by Lynn Stark
Getting to his feet, Dragon headed toward the main house. He would ask Stephen and Jade if they knew Randy. Silver wasn’t a large place. Everyone seemed to know one another or was at least familiar with the people living there. Jade owned a yarn shop a couple blocks off the square. It had become quite the popular gathering place. Dragon knew he didn’t mind being there when he was keeping watch over Jade. There was something soothing about the shop. Well, unless Jade had a new shipment of yarn, then it seemed all hell would break loose as knitting and crocheting enthusiasts descended upon the store. Dragon was actually surprised by the number of men who were into the yarn arts, as Jade called them. So far, Dragon had resisted the impulse to try it himself. He did, however, think that Tunisian crochet looked interesting.
Because Jade had been skilled with a hook and needles for several years, it wasn’t surprising to find Jade working on something new. Many of his projects could be seen strewn around the house. Dragon was impressed with the man’s skill.
When Dragon walked into the large kitchen he saw Jade with skeins of different colored yarns lined up on the long marble countertop. He was examining them closely, his mouth twisted to the side as he made a humming sound. Snake was seated on a stool nearby, absently stroking the scar on his cheek. He nodded to Dragon, but didn’t take his gaze from what Jade was doing. There was no sign of Stephen.
“What’s up, Jade?”
“I’m trying to decide what colors to use for Stephen’s new socks.”
Dragon blinked. There wasn’t one color on the counter that Dragon would wear, even if they were covered by boots and jeans. He wasn’t that gay. “I’m sure he’ll like whatever you choose,” he said as diplomatically as he could. “I came by to ask if you know Randy Carr. He’s one of the people who lives with Reagan and Noah.”
Jade looked up and smiled. “Yes, I know Randy. Not well, but when he isn’t working for Connor, he does odd jobs for me to make a few extra dollars. Why?”
“He approached me about protection. There’s someone he’s afraid of and wanted a bodyguard.”
“Wow, I didn’t know he was having problems. But we’re not really friends. Not yet, anyway. We don’t talk much about personal things. Are you going to do it?”
Dragon shook his head. “No. He changed his mind almost as soon as he asked if I would be interested in being his bodyguard. I performed some background checks on this guy who has Randy spooked. He’s an asswipe with a propensity for violence. He’ll be getting out of jail in a few days. He’s already been warned to stay out of trouble.”
“Do we need to have a talk with this guy?” Snake asked quietly as he leaned forward on the counter.
“I’d like to, but I have a feeling Randy wouldn’t like it.”
“I don’t think he would either,” Jade agreed with a grimace. “Like I said, I don’t know him well. He doesn’t share much personal information and nothing about his past. I haven’t pried into his life because I know how I would feel if someone did it to me. What I know about Randy is pretty much common knowledge around town. He’s part of the Second Chance program for drug abusers and at-risk youth in LGBT communities around the country.”
Nodding, Dragon decided not to turn this into a gossip session, with little more than speculation about Randy Carr to go on. “I won’t talk to Barker, but I will watch for him. I’ll be there if he decides to do something stupid.”
“If he’s that determined to hurt Randy, it shouldn’t take long for him to try. Just let me know when you need help. After all, you can’t watch him twenty-four hours a day,” Snake said.
Snake’s response didn’t surprise Dragon, and he could expect the same reaction from Bear and Pit Bull. They were a team. They helped each other out no matter what the situation.
“I guess this means you guys won’t be stuck up my butt anymore.”
Laughing, Dragon went to the refrigerator and took out two beers. He and the guys kept their own stock for when they were just hanging out with Stephen and Jade. He took out a soft drink for Snake.
“You’re not getting off that easy,” Dragon told Jade as he handed each man a bottle. “Things seem okay. I imagine your father has a lot to do with that.”
“I’m sure he’s doing his share to keep us safe,” Jade said, before taking a long drink of beer.
Jade’s father was spending life in prison for both human and drug trafficking. Stephen’s involvement in helping to put the man there was part of the reason why he and Jade had been in danger in the first place. JP Bixler hadn’t been the only one Stephen fooled while undercover and it was these very people they were guarding against. There had been one attack months before, but ironically two of the people who had come after Jade and Stephen had been dealt with by men sent by Bixler. That couldn’t be proven, but there was no other explanation. The men had been arrested and questioned at length, but had remained silent after asking for lawyers. Three others had been killed by Stephen, Dragon, Bear, and one of the sheriff’s deputies, when an attack had taken place out on the highway. Since then, there hadn’t been so much as a hint of suspicious activity. Dragon hoped that it meant the men who began as employers, and were now friends, were finally safe.
“Hey, Jett, can I ask you something?” Jade asked.
Dragon blinked. It was rare these days that anyone addressed him by his given name. After being hired by Jade through a third party to be bodyguards, they had vowed to continue using the nicknames they used while in the military. Dragon had told Jade his name a few months ago, but Jade still didn’t know the names of the others. They did love to mess with the guy.
“You want to know what Snake’s real name is?” he asked, laughing. He winked at Snake.
“Yeah. Not knowing your names is making me nuts.” Jade pouted, something he used on his husband, but it didn’t work on Dragon. Jade was cute, but he also belonged to someone else. “Can’t you tell me now?”
“What would the fun be in that?” Snake asked him. “I’ll make a deal with you. If you knit a pair of socks for me, I’ll tell you my name.”
Jade scooped up the balls of yarn and held them out. “Pick your color.”
Snake choked and shook his head as Dragon snickered. “Oh, hell no! Gray, navy blue, or black is just fine.”
Jade’s lower lip poked out again. “Very boring. Okay, what’s your shoe size?” Jade said, harrumphing.
“Sixteen.”
“Really?” Jade purred, leaning closer and batting his eyelashes comically at Snake.
Stephen walked up behind Jade to wrap his arms around his husband. “Baby, you aren’t checking out other men’s shoe sizes, are you?”
Tipping his head back, Jade gave Stephen a coy smile. “There’s no harm in a little fantasizing. Makes you want to see if there is any truth to the myth.”
Laughing, Snake stood up. “Because I have no desire for your husband to punch me in the mouth, I’m going to go check around outside. Remember, Jade, gray, black, or navy blue. No tutti-frutti socks.”
“Wow, now you’re making socks for other men?” Stephen said, growling playfully before he lowered his head to nibble on the side of Jade’s slender neck.
“That’s my cue to leave. I have no desire to watch you guys have sex in the kitchen.”
Standing up, Dragon headed for the back door to join Snake. Another pair of eyes never hurt, even if the threat level has been lowered. He would talk to everyone the next day about getting a couple of large dogs to patrol the outside. Dogs could see, hear, and smell things a man never could. It only made sense.
As Dragon and Snake walked around the large yard, Dragon’s thoughts went back to Randy. He wondered what he was getting himself into, and if his interest in the other man would continue to develop. He was surprised by it. The moment he had seen Randy walk into the bar and noted his interest, Dragon had been a goner.
Chapter Three
“Wow, I didn’t know I had so much junk,” Randy commented as he stared at the collection of pack
ed boxes beside the front door.
He had finally decided to make the break and get his own place to live. It was a small, one bedroom apartment about five blocks from downtown Silver. As he stared at the boxes he wondered if he should get a larger apartment.
Carla laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “It looks like a lot of stuff now, but once you get it to your new place and put it all away, you’ll realize you have room for a lot more stuff.”
“It’s the most I’ve ever owned,” Randy told them, suddenly realizing that fact. Living as a foster child meant moving around a lot.
By the time Randy was a preteen, he’d managed to get by with all of his possessions fitting into a large backpack—nothing more. It had been mostly clothing, along with a few toiletries. Other things tended to get stolen, so he had few hopes of keeping the occasional gift or item he had worked for. There was no one to steal or break his stuff now, he thought with satisfaction.
Friendly hands patted him. “I know exactly how you feel,” Quinn said. The little guy stood beside Randy. Randy turned his head to look down at him. “I still expect someone to come into my room, beat me up, and then take what they want. Once I only had my underwear left. Fortunately I was living with a real nice couple at the time. They bought me new clothes and some other things and made sure no one took it.” The smile curving his mouth at that part of the story slipped away. “I wish I could have stayed with them,” he finished on a whisper.
Quinn, like the rest of them, had an unpleasant history. It didn’t involve drugs. Quinn had evaded that trap. Violence, however, had been very much a part of his life, beginning on his fourth birthday and only becoming more prevalent in his life as he got older. From what he had shared with Randy and the others living in the house, few, if any, had attempted to curb the violence against Quinn. His primary abuser had been his father, which is why Quinn had spent time in foster homes.
Hugging Quinn, Randy wished he could take away the pain he felt radiating off the other man. “I know. There were some good people out there, wanting to help us. There just weren’t enough of them. And you have to remember that we’re living in a very good place now. It won’t be long before you’ll be out looking for your own apartment.”
The statement was meant to reassure Quinn, but Randy knew that it would probably be a while before Quinn left the security he now had living with everyone in Noah’s and Reagan’s house. The house was more than a house. It was the first home Quinn had known, a cocoon where he felt safe and loved. Randy had felt that, too, but he was able to take that with him as he began this new phase in his life.
“Why don’t you come along with me?” Randy asked Quinn, wanting to help make the separation easier. “After we get this stuff into my apartment, we can go for lunch, maybe a movie. What do you think?”
The bright smile eased some of Randy’s worries. “Sounds like a plan! Let me go get my shoes.”
An hour later Quinn and Randy were sitting on the front step of the house. His apartment was a part of the house, and it comprised the entire second floor and about eight hundred square feet. It had a great view of the mountains in the distance. At least Quinn claimed it was a great view as he stood on an overturned container and peered through the window, between the branches of a tree, and to the right of one of the taller buildings in Silver. Pushing up on tiptoe, Randy had looked through the window and done his best to appear as though he was admiring the view.
Now they were taking a brief break before heading out for food. Quinn was weighing his options while Randy relaxed and waited.
“I like Chinese food, but I just had it last week. Pizza is always good. I could eat pizza three times a day.” Randy nodded and grinned at that. “We could go to the Barking Mouse,” Quinn said, naming the English-style pub located off the square. Randy had never been there before, although he had meant to check it out. He heard the food was excellent. “What do you think?”
“It sounds like a good idea to me.” Randy pushed up off the step, going to lock the door that led to his apartment. Gemma was asleep in her crate, exhausted after the excitement of the move. He wouldn’t leave her alone too long in a new place. The new landlady had tossed the ball across the empty living room dozens of times for Gemma. It was good to know the elderly woman wouldn’t be disturbed if Gemma played a little enthusiastically. “Don’t try to order beer. I’ll be keeping my eye on you.”
Ducking his head, Quinn grinned and laughed softly. “I don’t even like beer. I hear the fish and chips are yummy. That’s what I’m going to order.”
“You’re full of good ideas today. Why don’t we walk over?” The pub was about a ten minute walk from his apartment.
“Walking is good,” Quinn said, smiling and nodding his head. “Do you like living in Silver?”
“I do. I believe it’s a good place for me to start over.”
“I’m hoping it’s a good place for me, too. I know you guys look at me like I’m your kid brother. I like that. I don’t have any brothers or sisters.”
Randy could hear the regret in Quinn’s voice. It was something he could relate to. “I don’t either. I’ve always wanted a bratty little brother like you,” he teased, reaching out to ruffle the silver-blond hair covering Quinn’s head. “I want you to remember that I’m your friend and that I’m here for you. My moving into town doesn’t change that.”
“Thanks, Randy. I wish I could get a place of my own, but I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.”
“It all takes time. You’ll know when you’re ready.”
“Do you think you’ll get a boyfriend now?” Quinn wriggled surprisingly dark brows. The contrast over the dark blue eyes made the man close to stunning. “Now that you have privacy?” he asked, in a whisper.
Not willing to go there with Quinn just yet, Randy shook his head. “I don’t think I’m ready for that. There’s no rush, is there?”
They were closing in on the pub—just three more blocks and they’d be on the same street. Randy noticed Quinn increased his pace. He smiled and hurried to keep up. The guy was short, but he did manage to cover some ground.
“I’d like a boyfriend,” Quinn said, in a dreamy voice. “I’ve never had one before.”
That got Randy’s attention. He stopped Quinn with a hand on his arm. “You’ve never had a boyfriend? Ever?”
Quinn shook his head. A pink blush colored his cheekbones. “Nope. Not ever. I’m kinda at the point in my life where I’d really like to confirm that I’m gay.”
Randy had discovered long ago that being jealous or envious had proved to be a waste of time. Quinn’s virgin status, however, was something else. After selling his own body to every loser possible, Randy would like to go back to the days before he had experienced the desperation.
He wouldn’t go all the way back. He had enjoyed a few fun relationships. Sex hadn’t always been bad and something he never wanted to repeat. “I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding someone,” Randy told Quinn. “Just don’t rush off to claim the first handsome man you see.”
Quinn giggled and nodded. “I’ll try.”
They walked the remainder of the way to the restaurant, their stomachs beginning to grumble. There was a spacious patio area and they pushed open the gate in the wrought iron fence and headed toward an unoccupied table. They were greeted immediately by a friendly server. There was a distinct British accent and Randy hoped that meant the food was authentic and not some tasteless takeoff. They were given menus and asked what they would like to drink.
“They certainly have an extensive number of beers,” Quinn commented. Randy looked over the top of his menu to see that Quinn’s face was hidden and he was giggling again. He certainly was a sweetheart. “They get almost a page of their own. I wonder which one I’d like.”
“You’re a real funny guy, Quinn. Why don’t you get a virgin daiquiri?”
The menu lowered slowly. Dark blue eyes glared at Randy. “Oh, you’re a lot funnier than me.” He stuck his t
ongue out and went back to reading the menu. “Yep, it’s fish and chips for me, although toad-in-the-hole sounds intriguing.”
Grimacing, Randy shook his head. “It might be good, even very good, but I think I’ll leave that for another time, when I’m feeling brave. I’ll get the fish and chips, too.”
With their drinks and snacks on the table, and their orders given to the server, Randy sat back and relaxed. Although there was plenty going on in Silver, it was a peaceful place. There was little noise aside from what he considered laid-back traffic. He couldn’t remember if he had ever heard someone hit their horn out of impatience or frustration. There just wasn’t any reason for it. There was also the sheriff. Grayson Evans wasn’t a man anyone screwed with. The locals likely did everything they could to avoid having him stop them for breaking any law.
Yeah, there was definitely less stress in Silver than there had been in any of the cities of Southern Florida where he’d lived, and a slower pace he had easily adjusted to. There had been several places he could have relocated to. He had been given extensive information on each town or city and had, after serious consideration, chosen Silver. One of the reasons was because he had never seen real snow or mountains. The first time it had snowed he had enjoyed it with the enthusiasm of a small child. After a few months of heavy snowfall, bitter temperatures, and icy winds making him feel as if it were trying to peel off his skin, Randy had lost some of his enthusiasm. Still, he was discovering he was looking forward to snow again as the summer heat seemed to increase each day.
“Wow, I want one of those.”
Quinn’s awe-filled whisper got Randy’s attention. Looking at Quinn, he then followed the man’s gaze to discover the reason for Quinn’s intense interest. Three familiar men sat at a table not far from theirs. Dragon was one of them. Swallowing hard when Randy realized Dragon was looking at him intently, he nodded in acknowledgement of the other man. Dragon gave him a half-smile and returned the gesture.
Wincing when Quinn’s small fingers dug into his forearm, Randy noticed Quinn wasn’t the only one fascinated by what they were seeing. One of Dragon’s companions was staring intently at Quinn.
