by KC Burn
“Really?” The relief was more euphoric than an hour-long massage.
“Really. He admitted to learning your passwords, as you’d suspected. He also used your computer and banking information to open a credit card in your name. Once we get his financial records, I’m certain we’ll have proof he was paying those bills. Probably had them mailed to a PO box. He’d also opened a web-based email account, user JB1993, so he could get updates and submit online orders without it being easily traced to him. He used the new credit card to buy a burner phone in your name.”
“How did he find me? I thought I’d disappeared pretty thoroughly, and even changed my phone number.”
Marco held out his hand. “Give me your phone.” Jez handed it over, and Marco worked with it a few moments before turning the screen. “Just as he said. He installed a phone-finding app on your phone, hid it in the utility apps folder. You know, the folder with all the junk the providers front-load on the phone that only ever annoys the fuck out of you.”
Jez backed out of the app and inspected the icon. He never would have looked in that folder, and the icon looked quite innocuous.
“So he knew where I was all the time?” Had he even engineered a trade to the LA team because of Jez?
“Yes, I’m afraid so. And he’s also the one who slashed your tires.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Your phone and car spent all night at some guy’s house. He was pissed.”
Jez frowned. “But I’ve been living with Hayden for months.”
Marco laughed, a sound Jez had never heard before, but it suited the man to occasionally leave that super serious mien behind. “That’s our Hayden. He just doesn’t look gay, you know?”
Jez bristled. “There’s no look. Gay comes in all shapes and sizes and colors.”
Marco laughed some more. “Yes, we all know that. But Hayden fooled Jayson. Until recently, probably right around when the first gift came, he thought you were just renting a room here. Not cozying up with the homeowner, who most people think is straight until he tells them otherwise.”
Jez turned to share his indignation with Hayden, only to find him resting on his arms on the table, fast asleep.
Marco smiled gently. “It’s over.” He stood up and peered out of the window. “That’s the last of them. I’ll get out of your hair, and you can get him upstairs. But don’t worry. Between breaking in and identity theft, we’ve got plenty to put him in prison for a while. There may also be charges filed related to the documentation he provided for the restraining order. It’s over,” Marco repeated. He ruffled Jez’s hair and then was gone. Jez pocketed the shiny new keys from the kitchen table and tried to assimilate that thought.
It was over.
THE SCENTS of bacon and coffee tickled Hayden’s nose, bringing him to wakefulness. The stairs creaked, followed by the floorboards in the hallway, heralding Jez’s return. Jayson’s vandalism of the master bedroom had been too close to Christmas for them to fix it up yet, so they’d moved the essentials into Jez’s old room and would likely be living in there well into January.
“Merry Christmas!” Jez appeared in the doorway, carrying a tray bearing breakfast.
Hayden leaped out of bed to grab the tray and set it on the dresser.
“Hey. This is supposed to be breakfast in bed.”
“It’s a long way from the kitchen up here with a heavy tray.”
Jez rolled his eyes. “I may not have muscles on muscles like you do, but I am strong, you know.”
“I’m not allowed to help you out, just because?”
With a huff, Jez sat on the bed. “Fine. Bring that over here. It’s actually for both of us. And I left the coffee and juice downstairs. I figured syrup was enough of a gamble on the tray.”
Hayden laughed. “Crazy man.” Nevertheless, he obeyed Jez’s orders and sat down beside him. “You made bacon. That’s so sweet, but you didn’t have to.”
“Don’t get used to it. Or breakfast in bed, for that matter. And the pancakes are vegan, so we’re sharing those.”
“I appreciate it, don’t get me wrong. But it wasn’t necessary.” And if it had been croissants or something crumbly, Hayden didn’t think he could have handled eating that in bed.
Jez shrugged, and Hayden suddenly caught the nervous tension. “What’s wrong?”
“Just worried you won’t like your present.”
“I’ll love it, no matter what.” Hayden kissed his temple.
AFTER THEY ate, Hayden got back out of bed and pulled on pajamas. Eating naked in bed had been super decadent, but he didn’t think he wanted to sit around the den opening presents in the same state. “Shall we head downstairs?” Hayden was nervous about his present for Jez too.
“Not yet. I mean, there are a few things under the tree for you, but the big present is up here.” Jez grabbed his hand and led him to the door of the guest room. The one that had held the boxes of his gran’s stuff. Hayden swallowed heavily. This was not the room he’d expected Jez to tackle first, and he was afraid. He also wanted to know where all his gran’s stuff had gone, but despite a niggle of fear, he was sure Jez hadn’t just dumped it.
Jez took a deep breath, then flung the door open.
Hayden gasped. Incredible. He stepped inside. The primary color scheme was black and white. Black and white photography in simple black frames covered the walls. Not just any photos, but his gran’s photos. Publicity stills of her in ballet costumes and with the cast of her movies. Candid photos of her with stars like Rock Hudson and Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. Faye Dunaway, Loretta Swit, and Eileen Brennan.
The lush burgundy fabric Hayden remembered packing away with his gran’s sewing and craftwork had been repurposed into curtains and a bedspread. He recognized his gran’s cross-stitch in the square decorative pillows. A small vanity sat in the corner, the mirror surrounded by light bulbs like the kind you’d find in a movie star’s dressing room. Everything was so elegant, a beautiful tribute to the only family Hayden would ever claim.
He sniffed, determined not to cry. His gran, in better times, would have been over the moon.
“Thank you.” Hayden spun around and grabbed up his boyfriend in a hug. “It’s perfect. I love it.”
“Are you sure?” Jez asked anxiously. “I packed up all the other stuff and put it in the attic. There was a lot more than could easily fit in here, but I made sure it was all packed up safely.”
“Positive.” Although Hayden could have inspected those pictures for hours, he was also eager to give Jez his present. “C’mon. Let’s go downstairs.”
HAYDEN PLUCKED a card from the tree and handed it to Jez, feeling shaky, like it had been too long since he’d eaten. He wasn’t sure he’d ever been this nervous.
Jez opened the envelope and pulled out the business card that had been tucked inside. He turned it over in his hands, then looked quizzically at Hayden.
Hayden cleared his throat. “I know you want to do some more decorating. And we’ll have to go slow. But I don’t spend any time in the sunroom, and I thought you’d like to transform it into a proper practice space. Studio. Whatever you need for dancing. Those guys there, they’ve got experience with that sort of remodeling. I’ve already put down a deposit, one that should cover the majority of the remodeling, and I’ll pay for the rest when we’ve had them in to do a full estimate.”
Jez stared at him. “That’s… that’s too much.”
“It isn’t. Jez, you’ve given me my life. I want you to know this house is your home too. Do you… uh… do you like it?” Maybe it had been a stupid idea after all.
Suddenly he found himself with an armful of boyfriend kissing his face. “It’s too damn much, but it’s perfect. I love you. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I love you too.”
And they combusted together, hot and fierce as always, right there on the floor under the Christmas tree.
Epilogue
JEZ LEANED back on the couch Christmas Eve, waiting for
Hayden to finish cleaning up in the kitchen. The gorgeous white tree they’d bought together last year—with blue and silver ornaments—sparkled even more against the midnight blue backdrop of the accent wall in the den. Fortunately, the dark tan leather of Hayden’s super comfy couches and chairs fit right in to the blue-and-white color scheme Jez had chosen for this room.
He cuddled up with a navy corduroy pillow on his lap, fat, snuffly Fang sleeping beside him, and sighed happily. They’d both come a long way in the nearly fifteen months they’d been together, and the journey had been a good one. Half of the house was no longer plain white, and Jez didn’t need Xanax when surrounded by friends, although he was still working on controlling his panic when confronted with fans. After the success of the first season of his show, he had fans. More than he’d ever had for his Broadway shows, and although he appreciated their fervor, they did tend to startle him as they sprang out at the grocery store and in restaurants. He was filming the second season now, with a contract for at least two more.
“Gonna be much longer, babe?” He was ready to subject Hayden to some sickly-sweet Christmas rom-coms. After having to watch more than his fair share of baseball—LA had been in the playoffs again—Hayden owed him. And these were his guilty pleasure.
“Ready now.” Hayden rounded the couch holding two flutes filled with something fizzy that looked an awful lot like champagne.
“Are we celebrating something?”
Hayden set the glasses down on the coffee table, then sank to one knee. “I hope so, baby.”
Jez sucked in a breath and sat up straight. He pressed trembling hands to his mouth. Was this…? Was he…?
Hayden plucked a small box out of his pocket. “I’ve never been so happy as I’ve been since the day I laid eyes on you sleeping on my porch. I love you, and I want what we’re building to be permanent and forever. Will you marry me?”
Hayden’s beautiful, beloved face blurred, then cleared as tears of joy slid down Jez’s face. “Oh yes. Please. I love you so much.”
Jez flung his arms around Hayden’s neck, sending the box skittering across the floor. Hayden kissed him, both of their cheeks now wet with tears even as they laughed.
“Don’t want the ring?” Hayden teased.
“Don’t ever think it,” Jez scolded. He kissed Hayden, and as always, it ignited the crazy chemistry between them, but Jez pulled back. “We should maybe find that box before Fang gets into it.”
Hayden eyed Fang’s oblivious sleeping form. “Yeah, that looks like a real danger.” His boyfriend—no, his fiancé—glanced around. Jez did too. That precious little box couldn’t have gone far. Then Hayden flattened and peered under the couch before reaching underneath.
With a proud grin, he brandished the box at Jez. Jez opened it and pulled out the bigger ring meant for Hayden. He slipped it on Hayden’s finger, and Hayden slid the other ring on Jez’s.
Hayden picked up the champagne and sat to Jez’s left before handing him a glass. “To my Jez, who opened my eyes to love.”
“To my Hayden, my home and hearth.”
They sipped at their champagne between exchanging kisses.
“Want to go upstairs?” Hayden asked.
Jez stood and held his hand out for Hayden. Jez had years of Christmases to come to torture Hayden with romantic Christmas movies. Tonight, he was going to enjoy his own happy ever after.
More from KC Burn
Punk’s not dead, but it’s time to redefine life.
Devlin Waters thought he’d have music forever. But the tragic death of his best friend ended the twenty-year run of his punk band, Negative Impression. Unable to process the loss, Devlin distances himself from everyone and everything that reminds him of the band. But forty-one is too young to curl up and wait for the end. In a search for a second career, he finds himself at university with a bunch of kids young enough to be… his kids. His sexy archeology professor, however, makes Devlin think about life beyond his grief….
Dr. Jack Johnson does not appreciate Devlin’s lack of respect, his inability to be serious, or his chronic lateness. Worse, he hates that he’s attracted to a student. When he realizes Devlin is the rock star he crushed on in his youth, he drops his guard—against his better judgment.
Before they can move forward together, Jack must admit to Devlin that he’s not only an admirer, but he also sings in a cover band. How will Devlin react to his ultimate fanboy when his own music has died?
Riley Parker: temp, twink, geek… sleuth?
Maybe Riley isn’t living up to his full potential, but being a temp executive assistant suits him. He’s never bored at work, he’s got friends who let him geek out, and he’s got a carefully crafted twink exterior… which might be getting constrictive now that he’s on the other side of thirty. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s comfortable.
It all unravels when he takes a job working for a tea-obsessed cosmetics queen, the owner of Gautier Cosmetics. During the launch party for a new product, Riley finds his boss dead under suspicious circumstances, and the homicide detective is none other than Tadeo Martin, Riley’s high school obsession who never knew he was alive.
Tad drafts Riley to get the scoop on the inner workings of Gautier, and for Riley, it’s like a drug. His natural inquisitiveness is rewarded with more and more Tad. Unfortunately, his snooping puts him in the running for two other roles: suspect and victim. The killer doesn’t care which.
A Fabric Hearts Story
Finlay McIntyre (aka Raven) is a successful adult film star with a penchant for kilts, until an accident cuts short his stardom and leaves him with zero sexual desire, lowered self-esteem, and no job. He knew his porn career wouldn’t last forever, but he wasn’t prepared for retirement at twenty-eight. While trying to figure out the rest of his life, Raven agrees to attend a high school reunion. That’s when a malfunctioning AC unit in his hotel room changes everything.
Caleb Sanderson, an entrepreneur with his own HVAC business, has no idea what to expect when he steps into Raven’s hotel room to fix his AC unit. They’re attracted to each other, but Caleb, closeted, can’t afford a gay relationship, not with his mom pressuring him to produce grandchildren. If he wants to keep Raven—who no closet could hold—he’ll need to tell his family the truth. But Raven has a few secrets of his own. He refuses to reveal his porn past to Caleb, a past that might be the final obstacle to Caleb and Raven having any kind of relationship.
A Fabric Hearts Story
Two years after his life fell apart, Will Dawson moved to Florida to start over. His job in the tech department of Idyll Fling, a gay porn studio, is ideal for him. When his boss forces him to take on a new hire, the last person he expects is Dallas Greene—the man who cost him his job and his boyfriend back in Connecticut. He doesn’t know what’s on Dallas’s agenda, but he won’t be blindsided by a wolf masquerading as a runway model. Not again.
Dallas might have thrown himself on his brother’s mercy, but his skills are needed at Idyll Fling. Working with Will is a bonus, since Dallas has never forgotten the man. A good working relationship is only the beginning of what Dallas wants with Will.
But Dallas doesn’t realize how deep Will’s distrust runs, and Will doesn’t know that the man he’s torn between loving and hating is the boss’s brother. When all truths are revealed, how can a relationship built on lies still stand?
A Fabric Hearts Story
Tate Buchanan is a troublemaker who can’t keep a job, no matter how many times his lucky argyle sweater gets him hired. Add to that a learning disability and an impetuous nature that sends him into altercations to protect the defenseless, and he hardly manages to make friends, let alone find a man who’s interested in him for more than one night.
Most people think EMT Jaime Escobar is a player, but the truth is he wants a serious partner—he just can’t justify wasting time on guys he knows aren’t a match. But when he treats a gorgeous redhead after a fight, he finds the spark he’s spent so many years looking for.
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Jaime wants to take the next step with Tate, but it’s clear Tate’s not going to curb his impulsive behavior—his next fight sends him to the hospital. Jaime’s relationship with a near criminal isn’t something his family is ready to accept, not any more than Tate is willing to be kept a secret. Jaime will need a lot of understanding—and some luck of his own—to keep them both. But this is one fight he’s going to see through to the end.
Readers love KC Burn
Banded Together
“Wow! This was a fantastic story that caught my attention early and then hogtied me to my e-book reader by the 50% mark so that I couldn’t escape until I read to the end. I love, love, loved it.”
—Hearts on Fire Reviews
“Banded Together is well written and a wonderfully engaging novel. Devlin’s transition from a broken man into something more was deftly and elegantly handled.”
—Joyfully Jay
Tea or Consequences
“If you want a book that will captivate you and have you thinking the whole way through, then this book is right up your street, it’s a perfect little whodunnit.”
—OptimuMM
“Murder, mystery, and mayhem. What’s not to love?”
—Diverse Reader
Just Add Argyle
