According to Design

by Nicole Dennis

  Keegan lifted a hand and batted at the annoyance, slapping Wyatt’s arm and trying to shift away. Wyatt continued to tease Keegan awake with his beard, lips and fingers. Keegan again tried to swat him away. Wyatt caught Keegan’s hand and suckled on the forefinger.

  That did the trick.

  Keegan moaned and opened his eyes. He blinked and focused on him. “Whatcha doing me?” he slurred, still mostly asleep.

  “Trying to wake you up, Kee. You missed your alarm.”

  “S’time?”

  “Six-thirty.”

  Keegan’s eyes widened at the time. He popped up, his shoulder catching Wyatt’s chin and clacking his teeth together.

  “Ow…” Wyatt dropped to the side.

  “Oh no, are you okay? I’m sorry,” Keegan said. Wyatt’s sharp cry clearly jolted him awake.

  “I’m fine, hon. Go take your shower and get ready.” He stretched and yawned hard. “Gonna go back to sleep.”

  “In your jeans?”

  “Yup. I’ll be at the school later for presentation.” Wyatt tugged his phone out of his pocket. He swiped his fingers on the screen and reset a couple of alarms. After stretching across the bed, he reached out and dropped the phone on the far upper corner of the bed. He wiggled until he slid under the sheet. Keegan slipped out on the other side. He wrapped his arms around the pillow and breathed in Keegan’s scent. “Hmm. Smells like you.” He turned to glance at Keegan, who tilted his head and stared back at him.

  Keegan grinned and leaned closer to press a light kiss to Wyatt’s lips, who lifted to meet him. With some whispered words of love, he left Wyatt to sleep as he got ready for school.

  Wyatt watched as long as he could until he followed Keegan into dreamland.

  * * * *

  Standing next to his covered sculpture in front of a very large crowd, Wyatt blew out a long breath and rocked back on his heels. He tried to not to fidget while both the principal and mayor gave speeches. After a short nap, he showered and changed clothes into something Keegan picked out for him. He dressed in chocolate brown slacks, a button-down striped shirt with different shades of blue and brown that he left un-tucked, and a blue blazer over the ensemble due to the cool November breeze. He’d finished the outfit with sharp brown leather ankle boots and felt quite stylish. As the principal continued to talk, Wyatt moved his gaze across the crowd until he landed on two very familiar faces. They stood near one another.

  Keegan. Collin.

  He met Keegan’s direct gaze and smiled at him. Keegan winked back and grinned. Collin waved at him.

  “Without any further delays, I present our very own Shore Breeze artist, Wyatt McBride, and his creation. Wyatt, please do the honors,” the principal said to finish his speech.

  Wyatt grasped the thin sheet and yanked hard. He kept pulling the sheet to one side and revealed the massive iron, steel and glass sculpture he’d created. Months of diligent, careful work for this moment. The main dolphin rose high above the multiple crests of waves, with flippers out, the unique bottle-shaped nose pointing toward the sky and tail flukes curling amongst the water. It looked like Wyatt had captured the dolphin in motion and mid-leap. Even the glass eyes twinkled under the autumn sun. Smaller members finished the pod to create a ‘class of dolphins’ for the school. Some barely had their noses out of the water, while a couple more stretched out of the water. None of the smaller animals went higher than the flippers on the central dolphin.

  Raucous cheers and clapping roared over the crowd.

  Wyatt dropped the cloth to the ground and bowed to everyone in thanks of the praise. He turned and shook hands with the mayor, the principal and the superintendent. He blushed under their generous thanks and adoration of his piece and how it would grace the school for decades to follow.

  “Please come and admire this wonderful creation and enjoy the party on the side lawns. Music and food to help celebrate this day. Yes, students, this will be a half day for everyone,” the principal said.

  The students added even more cheers to the news.

  Wyatt stepped to the far corner of the dolphin’s concrete platform to shake hands and listen to well-wishers and their congratulations. He was never comfortable with this part, even while in his gallery during a new show. Still, he reckoned this was part of being an artist. Many asked for his information and requested commissions. He handed out all the cards he’d stuffed in a pocket.

  Off to the side, he found Collin and Keegan stretching and moving to find him. He straightened and pointed back toward the party. He mouthed as clear as possible to find a table and he’d meet them. Keegan finally waved back in answer and walked off with Collin.

  While he spoke with the principal and mayor, screams rose from the celebration area. Those weren’t screams of joy. They came straight from pain and fear.

  Another distinct scream sounded.

  Wyatt lifted his head and focused toward the area.

  “Wyatt!”

  When Keegan shouted his name, he took off running, pushing through the crowd to get to Keegan. A quick glance revealed Collin next to a couple of boys, faces pale with fear, but safe.

  “Keegan!” Wyatt shouted.

  The crowd dispersed. People scattered in different directions.

  “No! Get away from me!”

  “Over here, Wyatt, follow me,” Robin hollered to catch Wyatt’s attention. He raced past Wyatt and turned away from the crowd.

  When they broke free, Wyatt saw Keegan several feet ahead of them. Keegan struggled to get free from a taller man, who had captured Keegan with a harsh grip on his upper arm. The bastard shook Keegan hard. Wyatt pushed himself faster to close the distance.

  Keegan needed him. Now.

  Wyatt didn’t slow down as he cocked his fist back. He spun and used the motion to let his fist fly. His closed fist slammed into the cheek and jaw of the man’s face.

  The shock of the punch forced the man to release Keegan. Wyatt caught Keegan and twisted to keep Keegan out of the man’s reach. He lost his balance, stumbled over his feet and clutched Keegan close. Unable to get his balance, they fell to the ground. Wyatt twisted again to take the brunt of the fall.

  The stranger hollered and cursed. He lunged toward them, but didn’t get close.

  Robin and two deputies pounced on the bastard and knocked him to the ground. One of the deputies was in uniform and pulled out his handcuffs. Robin and the second deputy managed to secure the man, yanking his hands into position to place the cuffs around his wrists.

  The man fought against them, blatantly resisting the arrest. “What the fuck is this shit?” the man snapped.

  Robin rolled the man over and forced him to sit on the ground. The deputies flanked him, not letting him move. “Looks like attempted aggravated kidnapping to me.”

  “He’s my boyfriend. We were having a private argument. I’m taking him home,” the man said.

  “Doesn’t look like he wanted to go home with you. That’s from years of law enforcement,” Robin snapped back.

  The man continued to holler, argue and curse with Robin.

  Ignoring the chaos, Wyatt kept his attention on Keegan. He stayed curled around Keegan, keeping him close. His lover was far too pale. He could feel the trembling in Keegan’s body. It worried the hell out of him at how Keegan might be slipping into a PTSD attack. Bending over, Wyatt pressed soft kisses to Keegan’s forehead and temple.

  “Keegan, stay with me, baby. I’m here. Come back to me, Kee. I have you. You’re safe. Listen to my voice and ground yourself,” Wyatt whispered.

  “Keep talking to him. You’re doing great,” Doc Elliott said. He crouched to move into into Wyatt’s view. Behind the doctor, the paramedics, Grayson and Norman, also appeared. Elliott accepted the stethoscope from Norman and shifted closer to listen to Keegan’s heart and feel his pulse.

  “How is he?” Wyatt asked.

  “Pulse is a little fast. Breathing shallow,” Elliott said. “Talk to him, Wyatt. Ground him to your voice.”


  Wyatt blinked back tears. The rush of adrenaline faded. He stared at Keegan while he plied a golden brown curl between his fingers. “I know you can hear me, Kee. Open your eyes. Don’t let him scare you away from me,” he said in a stronger warm tone.

  The long lashes fluttered on Keegan’s lids. It was the first sign of his responding to Wyatt.

  “There you are,” Wyatt said and kissed Keegan’s temple. “Come on, baby. All the way.”

  Finally, Keegan opened his eyes. The pupils were wide and dazed, unfocused. Within moments, Keegan moved his gaze and focused upon Wyatt’s face. They widened as what happened flashed back to him. He flailed a hand until he could grab Keegan’s shirt. “Dwayne. Here! Found me… Wyatt!”

  “I’m here. I’m here.” Wyatt gathered Keegan closer and rocked him. “Don’t shatter, stay in control, Kee, I have you. Lean on me.”

  Keegan curled his legs around Wyatt, trying to roll into a fetal position. His whole body shook. “Dwayne… Here…” He buried his face against Wyatt’s chest.

  “Robin has him in cuffs. He can’t hurt you,” Wyatt said. When he saw Robin moving closer, he nodded to let Robin talk to Keegan.

  “Gentle tones. Small sentences. He’s still in shock,” Elliott said while he looped the stethoscope around his neck. “Otherwise, there might be some bruising where he’s been grabbed, but unharmed.”

  “Good to know,” Robin said. He crouched to analyze Keegan’s condition. “Keegan, I need you to look at me. Please.”

  “Kee, talk to Robin,” Wyatt said in encouragement.

  Keegan lifted his cheek from Wyatt’s shirt and faced Robin. He kept one hand fisted in the cloth, almost twisting it.

  Robin pointed toward the handcuffed man. “Do you recognize that man who attacked you?”

  Keegan didn’t bother to look where Robin gestured. “Dwayne Morris.”

  “Where do you know him from?”

  “Robin, do you have to—”

  Robin glared at Wyatt for interrupting. “This is my job. Let me do this to help Keegan.”

  Keegan released his grip, only to move it to a different spot on Wyatt’s shirt. “It’s okay, Wyatt. I can do this.”

  “You little piece of shit, don’t you say a fucking word!” the bastard shouted.

  “Shut him up. Pull him back and stand closer to the wall,” Robin ordered his officer.

  The officers nodded and dragged the man away.

  Robin returned his attention to Keegan. He waved a hand and moved in the opposite direction from the perp to speak with him. “I should bring you to the station for a proper statement, but we’ll have a quick talk here. Okay?”

  Keegan nodded and adjusted his grip on Wyatt. “Can Wyatt stay with me?”

  “Of course. We’ll make things official at the station. Can you answer some questions?”

  “Yeah.”

  Robin pulled out a small pad and pen. He flipped the cover to a fresh page and readied his pen to jot down notes. “How do you know Mr. Morris?”

  “My ex from Raleigh and a narcotics detective. Sent to prison for abuse and theft of drugs. The chief forced him to turn in his badge and gun and blackballed him from any work in the field. The parole board let him out early for so-called good behavior. Though I was supposed to be protected, somehow he found me,” Keegan said and licked his lips.

  “Go ahead. Tell me everything about what happened.”

  “There was a couple of emails from him. I checked the databases and with some friends in Raleigh to learn more. Dwayne didn’t contact his parole officer one week. Somehow, he managed to track my whereabouts down here.” Keegan nuzzled his cheek against Wyatt. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw him in the crowd. That he was even here in Shore Breeze. He yanked me away before I could do anything. Then he dragged me toward his car.”

  “Did he say why he tracked you down?”

  “Dwayne wanted me back, under his shoe and addicted to drugs so I would be pliable. I told him no. I was clean and remaining that way. I chose a new life without him. I wouldn’t go anywhere with him or go back to drugs. No more. Not again.”

  “Are you telling me this man in handcuffs, Dwayne Morris, tried to kidnap you?” Robin said, repeating Keegan’s words for verification.

  “Yes. I resisted and called for Wyatt,” Keegan said.

  “Okay. Thank you, Keegan,” Robin said. He returned across the way to stand in front of the disgruntled Dwayne Morris. His deputies forced Dwayne to sit on the ground, his back against the wall. “Dwayne Morris, you’re under arrest for attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault, resisting arrest and parole violation. I might even figure out some additional charges.”

  “Fuck off, Sheriff, you have no right.”

  “Oh, I have every right. Dwayne Morris, you have the right to remain silent. I suggest you follow that one,” Robin said. He continued through the Miranda rights and motioned to his deputies to yank Dwayne to his feet.

  “You can’t keep me here,” Dwayne said.

  “This is my town, my territory and you’re in my jurisdiction. None of your friends can help you here. Oh, yes, I can keep you. At least, you’ll have company in the cell.” Robin grinned. He turned back to Keegan and Wyatt. “Thanks to your accurate description, Keegan, we found the suspect who tossed the muck at you. You weren’t the first one he attacked. Phillip found everything we need in the truck and house. He’s sitting behind bars now.”

  Sully stepped out of the crowd, his arm around Chandler. “Who is it? If you don’t mind my asking.”

  “Not at all. It’s Charles Ray Moore,” Robin said. “Do you know him?”

  “Fuck. Yeah, I do,” Sully said. He rubbed his hand over Chandler’s arm. “He was one of mine. I fired him after he made homophobic slurs against Chandler. We were sitting together, enjoying lunch at the Charm while working on the renovations.”

  “I didn’t know that, thank you for the update,” Robin said. “Why do you ask about him?”

  “I was attacked by someone who threw muck over me,” Chandler said in a low voice.

  “There’s no report of an attack on you,” Robin said.

  “Chandler was too frightened and locked in his OCD to report anything,” Sully said. “I barely managed to get him back to the Charm and his room. He wasn’t in any shape to speak with anyone.”

  “I’m sorry. I know I should have done something,” Chandler said.

  “I understand, Chandler. It isn’t your fault.” Robin tapped a finger against his arm. “It’s too late for documentation of the actual crime. Do you have anything to substantiate these claims?”

  “I bagged his clothes,” Sully said. “They’re at my home where I placed the bag in a closet. They haven’t been cleaned or tampered with since the incident.”

  “Just what I wanted to hear.” Robin pointed to a deputy. “Bates, get in your patrol car and follow Sully and Chandler to their place. Get the evidence, tag it to start the chain of custody, and bring it to the station. Give it straight to Phillip to add it to the files.” He looked at Chandler. “Can you give a statement now?”

  “Yes, I can tell you everything. I remember every horrible moment as if it was yesterday,” Chandler said.

  “Bates, take his report as well.”

  “Yes, Sheriff.” Bates turned to Sully and Chandler. “Mr. Tarleton, Mr. Braddock, I’ll follow you.”

  When the three took off, Robin pondered the position of the remaining deputy and the perp. “Take him out of here and lock him in your car. I want him processed and behind bars by the time I get to the station. Tell Lancaster and Swinney to follow you for back-up.”

  “Yes, Sheriff,” the deputy said and pushed Dwayne to make him move forward. He spoke into the radio to contact the other deputies with the new orders.

  “You know I’ll always find you, Keegan. You’re mine! You always will be. No matter what happens. I’ll find you,” Dwayne shouted.

  Robin grimaced and shook his head. “Another crazy one on my hands. Gr
eat. I’m tired of these bastards finding my town. Too bad we can’t erect a huge wall and gates.” He turned his attention back to Keegan and Wyatt, but also glanced at Elliott. He nodded toward the couple on the ground. “Can you release them from the scene? Do you need to transport Keegan to the clinic?”

  “At the moment, I don’t see a medical reason,” Elliott said as he handed the stethoscope back to the paramedic. He visually examined Keegan. “How are you feeling? Do you want to go to the clinic?”

  Keegan shook his head. “No, please. I wish to stay with Wyatt.”

  “Promise to contact me if anything changes,” Elliott said.

  “Of course.”

  “Good. You two can leave the scene,” Elliott said as he rose to his feet. “There’s someone who’s searching for both of you.”

  “Uncle Wyatt. Mr. Keegan. Are you okay?” Collin skidded across the grass then dropped to his knees.

  “We’re okay. Keegan is safe. Do you want to go home with us or stay with your friends?” Wyatt asked.

  “I would like to stay longer. Lucas can take me home,” Collin said.

  “No problem. Call if you need me,” Wyatt said and wrapped his other arm around Keegan. “Kee, up on your feet.”

  With care and Collin on Keegan’s other side, they helped him get to his feet and steady himself.

  “Go ahead and take him home, Wyatt. I’m sorry that rank bastard screwed up the celebration. It’s a mighty fine statue,” Robin said.

  “At least the sculpture stands. That’s the important part. Along with Keegan being safe and in my arms, it’s all I need.” Wyatt tucked Keegan against him. He grabbed his nephew in a one-arm hug, whispered a reassurance into his ear, and released him. “Go on, Collin, we’re okay. Return to your friends.”

  Collin worried his lower lip. With a nod, he disappeared into the crowd.

  Robin turned to face the crowd. “Make room, please. Let them pass. Dakota, Reece, Beau, can you help get them through the crowd? Beau, hon, I’ll be home later.”