find a bit of patience. “Look. It’s nice of you to ask, but I’m dating Boone,” Flynn said. This was the second time in three days Tim had asked him out.
“Well, you haven’t seen him for a while, so I thought maybe you weren’t together anymore,” Tim said.
Flynn frowned. “How do you know I haven’t seen him for a few days?” he asked.
“I meant he hadn’t been at the farm,” Tim defended.
Frustration bubbled up and threatened to boil over. Flynn took a deep breath to calm down. “I’m dating Boone, and I don’t cheat. I have to go.”
Flynn ended the call and refrained from throwing the phone against the wall.
“Having trouble, cowboy?” The voice behind Flynn went straight to his heart and soothed his ire. His cock jerked in happiness and anticipation.
“Not anymore, pretty baby,” he answered.
Flynn turned and held his arms out wide. Boone walked toward him, giving Flynn a show of his rolling, cocky gait. Seconds later, Flynn held Boone close and proceeded to kiss him with everything he had.
By the time their lips parted, they both were breathing heavily, and their jeans were far too tight.
“I’ve missed you,” Boone said.
Flynn loved how swollen and red Boone’s lips were from his kisses. Looking down into Boone’s velvety-brown eyes, Flynn admitted, “I’ve missed you, too.”
“The team is going to the hotel tonight,” Boone said.
“Can I drive you and be your date?” Flynn smiled and kissed Boone again.
When Flynn freed his lips, Boone answered, “I’d like that.”
“I’m finished for the day. I’ll run home and clean up. Then I’ll come back here and pick you up, all right?” Flynn traced a fingertip down Boone’s cheek, enjoying the smooth skin.
“Okay, I’ll be waiting at my trailer.”
Flynn decided the time had come to ask the question on his mind. Bracing himself for rejection, he spit it out. “Boone, would you like to move your travel trailer over to my house?”
Boone blinked in surprise. A big smile appeared, and the breath Flynn hadn’t realized he was holding burst free.
“Would I be staying in my trailer, cowboy, or in the house with you?” Boone asked.
“I want you inside the house with me but didn’t know if you thought it was too soon to move in with me. I figured if you had the trailer near, you would feel more comfortable being at my place,” Flynn confessed.
“If I chose to sleep in my trailer, where would you sleep?” Boone’s pretty eyes seemed to be dancing with mischief.
“I would be in the trailer with you,” Flynn answered truthfully. “I don’t want to sleep without you anymore. Even if we’re as busy as we have been the last few days, at least I’d have you in my arms at night.”
“Flynn Wakefield, that’s just about the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me,” Boone declared.
“Well, um.” Flynn gave up and kissed Boone again. Their tongues tangled and rubbed together. It was a long time before Flynn let Boone go. By then, the younger man’s lids were heavy, and his eyes held a dreamy quality.
“I’d better go so that I can get back,” Flynn said before heading toward the door.
At the door, Boone’s voice stopped him. “Flynn.”
Flynn turned and looked at Boone. “Yes?”
“My answer is yes,” Boone said.
Flynn’s body froze for a moment. It had taken him forty years to ask someone to live with him. Now that Boone had agreed, he wasn’t sure what to do.
Boone chuckled. “Go home, Flynn. I’ll see you in a little while.”
Two hours later, Flynn sat at a large, round table in the corner of the Granite City Hotel’s restaurant. The waitress had just taken their empty plates away, and everyone was enjoying an after-dinner drink. It had been a long time since Flynn had had such a delicious meal of seafood. He especially loved the butter-toasted garlic bread.
All the employees of Rescue for Hire were there, along with their partners. Even Tony had managed to make it. Flynn thought he was still one of the most handsome men he had ever met, but he could clearly see the man was fighting an illness by the dark circles under his eyes and the grayish cast to his skin.
Shane, of course, was at his side at all times, usually holding him close. Tony looked happy snuggled in the big man’s arms.
“Hey, Boone, I want a rematch,” Treb called from the other side of the table.
“Any time, any place,” Boone called back.
“I’m in, too, and this time, I’m going to beat you both,” Gabriel joined in.
Flynn looked at all three men and realized they were cut from the same cloth. Treb was the most dangerous, and Gabriel was the caretaker. Flynn decided Boone was a combination of both. But in the end, all three men had a wild streak a mile long.
“I have to say you were pretty impressive,” Rock told Boone. “I’ve never seen anyone free climb a sheer wall face as fast as you did.”
“Tell me you were using safety ropes,” Cade ordered.
“Sure, boss, of course,” Treb answered solemnly.
Gabriel put his hand up between his mouth and Cade. In a mock whisper, he mouthed to Boone, “Safety ropes?”
Cade’s growl echoed around the table. Before Treb could say anything that would get the wild ones into more trouble, Bret jumped up and grabbed Pip’s hand.
“That song is the best. Let’s dance.” Tiny Pip, who was Jack’s partner, found himself dragged along in Bret’s wake to the dance floor.
Boone turned to Flynn. “I want to dance, too,” he whispered in his ear.
Flynn dropped a kiss on the smooth skin next to Boone’s ear before he said. “Go ahead.”
Boone and Rock took off for the dance floor. Flynn watched in amazement at the group of good-looking men performing some of the sexiest moves he had ever seen. Hips gracefully swayed, bumped, and grinded against others to the pounding base of the loud music.
Of course, Boone garnered most of Flynn’s attention, but when a long-haired blond about Boone’s height and stature started dancing with him, Flynn was mesmerized.
“Holy crap, those two are something,” Brad, Rock’s partner and a local veterinarian, said. Flynn found the all-American blond’s clean-cut good looks quite a contrast to Rock’s tattoos and piercings and long dreadlocks.
“Who is the blond?” Flynn asked.
“That’s Synn’s husband, Craig. Synn is Granite County’s Chief Deputy. Craig is also a deputy for Granite County,” Brad explained.
“Wow,” was all Flynn could say.
“Hey, Flynn, Boone and Craig are causing quite a commotion over there,” Jack observed.
Flynn dragged his gaze away from Boone and looked around. Now he saw a group of guys standing on the edge of the dance floor pointing and making obscene gestures at the men dancing. Some looked ready to approach the dancers. That was so not happening if Flynn had any say in the matter.
He looked over to where Brad said this Synn was. Dark brown, almost black, eyes clashed with Flynn’s gaze. Synn jerked his head toward the dance floor and stood. Flynn received the message loud and clear and also stood.
Tog
ether, but at different angles, he and Synn made their way through the growing crowd toward their dancing partners. On the edge of the raised floor, they met.
“I think it’s time to stake our claim,” Synn said.
Flynn saw Synn was a couple of inches taller, but they had about the same muscle mass. That was about all they had in common looks-wise. The dark-skinned Native American with blue-black hair down to his waist couldn’t have been more different from Flynn’s pure cowboy looks. Flynn saw the humor of them looking a bit like one of those old western movies.
“Let’s do it,” Flynn replied.
Flynn followed Synn onto the dance floor. When he reached Boone, he slid up behind the sexy man and put his arms around his waist. Boone glanced back over his shoulder. When he saw it was Flynn, he shifted his hips back so his ass was rubbing against Flynn’s cock.
As they swayed to the music, Boone reached up and looped his hands around Flynn’s neck, causing his body to arch back so prettily. A stranger wearing a purple polo shirt and tight black jeans danced up to Boone and started brushing up against him.
Behind Flynn, someone pressed his hard dick against Flynn’s ass. Flynn looked over his shoulder and recognized Tim.
“Back off,” he ordered. Tim took a step back and disappeared into the crowd.
“Get the fuck off of me,” Boone yelled.
Flynn turned back to see Boone’s hand wrapped around the neck of the guy with the purple shirt. The poor man had his arms raised in the worldwide signal of surrender as he struggled to breathe.
“Let him go, pretty baby. I want you in my bed, not a jail cell,” Flynn murmured into Boone’s ear.
Boone loosened his grip, and the man fell back a few steps. Smartly, the guy went back to his group of cronies.
“Do you want to dance some more, have a drink, or leave?” Flynn asked. He patted himself on the back for sounding so reasonable. He’d had enough of the crowd and wanted some alone time with his love.
Boone leaned back, resting his head on Flynn’s shoulder and whispered in his ear, “Let’s go home, cowboy.”
Flynn sprang into action, ushering Boone through the growing mass of bodies to the table. It looked as though he and Boone weren’t the only ones calling it a night. The rest of the men of Rescue for Hire were standing and saying their good-byes to one other.
Boone's Cowboy [Rescue for Hire 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 7