Taking It Slow (Code of Honor Book 4)

by Reese Knightley

  Spencer stumbled. “Wife?”

  “Yeah, we’ve been divorced for a long time.”

  Spencer frowned. “When did you marry?”

  “Right out of high school. We divorced a year later.”

  “You’re bi?”

  “No.” Liam stopped and turned.

  Spencer took a step back, searching Liam’s face.

  “I’m gay. I got married to hide it from my parents. I didn’t need to,” Liam said after a moment. “After my divorce, I came out to them and they told me they already knew.”

  He returned Liam’s smile.

  “That’s nice.” It was all he could come up with, but it sounded lame. He couldn’t relate, his parents had never known he was gay. That ship had sailed. His father had passed away before he could share with the man. His mother was a bigot; he hadn’t bothered to come out to her.

  “This way.” Liam walked through a large, open doorway and into a kitchen with white cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. A long, island-type bar ran the length of the room with stools lining one side. Liam snagged two root beers out of the fridge and handed him one.

  Spencer slowly took it, wondering where the hell his awkwardness was coming from. He grabbed the bottle, twisting off the lid, and turned to the window that ran the length of the wall behind the stove and kitchen sink. To the right of the room, a pair of French doors stood open, letting the California sunshine and breeze inside.

  Beyond the doors, his brother stood facing a massive swimming pool.

  “I never knew you had a brother.”

  Spencer glanced over at Liam to find unreadable green eyes studying him.

  “Sorry. It just never came up,” he offered lamely. It wasn’t so much that he was a private person, but more due to the fact that in the few years he’d known Liam, they hadn’t really had the chance to talk. Let’s face it, he thought, it wasn’t like I could ask Liam over to my place, for god’s sake. His rundown apartment in a bad neighborhood wasn’t someplace you had a Cobalt over for dinner.

  “How old is he?”

  “Sixteen. I was fifteen when he was born.”

  “Mr. Cobalt? Shall I set out the sides?” a soft voice interrupted them.

  “Please.”

  Liam spoke to the sixty something woman. She wore her blonde hair pulled back in a bun, cream colored pants, and a pale blue shirt covered with a flowered apron.

  “Spencer, this is Anna, she keeps my house and life in order.”

  “Oh, you.” Anna rolled her eyes at Liam and held out her hand to Spencer. “I’m the Cobalt housekeeper. It’s very nice meeting you, Spencer.”

  “Same.” He returned the woman’s wide smile.

  “And who’s the young one outside?”

  “Wesley, my younger brother.” He gazed out at Wesley.

  “I’ll put out extra sides,” Anna nodded, “you two go start the burgers.”

  Liam’s hand at his back guided him out the door and he was too surprised to even think of stopping.

  “We’ll put on extra meat.” Liam’s hand sat warmly on his back.

  “Doesn’t she need help?” He threw a glance toward the house to hide the shiver that went down his spine.

  “She’d throw a fit, trust me, I live in fear,” Liam chuckled.

  He snorted. “She’s what, five feet, maybe weighs a buck five? I think you could take her.”

  Liam grinned and dropped his hand. He missed the touch immediately.

  “Trust me, you don’t want to mess with Anna.”

  Spencer couldn’t stop his smile from stretching wider. Approaching the barbecue, Liam lifted the lid and turned on the flame. Spencer guzzled half his root beer, enjoying the acidic taste on his tongue and throat. He closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them, he found Liam watching him. Spencer wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, holding Liam’s gaze.

  Something crackled between them, he felt it in the air.

  “Dude, this place is lit,” Wesley called out, interrupting his fixation on Liam. “Can I go for a swim?”

  “No,” he called back, not looking away.

  “Yes, of course.” Liam gave him a scolding look and he immediately felt guilty.

  Wesley stared at Spencer.

  “You don’t have a suit,” he said, sounding lame even to his own ears.

  “I have several in the guest house,” Liam said with a brow quirk and pointed to the large guest house that stood beyond the pool.

  “Hell yeah! Can I?”

  Wesley wasn’t going to move until he had his approval. That wasn’t normal for a teenager. Wesley should be all about defying authority but instead, he craved it.

  Spencer didn’t have the heart to say no. Why not let his brother enjoy a bit of luxury?

  “Go ahead,” he agreed, feeling an ache start in his chest.

  “Woot!”

  “Wesley, there’s soda in the fridge if you’re thirsty.” Liam chuckled at his brother’s exuberant fist pump.

  “Dope, thank you!” Wesley did a pivot and jogged toward the guest house with a loud, happy laugh.

  Spencer was still smiling when he turned back to Liam.

  “Here.” Liam handed him the spatula. “Turn the burgers while I grab us another root beer.”

  He got busy and Liam returned with their cold ones just as Wesley dived into the pool from the deep end.

  “Thanks.” He handed Liam the spatula and set the unopened bottle down.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Wesley climbed out of the pool, drawing his attention, and did a cannonball from the side.

  He picked at the label on his bottle of root beer and swallowed down what was left of the semi-cold drink.

  “I’m glad you came.”

  He swapped his empty bottle for the new one before turning to glance at Liam.

  “How long have you lived here?”

  “This was my grandparent’s home. They left it to my mom and dad. We inherited it when my parents died.”

  Cobalt Industries was part of the top one percent. Spencer had heard some of the family history. It was owned by three brothers and a sister after their parents were killed in a boating accident.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured, not sure of what else to say.

  “Thank you, it was years ago. Elijah had already enlisted and was fending for himself by that time. Thankfully, Logan and I were old enough and took full custody of our younger sister.”

  “Ashley.” He’d had the pleasure of meeting Liam’s younger sister around Christmas time. “How’s Crumpet?”

  Liam snorted on a laugh. “As magical as ever. Elijah and Justin make it work. I’ve never seen a pair more committed to each other.”

  “It was a whirlwind romance,” he agreed. “When are they tying the knot?”

  “Probably Christmas.” Liam grinned.

  Spencer chuckled. “Yeah, because why not?” Christmas was a magical time in Crumpet.

  Liam opened his mouth to respond, but a sound from the side of the house drew his gaze around. Spencer turned just as two blond-haired teenagers came running through the side gate.

  “Uncle Liam!” the young girl yelled, skipping up to Liam and wrapping her arms around his waist.

  “Hey, you two,” Liam responded, wrapping the girl up.

  “Hey, Uncle,” the blond-haired boy said.

  “Hello, Adam.”

  “Who’s that?” Adam gazed at him brightly.

  “This is Spencer. Spencer, meet my second cousins, Adam and Jessica. They live next door.”

  “Hey.” He smiled back.

  A yodel and a splash had him glancing back at the pool just in time to see Wesley do another cannonball into the water.

  “Can we swim? Plllllllease?” Jessica begged Liam.

  “Where’s your dad?”

  Something in Liam’s voice drew his gaze, but other than a slight tightening of Liam’s lips, he couldn’t tell what was wrong.

  “Not home,” Adam sai
d.

  “Okay, get changed.”

  “Yay!”

  “Did you tell Mrs. Walters you were here?”

  “Yes! She said we can stay until five,” Jessica said.

  “Mrs. Walters?” He glanced at Liam and then at the pool where his brother was swimming like a dolphin.

  “Their live-in nanny.”

  “Can we have burgers too?” Jessica asked, hopeful.

  “Yes,” Liam responded and the pair took off toward the guest house. “Don’t run next to the pool,” Liam shouted after them.

  Anna appeared with more patties and Spencer took the platter. Carefully, he placed the extra burgers on the grill. Barbecue scents drifted on the wind just as the teenagers reappeared, dashed toward the pool, and jumped into the deep end.

  Wesley, treading water, appeared unsure of how to react when faced with the exuberant siblings.

  Adam took the initiative and splashed Wesley in the face before laughing and diving deep. Jessica sent a stream of water at Wesley too, but his brother was already moving. Wesley dived, grabbed her ankle, and pulled her under before chasing after Adam.

  “Is their father your cousin?”

  “No, their mother was, but she was more like a sister. Hence, them calling me uncle.” Liam smiled. “She passed away,” Liam added and turned back to the burgers.

  “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

  “Thank you,” Liam replied, gazing toward the pool for a moment before turning back to him. “They’re twins, it runs in my family. Their mom was killed in a car accident a few years ago.” Liam flipped all the burgers and continued. “The kids come over as much as they can and visit Anna and Tom.”

  “Tom?”

  “Anna’s husband.”

  “They live here with you?”

  “Yes.”

  Spencer tossed a look at the guest house.

  “No, not the guest house, there’s actual staff quarters inside.”

  Staff quarters? Jesus fuck. He felt like he’d stepped into a fairytale.

  At his continued silence, Liam added, “My parents requested that they be taken care of in the will. Anna and Tom are like family.”

  Who the hell was this guy? A colonel in the Army, a billionaire several times over, a man who shelters his cousin’s kids, and one who gives his housekeeper and her husband a home. Someone who wanted to be his friend.

  A warmth swept through his chest and he held the plate so Liam could place cooked burgers on it. He didn’t know exactly what to think about Liam, but he knew he wanted to see where this friendship took them.

  The noise from the pool drew his gaze and he found the teenagers dunking each other. When they hit the surface of the water, the laughter and shouting reached an insane level. His brother was having the time of his life.

  Spencer couldn’t stop himself from smiling so wide his cheeks hurt.

  Liam

  “Come swim.”

  Spencer turned his head at the sound of his voice and those crystal blue eyes locked on him.

  The surprise in Spencer’s eyes made him smile. In fact, he’d been smiling all day. Even though he tried not to, he couldn’t keep his eyes from Spencer. The awareness zinged between them, he felt it in his gut and the tightness in his chest, and he was pretty damned sure Spencer felt it too.

  Something stood between them and it had to do with money, and Liam was going to figure it out. Spencer spoke about their monetary differences. Liam had never lorded his money over anyone. He didn’t spend extravagantly, ever. He knew Spencer made a decent salary and wondered what kind of hardship had skewed Spencer’s views.

  “I don’t have a suit.” Spencer’s voice brought his attention back.

  “I have tons in the -”

  “Guest house?” That fucking killer smile popped and Liam found himself holding his breath.

  “Yeah.” Liam couldn’t help but chuckle when he finally responded. “Get changed or I’ll toss you in when I get back.”

  “You and what army?” Spencer flexed his arms, his pecs jumped beneath the tight t-shirt, and Liam’s mouth went dry.

  “I won’t need one. I have teenagers to help me,” he smirked.

  Spencer snorted, but pushed forward all lanky and lazy-like up and out of the lounger and sauntered across the patio. The man was half way down the small walkway toward the guest house before Liam realized he was still staring.

  Shaking himself, he shoved out of his chair and hurried into the house and changed.

  Dressed in dark blue trunks with a towel tossed around his neck, he returned to find Spencer standing at the pool’s edge.

  Each gleaming ripple of muscle looked like etched granite in the sunlight. The trunks Spencer wore fit snug, outlining his firm ass.

  When Spencer turned toward him, Liam let his gaze wander over his shoulders, chest, and rippling abs. Intricate tattoo designs that covered his lower forearm would take weeks to figure them all out. Lower, below his pant line, but exposed by the swimming trunks, was a stitched-up bullet wound that had almost cost Spencer his life.

  After noticing the gunshot wound, it was easy to pick out other small injuries that had been done to this magnificent man. He realized Spencer’s form was growing closer before he lifted his gaze to catch and hold Spencer’s.

  “When they brought you off that plane…” He swallowed hard.

  “I know,” Spencer said roughly, his voice low as if sensing how worried he’d been.

  “I thought I’d lost you before I had a chance to…” Liam searched for the words, but Spencer beat him to it.

  “Be friends?” Spencer said.

  “Yeah,” he said slowly, sheepishly. “Friends.”

  “Well.”

  “Well what?” He stared at Spencer, trying to figure out the expression on his face. But before it dawned on him, he was hefted over Spencer’s shoulder like he didn’t weigh two hundred pounds. Before he could get a sound out of his mouth, he was tossed into the pool.

  The sound of teenagers laughing and whooping ended as he sank beneath the water. White bubbles signaled Spencer had followed him in. He cleaved underwater, racing toward the trickster, and met with a wall of muscle.

  Gripping Spencer’s hips, he pushed upward, bending his knees and lifting Spencer partially up and out of the water.

  Spencer’s torso hit the air and then he was toppling backwards with a loud laugh. The teenagers attacked and all hell broke loose for the next forty-five minutes.

  Calling it quits, he swam toward the edge of the pool and propped his arms on the side.

  Wesley, Jessica, and Adam climbed out of the water and sprawled on the lounge chairs.

  “I look like a prune.” He held up his wrinkled hands when Spencer floated near.

  “Me too. It’s just so nice.”

  “You and Wesley can come over any time. I don’t mind.”

  Spencer searched his face for a long moment while Liam held his breath.

  “Thanks,” the soldier said and left the pool without another word.

  Not sure what had brought on the sudden closed off expression, Liam followed more slowly, giving Spencer space.

  The last damned thing he wanted was to fuck up their friendship. And the hope that it would someday turn into more.

  “Hey, Uncle Liam? Can we sleep over and Wesley too?”

  “Yeah!” Wesley added.

  “It’s up to Spencer,” he told Wesley. Turning to his cousins, he squinted. “Go get your things. Leave a note for Rick in the kitchen.”

  “Whoop!”

  “Can we?”

  “Let me think about it, Wes. Go with them and get their things,” Spencer replied.

  Liam couldn’t tell what Spencer was thinking.

  “It’s okay if he stays. I’ve got plenty of rooms for everyone.”

  “I can imagine.” Spencer gazed at the house.

  “Adam and Jessica stay here a lot,” he added.

  Spencer slid him a side long glance. “You don’t get al
ong with their dad?”

  “Rick tries, but I think he has no clue how to be a father,” Liam muttered.

  “What do you mean?” His eyebrows lifted at the frustrating tone in Liam’s voice.

  “He’s been in and out of their life from the beginning. Then he got into some trouble with the law a while back. Ended up doing a two-year stent in prison.”

  “How long has he been out?”

  “He got out about three months ago and is currently on parole. He got early release for good behavior, and recently got a job as a mechanic down the street.”

  “And he lives in the house?” For some reason that surprised him.

  “He’s not a bad guy. He’s just made some stupid mistakes.”

  “So, the kids stayed with you while he was in prison.”

  “Yeah. I miss having them full-time. I’d like to give them a break from Rick and vice versa. Plus, they have more fun over here.”

  “Is that so?”

  God, he loved Spencer’s smile.

  “Yes, that’s so. So, you’d be doing me a favor if you and Wesley stayed over.” Liam kept his tone casual, trying not to come off as too hopeful.

  He saw the argument forming in Spencer’s eyes, but before the man could voice it, Liam cut in.

  “I can put in a movie for us all to watch. We’ve got popcorn and snacks galore,” Liam finished.

  Spencer’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “Caramel popcorn?”

  “I think so.” His smile grew.

  “I’ll need to borrow a t-shirt and sweat pants.”

  “I think I can manage that,” he countered.

  “Wesley will need pajamas.” Spencer returned the smile.

  “Adam keeps a whole wardrobe of stuff here.”

  Spencer chuckled. “All right.”

  “Cool,” he said, but felt anything but cool. In fact, he felt hot at the thought of Spencer sleeping under his roof wearing his clothes.

  Calm down, he silently ordered his dick.

  Spencer

  The movie was halfway through when Spencer felt eyes on him. Sliding a glance toward Liam, he found the man looking at him curiously. The heat that fisted his gut wasn’t unexpected, but fuck if it didn’t make him hard.

  “What?” He widened his eyes, fiercely glad the numerous couch throw pillows hid his arousal.