by Jerry Cole
“I’m not struggling!”
“I can hear it in your voice.” Maria sighed heavily. “You’re an idiot, Reese, do you know that?”
Reese didn’t say anything to that. He knew he was an idiot. He had been telling himself that for the last three months. And it made him feel worse. Reese felt like he was in a spiral that was dragging him down and he didn’t know how to get out of it. It had taken him six weeks to admit that.
“We need you back, Reese.” Maria went on. “You’re damn good at your job and we need the manpower.”
“I didn’t realize bodyguards were in such high demand right now.”
“You’d be surprised. Even in this part of the country.” Maria’s voice softened. “Which is why I need you back. You’re the best in the company, and not having you here feels...strange.”
Reese found himself smiling.
“Are you admitting that you miss me for my abilities in my job or for my charm?”
“Don’t push it, Powell.” Maria paused. “How are you feeling with yourself? Be honest with me.”
Reese hadn’t thought much about it. He had just tried to find something to hide the fact he was hurting. Push away the nightmares. Nothing had worked for very long, but the memories weren’t as painful as they had been. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his eyes.
“I’m better than before, but...it’s still there. I’m still trying to get it settled.”
Henry plagued him. It was like he was taunting Reese for failing at his job. And Reese did fail. He let his guard down and a client got killed. Everyone said there wasn’t anything he could have done, but Reese didn’t believe them. Much.
But the guilt just wouldn’t leave him.
“You know, you constantly surprise me, Reese.” Maria said.
“How so?”
“Of all the people that I was expecting to fail badly during an assignment, I never expected it to be you.”
“I’m full of surprises.” Reese drawled. He sighed. “I do want to come back to work, Maria, but I don’t think I’m quite ready yet. I don’t want to make another mistake.”
“We all make mistakes, Reese. And we learn from them. That’s what makes us better people.” Maria’s voice softened. “Look, take as much time as you need. I’ve still got you on the payroll. Just make sure you come back soon. You’re needed.”
“Take my time but come back soon?”
“Don’t start. You don’t want me going off on you again.”
“I know. I haven’t forgotten the last time.”
The last time. After Henry’s death. When Maria discovered that Henry and Reese had been sleeping together when Reese was meant to be guarding him. A jealous woman had been stalking Henry for weeks, believing in her head that Henry had rejected her, and Reese had decided that getting into bed with the client was a good idea. Henry had been so persuasive, so handsome. Very seductive…
Reese pushed that aside. Not now. He wasn’t going to deal with that now.
“Call me.” Maria said firmly, and then she hung up.
Reese stared at his phone.
“And you say I have a bad phone manner?” He muttered.
He tossed his cell phone onto the coffee table and slumped back. He really needed to get his head back in the game. After serving in the FBI for six years, Reese had moved into the private sector to become a bodyguard. He had a good job, good salary, and he got to go all over the world with some of his clients. Maria had a lot of contacts, and she was able to secure top clients for her employees. Two years and Reese still loved his job.
Only to screw it up on Henry. That should never have happened. The moment Reese realized something was going on, he should have asked for a reassignment. But then that would have meant disclosing his feelings, which nobody knew about. Reese wasn’t fussed about people knowing he was gay, but he kept it quiet so the clients didn’t find out about it. Lots of people were uncomfortable in having a gay bodyguard. Maria had only found out after Henry’s death. Reese was lucky not to get fired.
Now he was struggling to get back into his previous mindset, the one that kept him going before. Henry had turned him inside-out more than he ever could when he was alive.
The sound of a car drawing up outside had Reese looking up. He glanced at the clock. David must have missed the rush-hour traffic if he was getting home now. He often didn’t get back until much later due to everyone wanting to get out of Sioux Falls as soon as possible.
It was weird that he could practically set a watch by his next-door neighbor’s predictability. David had a set routine, and he never deviated. Reese had structure, but he was willing to change it around and try something different, whereas David hated it. He wanted things to be just as they were.
After the problems with his ex-husband, Reese couldn’t really blame him. James had played David, and now David was trying to keep control to something that he could manipulate around him. Reese had been his neighbor since they moved in after they got married, and he had gotten to know the couple well. David was a young guy, with a good heart but very naive. James had manipulated that to his advantage. Reese had been sure at the start that James was sleeping around, and his gut had proved correct when he saw James sneaking into their house with a girl, who Reese later found out was his patrol car partner.
He didn’t regret calling David about it. James had done the wrong thing, and he needed to be exposed. If only he could get the message and go away. David had complained many times since their divorce that James seemed to have forgotten about their failed marriage and just kept coming back expecting David to fall into his arms.
Reese could only hope that David was stronger than that. He deserved more.
He stood and went to the window, expecting to see David going up the drive to his front door. They would always wave at each other. Reese found himself smiling whenever David directed a smile at him. The gentle giant was enough to cheer anyone up, and he certainly had over recent months.
But it wasn’t David who was in the driveway. It was a car Reese hadn’t seen for a while. James was climbing out, looking up at the house. Still dressed in his uniform, he looked every part the cop, right down to the cropped black hair and the sturdy, thickset frame. Reese had heard David talk for hours about how handsome James looked in his uniform.
And, Reese had to admit, he did. But the problem was the women thought that as well.
There was going to be a confrontation, Reese knew it. David was not going to be pleased, and Reese wasn’t in the mood for an argument right outside his house. He went to the front door and stepped out onto the porch. His sweaty clothes and his need for a shower could wait.
“James!”
James looked up. For a moment, Reese thought he was going to ignore him. But then, James gave him a pleasant smile and a wave, heading towards the house.
“Hey, Reese. Is David in?”
“You can see he isn’t.” Reese stepped off the porch and walked towards him. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see how he was. Aren’t I allowed to do that?”
“Not when he’s your ex-husband and you divorced years ago.”
For a smart guy, James acted incredibly stupid. He knew David wanted nothing to do with him, but he just wouldn’t leave. In his mind, David was young and naive, easily swayed. If he kept pushing, he could have David back where he wanted him. Reese was barely older than James and seeing how James was attempting to manipulate his younger ex-spouse was painful.
James sighed and rolled his eyes as he folded his arms. The pleasant attitude was starting to slip away.
“For fuck’s sake, Reese. Stop being overprotective. I just wanted to see David. It’s been a while, and we’ve got a lot to talk about.”
“As far as I’m aware, you’ve got nothing to talk about.” Reese shot back. “I had to pick up the pieces after you cheated on David. You’re hurting him more by coming back to bother him.”
“You don’t know what our relationship
was like.”
“I’m pretty sure the words ‘open’ and ‘sharing’ weren’t part of it.”
James flushed. Then he lifted his chin defiantly, arching an eyebrow at Reese.
“Why have you got your boxers in a twist about David anyway? You don’t want him for yourself, do you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Well, I have wondered about the two of you before. You always were close with him. Talking about stupid things for hours that I had no clue about.” James narrowed his eyes. “David turned to you a lot for advice, more than he turned to me and I was married to him. Lots of pillow talk, was there?”
What Reese really wanted to do was take a swing at James. He could easily knock the man over. But he wasn’t in the mood for James’ colleagues jumping him once they heard what had happened. He folded his arms, subtly squaring off with the bastard.
“I thought you wanted to talk to David. Antagonizing me isn’t going to help you.”
“David was mine first.” James snapped.
“He hasn’t been yours since the divorce was finalized.” Reese shot back. “And he’s not mine, either. As a concerned neighbor, just leave David alone. You’re causing him unwarranted stress by bothering him.”
James sneered. The pleasantness had gone now, far quicker than Reese anticipated.
“Is that what he’s saying to you? He always was overdramatic.”
Reese sighed. Just a few minutes in his presence and he was already getting a headache.
“Just go before David gets home.”
That was when Reese saw David’s car turn into the street. James smirked at him, his eyes glinting.
“Too late.”
Chapter Two
Lunch with Nicole had picked up again, which made David feel better. And work had been surprisingly uneventful, which improved David’s mood. No one seems to want to shoplift on a Wednesday afternoon. Chances were, it was going to happen all at once tomorrow. David had been at the mall in his current job since his divorce, and he knew if there was a very quiet day, it was going to be chaos the next. All like clockwork.
Just how he wanted it. But now all David wanted to do was get in the tub and have a soak before he ordered in some takeout. Pizza sounded like a good idea. So did Chinese. He still hadn’t decided by the time he turned on to his street. Maybe both. He was hungry.
But then his mood dissipated when he saw James’ car in the drive. What the hell was he doing here? Surely he could take a hint? Now James was standing on Reese’s lawn, squaring up to his former neighbor. David could only hope that Reese didn’t take a swing. James may have thought he was tough, but Reese was something else.
And the bastard thought he could leave his car in David’s driveway? It was in David’s name now James had been kicked out. David didn’t want him anywhere near the house.
Pulling his car onto the grass, David jumped out and stormed over to James, who backed away suddenly from Reese.
“What the fuck are you doing here, James?” David demanded. “Didn’t you get the message with my text earlier?”
“David.” James spread his hands, giving David his best puppy-dog look. “This isn’t something for the street. Can we go inside?”
“No, you are not coming into my house.” David snapped. “You are going to get in your car, turn around and go away. As far away as possible.”
In the past when they had had arguments, James had a very good way of seducing David back to his side. David didn’t want to test it out again to see if it still worked. That would just send off the wrong signals. And David didn’t want James touching him again. Not after what he witnessed walking into their bedroom and seeing James pounding his work partner from behind on their bed. The bastard had even suggested that David joined in.
He wasn’t going back to that.
“But I just want to talk…” James protested, but David abruptly cut him off.
“No, you don’t. Speaking of ‘talking’, where’s Laura? Are you two fighting, so that’s why you’ve come to me? Or are you just bored?”
James flushed. David had once been upset about hurting James and embarrassed whenever his ex-spouse was anything other than happy - James had the ability to throw a fit a small child would be proud of - but now he felt smug. James had put him on the back foot multiple times. Now it was his turn.
Reese was watching them silently, and David felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He was always very aware of where Reese was.
“I miss you, David.” James tried again. “It’s been pretty tough lately. Can’t we just talk this over?”
Cheater’s remorse. Nicole was right. David scowled.
“If you missed me, you wouldn’t have cheated on me in the first place. It’s been three years, James. Maybe it’s time you realized that you’re not going to get me back.”
“Why not? You know we have some great chemistry.”
“Had, James. Had. I’m not a little boy anymore.” David turned away and stormed back to his car. “Go back to your little slut and leave me alone.”
“David…”
Then David heard Reese’s southern drawl, a warm sound that sent shivers down his spine. God, he loved that voice.
“You heard him, James. Go. Or would you want me to call the cops and say one of their own is harassing their ex-husband because they think a badge means they get whatever they want?”
James snorted.
“They wouldn’t believe you.”
“With my contacts higher up than yours? Try me.”
David reached his car before he turned. James and Reese had gone back to squaring up to each other, James looking ready to attack. Reese looked much calmer, watching James with an almost lazy expression. David found himself openly staring at Reese. He had to have worked out a short while ago, his t-shirt and shorts stuck to his body, sweat trickling from his light brown hair. Those clothes molded onto his body, and David couldn’t do anything but lick his lips.
Damn, having a gorgeous neighbor had had its advantages. David liked a bit of eye-candy.
After what felt like forever, James backed down. He took a step back, still scowling at Reese. Then he turned to David, hesitating for a moment before he headed to his car. David watched as James climbed in, slamming the door behind him, and backed the car down the drive. With one final look at them, James took off, his wheels screeching and spinning before the car shot away.
That man needed to stop wearing tires down.
“David?”
David jumped. He hadn’t noticed Reese approach him. Now the man was standing beside him, frowning up at David. Even with David’s three-inch height advantage, he felt much shorter than Reese. It was just his presence the man carried around. David did wonder if he had this aura around him when he worked.
Chances were, he did.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” David shook himself. “Why did I say that? No, I’m not okay. That bastard just won’t leave me alone.”
Reese regarded him silently. Then he gestured towards David’s house.
“Let’s go inside. The neighbors don’t need to be gawking at us while you rant on.”
“I don’t rant.” Reese raised his eyebrows, and David winced. “Okay, maybe a little. I guess you’re right.”
Their neighbors were nice and had accepted David and James being a married couple, but they were very nosy. Their business would be all over Harrisburg before midnight. David had experienced it before. Never again.
He unlocked the door and led Reese inside, switching the lights on as he went. The sun was nowhere near setting, but David found himself doing it out of habit. He liked having the lights on. It gave him some extra security, knowing that he was home and he was safe. Even if he did wince at his electricity bill at the end of the month.
David kicked off his shoes with a heavy sigh of relief, padding through the house to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and leaned in, trying to find something cold. It had been ra
ther muggy, and that somehow made working inside even worse. The air conditioning at the mall didn’t seem to work when anyone wanted it to, and David’s shirt was sticking to his back.
He snagged his water bottle and straightened up, taking a long gulp. Now he felt better. Then David realized that Reese was standing in the doorway and was staring at him. Or, more importantly, staring at David’s backside. Had he been checking David out? That gave David a thrill. An older guy liked the look of him.
An older guy who was as ripped as Randy Couture.
“You want some?”
“Huh?” Reese blinked and looked up. His cheeks flushed, and he cleared his throat. “No, thanks.”
David bit back a smile as he shut the fridge and turned back. He and Reese had flirted in the past, but it had been harmless. And David needed someone to take the edge off his ex-husband turning up outside his house. Again.
“I don’t get why he keeps coming back.” Reese leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms. “It’s been three years.”
“I’m guessing he’s had a fight with Laura again.” David sipped at the water. “I could set my watch to whenever they have an argument. James wants someone who will take his bullshit to drown his sorrows with and bury his cock into, and I seem to be the prime target.”
“You do have a way with words, David.”
“That wasn’t that impressive, Reese.” David sat on one of the stools at the center counter. Reese was still watching him, and David could feel goosebumps coming up on his body. God, Reese was intense when was staring at him. “Besides, Laura always was demanding. Everything had to be about her.”
Didn’t matter if the guy was taken, if Laura wanted him, she got him. David had encountered women like her before. Her reputation as a person overshadowed her ability as a patrol officer. David had no doubt she might have been good at her job, but Laura used her looks a little too much. And seduced the wrong people.
Reese snorted.
“I can appreciate a good-looking woman - I’m not blind - but I can’t see what’s so attractive about Laura. My gut was already telling me something wasn’t right with her when I first met her at that barbecue you threw.”