He was probably being paranoid, but the fact the person had walked the same way as Jake nagged at his mind. Probably just a coincidence, but Danny pulled out his phone and typed a quick text message, hoping Jake didn’t think he was an idiot.
You get home okay?
He held his phone, spending a long minute tapping his foot as rain started plopping down on the concrete walkway that led to the front door of his house. The reply vibrated and he released the breath he hadn’t even realized he was holding.
Yep, walked the entire block and a half from your house without any trouble at all. Amazing, right? Especially after that kiss….
His heart skipped around in his chest like he was a damned fifteen-year-old, and he spent too long trying to come up with a reply that wouldn’t sound lame. In the end he quickly typed and hit Send, trying not to second-guess himself.
You were asking for it. G’night.
Jake replied with a simple good night and he couldn’t decide if he was relieved or disappointed. He glanced along the block toward Jake’s house again, the rain coming steadily down, streaking gray across the spotlight above the garage sign. He debated whether he should have mentioned to Jake about the figure he’d seen, but no, he’d probably sound like an idiot. That was all he needed to add to the mess in his head: paranoia.
Still, as he let himself into the house, he couldn’t quite shake the quiet unease.
Chapter Six
JAKE WAS up at sunrise like always the next morning despite not sleeping well again. At first, it was because memories of Danny and that kiss had been playing on a repeating loop through his mind keeping his body on edge. But later into the small hours of the night, he’d started worrying about Leroy Hobbs and whether he might be responsible for the dead body Danny had found. The shocking violence of it certainly fit Hobbs’s MO.
Part of him wanted to tell Sheriff Hayes all about Hobbs and his history to make sure he was first on the suspect list. But a sense of self-preservation would keep him silent for the time being, even though it went against his instincts in knowing an unhinged killer with deadly anger issues was walking free among the community and he was withholding information that might be the difference between life and death for an innocent person.
But he couldn’t get around his reservations—he didn’t want the sheriff to dismiss him out of hand, which would very likely happen without any hard evidence. Plus he had no doubt the second he revealed his own past and connection to the man, the sheriff would remove him from any and all matters pertaining to the case, including what had happened to Danny. No way was he going to let that happen until he’d ascertained whether Hobbs was behind this and the sheriff had enough evidence to lock him up in supermax for the next fifty years.
Giving himself a headache for his troubles, he threw on a pair of shorts and a muscle top, before shoving his feet in his sneakers and heading out into the early humidity.
There was a reserve about two blocks down from his house. It had a small lake in the middle, and while one side was a grassy open area where people sometimes had picnics or let their dogs run off the leash, the opposite side was heavily treed, with nature trails winding through it. He’d taken to running there most mornings because unlike the main park in the middle of town, he didn’t have to avoid other joggers or mommies with strollers out on an early walk with coffee in hand.
As he approached the gate, he increased his pace and turned toward the track that would take him straight into the woods beyond the water. Birds were chirping and insects were buzzing lazily. For all the reasons he’d moved to Everness, he had to admit, he wasn’t exactly hating the change after growing up in a city. There was definitely a different pace to life here, and while he’d never considered himself a one-with-nature kind of guy, he was beginning to find he looked forward to these early-morning runs simply for the fact of being out here alone in the tranquillity.
Except apparently he wasn’t entirely alone this morning. Through the trees, he spotted a figure coming down the path in the opposite direction. His legs slowed him, because even though he told himself it was probably just wishful thinking, he was fairly certain he’d recognized the tousled dark blond hair. Sure enough, Danny came jogging around the bend, slowing and pulling out a pair of earbuds as they approached each other.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he greeted with a smile, way happier about this than he probably had any right to be. Seeing Danny had already brightened his day by about a thousand degrees. It was telling, but he wasn’t in the mood for any retrospectives at the moment. “You often out running this early?”
If so, it was amazing they hadn’t crossed paths sooner. But Danny shook his head.
“Not usually. Just this morning I woke up at the crack of dawn and my brain was too switched on to get back to sleep. I felt wired. Thought maybe a run would get it out of my system.”
“And how’s that working out for you?”
Danny shook his head, frustration tightening his features. “It’s not helping. I’m wearing myself out, but my brain won’t stop spinning. I just keep thinking about the body in the car and if I hadn’t gotten straight out of my pickup, if I’d been trapped—”
Danny shoved an unsteady hand through his damp hair.
“Hey, thinking what if never helps.” He should know; he’d done it to himself for months after his brother had died. What if he’d gone out with Luis that night? What if his brother had just ignored Hobbs and kept walking? What if some passerby had actually helped or called the cops instead of standing by and letting it happen—
His chest got tight with the old familiar ache, and he took a deep breath to clear it away, refocusing on Danny.
“But for what it’s worth, I really am sorry you had to see the body,” he continued.
“Do the police have any suspects?” There was a shadow of concern in Danny’s blue eyes that hadn’t been there yesterday.
“Actually, I’m not sure. I’m not on the case, and the detective from Conroe is keeping things pretty low-key.” He’d been thinking about checking in with the case when he got into work that morning. Mostly for his own motives in seeing which direction the detective was taking the case and if he needed to consider investigating Hobbs himself. It might have been stepping out of his bounds as a deputy, but surely if it led to the arrest of a killer, his audacity would be overlooked. Whether Detective Stevens actually told him anything of use was a whole other matter.
Danny nodded his reply, features tight as though it was really worrying him for some reason.
“Don’t stress,” he said, reaching out and clasping Danny’s shoulder. “It’s a small town. Hopefully it’ll be easy to solve—a dispute between neighbors that got out of hand or something like that.”
He didn’t know why he felt the need to reassure Danny, but maybe he was hoping the words were true himself. Perhaps it was something as simple as a dispute, and he was seeing ghosts where there were only shadows.
“You’re probably right.” Danny sent him a tight smile, not seeming the least bit reassured.
“Have you had breakfast?” he asked, mostly as a way to distract Danny from whatever dark thoughts his mind was stuck on.
“Wasn’t hungry.” Danny punctuated the words with a shrug. “Haven’t had much of an appetite since—”
Danny broke off with a rueful twist to his features, as though he didn’t even want to say the words. Yeah, seeing a dead body would do that to a person.
“I haven’t got much at my place, but if you want to come for a coffee, I could make some pancakes.” It’d have to be a short breakfast, he was due at the station in just over an hour, but right in that moment, he wasn’t as interested in getting to work on time as he was in making sure Danny had some breakfast and didn’t look so haunted any longer.
“Your place?” The shadows finally seemed to clear from Danny’s gaze at this. “Alone?”
He couldn’t help the grin spreading across his features. “What’s wrong? Afraid you w
on’t be able to keep your hands off me?”
“Something like that,” Danny returned in exasperation.
“You don’t have to keep your hands off me, you know,” he teased, ending on a laugh at the disbelieving eyebrow Danny arched at him.
“Coming from anyone else, that would have sounded like such a line.” Danny shook his head.
“But from me?” he prompted shamelessly.
“You know you’re too charming for your own good,” Danny muttered.
“It’s a burden to bear,” he returned gravely, as if it were the worst possible fate. “Come on, talking about pancakes is making me hungry.”
Danny sighed, running a hand through his hair again as his expression became resigned. “I can’t. I’m supposed to be starting work in the garage soon.”
He hated the way all the life seemed to get sucked out of Danny when he mentioned the garage. He could understand Danny’s mom needing him at home, but surely he could have gotten a job somewhere else in town so he wasn’t forced to deal with his father every day when their relationship was so antagonistic? It couldn’t have been healthy for anyone. But their friendship—or whatever they’d started—was too new for him to go giving advice where it might not be appreciated.
“Okay, then, some other time. Consider it an open invitation.” He sent Danny a smile, but got the feeling it might not have quite been his usual relaxed grin. “I’ll catch you later.”
He started to move around Danny, intending to finish his jog, but Danny stepped into his path, stopping him with a hand on his shoulder.
“Wait, Jake. I’m not blowing you off. I promise.”
He closed his hand around Danny’s, pulling it off his shoulder and bringing it up to his mouth, pressing a kiss into the palm and making Danny suck in a sharp breath.
“I know,” he replied, adding a hint of warmth to his voice. “Besides, now you have to make it up to me. The more inventive, the better.”
Danny swallowed, his gaze on Jake’s mouth, even though he’d lowered Danny’s hand.
“Maybe I should start right now,” Danny murmured, leaning forward, but Jake set a light hand on his chest, making him pause.
“Are you sure?”
He had to be 100 percent clear Danny had decided he wanted this, because once they started something, Jake knew he’d end up hurt if Danny changed his mind. There was something amazing about Danny, something that’d gotten under his skin from the first second they’d met. Despite telling himself a hundred times over he didn’t need a relationship of any kind complicating his situation, he wanted to get to know Danny in every way possible. He didn’t mind being a secret, as long as he knew Danny was fully committed to whatever they started.
“I spent half of last night thinking about it,” Danny replied in a low, quiet voice. “And I realized I don’t want to miss out on something that might be amazing just because my dad makes me feel like less of a person. I know it’s not going to be easy. I’m not going to be easy to deal with. I worry about it all the time. My dad finding out. I know it shouldn’t matter, but—”
“Hey.” He interrupted Danny’s unraveling by wrapping an arm around his shoulder and pulling him in for a hug. “You don’t have to explain or justify yourself to me. You never have to do that with me, okay?”
Danny nodded against his collarbone, tightening his hold with a shuddering breath.
“It doesn’t need to be anyone’s business but ours.” He stroked Danny’s back in slow, comforting circles, the burn in his chest telling him he’d do anything to protect Danny from getting hurt, especially by his father who was supposed to love him unconditionally. Life was rarely so ideal, unfortunately. “So, if I ask you out, does that mean you’re going to say yes?”
Danny pulled back, only far enough to look at him, a cute half smile tilting up his lips. “Like an actual date?”
“That is what people do, isn’t it?” He grinned at Danny in return. “We could go into Houston. Catch a movie, have something to eat.”
“That sounds amazing.” There was a spark of excitement in his eyes that made Jake pause.
“Danny, has anyone ever taken you out on a date before?” He didn’t know why, but his heart was skipping nervously.
Danny glanced down like maybe he was embarrassed, shoulders stiffening.
“Not many. Not any that I actually enjoyed. I mean, there was this guy, Adam, in college and we went out for drinks a few times. And friends set me up once or twice, but those were complete disasters.” He sighed and pulled out of Jake’s arms. “I must seem like such a loser to you.”
He touched his fingers to Danny’s jaw and gently urged him to look up again. “I definitely don’t think you’re a loser, and I never will. Gorgeous. Adorable. But not a loser.”
Danny gave a quick, disbelieving laugh, looking adorably flustered again, just like in his patrol car yesterday morning.
“What is it?” he asked with a quick laugh of his own.
“Just the things you say. I guess I’ve never had anyone tell me I’m gorgeous or adorable before.”
“Well, that definitely needs rectifying.” He shifted in, catching Danny’s hips, bringing them closer. “Note to self: tell Danny he’s gorgeous and adorable every day.”
Danny shook his head like he was having trouble comprehending it all. “You’re too much.”
“Yeah, I am. But I think it’s exactly what you need.” He slowly closed the distance between them, giving Danny time to tell him no or move away if he didn’t want this.
Except Danny shut his eyes and met him halfway, their mouths coming together gently, almost reverently. It wasn’t as full-on as the kiss they’d stolen on the side street next to the bar last night, but it was still heating him up in exactly the same way. He got the feeling it wouldn’t matter how Danny kissed him—fast or slow—he’d still end up so turned on his entire body ached.
Which was exactly what was happening right now. If they kept this up, he wasn’t going to be able to go anywhere until certain parts of his anatomy calmed the hell down. Besides, it was probably past time he went home and got ready for work.
He reluctantly broke the kiss, opening his eyes to find Danny smiling at him like he’d given him the moon and the stars. Oh damn. He could get used to the guy looking at him like that.
“I need to get home and shower so I’m not late for work.” He drew back, not wanting to let Danny go but knowing he didn’t have much choice in the matter. “So, tonight. I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“Tonight? Yes. No.” Danny shook his head, a hint of frustration edging into his features.
“You have other plans?” He crossed his arms and pretended to be insulted.
“No, I just meant, I’d rather you didn’t pick me up at my house. I’ll meet you halfway to your place, on the corner.”
“Of course.” He sent Danny a nod, letting him know it was okay if he didn’t want his parents to see him picking Danny up. “Right, I really need to get—”
A thunk sounded near his feet, and he looked down to see a crossbow bolt sticking out of the ground that he swore hadn’t been there a second ago.
“What the—”
Danny jerked and then fell backward, grunting in pain. Jake went into instant battle mode without even a thought. He grabbed Danny under the arms and dragged him behind the thick trunk of a nearby tree. They collapsed together at the base, Jake keeping one arm around Danny’s middle, his back pressed to Jake’s chest. Danny’s breathing was choppy, his hand clutching his shoulder where a crossbow bolt was now protruding. Blood was quickly darkening his T-shirt around the edges of the projectile. Too high to have hit anything vital, he didn’t think, going off the basic field-med he’d learned in the Army, but no doubt it hurt like a bitch.
If Danny wasn’t in immediate danger of bleeding out, his first priority had to be in making sure they were safe from whoever had fired the crossbow at them. He leaned out around the trunk and saw a figure moving swiftly off through t
he trees, too far away to identify clearly. He started to shift Danny sideways.
“Danny, I need you to just sit here for a second. I’ll be right back.”
He started to get to his feet, but Danny caught his forearm in a bruising grip.
“Jake, no way! You’re not armed. It’s too dangerous.” His blue eyes were drenched in pain and panic.
Jake cursed under his breath at the fact he was going to have to let the bastard who’d done this get away, because Danny was right—with no backup and no weapon, it’d be suicidal to pursue.
“Okay, it’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.” He ripped off his top and gently pressed it around the bolt in Danny’s shoulder to stem the bleeding, before pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“Can you take it out?” Danny asked in a strained voice. “Fuck, it hurts, Jake.”
“I know. I’m sorry, but I can’t take it out. Not until the paramedics get here.”
He called 911, cursing under his breath as it seemed to take the operator forever to answer.
“This is Deputy Jake Perez. I need all available units at Gaines Reserve for apprehension of a person wanted in relation to an attack with a deadly weapon. Consider them armed and dangerous. I also need you to roll EMTs to this location. Male, early twenties, sustained protruding injury caused by a crossbow. Stable for now, but bleeding heavily.”
The operator confirmed his request, then gave him an ETA on the arrival of his backup and the ambulance. He didn’t want to move Danny—for one, because he was in pain and two, because he didn’t know for sure the perp had left the area. The second they were out in the open, they could be fired on again.
However, as he heard sirens in the distance, he decided to take the risk that the sound of cops closing in would deter the perp and send him fleeing. The last thing he wanted was for the guy to get away, but he needed the area clear to get Danny to safety.
“Come on, we have to get out of here.” Jake went around to his opposite side and looped Danny’s good arm around his shoulder, helping him to his feet.
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